A consideration facing research into the English origins of Virginia settlers is a lack of evidence: English parish registers are often incomplete, and are a patchwork of various manuscripts. Siblings of those researched and who they narried are thus hidden. It is like trying to construct a jigsaw with pieces missing.

Although it is an incomplete picture, a sense can be gained of the English connections of families of Cottrell (Kittrell), Godwin, Harris, Hasell, and Seward:

1. John Hasell, b. ca. 1510. Hasell v Bentford. Plaintiffs: John Hasell and Agnes Hasell his wife. Defendants: Edward Bentford. Subject: Claim to copyholders in right of plaintiff Agnes Hasell. A messuage and two yard lands, parcel of the manor of Bedminster, Somerset granted by Edward Nevyll esq, lord of the said manor, to John Prygge, Margery Prygge his wife, and plaintiff Agnes Hasell their daughter. (C 2/Eliz/H22/31, ca. 1570).
1.1. John Hasell, b. ca. 1535, m. Alice … Williams v Hasell. Plaintiffs: Thomas Williams. Defendants: John Hasell. Subject: property in Bedminster, Bristol etc, Somerset and Gloucestershire. (1567. C 3/193/42).
1.1.1. John Hasell, bapt. March 10, 1560/1, in Dundry, m. Anne Kinge, Nov. 25, 1591. Order under letters patent from Court of Wards and Liveries, that a writ of mandamus be issued to inquire into death of Tristram Cottrell (d. June 15, 1613), son of John and Joyce Cottrell of Winford, in respect of a messuage and lands in South Brent and Lympsham, messuage and lands in Stapleton, co.Glouc., occ. by Wm. Curtis, the manor of Winford formerly in tenure of Edw. Bassett, esq., the reversion of 3 messuages and lands in Dundry, Chew Rogell, Winford, West-town and Backwell, late occ. by John Hasell. (DD\GB/120).
1.1.1.1. Agnes Hasell, m. Richard Godwin, Feb. 4, 1608/9. Admon. Richard Godwyn,* of Winford, Somerset, dec. Apr. 27, 1652, to John Cotterell, father in law (uncle) of Alexander & Richard Godwyn, sons of the defunct.

(1. Robert Cotterell, b. ca. 1500, of the parish of Whynforde, husbandman, d. 1554.
1.1. John Cotterell, b. ca. 1525, d. June 8, 1612, of Long Aston, m. Joyce …
1.1.1. Tristram Cottrell, b. ca. 1550, d. June 15, 1613.
1.1.1.1. John Cotterell, b. ca. 1575, d. 1640.
1.1.1.1.1. John Cottrell, b. ca. 1600, d. 1668, admon. of *Richard Godwin, his br.-in-law.
1.1.1.1.1.1. John Cottrell, b. ca. 1625.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. John Cottrell, it is suggested.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Johnathon Kittrell, of Virginia, it is suggested.

This interpretation of available data is suggested:
1. Jonathon Kittrell, b. ca. 1685; Will recorded in Chowan Co., N.C., in 1748.
1.1. John Kittrell, b. ca. 1710.
1.1.1. Jonathon Kittrell, b. ca. 1732, Will probated in Granville, 1812, mentioning “My son-in-law, Jno. Harris”. He m. (ca. 1754), Elizabeth Bryant.
1.1.1.1. Rachel Milly Kittrell, b. ca. 1755, m. John Harris, b. ca. 1745 (“Pvt., 1 Regt. S. C. Continental Line, Rev. War”), son of Richard Harris.
1.1.2. George Kittrell, b. ca. 1735. Division of Estate dated May 10, 1782.
1.1.3. John Kittrell, b. ca. 1737, m. Jemima Standley, relict of Moses Spivey.
1.1.3.1. Standley Kittrell, b. ca. 1765, m. Prudence Jordan, on Jan. 13 , 1799 .
1.1.3.2. Jemima Kittrell, m. Benjamin Folks, witness of his br.-in-law’s marriage).

1.1.1.2. John Hasell, bapt. Aug. 27, 1592.
1.1.1.2.1. John Hasell , bapt. Jan. 7, 1635/6.
1.1.1.3. Thomas Hasell, bapt. Jan. 2, 1596/7.
1.1.1.3.1. William Hasell, bapt. Sept. 10, 1637, m. Sarah, dau. of John Seward.
1.1.2. William Hasell.
1.1.3. James Hasell. The farm of Dundrie Hill with all grounds and profits with licence to dig and sell freestone in Pittcrofte, formerly held by John Cottrell the elder and ‘old John Cottrell’ (leased in 1576/7 to Jas. Hasell by Wm.Bassett of Uley, co. Glouc., esq., Edward Bassett, gent., his son, and Isabel his wife for 99 years or lives of James Hasell, Alice wife of John Hasell the younger, and William Hasell, brother of said James. Assignment by Joyce Cottrell of Bristol, wid. of John Cottrell of Winford, gent., and John Cottrell of Long Ashton, gent., to Johane Hasell, wife of James Hasell of Dundry, yeo. for her life, and Assignment of 1617 of rights under lease of 1576/7 by William Hasell of Dundry, yeo., to his brother James Hasell of Dundry, yeo., both sons of John and Alice Hasell. (DD\GB/50).

