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William Harris Sr (abt. 1629 - 1678)

Maj William Harris Sr
Born about in Neck of Land, Charles City, Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married about 1667 (to 1678) in Henrico County, Virginiamap
Husband of — married before 1669 [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 49 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginiamap
Profile last modified | Created 11 Nov 2010
This page has been accessed 9,559 times.

Contents

Biography

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U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
William Harris Sr was a Virginia colonist.

William Harris,[1] son of Thomas and his first wife Adria, was born about 1629.[2][3]

He was "burgess for Henrico in 1653, 1656 and 1658; captain and major in the militia. He married Lucy —, and his will was proved in Henrico, June, 1678. He left issue."[4]

"WILLIAM HARRIS, son of CAPTAIN THOMAS HARRIS and ONLY BROTHER of THOMAS HARRIS JR. who died in 1679 was born in 1629. According to a deposition. He was a Justice of Henrico, member of the House of Burgesses,1652, 1653,1656, 1658. In December 1656 he was appointed major of the Henrico and Charles City regiment. He married Lucy, last name unknown".[3]

Part in red is disputed. The Thomas who died in 1679 is said by J. Phillip Harris to be his son, not his father's. Tom King says that the son Thomas of William & Lucy is the Thomas Harris who married Mary Jefferson (will dated 5 October 1729, recorded 6 Jul 1730).

William and his first wife, Lucy Stewart, had one son: Thomas. In his 1678 will, he names Thomas and his sons by his second wife, Alice: William and Edward.

William died before February 1, 1678/79[5] in Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia.[2]

Marriages

  1. Lucy Stewart[citation needed]
  2. Alice (--?--), born Charles City County, Virginia; married about 1668. Alice married (2) George Alvis

Disputed Son Thomas

The son of William and Lucy was either of the following Thomases:
  • the Thomas who died unmarried and childless in 1679.
  • the Thomas who married Mary Jefferson and died in 1729/30, naming in his will several children (Thomas Harris [a minor], James Harris, John Harris, Mary James, William Harris, Benjamin Harris, Sarah Harris, Phebe Harris, Martha Pasture, Francis Harris).
Thomas d 1679.
See information and analysis by J. Phillip Harris on the profile for Thomas, saying that deeds "leave no doubt that Thomas Harris, son of Major William Harris, was deceased before 1692, thus could not be the Thomas Harris who died 1729/30. Note also the property 'The Ware' involved [in the deeds] is mentioned in the will of Thomas Harris who d. 1679.
Thomas d 1729/30.
Malcolm Hart Harris in "Three William Harrises in Hanover County" states that Thomas Harris d1679 and William Harris (married Lucy, died 1678) were brothers. Tom King, another Harris researcher, agrees, saying that the brothers would have shared land in the Ware and that Love was their sister. He shares that when William's wife "Lucy became Ill, her sister Alice came to live with them to help her ailing sister. After Lucy died Alice married her sister's husband as his 2nd wife and had sons William and Edward Harris. Note that the witness on both of the 1692 deeds was George Alvis who was then the husband of Alice Stewart Harris and probably envious of all of the land of his wife's former husband. Unfortunately the 1658 Will of Capt Thomas Harris has never been found to confirm any of these identities. Our only hope is to one day find a living direct male Harris descendant of Thomas Harris and Mary Jefferson who will provide a yDNA sample for testing to confirm that he came from our Harris DNA Group 8 for the descendants of Capt Thomas Harris.[6]

