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John Harris (1725 - 1790)

Rev. John Harris
Born in Somerset County, Marylandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1759 (to 1790) in Somerset County, Marylandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 64 in South Carolinamap
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Profile last modified | Created 9 Feb 2011
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Biography

1776 Project
Enlisted in Little River South Carolina as physician and surgeon John Harris served with South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution
John Harris is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A051722.

John Harris was born 1725 and died 1790.

In 1753, John obtained an AB degree from the College of New Jersey in Newark, Essex Co., New Jersey (now Princeton U.).

"JOHN HARRIS, A.B., b Eastern Shore, MD, Sept 29, 1725, of Welsh parents; A.B., Princeton, 1753; Lic. Oct. 12, 1753; Ord. Indian River, DE, 1756-1769; Salisbury, MD, Wicomico Chh., 1756-1764; Princess Anne, MD., Manokin Chh., 1756-1764; sett. Ninety-Six (Abbeville) SC, Long Canes, SC, 1772-1779; Bulltown, SC, 1772-1779; Greenville, SC, Saluda Chh., 1772-1773; Physician; Membr. SC Prov. Cong.; Old Side Pres.; d 1790."[1, 2]

". . . In 1756 he was ordained Pastor of Indian River, near Lewes, DE and resigned in 1769. In the spring, of that year he was sent by the Synod to VA or North Carolina and parts of South Carolina under 'our care'. He joined Orange Presbytery in 1774 and was set off with five others to join South Carolina Presbytery in 1784."[3]

John and Mary Dashiell Handy were married in 1759 - about the first of the year - in Somerset County, Maryland.[5]

They had 6 children who emigrated to South Carolina with them in 1773.[5]

"In statue Mrs Harris was low and stout, and her eyes and hair were black." [5]

John, who played a violin, was square built and of a sturdy frame.[5]

Rev./Dr. Harris enlisted at Little River, Abbeville Co., SC and served as a physician and surgeon in the militia.[6]

"It is also recorded in several histories that Rev. John was one of the 20 Delegates from 96 Dist. to serve at the 2nd Provincial Congress (1775-76) held at 'Charles-Town' in Dec 1775."[4]

"Rev. John made a will (the date of actual signing has been torn off the original), and it was filed for probate 5 Apr 1790. (File B 107, pack 2895, filed 1830, Abbeville Co., SC, J. Calhoun, Atty.). . .[4] "I John Harris, Minister of the Gospel, Give and bequeath to my eldest son Handy Harris, that tract of land I took up lying on Savannah R. between lands taken up by Peter Collins & lands belonging to John Calhoun Esq. To him the said Handy & his heirs forever:

"Item. I give & bequeath unto my second son John Harris that tract of land on which he now lives to him & his heirs forever.

"Item. I give & bequeath unto my second daughter Elizabeth Erving (sic) the wife of Joseph Erving (sic) the plantation on which I now live to her & her heirs forever upon condition that the same Joseph Erving (sic) his heirs Executors or Administrations make a sufficient title to a good Negro boy or fellow between the ages of sixteen and thirty within the terms of fourteen months from the date thereof: & also that he permit me to take my use of the peach trees now standing in the nursery & also the maple trees not fit to be transplanted.

"Item. I give & bequeath to my eldest daughter Anne Handy McCurdy a tract of land lying on the…………also I bequeath to my granddaughter Elizabeth Leurina McCurdy one Negro girl named Sal. It is also my will that two tracts of land lying upon the Keowee R. be sold by my Executors when they should think such sale most proper for the benefit for my said daughter Anne who out of the sale of said lands shall be made equal with what she & her daughter Elizabeth (of said equality, my wife & son John shall be the sole judges) & if after the above application of the price of said lands; if there be any remainder it shall be divided among my heirs at the discretion of my Executors.

"Item. I give & bequeath to my youngest son Thomas Harris that tract of land which I bought of Charles Collins to him & his heirs forever; excepting one third part thereof which I reserve to use of my beloved wife during her natural life & widowhood which third part shall be laid off to her as she shall chose (sic).

"Item. I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Harris one small tract of land adjoining the last mentioned tract containing about seventy acres and also all my real or personal estate during her natural life & widowhood after the payment out of it of all my just debts.

"Item. I do hereby appoint my beloved wife Mary Harris Executrix and my Sons Handy and John Harris Executors of this my last will and Testament.

"Signed sealed and published and declared by the Testator in the presence of each other." Wits: Robert Hall /s/ John Harris John Bowie Joseph Watson[4]

"The ashes of this excellent couple repose, side by side, under a cluster of cedars not far from the Savannah River, on the place last settled by the family. The spot may be found on the road leading from Calhoun's Mills to Abbeville Court House, and is designated by the remains of a stone wall, which once surrounded these hallowed graves."[5]



Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Ancestor A051722
Served as a Physician and Sergeon in Militia.
Member of Assembly, 1776-1778

Source of service:

SALLEY & WATES, STUB ENTRIES TO INDENTS, BOOK O, P 79, LIBER O, #470 ; HEMPHILL, STATE RECS OF SC, JOURNALS OF THE GEN ASSEMBLY & HOUSE OF REPS 1776-1780, PP 306, 312

Sources

1. "The Colonial Clergy of Maryland, Delaware, and Georgia," Weis, Frederick Lewis, Lancaster, Mass., 1950, P. 76.

2. "The Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina," Weis, Frederick Lewis, Boston: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1955, P. 79.

3. "A History of the Presbyterian Church in America: From Its Origin until the Year 1760," Webster, Richard, 2009, Pp. 670, 699.

4. "Our Family Harris," Turner, Betty Jo (Burns), 2004. Pp. 1, 1118 (Addendum).

5. "Annals & Memorials of the HANDYs & Their Kindred," Handy, Isaac W. K., D.D., edited by Mildred Handy Richie & Sarah Rozelle Handy Mallon, William L. Clements Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1992, Pp. 19, 49, 50, 52, 148.

6. "DAR Patriot Index, Centennial Edition, Part 2," National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Centennial Administration, Washington: 1990, P. 1323.

The above biographical footnotes 1-6 were added by Judith (Drew) Brittingham, his 6th great-granddaughter.

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  • John Harris, DAR Patriot Ancestor #A051722.


Possible Matches:
  • South Carolina Treasury, "Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the Revolution, L - N" (Columbia, South Carolina : The State Company, 1910), p. 142, no. 238, book M, p. 147, no. 257, book M and p. 197, no. 452, book M.
  • South Carolina Treasury, "Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the Revolution R - T" (Columbia, South Carolina : The State Company, 1917), p. 196, no. 578, book 8 and p. 261, no. 381 book T.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80911367/john-harris: accessed 17 October 2023), memorial page for Rev John “Dr. Harris” Harris Sr. (29 Sep 1725–1790), Find a Grave Memorial ID 80911367, citing Rev John Harris Family Cemetery, Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Meredith Drew Trawick (contributor 46908319).

Acknowledgements

This person was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.





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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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This John is attached to the wrong parents. Nathaniel was born and died in NJ
posted by Robin White