King Harrison (1760 - 1836)

Born 1760 in Chucklemaker Creek, Bertie County, NC

Husband of Jenny White — married 29 Mar 1786 in Bertie County, NC

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1836 at about age 76 in Bear Grass Township, Martin County, NC

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Harrison [send private message]

Biography

---The source of the information in this document is from various official records, deeds, Last Will and Testaments, living relatives, and my personal research. Easter Rogerson Mizell of Williamston, NC has been the greatest of help in teaching me how and in assisting me in this research. My sincere thanks go to her.

Paul Harrison 7242 Lion Ave Norfolk, Virginia 23518 Phone: (757) 587-2902 email: paul_harrison@verizon.net

---King Harrison was living in Bertie County prior to moving to Bear Grass, Martin County, in 1805. He was living on Chucklemaker Creek (now Chucklemaker Swamp) in Bertie County where he purchased his first land in August 1786 from Robert Cowand (land deed approved in August 1786 Bertie County, NC) and he purchased additional land on Chucklemaker Swamp in November 1786 from John Oxley Jr. A Christoper Harrison and wife Ann Mitchell were living in the Chucklemaker Swamp area in the1760s and Christopher Harrison was appointed guardian of John Oxley Jr. by a court in 1767. Christopher was also appointed supervisor of Roads in 1767. He died unexpectly in the spring of 1769 and Ann Harrison did not die until about 1800/1801, approximately 30-35 years after Christopher died. Ann Harrison continued to have land dealing with John Oxley Jr. until the 1790s. In addition to King Harrison living on Chucklemaker Swamp, there was a George, Reuben, Henry, John Harrison and several other Harrison living in Chucklemaker Swamp area at the same time that were of the age to be the children of Christopher and Ann. It should be noted that the Reuben Harrison that lived in Bertie County named one of his Children King Harrison, possibably after his brother King Harrison. The name of King Harrison's surviving sons were John, George and Reuben. Also King Harrison did not move to Bear Grass, Martin County, NC until after Ann Harrison died. Thus the question becomes "are Christopher and Ann Harrison the parents of King, Reuben, John, George, Henry" and possible others of Bertie County, NC? All indications are that Christopher was the father. ---1743 Bertie County, NC Deed Book F, page 552. King Goerge II land grant of 268 acres to George Gould on East side of Rosusky Swamp. This land was later sold to Jonathan Miller in Bertie County, NC Deed Book G page 190. Jonathan Miller then sold this land to Robert Cowand in Bertie County, NC Deed Book M page 492-493. Robert Cowand sold this same land to King Harrison in August 1786, Deed Book N page 296. ---1780, 8 Sept: Bertie County Deed Book M page 492-493: Jonathern Miller to Robert Cowand land on south side of Morvile Branch. (this is the same land in Bertie County Deed Book N page 296 that Robert Cowand sold to King Harrison on 16 April 1786. ---1786, 16 April Bert County Deed Book N page 296: A deed of sale of 100 acres land from Robert Cowand to King Harrison was approved in open court in due form of law by the Oath of Reuben Harrison one of the subscribing witness and ordered it to be registered. Witness George Harrison, Reuben Harrison. Approved in August Court Session. ---1786 - November Court Session: A deed of sale of land from John Oxley (Jr.) to King Harrison was acknowledged in due form of law by the said John Oxley and ordered to be registered. ---1790 Bertie County Census: King Horson (Harrison); males: 1 over 16, 1 under 16; females 3; 0 slaves. ---1810 Martin County, NC census: King Harrison bet 26-45, 1 male under 10, 2 males 16-26, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, 2 females 16-26, 1 female over 45. (The 1 male under 10 would be son Reuben; two males between 16-26 would be sons John and George; 2 females under 10 would be daughters Sophia and Lavinia, 1 female 10-16 would daughter Dicie, and one of the females between 16-26 would be daughter Cechon. one of the females 16-26 could be a daughter born about 1794 that did not survive; one female between 26-45 would his wife, the other female over 45 is not known but could be a relative of King or Jenny). ---1830 Martin County, NC census: King Harrison had 5 males, 4 females, and 0 slaves in his house hold. (some of these children would be King's son John Harrison whom deceased in 1825 and King was appointed there guardina). ---1840 Martin County, NC census: (King is not listed, died 1836) Reuben Harrison (head of household), 4 males, 3 females, 0 slaves.

