Precis from Proceedings, vols. 29-30, Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, pp. 19-32, 1884:

“In the Gheld Inquest of Somerset, taken in 1084, it is recorded that in Wivelscoma there was one mill, and rent amounting to fifty pence; there were also six goats; the value of the Manor was £10, the acreage, excluding Fitzhead, was 4,634. Two of the three knights appear to have been named Theodoric and Egbert, their other name varying perhaps, until destined to take atte or de la for a prefix”.

“The condition of the people, and their position towards their lord in early times, is one of great interest, and the more so, as documents relating to the subject are but rarely found. The general story is known, and may be told again, but documentary evidence should be carefully sought, and produced, for special cases”.

“There were once serfs or slaves in England – men and women bought and sold; and then a little above them were the villeins or townsmen — who being born within the manor, belonged to it and could not leave it without consent, which meant a fine; who cultivated small holdings or were cottars, in both cases paying their rent by personal services”.

“This clearly marks the step by which all could avoid service, as it would be equally advantageous to take money from the villein as from the employer. Possibly this was done. Four days’ ploughing and labour were sold at 6d. 8s. 8d. were received for “messone” (harvest work), on twenty-six acres, at 4d”.

“These entries are of interest, as showing the many small holdings, enabling us to see how the land was brought into cultivation through such allotments, the return being so much labour to the lord. From such holdings, first by service, then as customary or copyhold, afterwards as freehold, came the class known as yeomen, of whom there were so many in Somerset before this century”.

“Wiveliscombe jogged on in this way until the great time of the dissolution; and then, as the manor remained episcopal, there is not much to record. One Lawrence Hyde managed to buy of the church lands, a close called Waterlete, and a close called Longland, worth 6s. 8d. per annum: for these, at 22 years’ purchase, he paid £7 6s. 8d”.

“In the County Records at Taunton, of the year 1620, there is a document somewhat rare, although there is one other such in Somerset, whereby, in consideration of the payment of £5, and a yearly rent of 10s., a license was granted to William Bennett of Wiveliscombe, clothier; Robert Bennett, his son, and Mary and Joan, his daughters, in survivorship, to the longest liver of them, to keep an inn at the house of the said Bennett, having for the sign the King’s Arms. He was bound to keep the assize of bread, beer, and ale, and all measures; and to observe and keep the prices of horse-meat, as by the Justices of Assize set down”.

“Of the Bishop’s Palace, some fast crumbling walls now alone remain. Situate in a finely wooded and fertile country, it stood formerly a stately edifice, fronting the south, with a large park before it extending down into the valley to the east. The main entrance was probably through the archway now standing, and the gardens and old buildings between the north wall and the road or street, formerly called “The Palace Green,” was then a large curtilage in the rear. Fifty year ago the kitchen was in existence, and the north wall, now fast falling into ruins, stood at three times its present height, with Gothic windows at intervals through its whole length. At that period the Palace Green was open to the public as a place of recreation, and among other fine trees standing there, was a plane tree of remarkable size. The Palace was supplied with water from a remarkable spring of great purity, which wells out, “splendidior vitro” from the foot of Bend-knee Hill, at Hartswell. This was really “Arch Well”, for it had a culvert over it, and the water was conveyed in leaden pipes to the Palace. The water from this and another spring was collected and used to keep the town mill going — a source of considerable profit in those days to the lord of the manor”.

What is seen between ca. 1630-1770 in the “New World”, etc., is colonisation by closely connected families from the same English regions. If a Somerset family of Harris, intermarried by the 1630’s with Blakes and Westbrookes (all of the same village, Wiveliscombe), it is an immutable fact of the English kinship system that families of Harris, Baker, Blake, and Westbrooke, which were closely associated in Virginia in 1770, were the same English families, underpinned by the fact of associations with other families that ‘originated’ in Wiveliscombe, such as the Bodys and Forts.

The vast majority of families of this account were of the Bristol Basin, from the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, either side of Bristol, where many families of the ‘upwardly mobile’, yeoman class established themselves in trade, supplying the burgeoning Virginia market. Other families, such as Brantley (of Evesham, Worcestershire, 57 miles N. of Bristol), became ‘attached’ to Bristol-based merchants, probably through marriage, as suggested hereinafter.

