Sarah (Billingsley) Harris (1659 - 1731)

Born 1659 in Calvert County, Maryland

Wife of John Hance — married 1695 in Calvert County, Province of Maryland

Died 1731 at about age 72 in Calvert County, Maryland

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Caution

Many genealogies including "Find a Grave" show Sarah Billingsley as the wife of John Pollard of Dorchester County. This is incorrect. While Sarah Billingsley was living a full life with four husbands in Calvert County, Sarah, wife of John Pollard was living her live in Dorchester County, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, across the Chesapeake Bay. Please do not attempt to merge these two Sarahs!

Biography

Name

Norma Lundgren names John Hance's last wife as Sarah Billingsley ^[1][2]

Birth and Parentage

Sarah Billingsley was born about 1665, the daughter of Thomas Billingsley, b. 1630, and his wife Elizabeth. ^[2][3]

To Add

Thomas Billingsley^[4]

Sarah Billingsley was born ABT 1665. Sarah: b 1665 married

(1) prior to 1692 John Roberts;

m (2) John Clare,

and (3) John Hance,

and (4) Harris.

he is mentioned in will of Francis Billingsley 1692.

John Hance dated his will 14 Feb. 1708 and it was probated 22 May 1709, Calvert Co., Md.

Wife, Sarah, one half of plantation and one half of personality:

She to pay daughter Elizabeth 100 pounds at 16 years of age, and said daughter to have sd lands at death of her mother.

My wife’s two sons, Robert Roberts and John Clare, personalty.

Son in law: Christopher Kellet, devised land in Maryland, no wife or children mentioned and his wife was probably a daughter by a prior marriage.

It may also be that he is a step son.

Christopher Kellet dated his will 17 Feb. 1710 and it was probated 17 May 1710. Leaves part of estate to Sarah Hance and John Leveal, residue to Brother Benjamin Hance who is named executor.

Son, Benjamin Hance, residue of land in Md. at about 18 years of age & if he died without heirs to daughter Elizabeth and Christopher Kellet aforesaid and heirs.

Sarah married (4) a Mr. Harris prior to 1715 and was living at that date and mentioned in will of her mother. They had, known

1. Mary Roberts: b 16 living in 1722 and named in will of Thomas Billingsley, Jr.
2. Robert Roberts: b 16 was named in will of Thomas Billingsley Jr. in 1722.
3. John Clare: b 16 was living 1722 and named in will of Thomas Billingsley, Jr.
4. Elizabeth Hance: b 1 .
5. Benjamin Harris: b 1 .

^[4]

First Marriage to John Clare

Sarah first married John Clare, born about 1663. Children born to this marriage were John and Hannah.^[2] Sarah's son John Clare is shown as John Claw, to receive personalty, in John Hance's will. ^[5]

1693 Second Marriage to Robert Roberts

Sarah secondly married Robert Roberts, born about 1650. They were married before 16 May 1693 in Calvert County, MD. Children born to this marriage were Anne and Robert.^[2] Sarah's son Robert Roberts is to receive personalty in John Hance's will. ^[5]

1700 Third Marriage to John Hance

Sarah married a third time to John Hance, born in England 1625. They were married about 1700 in Calvert County, Maryland. Children of this marriage were Elizabeth and John. John was born after 3 March 1708/9, after his father's death. ^[2]

When John Hance died, he was married to Sarah -- not Sarah Leigh but another, younger Sarah, Sarah Billingsley.

John Hance's third marriage abt 1700 in Calvert County, MD was to Sarah Billingsley b: abt 1665. Children of marriage were Elizabeth Hance, and John Hance b: after 3 1708/9. ^[1]

1709 Death of husband John Hance

John Hance died before 22 May 1709 in Calvert County, MD^[1]

The will of John Hance, Calvert County, MD, was written 14th Feb., 1708-9; and proved 22nd May, 1709. ^[5]

• To wife Sarah, 1/2 dwelling plantation (bought from Bassill Warring) and 1/2 personalty, she paying to dau. Elizabeth £100 at 16 yrs. or marriage, sd. dau. to inherit afsd. land at decease of her mother.
• To Christopher Kellett, all land at Battle Creeke bought from Peter and Ignatius Sewall.
• to wife's 2 sons, viz., Robert Roberts and Jno, Claw, personalty.
• To Quakers, 3 A., part of "Neventon" where The Clifts Meeting House stands, and £10.
• To son Benjamin, residue of land in Md. and of personalty at 18 yrs. He dying without issue, his estate to pass to dau. Eliza: and Chr. Kellett afsd. and hrs.
• Ex.: Richd. Johns,, Sr., and should he die Aquilla Johns to administer.
• Test: Elinor Harris, David Morgan, Nathanll. Giles, Henry Drinkwater., Eliza Giles.