---King's was born about 1760 in Bertie County, NC. He married Jenny White 29 March 1786 in Bertie County. He secured "Marriage Bond" on March 29, 1786 for 500 pounds (British). Jenny was born about 1762. The 1790 census list King Harrison in the Edenton District of Bertie County NC. as head of family with one male under 16 and three females. In August 1786 King Harrison purchased some land from Robert Cowand on Cucklemaker Creek in Bert County. On 24 November 1786 John Oxley of Bertie County deeded 100 acres of land to King Harrison in the same area. (It is interesting to note that Christopher Harrison was appointed guardian of John Oxley in the Bertie County Court of June 1767). King's lived in the Cucklemaker Creek and Marvel Swamp area of Bertie County, located between Windsor and Askewville. This is also the same area that Christoper Harrison family, the White family and Cowand families lived. Also note that Outlaw Chapel Church that King Harrison transferred his membership from in 1805 was located about 4 miles from Askewville, Bertie County, between Windsor Ashewville. Reuben Harrison that was witness to the Deed in Bertie County in 1786 also name one of his sons King Harrison. King was apparently educated to read and write as he signed his name as witness on a deed 4 January 1811 when his John Harrison bought 300 acres of land from Thomas Bennett in Bear Grass Township, Martin County. His hand writing was very neat and well written, although he placed his mark "X" on his Last Will and Testament written in December 1936. This was probably because of poor health preventing him from signing the will . Apparently all of his children were also educated to read and write as their signatures appear on various documents. King moved to Martin County in 1805, joining the Skewarkey Primitive Baptist Church on December 7, 1805. King's membership was by letter of transfer from Outlaw's Chapel in Bertie County which located between Windson and Gatesville. King bought 194.5 acres of land one half mile southeast of Bear Grass on 5 June 1806 from Thomas Yarrell. The land joined the Bear Grass swamp on the east line, the west line was along Wolf Branch to the Swinson line to Swinson Corner, the east along Swinson line to James Harrison line to Bear Grass Swamp. He purchased the land for 243 pounds, 2 shillings and 6 pence. The land was located on both the east and west side of Bear Grass Road. King and Jenny built their home on this land between 1806 and 1810 where a large old black walnut tree stood on the west side of Bear Grass Road, about a half mile from the center of Bear Grass. The house was one of Martin County's best and oldest examples of a hall-and-parlor plan coastal cottage. It featured a steeply-pitched gable roof that sweep in an unbroken line to engage the full-width of the porch. The interior possessed on of the county's earliest examples of a hall-and-parlor-plan with a highly unequal division of space between a rectangular hall and an unusually narrow parlor. The downstairs was ceiled with flush boards and had batten doors. It was a surprisingly commodious upper story that was undivided. In 1828 King and Jenny, along with 11 others, petitioned the Skewarkey Primitive Baptist Church to organize a church at Bear Grass for their convenience, meetings were already being held in the area. At a meeting on Saturday 25 October 1828 James Harrison and King Harrison were elected Deacons of the Bear Grass Primitive Baptist Church (which still exist in 2003). King was ordained as Deacon on 26 October 1828. James was already an ordained Deacon in the Skewarkey Church. on 26 August 1831 King Harrison requested his name be removed from the Church list due to deputes between himself and James Harrison. The dispute was resolved before the next meeting 24 September 1831. There is no record of any kinship between the above James Harrison and wife Nancy Biggs and King. King was a very successful and self-reliant farmer. He was also a blacksmith and cooper. No slaves were named in his Last Will and Testament or other documents. Church records record: King Harrison, deacon, died on December 23, 1836. Jenny's death is recorded in the church records as: died on 25 June 1858 at 96 years old and she had been a member of the Church for 50 years. King and Jenny were buried side by side in what was originally the Harrison family cemetery on the east side of Bear Grass Road, about one half southeast of Bear Grass; however, it is now known as the Cowing (Cowin) Cemetery. His will was signed 14 December 1836 and executed in January 1837. The Will is recorded in Martin County's Record of Deeds Book 2 page 232. He left all his land, hogs, cattle, sheep, and bees to three of his children Reuben, Lavinia and Sophia, none of whom ever married. His Will also left specific items to his other children and heirs, heirs of John Harrison, George Harrison, Dicie Rogerson, and Cechon White. Jenny Harrison and children Reuben, Lavinia and Sophia apparently remained on the farm until it was acquired by King's grandson James B. Harrison. James B. was wounded and died in the Civil war in 1862 and his Window, Eliza, divided the King Harrison farm in the 1880's among her four surviving children. Soon thereafter it was acquired by Simon Cowing and his wife Timey Mizelle. (Simon Cowing was raised by his grandmother Jenny Harrison). The house King Harrison built was torn down in 1996. King and Jenny deaths are recorded in the Bear Grass Primitive Baptist Church records. There is a headstone in the cemetery for King Harrison, in very poor condition, but there is not one for Jenny.

Sources