Other than the fact that William Harris m. Dorothy Westbrooke in 1562, nothing can be known of him of a personal nature. Generally, as a person of his time, he would have witnessed the bitter conflicts between Catholic and Protestant factions of the gentry; probably the defeat of the Spanish (Catholic) Armada in 1588, when, distinct from Hollywood versions of history, the Catholic half of England were praying for a Spanish invasion. He certainly married into a yeoman family, and was probably of one himself, being skilled in animal husbandry and cereal crop farming. He was a part of a upwardly mobile group, including the Bennetts, whose farming profits enabled them to venture in to the merchant trades of Bristol. He would have spoken a Somerset ‘drawl’ of elongated vowels, using a vocabulary long lost to us. Dorothy, his wife, would have had all the practical skills associated with farming – bread, butter, and cheesemaking. She would have been a brewer of strong cider.

The English State continued to be intolerant of any religion that challenged it authority and its doctrine that the higher and lower orders of society owed their positions to God’s Will, rather than being the children of their parent’s circumstance. Let there be New Law of Righteousness. Stand up now, Diggers all.

“During the Heat of this Persecution (against Quakers) at Worcester, the Mayor and other Magistrates of the Borough of Evesham proceeded with like Severity, for on the 16th of the Month called January 1660, Joshua Frensham, Edward Pitway the Elder, and James Wall, were taken out of their own Houses, and for refusing to Swear, committed to Prison; as were on the next Day twenty others, who were taken at a Meeting there. On the 20th of the same Month were taken out of the Meeting at Evesham forty five Persons, and by the Mayor and Recorder committed to Prison (inc. Anne (Tandy) Brantly, wife of John Brantley. (Joseph Besse, A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, v. ii., p. 62, 1752).

In 1683, Lord Stawell with his militia confined ‘fanatics’ to their homes and demolished a meeting house in the town (of Bridgewater), a building ‘made round like a cockpit’ with room for 400 people; the furniture, piled high in the Cornhill and topped by the pulpit and cushion, was burned. (Cal. S.P. Dom. 1683 (2), 60). The building is likely to have belonged to Presbyterians.

Many sought to escape their confines:

BODDY, BROWN, UPHAM, AND WESTBROOKE OF WIVELISCOMBE

1. Henry Westbrooke, bur. March 3, 1592, m. Johan Upham, Dec. 10, 1569.

William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe. She was probably a sister of Henry Westbrooke, who m. Joan Upham. This connection provides a confirmaton of the “upward mobility” of those familial to the Harris family. As the Bennetts and Edneys, the Uphams were of the more “substantial” class of Wiveliscombe. They intermarried with the families of Hill and Boddy/Boddie. Elizabeth Hill m. Andrew Upham on January 29, 1575, and perhaps the same Elizabeth Hill m. John Upham on April 28, 1588.

On July 3, 1588, Thomas Upham m. “Jane Boddy”; who was probably closely related to “John Boddie”,* father of “John Body”, who married Christian Harkswell, on September 19, 1621; they the parents of John Boddie, baptised April 9, 1624. *Body v Yong. Plaintiffs: John Body of Wiveliscombe (Wylsecombe), husbandman, kinsman and heir of Luce Comberhedd alias Body. Defendants: John Yong and John Taylor. 1595-1596. (C 3/204/170). These Boddys were almost certainly the antecedents of those of Virginia.

BODY

1. Richard Body, bur. Oct. 11, 1560, in Wiveliscombe.
1.1. John Body Sr., bur. Jan.1, 1576, in Wiveliscombe.
1.1.1. Robert Body, m. Elizabeth Skinner, Oct. 20, 1586, in Wiveliscombe;
1.1.1.1. Robert Body, m. Joan Taylor, Sept. 8, 1617.
1.1.1.1.1. William Boddy. On 12 July 1665, John Marshall* received a grant of 700 ac. next to Capt. Anthony Fulgham’s grant and six of his headrights were assigned to him by William Boddie who, on that same day, was granted 3350 ac. lying next to Fulgham’s and Marshall’s grants. The Fulghams of Pitminster lived ca. 10 miles S.E. from the Boddies of Wiveliscombe. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, is witnessed here: 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”; “my dau. Anne to live with Mis. Anne Sharpe seven years”, who was probably the sister of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. (Five Thomas Harrises). The two namesakes were of the region of second-cousins.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Mary Body, m. John Browne*.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. William Browne, m. Martha, dau. of Richard Braswell Sr., father-in-law of of Robert Spencer; the “friend” of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.2. Jane Body, m. Thomas Upham, July 3, 1588, nephew of Joan Upham who m. Henry Westbrooke on Dec. 10, 1569
1.1.2.1. Thomas Upham m. Sara Baker Oct. 30, 1640, sister of John Baker*, and probable aunt of Henry Baker, as follows, who m. Mary Blake; and was security for Sarah Bennett, wife of Richard Bennett (Will rec. Feb. 6, 1710), second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

