It may be probable that Sergeant John Harris (of Blagdon) had more descendants than we know of. For five gerations, at least, a Harris family inhabited land near to where Sergeant John Harris lived. In that I am confident that the ancestry of the (Wiveliscombe) family of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and his namesake, d. 1688, is known and established, as well as a DNA profile of descendants, a disambiguation can be made, as any descendant of Sergeant John Harris would have a different DNA profile.The two families lived within five miles of each other, and, naturally, shared similar associations of a general nature, yet, very strong and contiuous association are also evident: the Blagdon Harris with the Derricks and Barkers; the Wiveliscombe Harris with the Bennets. This demarcation leads to the construction hereinafter suggested.

POYTHRESS AND WYNNE

1. Mary Frances Sloman, m. (1) Francis Poythress, who came to Virginia in 1633, burgess for Charles City Co. in 1645, (2) Robert Wynne, of Jordan’s Parish of Charles City. His Will was dated July 1, 1675. Overseers: Thomas Grendon, Merchant, and my son-in-law (step-son) Capt. Francis Poythress

1.1. Francis Poythress.
1.1.1. John Poythress, m. Christian Peebles.
1.1.1.1. Colonel William Poythress, b. ca. 1695 in Charles City, m. Sarah Eppes.
1.1.1.1.1. William Poythress Jr.,* b. 1728, in Prince George Co., d. Oct. 15, 1794.
1.1.1.1.2. Sarah Poythress, b. Aug. 7, 1731 in Prince George Co., m. Stephen Hamlin.
1.1.1.1.3. Mary Poythress, m. Peter Eppes, d. Nov. 11, 1807, in Prince George Co. Prince George County is situated on the James River between UPPER CHIPPOKES CREEK and the Appomattox Rivers. It was formerly a part of Charles City Co.

1.2. Capt. Thomas Wynne (1657-1717), Indian interpreter, m. Agnes Stith. He was bequested: “farm in White Staple Parish in Kent near Canterbury”; in Virginia: “all the cattle of his own mark”.
1.2.1. Robert Winn (as the name became standardised). Nov. 1, 1722: sale of land in Martin’s Brandon Parish, in Prince George Co., being a tract taken up by Thomas Wynne in 1686.
1.2.2. Thomas Winn, b. 1678, Charles City Co. (d. 1744), m. Martha Llewellyn (1683-1759).
1.2.2.1. Daniel Winn, b. ca. 1715, Prince George Co.; d. Jan. 1799, witnessed the sale, by John Winn and wife Ann, of 250 ac. on the south side of Modest Creek, to John Stone. (Lunenburg Co., D.B. 7, pp. 227-228).
1.2.2.2. John Winn, m. Anne …
1.2.2.2.1. Sussanah Winn, m. William Harris.*

SERGEANT JOHN HARRIS

1. John Harris, bapt. 1589/90, in Blagdon, Somerset, br. of Joan Harris, bapt. May I, 1603, who m. (2) John Oson, bapt. Apr. 22, 1604, the father of Ann Oson (bapt. June 19, 1625), who m. James Derrick, July 20, 1648, second-cousin of Francis Derrick Jr., whose family were established in Long Aston and nearby Blagdon.

1.1. Dorothy Harris, sold land to Francis Derrick Jr.

1.2. John Harris,* infant in 1624, d. 1686, witnessed a bond of Robert Mosley to John Felton in 1654, concerning land “joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes lyeing in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called Upper Chippoakes”. (V.C.R, v. xi, p. 31).

He probably m. a sister of John Barker Sr., and was a br.-in-law of Richard Taylor.*

John Barker Jr., m. Grace Cotton, having issue: Jethro Barker, d. 1740, of Chippokes Creek. 1685: Jethro Barker of upper parish to *John Harris, of the same, 120 ac. adj. sd Jethro Barker. Wit: John Barker and Thomas Cotten. Jethro’s dau., Agnes Barker, m. John Peebles, son of John Peebles Sr., son of William Peebles, and Martha, dau. of John Hamlin and Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Taylor and Sarah Barker (sister of John Barker Sr. John Hamlin and Elizabeth Taylor also had issue: Richard Hamlin, whose dau., Martha, m. John Ruffin, son of ROBERT RUFFIN* and Elizabeth Watkins. John Harris: Estate by Unity (Barker) Harris, widow and administratrix of John Harris, May 3, 1687. S. Wm Newsum, John Clarke, Wm Newitt. (B.3, p. 82).