.....by codicil March 3, 1708, testator show that he had purchased 3 parcells of land from Abraham Johns, deceased, near Hunting Creek, viz., "Partnership", "Tanney's Ease", and "Hance Lane" for which residue of payment is to be made to Joseph Tilley, and devises sd. lands to probable unborn child. In event of child not being born, or of its decease during minority, sd. lands to pass to daug. Elizabeth afsd. and hrs. , and in succession to son Benjamin. Should son Benjamin die without issue, his estate to pass to sd. Elizabeth and son-in-law Christopher Kellett and unborn child. ^[5]

John Hance 30.43 I CA £1160.1.2 Jun 7 1709

• Appraisers: John Leach, James Heigh.
• Approvers: Sarah Hance, Benjamin Hance.
• Mentions: Peter Sawell, Benjamin Hance (under 18).
• List of debts: Peter Sawell, Sampson Warring, Robert Blinkhorne, Edward Batson, William Angle, John Burton per William Angle, Richard Craford, note by Griffith Williams on Robert Day, Thomas Morgan, Thomas Day, William Robison, Jr., note by Thomas Day on John Wilkison, Roger Boyce, Richard Meakins, note by James Macclannin on Thomas Docwra, Sarah Talbot, John Millis, Thomas Bourne, Joseph Baker, John Hutchins, Joseph Harris, Joseph Blake, Robert Hall, George Freeman, Elisabeth Bourne, John Perwiele, Gabriel D'Emillion on John Parker, Dorothy Ellis on John Parker, William Parker on John Parker, Robert Hall on William Parker, Edward Blackfun, Henry Drinkwater.

John Hance 32B.231 A CA £1159.4.8 £1299.10.9 Jul 25 1711

• Received from: Perigen Browne, Dean Kock, Jame Wagstaff, Jonathon Scarth, wife (unnamed) of William Skine, John Beirulle, Anthony Connell.
• Payments to: executor of Abraham Johns made to Jos. Tilly, John Johnson, John Taylor, Anthony Connell & John Perrivile, Robert Skinner, John Mills, George Freeman, Jos. Tilly, John Parker, Richard Johns, Richard Calvert, Anne Morgan, William Parker.
• Legatees: Christopher Kellett, Robert Roberts & John Clare paid their mother (unnamed) as guardian.
• Distribution to: Sarah Hance (widow), Benjamin Hance (son).
• Executor: Richard Johns (Quaker).

These are the suggested relationships of the children named in the will:

• Elizabeth -- daughter of John Hance and second Sarah, under age 16 in 1709.
• Christopher Kellett -- named as "son-in-law" which may mean "husband of Elizabeth" or may mean step-son.
• Robert Roberts -- son of second Sarah by an earlier marriage.
• Jno Claw -- son of second Sarah by an earlier marriage
• Benjamin -- son of John Hance and second Sarah. Not married at time of will.

1711 Fourth Marriage to Benjamin Harris

After the death of John Hance, Sarah married a fourth time, to Benjamin Harris. They were married after 25 July 1711 in Calvert County, Maryland. One child was born of this marriage, Benjamin, born after 1715 in Calvert County.

1712 Executor for Thomas Parker

In 1712, she was executor for Thomas Parker. Norma Lundgren asks, "Why were Sarah and Benjamin Hance executors?" Possible Answer -- because Parker owed money to John Hance, who was now dead?

William Parker 33B.18 A CA £24.1.0 £96.15.4 Jul 14 1712

• Received from: Capt. Thomas Demsey, William Kid, Benjamin Harris, Samuell Warner, Mathew Gardner, Henry Bussey, James Beecham, John Pervile, Samuel Goff, John Cobreath, Samuell Galloway, James Willmot, Robert Heighe, John Rose, William Kidd, Jeremiah Sheredine, A. Miller, John Kent.
• Payments to: John Hance, executor of Mr. Hunt, Richard Dallam.
• Administrators: Benjamin Hance (Quaker), Sarah Hance. ^[2]

1730 Death and Will

Sarah died before 19 APR 1731 in Calvert County, MD^[2]

Harris, Sarah, Calvert Co., 19th Sept., 1730; 19th April, 1731.

