A Harris researcher of very long standing wrote to me several days ago to ask my opinion on the possibility of the Thomas Harris who died in 1729/30 being a son of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, who died before his father. This proposition was quite popular at one time, I am informed, but, as my correspondent says, is a view that was “shot down in flames” when daring to rear its head.

All that follows is just a collection of deeds and Wills sent to me concerning Joshua Harris, son Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. They have been placed within genealogical tables, of the families of Harris, Claud, Drew, and Thorpe. Whatever the case, the fact is that the various branches of this Harris family stemmed from a Westbrooke heiress, with this association continuing throughout successive generations in Virginia, and to propose differently is as placing a cuckoo in their nest.

I leave aside my own view. I might add, though, the greater the need to survive or prosper, the greater the attraction for cousins to intermarry, and their offspring – children of a thicker blood – hardly discernable, one from the other.

HARRIS

1. Edward Harris, m. Mary Turner.
1.1. Edward Harris, Mary (Thorpe) Myrick.
1.1.1. Hardy Harris.

1.1.2. Henry Harris Sr. (d. in 1755 in Southampton Co.), m. Mary dau. of Thomas Drew and Elizabeth Wood.
1.1.2.1. Henry Harris, m. Mary Parker, in 1787, in Greensville. Henry Harris died in Southampton Co. in 1791, leaving most of his estate to his dau., Nancy (when of age), with the remainder of his estate to be divided among the children of his four deceased brothers: Benjamin, Meshalind, Abraham, and Hardy Harris.
1.1.2.1.1. Nancy Harris, m. John FitzHugh, on Nov. 1, 1806, son of Thomas FitzHugh (1747-1810), and Priscilla Drew, married on Jan. 14, 1768, in St. Luke’s Parish, Southampton Co.. (Register of Marriages, 1750-1853, p. 13). ). Landon Harris, estate appraised by Thomas FitzHugh, John Taylor Sr., and Sterling Capel. (R. June 11, 1795, p. 686).
Priscilla Drew was the dau. of Newitt Drew, who m. (1734) Mary Purcell. He d. in 1775; exec. (son) Jeremiah Drew, p. 265. Jeremiah Drew witnessed the Will of Phillip Claud, son of Joshua Claud Sr., and brother of Joshua Claud Jr., who witnessed the Will of Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. If the proposition being considered has merit, Henry Harris, who m. Mary Parker, in 1787, was a cousin of the said Joshua Harris.

1.1.3. Edward Harris III, d. 1781 in Granville, NC., m. Elizabeth (dau. of Edward Lundy Sr., son of James Lundy Sr.), sister of: Byrd Lundy, who d. bef. July 8, 1779 in Southampton Co., m. Phoebe Claud, bef. Oct. 16, 1773, dau. of Joshu Claud Sr., and sister of Joshua Claud Jr. , who witnessed the Will of Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. James Lundy. Edward Lundy Jr. John Lundy. Drury Lundy. If Edward Harris III. was the nephew of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, he was a cousin of Joshua Harris, and he was a brother-in-law of Byrd Lundy, who married Phoebe Claud, sister of Joshua Claud Jr.

1.1.4. Lewis Harris, m. Sarah, dau. of Timothy Thorpe Sr.

1.1.5. Amos Harris. Aug 13, 1752: Amos Harris (with James Ridley and John Myrick), witnessed sale by Benjamin Hale and wife Judith to David Newsom of 100 ac. on N. side of Three Creeks, adj. Edward Robertson, John Smith, on Myry Branch, and Hornet Swamp, part of patent for 200 ac. to Thomas Newsum, father of sd David, on Sept. 16, 1740. (Southampton Co., D.B. 1, pp. 371-374). Amos Harris, Timothy Thorpe, and John Spence witnessed the sale of Henry Ivy Sr. to Henry Ivy Jr., dated Aug. 8, 1754, of 100 ac. on the N. side of Three Creeks. (B.2., pp. 41-42). Amos Harris appraised the estate of Joshua Claud Sr., father of the said Phoebe Claud. By the proposition under discussion, Amos Harris was also a cousin of Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.

1.1.6. Joel Harris.
1.1.7. Mary (Harris) Lewis. Southampton Co. Register of Marriages 1750-1853, p. 1 – Benjamin Lewis to Mary Harris, spinster, mother Mary Myrick.
1.1.7.1. Jane Lewis, m. William Simmons, on Sept 7, 1790, in Southampton Co.

HARRIS cont.