Will

Will dated 20 Apr 1678[7]
Probate: 1 FEB 1678/79, Henrico County, Virginia
"Not knowing what the Lord hath ordained or at what tyme he he may take (torn) out this life I doe settle my estate of lands as followeth, I give & bequeath to my sonne THOMAS all my land below the ward (ware?) to keep the ware/ward runn for his Bounds till it shall come to ye spring at ye hed & then to follow a bottom on ye lower side of the clearing of John Rabon, to the hundred roade path, and then on a straight roade or course to the land of Seth Potter Ashbrooke but in no case to crofse porketts/perketts' path;
"to my younger sonnes WM & EDWARD HARRIS I give ye rest of my dividents, WM. to have the plantason where I now live, & EDWARD ye land next Ashbrooke, But WM. to extend outwards one hundred yards beyond ye clearing of John Rabon on the path called perketts/porketts path, & THOMAS on a straight course to ye redd? watter? & EDWARD the house next to Potter Ashbrooke's line as alsoe to ye Ashen swamp to them & their Heires; neyther to sell unlefs the one to ye other & if eyther did (died) without I show (issue) the land to come to ye Survivor, my two younger sons to live with their mother till age of sixteen, if shee marry if not till 19 yeares of age; my will is that my wife live on the plantason during her life but not to hinder my sonne WM. at the head of ye3 ward if he come (rome?) for himselfe & I desyre my friends Mr. Tho. Cocke (?) & Mr. Wm. Randolph to see this my will performed. In Witnefsee of every (Looks like L) to hereof I putt to my hand this 20th day of April, 1678. Wits: Rich. Lygon, Ann Stewart (Bk. 1677-92, part 1, p. 68)"[3][8]
He made will out possibly on battlefield in area near present Richmond, VA in 1678 naming eldest son Thomas an heir & making provisions for two infant sons named William and Edward, both by second wife Alice.[9]
The following is from Lou Poole's "Epes Family" (Chapter 14):
"A letter of Colonel Herbert Jeffreys, the Governor of Virginia, to Sir Henry Coventry reported that:
"On the 22nd and 23rd of August [1678] some Indians came downe uppon james River to the number of 150 or 200 in Henrico County … on the 24th some of the Militia officers of Henrico County gott upp a party of forty six horse and march’d imediately upp to [ ] upper plantation of Coll: [Rowland] Place’s: The cheife officer Coll: [Francis] Epps and Major [William] harris were kill’d and two more wounded …"

Location Note

William, born 1629, was born before Virginia's counties were established. William's father Thomas was recorded in the January 1624/25 Jamestown muster as being at Neck of Land, "Charles Cittie corporation". The Virginia Company's four incorporations of 1619 – Henricus, Charles City, James City, and Kecoughtan – became four of Virginia's eight original shires (counties) of 1634. It is not clear in which newly formed county Thomas Harris's land holdings fell: Henrico County or Charles City County. (Possibly both, as his holdings were extensive.)[10]
In 1624 Thomas was one of two burgesses representing Bermuda Hundred, which was later part of Henrico County.[11] Thomas's entry in Tyler's says he "settled at the Neck of Land, in Henrico."[12]

William Harris. [13][14]

Died 1678 Longfield, Henrico, Virginia, United States. [15]

File Format: jpg. Lineage to King Edward III from Thomas Harris.

Marriage Husband @P1962@. Wife @P1961@. Child: @P1960@. Marriage 1660 Virginia, USA. [16] Marriage Charles City, Charles, Virginia, United States.

Sources

  1. Harris, William - A3505; born 1629, died 1678, Henrico Co.: 1652, 1653, 1656, 1658 (Burgess). accessed 18 August 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 FindaGrave, online tree
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Three William Harrises in Hanover County," Malcolm Hart Harris in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, p. 189
  4. Entry for William Harris in Lyon Gardiner Tyler's Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography
  5. probate date (#Will)
  6. Tom King, lead researcher, Harris DNA Group 4 line.
  7. Harris, p. 331 citing Henrico Records p. 68
  8. see also the transcript of his will posted on [his son Thomas's profile page]
  9. Source? (possibly still "Three William Harrises in Hanover County," Malcolm Hart Harris in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, p. 189)
  10. Information from this WikiTree page, citing (among others)
  11. Bermuda Hundred, Encyclopedia of Virginia. See also this map
  12. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography
  13. Source: #S1659360102 Volume: 9
  14. Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: The Kinnears and their kin : a memorial volume of history, biography and genealogy, with Revolution
  15. Source: #S1659360102 Volume: 9
  16. Source: #S1659360159 Book Title: The Kinnears and their kin : a memorial volume of history, biography and genealogy, with Revolution
  • Harris, Malcolm H. History of Louisa County, Virginia Richmond, VA: Dietz Press, 1936.
  • William Harris, entry in Lyon Gardiner Tyler's Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography

Research Notes

See also Major William Harris, Harris Ancestors (a speculative essay)
The following information was included in the profile as of December 13, 2016:
Birth 25 FEB 1617/18 Essex, England, or Charles City Co VA. His parents were in Virginia at this time.
Birth 1629 in Charles City, Henrico County, Virginia
Birth 12 Mar 1629 OS Curles Plantation, Henrico Co VA
Death bef 1 FEB 1678 OS Richmond, Henrico Co VA
He was killed in a battle with Indians near present-day Richmond.
Note: Last Will and Testament
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=a5d81f00-c207-4776-b5a8-a65ec992fa55&tid=15043181&pid=1440362136
S/o Capt Thomas Harris and Adria (Hoare) Harris
Children, with confusion who were children of first and second marriages.
1. Thomas Harris b: 1655
2. Elizabeth Ann Harris b: 24 JUL 1657
3. William Harris b: 1 DEC 1661 in Henrico Co, VA
4. Edward Harris b: 23 APR 1663
5. John Harris b: 8 AUG 1665
6. Rebecca Harris b: 5 MAY 1668
7. Lucie Marie Harris b: 30 SEP 1671
8. Alice Harris b: 27 NOV 1674
Marriage No. 2 Alice (--?--) b: in Charles City Co, VA
Married: ABT 1668
The second wife Alice was married #2 to George Alvis
Note that "Three William Harrises in Hanover County," Malcolm Hart Harris in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, p. 189, passim, states that from #2 or 3 these are children of Alice.[this note as found]
  • Source: S1658871532 Repository: #R-2145023627 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=4151977&pid=1962
  • Repository: R-2145023627 Ancestry.com Note:
  • Source: S1659360102 Repository: #R-2145023627 U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
  • Source: S1659360159 Repository: #R-2145023627 North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.




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Comments: 17

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Harris-887 and Harris-754 do not represent the same person because: Different name, nothing in common
posted by Neal Parker
" Our only hope is to one day find a living direct male Harris descendant of Thomas Harris and Mary Jefferson who will provide a yDNA sample for testing to confirm that he came from our Harris DNA Group 8 for the descendants of Capt Thomas Harris.[6]"

The Thomas Harris /Mary Jefferson line now has male descendants who test to Group 24.

posted by P. Mason
The original document of the will of William Harris (Maj. William Harris) filed at the Library of Virginia has been altered by someone who did not know that before 1752, the first day of the year was March 25, and the dates between January and March when the new year would turn over are often written 1678/1679. The original dates of the will are marked through, and someone has reversed them not realizing that William Harris wrote his will in April of 1678 on court day.

He died ca August 22, 1678, and the will was proved in February of 1678/79.

This is how the original document read before someone defaced it.


"In witness of every pte. hereof, I putt to my hand this 20th day of April, 1678. (this was court day ~ Pat) Signed Wm. Harris Signed in ye presence of Rich. Lygon ye mark of X >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>note his kinsman Richard Ligon Proved in Henrico County Court the first day of Feby., 1678/79 by the oath of Ann Steward, one of the witnesses to the will above written, and entered amongst the records of the sd. Court per. Wm. Randolph Cl. Cur. "

Henrico County Records (Deeds & Wills) 1677-1692, p. 68 (KS 7-8-2001)

posted by P. Mason
There is a current movement to discredit the history of the family of the brother of Mary Harris Ligon . There are excellent records in the following reference relating to the history of Curles Plantation and also deeds involving the Harris who lived there.

Here is documentation of the sworn deposition of a conversation with Mary Harris Ligon in 1679 after the death of her brother in August of 1678 in an Indian attack:



"Transcribed Curles Documents"

Transcriptions by Katherine Harbury Virginia Commonwealth University Archaeological Research Center

p. 109:

"Tho: Chamberlaine aged 27 yeares or thereabouts Deposeth

That he heard Mrs Lygon say that she & her Brother had made an agrement that Major Harris her said Brother should have the whole proffitts of the survd place till her sonne come of age, since her said soyne came of age this depont heard Major Harris say he had made an agreemt with his kinsman for halfe the proffitts of the said place, and allsoe this deponent hath heard Mr Lygon say the same"

Jur in Cur po die 9ber 1679 Recordatr Tho: Chamberlaine

<https://add.utk.edu/Curles/data/1995/CurlesDocuments4_28_1995.pdf>

=

The Ligon connection can also be proved by the will of Thomas Harris d 1679 ( from the first marriage of Major William Harris) and who died unmarried and childless which is signed as witness by his step mother Alice Harris and a Mary Ligon and which also references a "Cousin" Richard Ligon .