John Seaward (b. ca, 1605), evidenced here: 400 ac. IOW Co.; June 18, 1638. Upon Warresquioke River. Beginning at a pynie pint by a little gutt running into the woods right over against the land of Nathaniell Floyd and near his former pattent. “Francis Hobbs now wife Mary was former wife of Nathaniel Floyd deceased”. Francis Hobbs’ dau. was the wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Francis Hobbs. Leg.- Alice Davis; cousin John Davis (the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, owed him money); cousin Margaret Harris the dau. of John Harris. Ex., brother John Harris. R. June 9, 1688. Samuel Davis, sold this plot to John Bond, whose family, as the Fulghams, were of Pitminster, Somerset, and tenants of the Symes. John Seward was a headright of John Moone, in Warrasquinoake, in 1635. John Moone was kin of the Fulghams, Anthony Fulgham’s brother, Thomas, having m. Mary (Moone) Green, half-sister of Sarah Moone, wife of John Pitt, of Bristol.

It was not that John Seward was only “of Bristol”, Gloucestershire. His farm in Butcombe, Somerset, leased from Edward Bampfield, was 11 miles from Bristol. He bequested lands in Barrington (as it correctly reads), northwest of Petherton, 17 miles from Wiveliscombe. His wife was bequested “other lands bought in that county from Thomas Parsyvall”. This bequest certainly included lands in Hemington: “Seward, John, immigrant, came to Virginia from Bristol, England, before 1635. He was a merchant and had grants of land in Isle of Wight county, one of which was called “New Hemington” (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography). Hemington is ca. 15 miles from Dundry.

John Sewards children were born in the mid-1630’s. “John Seward of Bristoll, Merchant, being bound to sea”. Will proved May 23, 1651. To my youngest daughter Rebecca Seward 300 pounds. To my second daughter Mary Seward 250 pounds. To my eldest daughter Sarah Seward 250 pounds, and to my wife’s daughter (by her former husband) Brigitt Eyton 50 pounds all when 21 or married. To my eldest son John Seward 200 pounds when 21.

Will of Sarah Seward of Bristol, widow, well stricken in years, proved Dec. 2, 1682.

To my daughter Sarah Hasell five pounds, for mourning to wear at my funeral, and five pounds more as a token of my love. And I forgive her the fifty pounds which I lent her late husband William Hasell. To her son William Hasell twenty shillings, and the reason why I give him no more is because I intend to give fifty pounds towards the placing of him apprentice; but to her son John Hasell I give nothing because he is beyond sea, never likely to rerurn for England. To her other five children, Richard, James, Sarah, Mary and Katherine Hasell fifty pounds apiece, to be paid at their respective ages of one and twenty years … To my son James Seward my lodge and garden on St. Michael’s Hill, Bristol, in or near the Royal Fort (“Old Castle” – M.S.), being city land, and all my term &c. to come therein … My body I commit to the earth to be decently interred in St. Thomas Churchyard within this city, as near as may be to the corpse of my late deceased mother there. To my elder son John Seward and to his wife Hester ten pounds, so as they buy them mourning apparel and wear it at my funeral. To the said John one hundred pounds in money, in one year after my decease, if he be then livirg, but not else. My executors shall in twelve months pay into the chamber of Bristol two hundred and filty pounds, to remain at the usual interest by them given, for the benefit of my five grandchildren, Sarah, Hester, John, James and Thomas Seward, children of my said son John by his said wife Hester, to be paid, fifty to each at one and twenty. (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 47, p. 120, 1893).

1. John Seward.
1.1. John Seward.
1.1.1. William Seward, d. May 04, 1703; m. (2) Anne, relict of Christopher Clinch, by whom she has issue: Christopher Clinch, d. Dec. 13, 1736, in Surry Co.

HARRIS

1. William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke.
1.1. Richard Harris, m. (1594) Elianor Bennett, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset.
1.1.1. Edward Harris, held land patented by his cousin, (Governor) Richard Bennett, on Nov. 4, 1642. This was adj. land held by Wm. Newsome, April 6, 1653, p. 51.
1.1.1.1. Edward Harris, d. 1677.

1.1.2. Richard Harris.
1.1.2.1. John Harris, b. 1624.
1.1.2.1.1. Elizabeth Harris, b. ca. 1662, m. Samuel Lancaster, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. (He m. (2) Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710; second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.2.1.2. William Harris, b. ca. 1664, m. Margaret, the widow of (1) Edward Taylor, (2) William Judkins. His Will (rec. April 19, 1721, in Surry) named wife, Margaret, granddau., Mary, who m. Thomas Taylor, son of Margaret and Edward Taylor, and grandson, Harris Taylor, great-grandson of William Harris. The Will of Margaret Taylor Harris was proved Sept. 20, 1721, witnessed by William Gray, William Seward, and Thomas Edwards. It named son, Edward Taylor, dau. Margaret, wife of Bartlett Moreland, daughter Hannah, wife of Christopher Clinch. The latter Edward Taylor: Estate admin, July 19, 1727, by Thomas Holt, Christopher Clinch, Thomas Edwards. (B. 7, p. 740). Margaret Taylor Moorland had m. (1) William Judkins, they the parents of Hannah and Elizabeth Judkins.