BROWNE

1. Edward Browne, of Bristol. Will proved Dec. 9, 1669 (Davis, Surry Wills, p. 8); named wife Elinor (Atkinson?); her bondsman, Thomas Atkinson,* and John Clarke; overseers, his friends Robert Flake and Richard Bennett Sr., 2nd-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. On May 4 1665, John Clarke and Katherine his wife sold to Edward Browne 200 ac. in IOW, being one-half of a patent for 400 ac. recorded in Surry Co., on May 7, 1666, witnessed by Thomas Gwaltney, Elizabeth Browne (dau.), and George Watkins. *Thomas Atkinson m. Mary, who m. (2) Thomas Gwaltney, by whom: William Gwaltney, and (3) Thomas Pitman, bapt. in 1613, in Wedmore, Somerset, the abode of the intermarried Hodges/Counsel families. They had issue: (1) James Atkinson Jr. (b. ca. 1685), who m. Martha Williamson, dau. of Francis Williamson, and Ann Exum, son of Robert Williamson and Joan, who m. (3) Reuben Proctor; who appraised the estates of John and Thomas Harris, sons of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. (2) Thomas Atkinson (b. ca. 1690), who witnessed the Wills of: (1) Edward Harris, rec. March 25, 1734, p. 301, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Thomas Harris: Leg. son Joshua, dau. Mary; to my unborn child. Excs, wife Hannah and brother, Henry Harris. Dated Dec. 25, 1729, rec. March 23, 1730.
1.1. Edward Browne Jr. On Sept. 12, 1680, Jonathan Case, Captain Charles Barham, and William Seward, are bound to the Court. Jonathan Case is ordered to pay to Edward, orphan of Edward Browne, deceased, his part of his father’s estate. He m. Elizabeth Sampson, dau. of James Sampson, and Elizabeth Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, whose estate admin. was George Moore, his son-in-law. James Sampson’s Will was probated on April 9, 1689, naming dau., Margaret, wife of Nicholas Wilson. Elizabeth Sampson’s sister, Sarah Sampson, m. Richard Braswell Sr., whose dau. m. (2) John Edwards, whose estate admin. was Henry Harris; br. of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.1. *John Browne, d. by 1714, m. Mary Body.

WESTBROOKE cont.

1.1. David Westbrooke, bapt. March 20, 1574, is documented as an inhabitant of Wiveliscombe: “David Yea, Johan and William Chicke, John Lancaster, esquier, Ann Pole, Lewes Harris, Richard Washer, John Upham, John Ragland, David Westbrooke, Giles Ringe, Robert Collard, Nathaniel Upton”. (Wifela’s Combe: A History of the Parish of Wiveliscombe, p. 38, 1911). John Ragland, bur. Feb. 23, 1650, had issue, a son of the same name, bapt. June 10, 1613, who had issue: another John Ragland, bapt. May 9, 1650, in Wiveliscombe, who m. Elizabeth North, on Nov. 4, 1669. The earliest records of the Raglands occur in Nettlecombe (8 miles N. of Wiveliscombe), where a Robert Ragland had issue: Thomas Ragland, bapt. April 27, 1568; and a John Ragland had issue: Richard Ragland, bapt. May 21, 1575.

(Robert Harris and wife Lemenda, to Stephan Ragland, Oct. 16 1742, 60lbs for 230 acres. Robert Harris late of Hanover County Virgina, now of Bertie, land on Roanoak River adj. to Ragland at Turbevills Run. Witn. P. Smith, Nathaneil Hill, Jn., Arnold Brown, May ct 1741.
NC Deed Book 5, p. 368: James Lee and Frances his wife of Edge. Co. to David Rozar. For 60 pounds current money of Virginia, 300 acres on the south side of Moratock river (incl.) all houses, orchards, gardens etc., as by patent to Seth Hatcher. Feb. 1, 1725. Wits.: Robert Harris, Evan Ragland, Nathaniel Merritt).

