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William Harris (1672 - abt. 1746)

William Harris
Born in Henrico County, Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of [half], [half], , [half] and
Husband of — married 28 Jul 1694 in Albemarle County, Colony of Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , , , and
Died about at about age 74 in Virginiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 30 Dec 2010
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Contents

Biography

William Harris was the son of Maj. William Harris (c1629-1678) who was son of Captain Thomas Harris of Jamestown. [1]

While he was still a child, his father died and his mother remarried to George Alves or Alvis.

He was under 16 years old in April 1678 when he moved with his mother and stepfather, [George Alves], from Henrico County to New Kent County, Virginia. [1]

William Harris married on 28 Jul 1694 in Albemarle County, Virginia to Mary Giles who was born at The Forks in Hanover County, Virginia, and their children included ...

  1. Richard Harris, b: c1694
  2. David Harris, b: c1696
  3. Edward Harris, b: c1697
  4. Elizabeth Harris, b: 02 Nov 1698 Hanover Co, VA; bpt: 27 Nov 1698 St.Peter's Parish, New Kent Co, VA
  5. George Harris, bpt: 13 Apr 1701 St.Peter's Parish, New Kent Co, VA
  6. John Harris, bpt: 28 Mar 1704 [2]
  7. William Harris, III, b: 1710 Henrico Co, VA (his daughter Agnes Harris m: John Cawthon and their daughter m: David Alvis, Jr.)
  8. Thomas Harris, b: 1712 The Forks, Hanover Co, VA
  9. Stephen Harris, b: 1714
  10. Agnes Harris (confirmation needed) m: William Gilliam.

He resided in a number of Virginia counties including Henrico, New Kent, Hanover and Louisa. [1]

"William Harris (son of Maj. William Harris, deceased), now of New Kent County, carpenter, joined by his wife Mary" sold "250 acres which had been devised by his father to his half-brother Thomas, 31 July 1694; [1] ... "apparently was the land bequeathed by Thomas to his half-sister" Love Harris, "which had escheated" [1]

On 01 Aug 1694, Hugh Lygon witnessed an acknowledgement of debt by William Harris, now of New Kent County, Virginia, to Sarah Knibb of County, Virginia. Bond of Wm. Harris witnessed by Wm. Soane and Hugh Ligon.

In 1704 he was in St.Peter's Parish, James City County, Virginia where his son John was baptized.

George Alves is found as principal or acting as witness in five deeds in Henrico County, Virginia, involving 2 of the known sons of Maj. Harris, Edward and William Harris.

William Harris and George Alves were closely associated in the processioning of land in St.Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia. [3]

In 1708/9, 1711, 1716, 1719, 1731, 1735, 1739 and 1743 the lands of William Harris and George Alves were in the same precinct. In 1708/9 the two men were the overseers.

This close relationship of George Alves with his step sons continued in New Kent County, Virginia where on 04 June 1714 William Harris had a patent "over against George Alves on South Anna River". They owned land adjacent to Groundsquirrel on the South Anna River.

On 24 March 1725 William Harris of Hanover County, Virginia was issued a patent to 400 acres of land, Iying on the Harris fork of Cub Creek in Hanover County, Virginia, adjoining the lands of William Harris. His son, Thomas Harris, also took out a land patent for 400 acres on the same day, at the same location on Cubb Creek.

One of the few suriving deeds in Hanover County, Virginia reinforces the evidence that William Harris and George Alves had land close together and also indicates the approximate date of death of the latter. William Harris was a witness to a 1734 deed which referred to the "boundary of George Alves, lately deceased". The appearance of his name in 1739 and 1743 indicates that there was still land held in his name.

In 1742 the part of Hanover County with Cubb Creek became Louisa County, Virginia.

William Harris died about 1746 in Virginia.

On 20 Oct 1746 David Harris sold to Snead, land in Louisa County on Cubb Creek, it "being part of the land granted to William Harris, 24 March 1725".

On 05 Jan 1749/50 Edward Harris sold his property on Cubb Creek to William Watkins and the deed says "it being part of 400 acres granted to William Harris, deceased father of said Edward, by patent dated 24 Mar 1725".

