Nelson Harris (1756 - 1820)

Born 1756 in Warren County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Long) Harris — married 30 Nov 1792 in Warren, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Elizabeth (Thomas) Harris — married 17 Oct 1812 in Hancock, Georgia, United States

Descendants

Died 8 May 1820 at about age 64 in Hancock, Georgia, United States

Biography

Nelson Harris served with 10th North Carolina Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Nelson Harris was born in 1756. Nelson Harris passed away in 1820.

Revolutionary War pension application for the service of Nelson Harris. Transcription online at http://revwarapps.org/r4668.pdf

18 Dec 1858, Columbia Co., AR
Elizabeth Harris of Columbia Co., AR, made the application.
She married Nelson Harris on 17 Oct 1812, Hancock Co., GA.
Her maiden name was Elizabeth Thomas.
Nelson Harris moved from North Carolina to Georgia.
He previously married Nancy Long, c. 1793, and they had eight children.
Nelson Harris died in May 1820, Hancock Co., GA.
Elizabeth moved from Georgia to Columbia Co., AR, around 1854.
Her children were:

1. Merrimoth Harris, b. July 1813, now dead.
   
2. Clara Harris, b. Feb 1815, now dead.
   
3. Nancy Harris, b. Mar 1818.
   
4. Jane Harris, b. June 1820.
   

30 Aug 1859, Guilford Harris of Fayette Co., GA, stated that his father, Nelson Harris, moved from NC to GA, married Nancy Long (who d. c. 1812), married Elizabeth Thomas in 1813 or 1814, and Nelson Harris died on 8 May 1820.
Elizabeth, the widow of Nelson Harris, died on 13 Aug 1871.

Will and Estate

Will of Nelson Harris. Hancock Co., GA, WB K, pp. 174-176, written 4 Apr 1820, proved 3 Jul 1820. Digital image at Ancestry.com - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/005759604_00097

my dear beloved wife and children
Apparently the children are all under age and unmarried.
Exrs: my three sons … Gilford Harris, Seaborn Harris and Drury Harris
Wit: Mins Sledge, Wm C. Barksdale, Wm Hudson

Distribution
22 Jan 1825, Hancock Co., GA - Frederick G. Thomas, Mins Sledge, and Wm C. Barksdale, appraisers, presented a distribution of the estate of Nelson Harris. The distributees were: ^[1]

1. Guilford Harris
2. Drury Harris
3. Hixey Harris, now Hixey Akins

10 Feb 1821 - Collin Sledge received his part of the estate.

10 Feb 1821 - Seaborn Harris received his part of the estate

22 Jan 1825 - Guilford Harris received his part of the estate

22 Jan 1825 - Drury Harris received his part of the estate

22 Jan 1825 - John Akins received his part of the estate

7 Jan 1829, Hancock Co., GA - On application of Seaborn Harris Exor. of Nelson Harris decd., the court appointed Frederick G. Thomas, Joseph Baldwin, Seaborn Laurence, Mins Sledge & William C. Barksdale to divide and distribute the estate of said decd. …and “to set off to Alston Harris his legacy…” ^[2]

4 Jan 1830, Hancock Co., GA - “It appearing to the Court that James Harris legatee of the estate of Nelson Harris decd, has become of age.” The court appointed commissioners to appraise the estate and assign to James Harris his distributive share. ^[3]

28 Jul 1830, Hancock Co., GA - Seaborn Harris Exor. of &c of Nelson Harris decd. presented an accounting of the estate to court.^[4] Some of the items were:

7 Apr 1829 - Cash advanced Matthew Harris minor Legatee - 4.43 3/4

7 Apr 1829 - Cash advanced Elizabeth Harris widow of decd. - 5.00

8 Jan 1834, Hancock Co., GA - Commissioners appointed by the Court “proceeded to appraise and divide the residue of the Estate of Nelson Harris deceased and assign to Burwell Jackson in right of his wife formerly Clara Harris his distributive share…” ^[5]

4 Aug 1834, Hancock Co., GA - “On the application of Guilford Harris and Seaborn Harris Executors of Nelson Harris decd., suggesting that Merimoth Harris one of the legatees has attained lawful age, and that Nancy Harris another of said legatees has intermarried with William Smith.” The court ordered that Joseph Baldwin, David Kendall, Robert Jackson, Mark Jackson & Anderson Allen of the County of Upson be appointed commissioners to assign to the “legatees herein before named their respective shares.” ^[6]

18 Dec 1834 - Receipt of Meremoth Harris for his share of the estate.

18 Dec 1834 - Receipt of Wm O Smith for his share of the estate.

2 Jan 1837, Hancock Co., GA - “On the application of Seaborn Harris one of the executors of Nelson Harris decd. and John Drayton Prater who intermarried with Jane Harris, it is ordered that Daniel Allen, Joseph Baldwin, James Horsley, Joseph Horsley & Henry Griffeth of the County of Upson be and they are hereby appointed to divide and set off to the said John Drayton Prater the share of the personal estate of said deceased to which he is entitled in right of his wife…” ^[7]

Research Notes

Middle names in the 18th century were rare. Nelson Harris' will and estate records in Hancock Co., GA, never mention the name "Robert." His father's will gives his name as, simply, Nelson. His will and estate records in Hancock Co., GA, give his name only as Nelson.

Sources

1. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB M, pp. 178-179. Digital images at Ancestry.com
2. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB M, pp. 435-438. Digital images at Ancestry.com
3. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB N, pp. 95-96. Digital images at Ancestry.com
4. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB M, p. 729. Digital images at Ancestry.com
5. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB N, pp. 334-336. Digital images at Ancestry.com
6. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB N, pp. 467-470. Digital images at Ancestry.com
7. ↑ Hancock Co., GA, WB P, pp. 27-30. Digital images at Ancestry.com

• Part 1 - The introduction to William Harris of Jamestown Roots Web
• Copeland,Harris,Lawrence,Neville,Pittman,Turner,Wheeler, Roots Web

See also

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K2VF-D69
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78317376/nelson-harris