1.2.1. William Harris, b. ca. 1650, m. Elizabeth Hamlin, her widow’s estate admon. by her eldest son, Henry Harris. R. June 16, 1711. Wit. John Barker Jr., Thomas Cotton. (B. 6, p. 620).

1.2.1.1. William Harris*, b. ca. 1675, lived near the land of Thomas Cotton. April 16, 1683, “Thomas Cotten 335 ac. Upper Par. of Surry Co on NE side of the Otter Dam swamp, adj. Mr John Barker, neere his cart path”.

1.2.1.1.1. William Harris, b. ca. 1700, m. Mary Short, b. ca. 1705.

1.2.1.1.1.1.Thomas Harris*, mentioned in maternal grandfather’s Will of 1741.

1.2.1.1.1.1.1. *William Harris, m. Sussanah Winn.

1.2.1.1.1.1.2. John Harris.

1.2.1.1.1.2. William Harris, b. 1724, mentioned in maternal grandfather’s Will of 1741.

1.3. Thomas Harris, d. 1668, of SUNKEN MARSH, CHIPPOKES CREEK. Mr. Stephen Hamelin was granted 1250 ac. in Charles City Co. on Oct. 26, 1650 … “due said Hamelin for transportation of 25 persons”, inc. Thomas Harris and Robert Taylor. Thomas Harris was granted 850 ac. in Surry Co. on Feb. 13, 1657, on the south side of James River & N.W. & S.E. sides of the head of the Sunken Marsh, southerly on Chipoaks Path, p. 168. Thus, not Thomas Harris, d. 1672, it is suggested.

1.3.1. William Harris, 1657-1720. “William Harris, sonn and heire of Thomas Harris”, 850 ac. in Surry Co., South James River, etc. May 7, 1678: Indenture between William Harris and Thomas Jarroll for 1500 pounds of tobacco, 100 acres on College Run bounding with William Newsum and *ROBERT RUFFIN on William Newett’s line, p. 43. College Run Creek, tidal marsh known as Lower Chippokes Creek. Jan. 4, 1685: William Harris and wife Mary Harris, to William Newsum, 220 acres bounded by William Newett, now in the tenure of *Mr. John Harris. Witness: Robert Ruffin, John Harris. R. Jan. 5, 1685. S. William Harris, Mary Harris. p. 43. Thus, it is suggested that Mr. John Harris was the son of Sergeant John Harris, and uncle of William Harris.

1.3.1.1. Mary Harris, m. … Taylor.

1.3.1.1.1. Harris Taylor.

THE SHORT ASSOCIATION

1. William Short Sr., b. ca. 1625, d. 1676.
1.1. William Short, b. ca. 1650, repatented 1100 acres “above the head of CHIPPOKES CREEK about one and one-half miles up the western most branche”, identifying himself as “the son and heir of William Short”. He m. Mary Rooking.*
1.1.1. William Short, b. ca. 1675. His Will was pr. Sept., 1741, in Surry Co., naming his wife, Susannah (Heath), his sons William and Thomas Short, dau. Mary Harris; son-in-law William Harris; William and Thomas Harris, grandsons.
1.1.1.1. Mary Short, b. ca. 1705, m. William Harris, b. ca. 1700.

THE CLOSE AND CONTINUED LINKS TO THE LAND OF SERGEANT JOHN HARRIS

1. *Richard Taylor, m. Sarah Barker, Oct. 27, 1646, sister of John Barker Sr., who patented 300 ac. in James City Co. at the very head of the main branch of Lower Chipoaks Creek”, near the land of William Rooking Sr., on May 9, 1636. “William Lea and Alice (Feltham), his wife, to William Heath, 150 ac. … formerly Thomas Felton’s … joyneing upon the lands which was (Sergeant) John Harryes lyeing in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called “UPPER CHIPPOAKES“. Ordered that Wm. Lee pay unto Richard Taylor 350 lbs of good tobacco and cask due per a bill of his predecessor, Thomas Felton”. Another patent of William Lea gives more detail of the position of these lands: “joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes and neere unto the plantation which was formerly ROBERT MOSELY’S, ADJOINING TO A GREAT SWAMP* which divides Surry Co. from Charles Cittie County … one hundred and fifteen acres of said land lyeth in Charles Cittie County adjoining unto the rest of the divident which lyeth in said Surry County. Witnesses: Robert Spencer, John Gittings’. (Surry Co. Court Records, R. November 10, 1660).