Record Books

1682/83 Feb. Henrico County Court - The Complaint of George Alvis against Mr. Richard Lygon commencing an orphn of Majr. Willm. HARRIS, deceased (by name William HARRIS) is referred until the next Court and then the said Mr Lygon is to appear and bring the Indenture betwixt him and the orphn to the court, and there exibitt it in the presents of the said orphn. [4]

1683/April/02 Henrico County Court - In the suite of George ALVIS as marrying Alice, the relict of Majr. Witt [sic] HARRIS, deceased (concerning WIlliam HARRIS, an orphn of the said deceased) against Mr. Richd. LYGON, the said Alvis declaring that he doth not use his endeavour for educating and maintining the said orphn according to the indenture, which indenture being exhibited and the orphn present, and the Court thereupon concerning the allegacons aforesd not true, it is ordered that the orphn served his time, and that Mr. Lygon perform his part of the said Indenture. [5]

1694/July/31 William HARRIS (son of Maj. William HARRIS, deceased), now of St.Peters Parish, New Kent County, carpenter, to Sarah Knibb, widow, of County & Parish of Henrico, for £51/10, land on south side of James River, below a run called the Ware; being part of land Maj. HARRIS, died seized of, and was part given by his Will to his son Thomas HARRIS, also deceased, bounded by the river, land of Joseph Tanner, deceased, Peter Ashbrook, road from The Falls to the Hundred, 250 acres, which land lately escheated to His Majesty and was conveyed by Hon. William Byrd to above William Harris. 01 Oct 1692

(signature) William Harris
witness: George Alves. [6]

1694/July/28 Mary Harris, wife of William Harris, appoints Allanson Clerk, her attorney, to relinquish her dower right in above land.

(signatures) Alice Alves (her A mark) & Mary Harris (her M mark)
witness: George Alves
Recorded: 01 Aug 1694 [7]

1697/Aug/02 William Byrd of Charles City County for a tract of 225 acres assured to me by William HARRIS, son of Maj. William HARRIS, late of Henrico County, deceased, make over to Edward HARRIS, son of said Maj. Wm. HARRIS, and youngest brother of said William above, all my right in a tract on south side of James River near a place called the Ware, which Maj. Harris died seized of, and since escheated, except land I have already conveyed and except 225 acres since conveyed to me by William Harris 01 Oct 1692.

(signature) William Byrd (no witnesses)
recorded: 01 Aug 1697 [8]

Research Notes

St.Peter's Parish was formed in 1679. It served James City County, Virginia to 1767 and then New Kent County, Virginia to after 1785 (see the Category page for citations).

He married Mary and had issue: William, Thomas, Elizabeth, George, John, Stephen, Edward, David; however, seems to say that the seven sons had traditionally been attributed to Thomas) [1]

Genforum: After the death of Major William Harris, his widow Alice remarried to George Alves. It seems certain that Alice was the mother of William Harris, Jr. and Edward Harris for in his Will, Major William Harris stated that: "My youngest sons (William & Edward) to live with their mother till the age of sixteen." The following abstracts further show that William Harris, Jr. was son of Alice, that the widow Alice remarried to George Alves, and that Edward Harris was the youngest son of Alice and Maj. William Harris.

"Junior" was removed from this profile. Although the Genforum discussion given above refers to him as Junior, the other information given above does not use it, and there's no reason he would have used Junior in his lifetime: his father died when he was a teenager or younger and the family, headed by George Alves, moved to a different county.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Adventurers of Purse and Person" by John Frederick Dorman v2 p269-271
  2. ↑ "Virginia Births and Christenings 1584-1917" on FamilySearch database (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRR4-QCS : 05 Dec 2014) citing FHL#6,048,679; with Wm. Harris in entry for son, John Harris, bpt: 28 Mar 1703 St.Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia
  3. ↑ Vestry Book of St.Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia
  4. ↑ "Henrico County, Virginia Deeds 1677-1705" by Benjamin B. Weisiger, III citing Henrico County, Virginia Record Book#2 (1678-1693) p137
  5. ↑ Henrico County, Virginia Record Book#2 (1678-1695) p139
  6. ↑ Henrico County, Virginia Will & Deed Book p505 & 508
  7. ↑ "Henrico County, Virginia Will & Deed Book 1799-1697" p505 by Benjamin B. Weisiger, III
  8. ↑ Henrico County, Virginia Will & Deed Book 1688-1697 p646
  • "Three William Harrises in Hanover County" by Malcom Hart Harris of West Point, Virginia & published in "Virginia Genealogist" v22 p104, 187-193




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William 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 William:

