Dabney Harris (1745 - bef. 1810)

Born 25 Dec 1745 in St Pauls Parish, Hanover, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 27 Aug 1810 before age 64 in Washington County, Virginia, United States

Biography

Birth

Alternate birth of December 15, 1745 from (DAR application #598925) [Per E W Wallace, original DAR source data "unknown"].

Children

(1) Benjamin (1767-1815).

(2) Christopher (b. 1769?, Albemarle Co., Virginia).

(3) Sarah (b. 1770's, Albemarle Co., Virginia; d. 1830's, Boone Co., Missouri); md. 1790's to Benjamin Austin, and they had 10 children.

(4) Solomon (b. ca. 1776, Albemarle Co., Virginia; d. 04 August 1805, Garrard Co., Kentucky); md. 1797, to Nancy Blackwell and they had 4 children. Note: there is some controversy (or at least doubt) over whether Solomon was actually a son of Dabney Harris.

(5) Silas (b. ca. 1779, Albemarle Co., Virginia; d. 1852?, Surry Co., North Carolina); md. 07 Dec. 1801, to Edith Franklin, and they had 10 children.

(6) Mary ("Polly").

(7) unknown daughter (b. 1780's).

(8) unknown daughter (b. 1780's).

(9) Isabella (b. 1786-87, Wilkes Co., North Carolina; d. 10 Dec. 1875, Floyd Co., Kentucky); md. 10 May 1805, to John Wesley Musick, and they had 12 children.

(10) Dabney Jr. (b. 1790, Wilkes Co., North Carolina; d. 1840's?, Indiana); md. 06 August 1812, to Nancy McDaniel, and they had at least 3 children.

Will

His will is dated January 24, 1810 and proved August 27, 1810 in Washington County, Virginia, United States. He states he is sick and weak then so he may have actually died any time between January and August of 1819.^[1]

In the name of God Amen. I Dabney Harris of Washington County & State of Virginia farmer being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God & calling into mind the mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my last will & testament, that is to say, principally & first of all I give and recommend my Soul to the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent manner at the discretion of my Executor. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give demise & dispose of the same in the following manner & form. First & all I constitute make & ordain Christopher my dearly beloved son the sole Executor of this my last will and testament all & singular my lands messugees and tenements by him freely to be possessed & enjoyed that the condition that he the said Christopher maintain & take good care of me & my wife Mary during both our lives, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disasumed (?) all and every other former testaments wills legacies bequeaths & executors by me in any wise before named willed & bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this & on other to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 24th January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.

Signed sealed published pronounced & declared by the said Dabney Harris as his last Will and Testament in presence of us.

John Fleenor Dabney X Harris SEAL

John Gillenwaters

Jame Newhouse

At a Court held for Washington County the 27th day of August 1810

This last will & testament of Dabney Harris Dec. was produced in Court proven by the oath of John Fleenor & John Gillenwaters two of the subscribing witnesses hereto & ordered to be recorded.

Teste D. Campbell DC

Research Notes

The following is some research of Evelyn W. Wallace:

Submitted by E.W.Wallace hdanw@aol.com

DABNEY HARRIS. WIR2020 Little is known of Dabney Harris, who appears

to the be the son of the elder Christopher Harris of early Madison

Co., KY. His birthdate of 15 Dec 1745, apparently unconfirmed, is

taken from DAR application 598925. Those of his siblings and most of

the marriages are given, indicating the applicant MAY have used a

Bible record. He died after Apr 1795, according to Surry Co., NC

records.

In Nov 1774 he was witness in Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia to a will of one

William Blackwell, written 23 Nov 1774, proved Mar court 1775. Other

witnesses were Philip Thurmon and James Gardner.

(J. Estelle Stewart King, ABSTRACTS OF WILLS, INVENTORIES AND

ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA 1748-1800 [Beverly

Hills, CA, 1940], p. 22)

Dabney apparently moved to Surry Co., NC.(1) His name appears in

Madison Co., KY Grant Deed Index. Dabney Harris, grantor; Christopher

Harris, grantee; C-381, 9 Mar 1795; recorded 5 May 1795; power of

attorney. "Know all men by these presents that I Dabney Harris of

Surry County, North Carolina for sundry [reasons?] etc do constitute

and appoint my son and Friend Christopher Harris of the said county &

state my true & lawfull attorney to act demand sue for recover & ...

of Christopher Harris & Foster Jones of Madison County & in the State

of Kentucke Exrs to the Estate of my Deceased Father all such

Legacys as may be due to me on that behalf? hereby

ratifying and confirming whatever my said Attorney may do in and

touching Premises in as full and Ample manner as though I were

personally present in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and

affixed my seal this ninth (?] day of March one Thousand seven hundred

and ninety four. /s/ Dabney Harris Teste Reuben Canterbury, John

Canterbury, J. P. ----"

A Dabney Harris is listed in the 1820 census of Kentucky as being in

Pulaski Co., but we have no idea whether he is the son of Christopher,

decd, of Madison Co., KY. A Christopher Harris is also listed in

Pulaski Co.; possibly he is the son of Dabney Harris. More research

is needed.