There is also documentation in a suit by Alice Harris Alves and her next husband, George Alvis, over the treatment of her son William Harris b ca 1673 who is bound out to the Ligon family and the court's response to not remove him from the Ligon agreement.

Happy to share this documentation. =

posted by P. Mason
This profile says he married Lucy 'before 1669' but a son with her born in 1655 and no other children before her death 14 years later? It says he married Alice in 'about 1667' (two years before his first wife allegedly died), but had a child with her 'about 1660'. What are those estimated dates based on?
posted by Ryan Torchia
I forgot what a quagmire the Harrises were...

See "Theories about Captain Thomas Harris" by J. Philip Harris here, which includes the statment "Most likely the two children of Capt. Thomas Harris, Mary and William, were both by his first wife Audrey Hoare." (No mention of a son Thomas).

M. Stanhope's 2015 posting here talks of Mary (Harris) Ligon, daughter of Captain Thomas Harris (Harris-751), and states that "the Thomas Harris who inherited land at ‘the Ware’, and who died in 1679, was the son of Major William Harris, and not the ‘Maj.Thomas Harris’ aforementioned, brother of Mary (Harris) Ligon." and also: "Captain Thomas Harris had issue, a daughter, Mary Harris, married to Thomas Ligon, and a son, Thomas Harris."

Clearly a lot of conflicting theories about this family.

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Henrico County Wills, abstracted & compiled by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, page 3:

"p. 68 Will of William Harris (this is not called a will, but seems to [sic - thought not completed]

"I settle my landed estae as follows:

"To son Thomas, all land below the Ware, next to John Rabon and next to Ashbrooke

"To younger sons William and Edward, the rest; William to have the land where I now live and Edward the land next to Ashbrooke. William's land to extend outward next to John Rabon, on Puckett's Path.

"My younger sons are to live with their mother until age 16 if she marries and to age 19 if she does not.

"Executors:friends Mr. Thomas Cocke and Mr. William Randolph

"Dated 20 April 1678

"Wit: Richard Lygon, Ann Stuart

"Recorded 1 Feb. 1678"

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Harris-19478 and Harris-754 appear to represent the same person because: these are brothers now (same father) & should be merged. Thanks!
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
sorry - I should have looked at who the profile manager was (dad Thomas has different managers).

I don't know that we've "met". I've been working on my Virginia Harris family connections for a while. This week, I'm trying to sort out all the Virginia Thomas Harrises.

This WIlliam is the son of Thomas and Adria (see details on Harris-751 about Adria being alive past 1626 & Joane being widow of William Vincent, who died after William's birth).

Also, this William married twice: Lucy & Alice. Alice married (2) George Alvis, which sometimes gets twisted & she winds up with the maiden name of West. Alice West is connected with a different Harris family (married to Thomas, son of John & Dorothy).

Cheers, Liz

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hi again. This is Thomas & Adria's son William. Dad's are in a proposed merge, but I need to disconnect mom Joane before proposing a merge for this William.

OK to disconnect her?

Thanks!

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
update: merge completed

Harris-2637 and Harris-754 appear to represent the same person because: Hi! These are ready to be merged. Thanks!

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
sons Edward (Harris-887) and John Edward (Harris-11341) appear to be duplicates, but maybe one died young?

Both married Mary in 1696 (but in different counties & one MNU, one Giles).

(I had posted a comment on Harris-11341 for this page, but I can't figure out now why ... it sheds no light on the question of these two profiles, Edward m Mary/John Edward m Mary Giles)

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hi! Before he can be merged with Harris-754, the profile for mother Adria Gurgarny needs to be detached. If you've no objection, I'll do that and propose the merge later today.

Cheers, Liz

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
text says this William Harris is son of Captain Thomas Harris and only brother of Thomas Harris Jr. But Captain Thomas Harris (of the 1624/5 Jamestown muster/husband of Adria) "only had three proven children, Mary, Elizabeth and William" (from comment on Harris-751)

Thomas Harris, son of William Harris and Alice Smythe, has a son William also ... could this William and that one be the same? (See William Harris-19478, son of Thomas Harris-11546.)

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Harris-14190 and Harris-754 appear to represent the same person because: Maj William Harris is the only son of Capt. Thomas Harris and his first wife, Audrey Hoare. He is the father of two sons, William Jr and Thomas by his first wife, Lucy Stewart.
posted by Linda Plummer