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Comments: 14

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[deleted]
I've started with my 2ggm Stella Harris, her father was Henry Council Harris b: 1844 in Dothan AL, his father was Evans Harris b: 1804 in GA, his father was Elisha Addison Harris b: 1759 and his father was an Arthur Harris b: 1732 Frederick, Maryland and it shows his father as Brittian Harris b: 1713 in Old Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, married to a Mary Molly Terrell who I can't seem to find info on when I do it shows her as a Richardson. From Brittian Harris it shows his father as Edward Harris b: 1695 in Henrico Co., VA but I don't think the Brittian is right and I'm limited with where I can look for info. I try to look at all the trees I can find outside of Ancestry. Is there anyone that can help me out?
posted by [deleted]
N Gauthier
Harris-11530 and Harris-886 appear to represent the same person because: dups with same wife
posted by N Gauthier
Downey-1809 Teresa Downey
Please see Harris-886. That profile has the exact same spouse. Doesn't appear the two men are the same based on birth/death info but the wife needs to be removed from one
posted on Harris-11530 (merged) by Teresa Downey
Downey-1809 Teresa Downey
Please see Harris-11530. That profile has the exact same spouse. Doesn't appear the two men are the same based on birth/death info but the wife needs to be removed from one.
posted by Teresa Downey
Alvis-9 Katherine (Alvis) Patterson
Harris-2867 and Harris-11530 do not represent the same person because: Several men with the same name.
posted on Harris-11530 (merged) by Katherine (Alvis) Patterson
Alvis-9 Katherine (Alvis) Patterson
Harris-11530 and Harris-886 do not represent the same person because: Several men with this name.
posted by Katherine (Alvis) Patterson
Niblett-17 Edna (Niblett) Wood
My DNA proven Sherwood Harris of Granville Co. NC is listed as being born to Richard Harris, son of this William Harris. Some of my ancestors appear to have started their American lives in Henrico Co. VA coming from Southwark Eng. These ancestors are: Harris, Williamson, Underwood. These three families ventured to the west from VA to NC, SC, GA, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.
posted by Edna (Niblett) Wood
Niblett-17 Edna (Niblett) Wood
Hanover County VA was not established until November 26, 1720. This new county was taken from the area of New Kent Co. VA, so Elizabeth Harris who was b. in 1698 was likely born in New Kent Co. VA. which was established in 1654 from York Co. VA. Henrico Co. VA was established in 1634 but was a shire before it became a County.
posted by Edna (Niblett) Wood
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
dang. Just saw same places/dates on Harris-1917 - husband of Temperance Overton.

Any source/support for this William also being married to Mary Giles with son Stephen? The other William has a son Stephen with Temperance as mom.

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Kiefl-7 Michael Kiefl
Wondering if the spouse tag for Temperance (Overton) Harris (Overton-28) should be removed from this William Harris (Harris-886). Nothing else on the Harris-886 page references Temperance as a spouse, where all the biographical info for the other William Harris of a similar age and location (Harris-1917) does.

Thoughts?

posted by Michael Kiefl
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Harris-16517 and Harris-2867 appear to represent the same person because: different death years, but same month/day & same locations/birth date.
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
a lead? p 166 has lots of New Kent County Harrises (1704, I think it was)

http://www.ancestraltrackers.net/va/resources/english-duplicates-lost-virginia-records.pdf

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
see the New Kent/Hanover section of Harris Families from England to America. I've been trying to "follow the land" & "The Forks" seems specific to Thomas Harris, who Tom King says is not related to Capt. Robert Harris (see Tom's comment on Harris-2633) - see also information collected on Clements-389, wife of Thomas Harris (Harris-1913), which seem to be a separate group from the Crixse folks & have managed to stay separate during several bouts of merging messes. I tread very carefully with profiles created by gedcoms addded by Bill LaBach. He was an excellent researcher & the connections revealed by his contributions cannot be duplicated if lost (he died in 2014).
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hi! You might want to take a look at http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harris-1896 - looks like the same person as this Thomas, but it's had a lot of merges and reading through the biographies, I'm not sure if he actually is (information in the datafields look like a match; a lot of "not this Thomas" in text). Cheers, Liz
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett

Rejected matches › William Harris Sr (abt.1669-abt.1730) › William Harris Sr (abt.1629-1678) › William Harris Sr (abt.1669-abt.1730) › Thomas Harrison (1672-) › William Harrison (abt.1711-1742) › William Harris (abt.1673-1695) › William Harris Jr (abt.1670-aft.1747) › William Harrison (bef.1673-)

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