1.2. Jacob Harris. 1.3. Nathan Harris. 1.4. Daniel Harris. 1.5. James Harris. 1.6. West Harris Sr.
1.7. Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30?
1.7.1. Joshua Harris. His estate was appraised by Joshua Claud Jr., Thomas Day, and Samuel Westbrooke, on June 14, 1770, p. 324. Joshua Harris witnessed the Will of Samuel Westbrooke, rec. Aug. 13, 1761, p. 390.

1.8. Martha (Harris) Williamson. She m. Francis Williamson, their son, Francis, named John Williamson* as his brother in his Will, rec. Feb. 13, 1782, p. 167. Exec. Micajah Holliman. This link is of a simple kind, as in previous notes: (1. Arthur Holleman, m. Margaret White, thus, he was the brother-in-law of John Harris. 1.1. Micajah Holleman, m. Mary Williamson, Jan. 22, 1774, Southampton Co.; Howell Harris, son of John Harris and Avis White, bondsman).

1. … 1.1. Arthur Williamson, m. Ann Exum. 1.1.1. Arthur Williamson Jr., d. March 9, 1781, in Sussex Co. 1.1.1.1. Sarah Williamson, m. Thomas Gilliam Jr. on May 19, 1774, in Sussex Co. 1.2. Francis Williamson, m. Martha Harris. 1.2.1. Francis Williamson. 1.2.2. John Williamson, m. Mary Claud:

CLAUD

1. Joshua Claud Sr. Exs. Sons, John and William, Joshua Nicholson. Rec. Dec. 14, 1775, Wit. Samuel Westbrooke Sr., Samuel Westbrooke Jr., John Westbrook. Estatea appraised by Joshua Nicholson, Amos Harris, and John Barrow. (Rec. Jan. 11, 1776, p. 144). Henry Ivey, estate appraised by James Ridley and Joshua Nicholson. (Rec. Feb. 8, 1776, p. 146).
1.1. John Claud. leg. – wife Sally, exs. John and Henry Barrow. Wit. Phillip Claud,* John Westbrook. (Rec. Feb. 13, 1794, p. 608).
1.2. William Claud.

1.3. *Phillip Claud. leg. – son Newitt, son Joshua. Exs. wife, and Jeremiah Drew. Wit. Thomas Gilliam Jr., Robert Wilkins, Mathew Morrell. (Rec. June 10, 1773, p. 57). Estate account audited by Jesse Drew and Thomas Turner. (Rec. Sept. 13, 1781, p. 342). Thomas Gilliam was the son of Thomas Gilliam Sr., Will rec. Dec. 12, 1793, p. 584, to which he was exec.; witnessed by John Simmons Sr. Jeremiah Drew, estate acount audited by John Wright and John Simmons Sr., Mark Nicholson.

John Simmons Sr. was the son of John Simmons (Will prob. April 19, 1738 (B. 8, p. 836), brother of (1) William Simmons: 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. (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), which mentions 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.

1.4. Joshua Claud Jr. Joshus Claud of St. Luke’s Parish. Leg. my estate to my sister Phoebe Lundy’s children. Ex. bothers-in-law Byrd Lundy and Drury Lundy. Wit. Edward Harris, Edward Lundy, and Solomon Harrison. (Rec. Feb. 15, 1777). It was probably Joshua Claud Jr. who witnessed the Will of Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. Edward Harris was Edward Harris III, as follows, who d. 1781 in Granville, NC., who m. Elizabeth (dau. of Edward Lundy Sr., son of James Lundy Sr.), sister of: Byrd Lundy, d. before 8 Jul 1779 in Southampton, who m. Phoebe Claud, bef. Oct. 16, 1773, sister of Joshua Claud Jr. Transaction of Joshua Claud, dated. Nov.4, 1775, wit. John Pierce, Britain Brantley, and (brother-in-law), John Blake. (Rec. Dec. 22, 1775, p. 141).
1.5. Phoebe (Claud) Lundy.
1.6. Elizabeth (Claud) Mundell, m. John Mundell Sr., of St Luke’s Parrish. She was executor of his Will (1786), to which John Claud and Willliam Claud were witnesses.
1.7. Lydia (Claud) Clifton, m. John Clfton.
1.8. Mary (Claud) Williamson. She m. *John Williamson, who appraised the estate of Edwin Seward, with James Lundy and George Ivy. (Rec. Oct. 20, 1800, p. 211). John Williamson witnessed the Will of Edmund Harris (with Peyton Lundy and Francis Branch), rec. Aug. 21, 1797. Leg. – wife Elizabeth; to my five children: Sterling, John, Peyton, James, and Charlotte Turner.