(1) On Family Tree Maker CD ROM CENSUS INDEX: COLONIAL AMERICA

1607-1789, he is listed in ... North Carolina, Hardin's District.

I welcome additional information. Parentage of Dabney Harris is

suspected to be son of Christopher Harris, Sr. of Albemarle Co., VA

and later of Madison Co., KY. Note he names a son Christopher Harris.

If he is the son of the elder Christopher Harris, then his mother was

reportedly Mary Dabney. Mary

Dabney's parentage unknown, although Christopher Harris the elder in

his Madison KY will makes reference to the will of Cornelius Dabney.

Was Cornelius Dabney Mary's father? If so, does anyone know where

Dabney's will is recorded?

Evelyn W. Wallace southern California

The following is a responsive e-mail from Glenn E. Harris:

From: "Glenn E. Harris" <geharris@juno.com>

Subject: [MADKY-L] Dabney Harris, s/o Christoper Harris

In reference to the message posted below from Evelyn W. Wallace, I too

am interested in the family of Dabney Harris born 15 Dec. 1745 in VA.

I suspect him to be the father of Solomon Harris of Surry Co., NC who

is my direct line. Solomon married Nancy Blackwell of Surry NC abt

1797. Nancy is the dau of David Blackwell and Sarah Harris of Surry

NC. Sarah's father, Robert Harris is brother to the elder Christopher

Harris mentioned below who moved from Albemarle Co., VA to Madison

Co., KY and of course Dabney is the eldest son of Christopher and was

grown and most likely married when he moved to Surry Co., NC where he

lived in Wilkes and Surry counties in NC near his uncle Robert. It is

interesting to note that Solomon Harris and wife Nancy with children

moved to Garrard Co., KY in 1804 which is next to Madison Co and

Christopher Harris. I have found little solid info on Dabney Harris

but below is some notes I have collected, mostly from Surry Co., NC

records.

1. Dabney must have died after 1800, not 1795 as stated below, as he

is on the 1800 Surry, NC census, Dabney Harris, 02101-0110100.

2. Dabney apparently lived in both Wilkes and Surry counties. Found

Dabney Harris on Wilkes Co., NC, Hardins District, pg 002, 1787 state

census.

3. 1790 Federal census for Wilkes Co., NC; Dabney Haris (Harris), 2M

16+, 3M 16-, 6Fem, 0 slaves. (Dabney, wife, 5 sons, 5 dau)

4. Dabney Harris is on 1782 Surry Tax list; Capt. Humphries

District:

Dabney has one horse, 2 cows and 100 acres. (No location given).

5. From William Harris Millier's History and Genealogies, 1907

version, pgs 278-9. - "By his first wife, Mary Dabney, Christopher

Harris had...Dabney Harris, who was a resident of Surry County, North

Carolina on May 5th 1795, and whose son Christopher Harris at that

time being a man of maturity, came to Madison County, Ky,. from North

Carolina with a power of attorney from his father (Dabney Harris)

authorizing his said son to receipt for his (Dabney Harris) part of

his fathers estate, and from this it is known that Dabney Harris had

one child but as to any other children no history is at hand."

(parentheses as in original)..............Although this info is from a

book I had not been able to confirm it. The power of attorney,

submitted by Evelyn below, appears to be the source of this book info

and indicates that Dabney did indeed have a son named Christopher.

6. From Surry Co., NC abstracts: deed books D, E and F (1779-1797) -

6 Aug 1793, Dabney Harris to John Personate, for 75 pounds, 95 acres

adjacent Jesse Franklin and Mark Kenned(a)y. Wits: (X) James

Franklin, Thomas Ross, William Snow. Signed Dabney Harris. (this

land was most likely on Butler creek)

7. Extracted from McNeil, George F.: Abstracts of North Carolina.

Land Grant Files of Grants Issued for Land in Wilkes County;

Published, 1994 by Wilkes Genealogical Society, North Wilkesboro, NC.

- Pg 73, Vol 1, 1778-1798, File #727. Dabney Harris received grant

#724, 22 Sep 1785 for 150 acres, both sides of Glade creek of the

Little river, adjoining Young Edwards. Based on Warrent/entry #1160

dated 2 Jan 1785. Grant is recorded in Book 59, pg 332. Chain

carriers: Edward Franklin, Jno. Edwards. Surveyed by William Johnson.

This land was in present day Alleghany Co., adj Greyson Co., VA

border. However Dabney appears to have actually lived on Butler

creek, on the south fork of the Mitchell river, next door to David

Austin..............According to Austin family researchers, Benjamin

Austin, son of David Austin above, married a Sarah

Harris who is suppose to be a daughter of Dabney Harris. However I

can find no one who can prove this to me. I do not have the notes

with me but I believe Sarah Harris and Benjamin Austin moved to

Kentucky also.