John Barker Sr. was the son of William Barker, the Bristol sea captain and merchant (partner of Francis Derrick Sr., see previous notes), who represented a syndicate of London merchants
March 16, 1636: Symon Turges, John Sadler, and Richard Quiney of London, Merchants, a site or tract of land (in Charles City Co.) commonly called by the name of Martin’s Brandon. Beginning at the mouth of UPPER CHIPPOKES CREEK by the side of which Creek the land lyeth nearest. Easterly from the mouth of said Creek to the point of the *TAPPAHANNA MARSH. Northerly and from point of the said Marsh by the Main River side up to the mouth of Wards Creek. Westerly on said Creek setting nearest hand southerly into the Woods. Due by purchase from Captain Robert Bargrave, p. 415.

May 9, 1636. William Rookins, 150 ac. in James City County, lying westerly upon UPPER CHIPPOKES CREEK, northerly upon James River, easterly upon the land of Samuel Edmonds, and southerly into the Main Woods, said land being called The Flying Point. Being on the east side of Upper Chippokes Creek. The creek was narrow, and Martin’s Brandon parish was directly opposite on the south side. In effect, it was a single social unit, that became part of Surry County in 1652.

William Rookins Sr. came to Virginia in 1619, and recorded as being alive in 1641. His son and namesake served as a Major under Nathaniel Bacon in the Rebellion, and died in prison before a sentence of execution was carried out. His Will, probated in Surry on July 1, 1679, named son, William, and daus., Elizabeth, and Jane.

Feb. 1671/2. William Short, Planter, son and heir to William Short, 1,100 acres in Surry County above the head of UPPER CHIPPOKES CREEK, about 1½ miles up the westernmost branch. Granted to ROBERT MOSELY, Gentleman, on Jan. 7, 1649, who assigned to William Short, father of said patentee, on Oct. 28,1657, p. 390. William Short Jr. had m. *Mary Rooking, and it may be assumed that she was a dau. of William Rooking (d. 1679), and who predeceased her father.
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1.1. Elizabeth Taylor, b. ca. 1648, d. Sept. 15, 1720, in Prince George Co., m. John Hamlin Sr.
1.1.1. Richard Hamlin, m. Ann Harrison.
1.1.1.1. Sarah Hamlin, m. Francis Eppes.
1.1.1.1.1. Peter Eppes, d. Nov. 11, 1807, in Prince George Co., m. Mary Poythress.

1.1.2. Elizabeth Hamlin, b. ca. 1665, m. *William Harris.
1.1.2.1. William Harris, b. ca. 1680, lived near the land of Thomas Cotton. April 16, 1683, “Thomas Cotten 335 ac. Upper Par. of Surry Co on NE side of the Otter Dam swamp, adj. Mr John Barker”.
1.1.2.1.1. William Harris, b. ca. 1700, m. Mary Short, b. ca. 1705.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris.*
1.1.2.1.1.1.1. William Harris, m. Sussanah Winn.
1.1.2.1.1.1.2. John Harris.*
1.1.2.1.1.2. William Harris, b. 1724.

1.1.3. John Hamlin Jr., d. bef. May 11, 1725
1.1.4. Stephen Hamlin Jr.
1.1.4.1. Charles Hamlin. His Will pr. Aug. 16, 1721, B. 7., p. 355. Estate admin., William Hamlin, Nov. 20, 1723, B.7., p. 488
1.1.4.1.1. Stephen Hamlin, m. Sarah Poythress, sister of *William Poythress Jr.
1.1.4.1.2. William Hamlin, m. Rebekah …
1.1.4.1.2.1. … Hamlin, m. *Thomas Harris. Thomas Harris, of Prince George Co. Martins Brandon Parish, was gifted 820 ac. (on UPPER SUNKEN MARSH, CHIPPOKES CREEK), on the line of Nathaniel Harrison, by William and Rebekah Hamlin, in 1782. Articles of Agreement. Between *William Poythress and Thomas Harris.. William Poythress has claimed an interest in a tract of land where said Thomas Harris lives and the said William Poythress and Thomas Harris being willing to settle the affair and affix the right title … *John Harris gives William Poythress title to a house sold by William Poythress to Robert Birchett. House and land had been willed to William Poythress by Peter Poythress that was sold unto Walter Munnery and Nathanial Tatum. Wit: Edward Marks, Nathaniel Mackay, Boswell Becking, p. 146.

Harris = Salman.

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