1.1.3. William Harris, headright of John Moone in 1637. John Pitt (the son of Robert Pitt, of IOW, and br. of Hester, wife of Joseph Bridger Sr.), m. Sarah , dau. of John Moone.
1.1.3.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.3.1.1. Robert Harris. His descendants had strong links to the Lancasters.

1.1.4. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, on Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe. His second-cousin, Richard Bennett Sr., to repeat, m. a sister of Charles Barham, who was exec. of the Will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.
1.1.4.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, business partner of Joseph Bridger Sr. Mr. Jno. Marshall, 700 ac. IOW, July 12, 1665, p. 252. W. side of the Wester Sw., beg. at lower cor. tree of Capt. (John) Fulgham’s land, extending down Sw. to land of Tho. Harris. John Fulgham was overseer of the Will of Thomas Harris, 1688, who beq. Robert Harris (his son) “may dwell with John Fulgham three years”.

The closely related families of Thomas Harris, d. 1672 and Thomas Harris, d. 1688, shared common associations, which influenced were thet settled:

Nathaniel Floyd’s headright was Mathew Tomlin; his land being adj. that of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. B. 7, p. 299: Mathew Tomlin, 1227 acs., Low. Par. of IOW Co., on brs. of the Blackwater, Apr. 27, 1686. 781 acs. being part of 1200 acs. granted Mr. John Seward, Apr. 15, 1648, adj. Mary Turner and Thomas Harris; to the bottome of Pig Neck. The salient point being that land passing to descendants of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was a part of the original John Seward patent.

HARRIS cont.

1. Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1. Jane Harris, m. Richard Jones, br. of William Jones. William Jones, and wife Frances, to Orlando Champion. 227 ac. in Green Hall, known as Beech Neck; April 25, 1713. Test: Daniel Halsey, John Arthur. John Arthur m. the relict of John Harris, of Chowan, br.-in-law of Richard Jones, and son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. They were uncles of Charles Jones. Charles Jones, and wife Sarah, to John Rasberry. 1,400 ac. adj. lands of John Early and William Crawford; April 18, 1719. Test, Wm. Crawford, Jno. Williams. “For love I do bare Bridget Rasbeary, the daughter of John Rasbeary and Bridget his wife 100 ac. at Horse Swamp adj. James Howard, Peter West. Wit. Thomas Bird, Stephen Williams. May 1725. D.B. A. Charles Rasberry’s Will was probated in 1748, in Bertie Co. Christopher Holliman and William Rasberry (son of John) were execs.
1.2. Edward Harris*.
1.3. Robert Harris, d. 1740.
1.3. George Harris b. ca. 1667. His Will was recorded on August 22, 1720, naming son, Robert.
1.3.1. Robert Harris, b. ca. 1690.
1.3.1.1. Robert Harris.
1.3.1.2. Richard Harris.
1.3.1.2.1. John Harris, m. Rachel Milly Kittrell.
1.3.1.3. Sherwood Harris.
1.3.1.3.1. Mary Harris, m. Absolem Hicks.
1.4. John Harris. Gift from John Harris, to my sister Jane Jones, wife of Richard Jones. Land on west side Mattacomack Creek. August 1, 1705.

JONES

1. William Jones Sr. Indian trader (d. March 16, 1712 in “Jones Hole Swamp”, Surry Co.), m. Elizabeth Ledbetter, aunt of Henry Ledbetter, m. (Dec. 2, 1742 in Brunswick Co.), Edith, dau. of John Williamson, parents of Elizabeth Ledbetter, who m. Isaac Rowe Walton, br. of Katherine Harris (issue of George Walton), who m. Nathan Harris. In 1737 George Walton gave land to his dau. Catherine and her husband Nathan Harris. (Brunswick Co., B. 2, p. 50. Nathan Harris was the son of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688).
1.1. William Jones, d. April, 1735, in Bristol Parish, Prince George Co. William Jones, and wife Frances (Rasberry, sister of John Rasberry?), to Orlando Champion. 227 ac. in Green Hall, known as Beech Neck; April 25, 1713. Test: Daniel Halsey, John Arthur.
1.1.1. Charles Jones. Charles Jones, and wife Sarah, to John Rasberry. 1,400 ac. adj. lands of John Early and William Crawford; April 18, 1719.
1.2. Richard Jones. Gift from John Harris, to my sister Jane Jones, wife of Richard Jones. Land on west side Mattacomack Creek. August 1, 1705. Test. John Chevin, Jon Wheatley. John Harris was the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688 (whose Will mentions dau. “Jane Jones”), and br. of *Edward Harris. Oct. 11, 1724: Roberston against Harrys: Ordered the Provost Marshall or deputy to summon Samuel Patchett of Chowan Precent to appear at General Court of Edenton the last Tuesday this Oct. instant to testify in John Robertson vs. Edward Harrys.

An incomplete picture, but a sense is suggested.

copyright m stanhope 2022