• To 2 daus. and 2 sisters, viz. Ann Roberts, Hannah Clare, Mary Howell and Rebecca Young, personalty.
• 2 sons Robert Roberts and John Clare, exs., each £80.
• 3 sons, viz. Robert Roberts, John Clare and Benjamin Harris, residue of estate; 1/3 thereof to son Robert, he paying his dau. Mary £5; 1/3 to son John, he paying to each of his sons now living £5, and 1/3 to son Benjamin and hrs. at age of 21; shd. son Benjamin die during minority or without issue, his portion to 2 sons afsd.
• Test: Dr. James Somervell, William Skinner, William Oulds.
• 27th May, 1731. John Clare renounces as ex. 20,184.^[2]

These are the suggested relationships of the children named in the will:

• Ann Roberts, daughter
• Hannah Clare, daughter
• Mary Howell, sister
• Rebecca Young, sister,
• Robert Roberts, son, executor
• John Clare, son, executor (renounced)
• Benjamin Harris, son, a minor in 1730
• Mary, son of Robert Roberts

Sarah Harris 11.506 A CA £825.17.0 £980.7.0 Oct 25 1732

• Received from: Capt. William Reynolds, Mr. John Hanbury (merchant in London).
• Payments to: George Harris & Benjamin Hance & Isaac Johns & William Harris (trustees appointed by will of Benjamin Harris for 2/3rds of his estate to his son Benjamin Harris (minor)), William Young, John Stallings, John Rigby, Thomas Cockshutt, William Mackcullum, William Skinner, Dr. John Hamilton, James Somervell, Isaac Johns, Richard Smith, Roderick Cheyne, John Washinton, John Walker.
• Legatees: Rebecca Young, Hannah Clare, Ann Roberts, Mary Howell.
• Executor: Robert Roberts (of Kent County).^[2]

Sarah Harris 14.236 A CA £127.4.3 May 19 1736 Received from: John Clare, Thomas Chambers, John Broome. Payments to: Isaac Johns & George Harris (trustees appointed by Benjamin Harris (dead) due from the deceased to Benjamin Harris (son of said Benjamin), George Harris guardian for Benjamin Harris (minor, his portion of his father's (unnamed) estate). Executor: Mr. Robert Roberts of Kent County.^[2]

Children of Sarah Billingsley Clare Roberts Hance Harris

1. John Clare -- shown as Jno Claw in John Hance's will, where he is r-- son of Sarah Billingsley by an earlier marriage. Named in John Hance's will to redeive personalty. ^[5] Executor and inheritor of 1/3 of property in mother's 1731 will. ^[2]Listed on Find-A-Grave. ^[3]
2. Hannah Clare. To receive personalty in mother's 1731 will. ^[2]
3. Robert Roberts -- son of Sarah Billingsley by an earlier marriage. Named in John Hance's will to receive personalty. ^[5] Executor and inheritor of 1/3 of property in mother's 1731 will.^[2]
4. Anna Roberts. To receive personalty in mother's 1731 will.^[2]Listed on Find-A-Grave. ^[3]
5. Elizabeth Hance, daughter of John Hance and Sarah Billingsley. ^[1] Married Christopher Kellett. Both named in father's 1708 will. Christopher named to receive all land at Battle Creeke bought from Peter and Ignatius Sewall. ^[5] Not named in her mother Sarah's 1731 will. ^[2]Listed on Find-A-Grave. ^[3]
6. John Hance, son of John Hance and Sarah Billingsley, b. after father's will was written 3 March 1708/9 and named in codicil as unborn child. ".....by codicil March 3, 1708, testator show that he had purchased 3 parcells of land from Abraham Johns, deceased, near Hunting Creek, viz., "Partnership", "Tanney's Ease", and "Hance Lane" for which residue of payment is to be made to Joseph Tilley, and devises sd. lands to probable unborn child. In event of child not being born, or of its decease during minority, sd. lands to pass to daug. Elizabeth afsd. and hrs. , and in succession to son Benjamin. Should son Benjamin die without issue, his estate to pass to sd. Elizabeth and son-in-law Christopher Kellett and unborn child." ^[5] Not named in his mother Sarah's 1731 will. ^[2]
7. Benjamin Harris, still a minor and named in his mother's 1731 will.^[2]Listed on Find-A-Grave. ^[3]

Lundgren shows only one Harris child, above. Find-a Grave shows two more:

1. Joseph Harris (1712 - ____)*^[3]
2. William Harris (1720 - ____)*^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Norma Lundgren, "John Hance" My Bunch, Rootsweb. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nlndgrn&id=I24070. Accessed May 9, 2015
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16} Norma Lundgren, "Sarah Billingsley" My Bunch. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nlndgrn&id=I36207
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Find A Grave Memorial# 68201305
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Harry Alexander Davis. The Billingsley Family in America, Part I. Washington, D. C., 1936. Republished Tuttle Antiquarian Books, Rutland, VT (802) 773 8229. pp. 16-20
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Baldwin, Jane. "Calendar of Maryland Wills 1635-1738. pages 131-132. Cited by Lundgren.

See also:

Brashear, Charles; McCoy, Shirley Brasher, A Brashear(s) Family History: Descendants of Robert and Benois Brasseur: Vol. 1: The First 200 Years of Brashear(s) in America, and Some Descendants in Maryland (5025 Old Cliffs Rd., San Diego, CA 92120-1151, Ph: 619/265-7674, brashear AT mail.sdsu.edu, 1998), pages 12-14