1.2. Robert Westbrooke, bapt. Aug. 7, 1579; bur. July 8, 1611. His Will (March 28, 1612) in the pious manner of the time, commended his soul to Almighty God, and his body to be buried in the parish church of Wiveliscombe. He names brothers David, John, and Thomas, and wife Elinor
1.3 .John Westbrooke, b. ca. 1584. bur. Jan. 9, 1668.
1.3.1. John Westbrooke, bapt. Feb. 16, 1622/23.
1.3.1.1. John Westbrooke, b. ca. 1660. Westbrook, John – appraisal by Nathaniel Ridley Jr., Edward Brantley Jr., and Thomas Cook. Will proved July 23, 1733. W.B. 3, p. 357. He m. Amy, dau. of Christopher Foster, and Alice Forte (desc. of Elias Forte, of Wiveliscombe, who witnessed the Will of William Groves, with John Harris, son of Thomas, d. 1672. This Edward Brantley was the son of Philip Brantley (who m. Joyce, dau. of Rebecca George, cousin of Eleanor George, first wife of the said Thomas Harris); son of Edward Brantley Sr., who was security for the estate of the said Thomas Harris. Edward Brantley Jr. was the father of John Brantley, who m. the relict of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. Thomas Cook and Henry Harris (br. of the said Thomas Harris), appraised the estate of Edward Brantley Jr. Nathaniel Ridley Jr. was the son of Nathaniel Ridley Sr. and Elizabeth Day (m. Oct. 7, 1706), sister of James Day; children of Mary Bennett,* who m. (1) John Day.

Nathaniel Ridley Sr. was the brother of William Ridley. Mr. Charles Barham Exor, Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tooke overseers, witnessed the Will of William Ridley, who was the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife. Charles Barham’s sister m. Richard Bennett, d. 1709 (second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). *Mary Bennett was the dau. Edward Bennett (bapt. Feb. 2, 1577, in Wivelscombe; later of of St Olave, Southwark, London, and Lawn’s Creek, Virginia, and Elizabeth Bourne), and the sister of Sylvestra Bennett, bapt. Oct. 25, 1630, in St Olave, London, d. Jan. 9, 1707, who m. Nicholas Hill, d. bef. Oct. 20, 1675; security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, second-cousin of Mary and Sylvestra.

WESTBROOKE

1.3.1.1.1. Thomas Westbrooke, Will probated May 8, 1777.
1.3.1.1.1.1. Samuel Westbrooke Sr., appraised the estate of Joshua Claud, Dec. 14, 1775, who appraised the estate of Joshua Harris (son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30), on June 14, 1770, p. 324, with Thomas Day, descendant of the said James Day.
1.2. Dorothy Westbrooke, m. William Harris, Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594.
1.2.1.2. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe.

DESCENDANTS OF JUDITH BLAKE (for I see no reason why descendancy is recorded solely by male lines).

1. William Blake, d. 1636, bought land in Pitminster, and lived there as a neighbour of the Fulgham family.
1.1. William Blake, bapt. July 9, 1594, in Pitminster, m. Agnes Bond, Sept. 23, 1617, in Pitminster, dau. of Hugh Thorne, and relict of Richard Bond.
1.1.1. Elizabeth Blake, m. Thomas Culmore*.
1.1.1.1. Hannah Culmore, m. Nicholas Sessums.*
1.2. John Blake, bapt. June 15, 1597, in Pitminster.
1.2.1. John Blake, bapt. Sept. 1, 1629, in Pitminster.
1.2.1.1. Mary Blake, m. Henry Baker; security for Sarah Bennett, wife of Richard Bennett (Will rec. Feb. 6, 1710), second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; another so related being Silvestra Hill, leg. Mary, the wife of Henry Baker; rec. Jan. 9, 1706. Col. Joseph Bridger, business associate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, estate appraised by Henry Baker, June 28, 1686, p. 255. George Moore, Will dated Nov. 30, 1710; wit. Henry Baker, whose probable father was: John Baker, bapt. April 29, 1614, in Wiveliscombe. Baker v Champion. Plaintiffs: John Baker. Defendants: John Champion. Place or subject: money, Somerset. 1668. (C 7/492/29).