8. I am aware of the Dabney Harris and Christopher Harris names in

Pulaski Co., KY but am not sure who either were or how they may be

connected. I had thought that Dabney may be the son of Dabney or his

grandson or the son of one of Dabney's many brothers who moved to

Madison KY with their father Christopher. Could the Christopher found

there be the son of the elder Christopher?

9. My info is that Mary Dabney was the first wife of the elder

Christopher Harris and Dabney Harris was their eldest son. The

parents of Mary were Cornelius Dabney and Sarah Ann Jennings of

Hanover county VA. Their son John Dabney supposedly married Anna

Harris, the sister of Christopher Harris.

Hope this all helps and maybe someone out there can add to or correct

this info.

Glenn E. Harris

His name appears in Madison Co., KY Grant Deed Index. Dabney Harris, grantor; ChristopherHarris, grantee; C-381, 9 Mar 1795; recorded 5 May 1795; power of attorney. "Know all men by these presents that I Dabney Harris of Surry County, North Carolina for sundry [reasons?] etc do constitute and appoint my son and Friend Christopher Harris of the said county &state my true & lawfull attorney to act demand sue for recover & ...of Christopher Harris & Foster Jones of Madison County & in the State of Kentucke Exrs to the Estate of my Deceased Father all such Legacys as may be due to me on that behalf? hereby ratifying and confirming whatever my said Attorney may do in and touching Premises in as full and Ample manner as though I were personally present in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this ninth (?] day of March one Thousand seven hundred and ninety four. /s/ Dabney Harris Teste Reuben Canterbury, JohnCanterbury, J. P. ----"

III. Extracted from McNeil, George F.: Abstracts of North Carolina. Land Grant Files of Grants Issued for Land in Wilkes County; Published, 1994 by Wilkes Genealogical Society, North Wilkesboro, NC. - Pg 73, Vol 1, 1778-1798, File #727.

Dabney Harris received grant #724, 22 Sep 1785 for 150 acres, both sides of Glade creek of the Little River, adjoining Young Edwards. Based on Warrant/entry #1160 dated 2 Jan 1785. Grant is recorded in Book 59, pg 332. Chain carriers: Edward Franklin, Jno. Edwards. Surveyed by William Johnson. This land was in present day Alleghany Co., adj Greyson Co., VA border. However Dabney appears to have actually lived on Butler creek, on the south fork of the Mitchell River, next door to David Austin..............^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Copy of original Will from the Washington County, Virginia courthouse: Washington County, Virginia Will Books, No. 3, 1806-1812; Page 185-186 (Transcribed by: Researcher Cathea Curry, 13 Oct 2007)
2. ↑ Per K Y Harris: According to Austin family researchers, Benjamin Austin, son of David Austin above, married a Sarah Harris who is supposed to be a daughter of Dabney Harris. However I can find no one who can prove this to me. I do not have the notes with me but I believe Sarah Harris and Benjamin Austin moved to Kentucky also. [Researcher, Glenn E. Harris.] Note: Sarah Harris/Austin had a son named "Dabney Harris Austin". [Researcher Lillian Densley.]

See also:

• Ancestry Profile
• 1790 United States Federal Census
• 1800 United States Federal Census; Quote: Aged 45 or older.
• American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI); Ancestry Record 3599 #3133214; Name: Dabney Haris; Birth Date: 1750; Birthplace: North Carolina; Volume: 72; Page Number: 387; Reference: Heads of fams. at the first U.S. census. NC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (292p.):124.
• Family Data Collection - Births
• Family Data Collection - Individual Records
• History and genealogies of the families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh, and Brown (illustrated); Image
• International, Find A Grave Index for Select Locations, 1300s-Current
• Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850
• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
• North Carolina Census, 1790-1890
• North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960
• North Carolina, State Census, 1784-1787
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current; Find A Grave: Memorial #141105320
• The Kinnears and their kin; a memorial volume of history, biography, and genealogy, with revolutionary and civil and Spanish war records; including manuscript of Rev. David Kinnear (1840) Page: 455.
• The Early Descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters, W. P. Anderson (Cincinnati, OH: Author, 1938); Page 66.
• Harris & Allied Families of Kentucky; Ancestor's "Lost & Found" Department; Elder Dabney Harris. (Tons of information to still be gleaned from this page!)
• North Carolina Land Grant Images and Data
• HARRIS-HUNTERS-L Archives
• W. P. Anderson in The Early Descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters (Cincinnati, OH: author, 1938), p. 22, gives the order of Cornelius II’s sons as Cornelius, William, and John with birth dates between 1713 and 1715, based on the work of Trist Wood. Page: 70.
• William Cross of Botetourt Co., VA., and His Descendants, 1733-1932, John N. Cross and Mary Cross Cole (Columbia, MO: E. W. Stephens Pub. Co., 1932), Page: 158.
• History and Genealogies of The Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh, and Brown, W. H. Miller (Lexington, KY: Press of Transylvania Co., 1907), Page: 277 and 278. Transcribes his father, Christopher's will and on next page gives notes about Dabney.