DREW

1. Edward Drew, m. Frances Newitt.
1.1. Newitt Drew, m. (1734) Mary Purcell. He d. in 1775; exec. Jeremiah Drew, p. 265. Jeremiah Drew witnessed the Will of Phillip Claud, son of Joshua Claud Sr., and brother of Joshua Claud Jr., who witnessed the Will of Joshua Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30.
1.1.1. Jesse Drew, m. Ann (Blount) Wright, on Feb. 18, 1781, in Southampton Co. Jesse Drew, leg: estate to be divided between Jeremiah (brother and exec.) and Thomas FitzHugh (exec.). Wit. Timothy Thorpe*. (Rec. June 13, 1782, p. 434).

1.1.2. Priscilla Drew, m. Thomas FitzHugh (1747-1810), on Jan. 14, 1768, in St. Luke’s Parish, Southampton. (Register of Marriages, 1750-1853, p. 13). Landon Harris, estate appraised by Thomas FitzHugh, John Taylor Sr., and Sterling Capel. (R. June 11, 1795, p. 686).

1.1.2.1. John FitzHugh, m. Nancy Harris, on Nov. 1, 1806, dau. of Henry Harris, who m. Mary Parker, in 1787, in Greensville. Henry Harris died in Southampton Co. in 1791, leaving most of his estate to his dau., Nancy (when of age), with the remainder of his estate to be divided among the children of his four deceased brothers: Benjamin, Meshalind, Abraham, and Hardy Harris. (Southampton Co, W.B. 4, p. 428). Henry was the son of Henry Harris Sr. (d. in 1755 in Southampton Co.), and Mary, dau. of Thomas Drew and Elizabeth Wood.

1.1.3. Patience Drew, m. Isham Smith, on July 12, 1762.
1.1.3.1. Charles Smith, bapt. Nov. 2, 1769, in Albemarle Parish, Surry, m. Susanna Williamson (b. ca. 1770), on March 14, 1796, in Sussex Co. She was the dau. of Arthur Williamson Jr. (d. 1783), and Rebecca Robinson, who m. (2) Buckner Lanier, on April 17, 1783, in Sussex Co.; son of Sampson Lanier Jr., and brother of Rebecca (Lanier) Harris.

1.1.4. Jeremiah Drew, estate account, paid Thomas FitzHugh’s legacy; paid Ansalem Harris’ legacy (Absalom), paid Newitt Edwards for the Drew orphans; to Henry Thorpe his wife’s legacy; Newitt Drew’s legacy. Audited by John Wright, John Simmons, and Edward Fisher. (Rec. July 19, 1794, p. 633).

1.2. Thomas Drew (d. 1757, in Halifax Co.), m. Elizabeth Wood.
1.2.1. Mary Drew, m. Henry Harris.
1.2.1.1. Henry Harris (d. 1791), m. Mary Parker, in 1787, in Greensville.
1.2.1.1.1. Nancy Harris, m. John FitzHugh.
1.2.1.2. Benjamin, Meshalind, Abraham, and Hardy Harris.

1.3. Mary Drew, m. John Harris, d. bef. Dec. 13, 1764, in Southampton Co. John Harris, admin., leg. “sons Drew, Nathan, John, Newit, and Thomas. Exs. “son Nathan and Edward Drew”. Wit. Simon Harris, Jesse Jones. (R. Dec. 13, 1764, p. 108). Simon Harris, grandson of George Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.3.1. Mary Harris, m. Henry Harris, perhaps the son of Edward Harris and Mary Thorpe.

THORPE

1. Joseph Thorpe, Sr., m. Dorothy Fenn, dau. of Timothy Fenn and Elizabeth Kae, dau. of Robert Kae, of Bristol.
1.1. Timothy Thorpe Sr.
1.1.1. *Timothy Thorpe, m Martha.
1.1.1.1. Martha Thorpe, m. Daniel Ridley, son of Nathaniel Ridley Jr.
1.1.1.2. Mary Thorpe, m. James Barham, great-grandson of Charles Barham. (Richard Bennett’s first wife was Anne Barham, sister of Charles Barham).

1.1.2. Mary Thorpe, m. (1) Edward Harris Jr. (Will witnessed by Daniel Ridley’s father), son of Edward Harris and Mary Turner, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Was Edward Harris Jr. a brother of Thomas Harris, who d. 1729/30, before his father?, and was mentioned in the Will of John Gibbins as “Thomas Harris son of Edward”. If so, This Thomas Harris was a brother-in-law of William Thorpe, as his brother, Lewis Harris.

1.1.3. William Thorpe, Will proved May 7, 1727, in Surry Co. Leg. my mother Mary Thorpe (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.

1.1.4. *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.

What say you, then, is this proposition worthy of consideration, or is it to be “shot down in flames”?, as it goes without question that the father of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30, was certainly someone else; certainly?

by m stanhope, copyright B.T. Shannon 2024