1.2.2. Thomas Blake, m. Alice Champion, bapt. March 17, 1632, in Meare, sister of Mary Champion, bapt. Nov. 18, 1627, who, some have speculated, m. Edward Brantley Sr. Thomas Blake’s land in Virginia was immediately S. of Edward Brantley’s land, which was E. of Francis England’s land, having a contiguous border. Alice and Mary Champion were sisters of (1) Phyllis Champion, who m. Elias Fort Sr. (of Wiveliscombe). Phillis Fort was granted administration of her husband’s estate on March 10, 1678, secured by Thomas Moore (first-cousin of George Moore, grandfather of Avis White, who m. a grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), and John Newman (br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). The Baker family were almost certainly those of Wiveliscombe, intermarried with the families of Upham and Fort of that place. ( ). Oct. 20, 1691: Francis Nicholson granted Maj. Arthur Allen 170 ac. near Mr. Tooke, Capt. England, Thos. Blake and Ed. Brantley (Jr.), Mr. Boddie, p. 639. June 9, 1702: Thomas Blake and Alice his wife sell to John Prime for 3000 lb. tobo. 100 ac. in IOW Co., part of a patent of 400 ac. granted him on Oct. 20 1670, adj. Thomas Tooke. Wit: Ar. Smith, John Brown,* ibid., p. 647. April 10, 1704: Deed of Thomas Blake of Upper Par., to son William Blake and Mary (Sessoms) his wife, 100 ac. in Upper Parish, IOW. Alice Blake relinquishes dower. Wit: Thos. Tooke, John Smith, ibid., p. 653.

1.2.2.1. Thomas Blake, bapt. Feb. 2, 1649, in Wiveliscombe, d. 1709, IOW.
1.2.2.1.1. William Blake, d. March 26, 1746, m. Mary, dau. of *Nicholas Sessums and Hannah, dau. of Thomas Culmore.
1.2.2.1.1.1. Thomas Blake, Will R. Feb. 12, 1789. Wit. Burwell Westbrooke, p. 296. Thomas Blake to Joshua Claud, March 8, 1753, 290 ac. adj. on the N. of Cocklin’s Pocoson and sd. Claud. Wit. Thomas Blake, John Person, Thomas Day, and Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30 (pp. 463-466).
1.2.2.1.1.2. Hannah Blake, m. Joshua Claud. (Clowde, Somerset, therein lies a genealogical continuation).

1.2. Johanne Blake, m. Simon Hill, Sept. 6, 1623, in Wiveliscombe, possible br. of Elizabeth Hill, who m. Laurence Colmer (Culmore), Feb. 3, 1620, in Wiveliscombe, and they the parents of “Thomas Culmore” – ‘Know all men present that I Thomas Harris* (d. 1672) in the county of IOW for many considerable caused me thereunto moving have and do by the srest constitie and ordeyne my be beloved friend Mr. Thomas Culmore of the county of Surry my true and lawfully attorney for me and to my ame and use to ask leavy recover of receive of Robert Spencer of the County of Surry all such somes of tobacco as shall appear due unto me within the county aforesaid. (B. 1, p. 149).

1.3. Judith Blake, m. Thomas Harris, in 1623, in Wiveliscombe.
1.3.1.Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1625, d. 1672, in Virginia, a business partner of Joseph Bridger Sr. and John Scott Sr., in Bristol, involved in the shipment pf wines to Virginia. (Bristol Record Office, Depositions)
1.3.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1655, d. 1712. He would have been of full age when he and his half-br., John, bought land from Joseph Bridger (in 1679) that had been that of their father. Consequently, it would be rational to assume he had a first wife before marrying Judith Edwards, after 1701.

Benjamin Harris. Judith Edwards would not necessarily devise lands to (of age) stepsons, but, rather, to a ‘son and heir at law’, following the English custom. Her ‘heir at law’ (by Thomas Harris), was Benjamin, who was in receipt of his maternal grandfather’s lands, which devolved to his ‘heir at law’, Mary. They were not the lands of Thomas Harris, Judith’s husband. Mary Harris. On Dec. 7, 1758, Mary Harris of Newport Parish, Isle of Wight Co. deeds all her interest in some land to Robert Tynes, of the same parish and county. Witnesses: (1) Joseph Bridger IV., great-grandson of Joseph Bridger I., business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Joseph Bridger was the half-brother of James Bridger, who m. Susan, dau. of Thomas Tynes, br. of Robert Tynes.

That is, the almost entirety of people associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, were connected to Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and the Blake and Westbrooke families of Wiveliscombe associated with him.

The inference is plain. This is an account of them, and their true descendants. It is not a justification of the beliefs of others claiming descent.

1.3.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1685; Will dated Dec. 25, 1729, rec. March 23, 1730, mentions: son, Joshua, bequesting him “my plantation and all my land being 400 ac. … unborn child wife now goes with (Thomas) … wife Hannah Harris* one half of balance of estate … brother Henry Harris; dau. Mary Harris”. He witnessed the Will of John Scott (R. July 28, 1729); b. in 1682, grandson of the business partner of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and who m. Joan, dau. of James Tooke, son of Thomas Tooke,* associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Mr. Charles Barham, Exor, Thomas Harris (d. 1672), and Thomas Tooke overseers, witnessed the Will of William Ridley, who was the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife. Charles Barham’s sister, Ann, m. Richard Bennett, second-cousin of the said Thomas Harris. Richard Bennett subsequently m. Sarah, second wife of Robert Lancaster Sr. *Hannah was probably Hannah Thorpe. *

THORPE

1. Robert Kae Sr., of Bristol.
1.1. Robert Kae, appraised the estate of John Wilson (with John Brantley, son of Edward Brantley Sr., who m. Katherine Wilson, the relict), rec. Aug. 9. 1694, p. 348. Robert Kae; with George Moore, divided the estate of Alice Collins, April 8, 1700, p. 442.
1.2. Elizabeth Kae, m. Timothy Fenn.
1.2.1. Dorothy Fenn, m. Joseph Thorpe, Sr.
1.2.1.1. *Thomas Thorpe Sr. (d. 1711), m. (1) Martha Jennings (d. 1702), sister of John Jennings, husband of Mary Hill, dau. of Sylvester Bennett, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.1.1. Sarah Thorpe, m. (1) William George, son of John George, and nephew of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.1.2. John Thorpe, appraisee of the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.2.1.2. Timothy Thorpe Sr., m. (2) Mary Lewis, n.b., granddau. of Richard Bennett, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.1.2.1. Timothy Thorpe Jr., witnessed (with Nathaniel Ridley Jr.), the Will of Edward Harris Jr., son of Edward Harris, and grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, rec. Sept. 22, 1740,
1.2.1.2.1.1. Joseph Thorpe, d. May 1762. Southampton Co. Court Order Book 1768-1772: John Ferguson was appointed guardian to orphans of Joseph Thorpe: John, Ann, Mary Harris. Nathaniel, p. 307.
1.2.1.2.1.1.2. Mary Thorpe, m. James Barham; b. 1730, d. June 1, 1791.
1.2.1.2.1.1.2.1. Martha Barham, m. Joel Harris (desc. of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), who settled in Guilford Co. NC, and died there before 1824,
1.2.1.2.1.2. Martha Thorpe, m. Daniel Ridley, son of Nathaniel Ridley Jr.
1.2.1.2.2. Mary Thorpe, m. Edward Harris Jr., son of Edward Harris, Sr., son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2.1.2.3. William Thorpe, Will proved May 7, 1727, in Surry Co. Leg. my mother Mary Thorpe (as heretofore given, Mary Lewis, granddau. of Richard Bennett, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; br. Joseph Thorpe, not yet 21 yrears of age; sisters Elizabeth EsselL, Sarah Thorpe, Olive Thorpe, Margaret Thorpe, Hannah Thorpe*. My father, Timothy Thorpe, Exec. Wit. William Seward, Simon Wilson. Dated Feb. 24, 1726. William Seward m. Elizabeth, dau. of William Holt. (B. 2, p. 260).
1.2.1.2.4. *Hannah Thorpe, m. (aft. May 7, 1727), Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. She m. (2) John Brantley (great-grandson of Edward Brantley Sr., security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), their son being William Brantley, who m. Hester Blake, parents of Blake Brantley. On chronological grounds, Hester Blake was almost certainly a dau. of Thomas Blake, d1789; see heretofore mentioned.

Thomas Harris, 290 ac. IOW, on the Maherrin River and both sides of Herbert’s Branch adj. Edward Brantley and William Simmons line, March 24, 1725
1. William Simmons Sr., age about 29, in a deposition in Surry Co. March 5, 1677/8. Will Prob. Oct. 21, 1693. (B. 4, p. 340).
1.1. John Simmons, b. ca. 1675, Will prob. April 19, 1738; names sons, William and John; Christopher Mooring appointed guardian. (Surry Court Orders, Lib. of VA, Reel 30, p. 33).
1.1.1. *William Simmons d. 1749; Thomas Westbrooke and Charles Barham were appraisers of his estate. (Southampton, B. 1, p. 22).
1.2. Edward Simmons, as per mother’s Will (Eliza Timberlake Davis, p. 120). He was first witness of the Will of John Westbrooke (proved July 23, 1733; W.B. 3, p. 357), father of *Thomas Westbrooke. John Westbrooke’s Will mentioned sons: John,* Thomas, William, and James. *John Westbrooke’s Will was rec. Jan. 22, 1770 (B.4., p. 272, Southampton Co.), which left a tract of land to (nephew) Samuel Westbrooke, on the N. side of the Meherrin River, bequeathed to him by his father, being a patent formerly granted to James Ramsey about 1725. Wit. Joshua Nicholson, Joshua Claud Jr.

1.3.1.1.1.1. Joshua Harris. His estate was appraised by Joshua Claud, Thomas Day (of Bennett association), and Samuel Westbrooke, on June 14, 1770, p. 324.

DESCENDANTS OF SOLOMOM HARRIS

1.3.1.1.1.2. Thomas Harris, b. ca. 1730, m. Elizabeth Goodwin.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1. Solomon Harris, lived in Mecklenburg Co. Mecklenburg and Union were adjoined counties. He m. Millie Watkins, on March 11, 1778, dau. of John Watkins and Lydia Gilliam.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1. Henry Harris, of Union Co., NC, m. the dau. of Frederick and Mary Fisher Starnes of Mecklenburg, NC. (1765-1816), the son of Frederick Starnes, Jr, who was killed in an Indian attack on his scouting party in 1779 in an event known in history as “Starnes Defeat”. Recorded in Union Co. D. B. 2, p. 29 is a deed of gift from Henry Harris to Hugh B. McCain. “I Henry Harris for the natural love and affection which I have for my well beloved son in Law H. B. McCain and daughter Eleonor his wife do hereby grant to be delivered at my death” two Negros. Dated Jan. 28, 1848.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1. Zachariah Harris. Union Co. D. B. 2, p. 323: Zachariah Harris of Pike County, Georgia, (which is where Zachariah was a minister of the Gospel at that time) appointed Hugh B. McCain of Union County to be his power of attorney. This document states that Hugh B. McCain was the administrator “in the Estate of my father Henry Harris late of said Union County.” Dated 16 April 1850, signed Zachariah Harris. In Union Co. D.B. 2, p. 78, a deed of gift recorded from Henry Harris to Mary C. Harris, “I Henry Harris of the County of Union and State of North Carolina for natural love and affection which I have for my well beloved daughter Mary C. Harris do hereby give grant and to be delivered” his Negro girl Harriet. Dated 28 September 1848. Henry Harris, his mark. Zachariah m. Mary Elizabeth Carricker, d. Dec. 23, 1891. (See 1850 Census of Pike Co., GA; 1860 Census of Dale Co., AL.; Death Certificate of James Harris, son.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1. James Harris (1842-1924), m. Mary Jane Dowling.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1. John Harris.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1. James Harris, of the Union Community near Slocomb. His test results with Family Tree DNA are a perfect match of those of Harris (Group 4) males –

13 23 14 11 13 14 11 14 11 12 11 28 16 7 9 8 11 23 16 20 29 12 14 15 15 10 10 19 21 14 14 16 20 35 37 12 10.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.

1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.2. Zachariah Harris, b. 1873.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.3. Fletcher Harris, b. 1875, m. Lena Saphronie Peters.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.4. Elizabeth Harris, b, 1878, m. James Irving Hagler.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.5. Nora Pearl Harris, b, 1884, m. Mowbria A. Anderson.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.5.1. Marius Lumon Anderson, m. Wynunnee McCamie, of Middlesboro, Kentucky, both buried there.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.5.2. Cosette Anderson, m. Royce D. Myers.
1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.5.2.1. Marjorie Ann Myers Reagan, Hartford, Ala. To whom many thanks are extended for her substantial contribution about Solomon Harris and his descendants.

Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

by m stanhope, copyright B.T. Shannon, 2023