John Norris I (abt. 1672 - abt. 1750)

Born about 1672 in Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1 Jun 1750 at about age 78 in Collington District, South Carolina [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rick Bennett [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Norris, the immigrant, was born c1608 in Congham, county Norfolk, England. He was son of Geoffrey Norris. He went to sea at age eleven.

By 1630, Thomas was in Nansemond County, VA; by 1634, he was in St. Mary's Co MD. Thomas Norris came to Maryland with William Claiborne and lived on Kent Isle. He married Ann Hynson, d/o Thomas Hynson of Nansemond Co and Kent Isle, about 1637. (Ann Hynson Norris d. c1660.)

After his marriage, Thomas Norris and his brother-in-law, Daniel Glover, whose wife was a sister to Ann Hynson, were transported to Talbot Co Md. in 1663. They assigned their headrights to John Morgan. Morgan did not make use of these headrights until 1665. (Land Grants Liber 9, f. 313)

Investigating the transactions of John Morgan, the records disclose he specialized in transporting persons to & from Va. to St. Mary's Co, Md., and from SMCo to Talbot Co., thus securing headrights which he disposed of for a consideration.

In 1665, Thomas Norris & John Glover jointly purchased 400 a. of land. (Deed Lib 1, f. 43) In 1673, Thomas Norris had a grant of 200 a. called "Norrisderry" on the Chester River. Thomas d. before November 1675. A land sale which he was negotiating at that time was concluded by his eldest son and heir-at-law, Thomas Norris, Jr., a bricklayer. Children: Thomas Jr., Edward, Geoffrey, Daniel, Alice, Cuthbert, Ann, Robert, & John Norris.

Sources

• The Norrises of Watauga: A Genealogy of John Norris, Minuteman, by Jeff L Norris

• http://www.spaldinggenealogy.com/norris_family_of_maryland_and_ke.htm

• Thomas Miller Myers, The Norris Family of Maryland ((1916) William Clemens, Publisher New York, New York), pg. 77-8, 83, New England Historic Genealogical Society, CS/71/N858/1916. This work is not documented.

• Harry Alexander Davis, The Norris Family of Maryland & Virginia; Genealogy of Thomas Norris 1361 - 1930 (4 vol. 1941 Washington D.C. Transcript), pg. 14, Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20540-4570, CS71.N858; Microfilm 88/5447 MicRR 99ft. "The Norris Family" is an amazing work in Genealogy, 1500 pages in four volumes. Only three copies were produced, and one is located in the Rare Books Section of the Library of Congress. Another is to be in the Kansas DAR Library at dodge city, Ks.

• Source: S-2116804151 Repository: #R-2147366718 Title: Family Data Collection - Individual Records Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Note: APID: 1,4725::0
• Repository: R-2147366718 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:
• Source: S-2142848800 Repository: #R-2147366718 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=8059341&pid=2806

Notes

John Norris (son of Thomas Norris, Jr. and Elizabeth Hosier)3685 was born 1672 in Charleston, South Carolina colony3685, and died Bet. 1750 - 1760 in St. Phillip's Parish, South Carolina colony3685. He married Mary Winifred (Winnie) Patrick on Abt. 1705 in Kent County, Maryland colony3685.

Notes for John Norris:

John Norris, like his father and grandfather, became a mariner as a young man. He landed at Baltimore about 1704 where he was married to Mary Winnifred Patrick about 1705. They emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina colony where John was given a land grant for three hundred acres November 11, 1707. It was located in the Colleton District. After his death, his widow moved to the Abbeville District to live with their son, Robert. She was killed in the Long Cane Indian Massacre in February, 1760.

The following information is quoted from the manuscript entitled, "The Norris Family of Maryland and Virginia, 1361-1930," by Major Harry Alexander Davis:

"Born Charleston, South Carolina in 1672. Moved to Maryland with his parents in 1674. He went to sea when about 17 years of age and was a mariner for some years sailing out of Baltimore.

He married about 1705 Mary Winifred, daughter of Henry Patrick, born Maryland 1689. They migrated to Charleston, South Carolina where he had a grant of land 11 Nov. 1707. for 300 acres in Colleton District. There is no record of disposition of this land in Charleston, and Colleton records are not extant.

They were living in St. Phillip's Parish in 1748-49 where John died in the early 1750's. Mary Winifred, called 'Winnie,' moved to Abbeville District, South Carolina near her son, Robert Norris, and is recorded in the family records as among those who were massacred by the Indians at Long Cane in Feb. 1760."

More About John Norris and Mary Winifred (Winnie) Patrick:

Marriage: Abt. 1705, Kent County, Maryland colony.

Children of John Norris and Mary Winifred (Winnie) Patrick are:

+John Norris, Jr., b. 1710, Charleston, South Carolina colony3685, d. Bet. 1776 - 1777, Colleton District, South Carolina colony.

[Reference: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/u/t/Thomas-K-Butt/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0916.html] -------------------- 1676 John Norris was transported to Md. he paid his own way. Patent 14:452m if St, Mary's co., Md.

RECORD:

1. Thomas Miller Myers, The Norris Family of Maryland ((1916) William Clemens, Publisher New York, New York), pg. 77-8, 83, New England Historic Genealogical Society, CS/71/N858/1916. This work is not documented.

"The Norris family of St Marys co., Md. is descended from John Norris whose will was proved in that county 2 Aug. 1710. A combination of the will records, marriage records, & the following church & county records make possible a fairly complete history of this family to 1800. [Sic he had no children under this sketch listed]."

2. Harry Alexander Davis, The Norris Family of Maryland & Virginia; Genealogy of Thomas Norris 1361 - 1930 (4 vol. 1941 Washington D.C. Transcript), pg. 14, Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20540-4570, CS71.N858; Microfilm 88/5447 MicRR 99ft. "The Norris Family" is an amazing work in Genealogy, 1500 pages in four volumes. Only three copies were produced, and one is located in the Rare Books Section of the Library of Congress. Another is to be in the Kansas DAR Library at dodge city, Ks.

"John Heard dtd his will 20 Jul. 1696 & it was probated 31 Aug. 1696. Susannah Heard dtd her will 13 May 1706 & it was probated 9 Dec. 1707; she mentions grandchildren: John, Luke, Mark, Elizabeth, & Moncia Norris; son-in-law John Norris & daughter Susannah Norris.

In a court record 1702 John Norris testified he was 50 year of age & that his son, John was 22 years of age. He dtd his will 13 Apr. 1709 & it was probated 2 Aug. 1710; he devised to his sons, Thomas & Luke & their heirs, jointly, 100 acres of landed called "Lugares Hills"; to sons, John & Mark, 164 acres of land & the dwelling plantation; wife, Susannah, to have use of lands mentioned during her life. Both tracts to pass to daughters, Monica, Elizabeth & Mary, should sons aforesaid die without issue (Lib. PC1 fol. 166).

Susannah was a witness to the will of John Wheatley 25 Apr. 1717 with William Heard, John Norris, (her son) & Henry Spinke. No Record of her death. John Norris was a member of the Church of England & Susannah Heard was a Roman Catholic. The daughters followed their mother in their faith."

3. Gertrude Cleghorn Josserand (Mrs. Guy D.), Kentucky Descendants of Thomas Norris of Maryland 1630 - 1953 and Allied Families ((1916) Edwards Brothers Inc. Ann Arbor, Mich.), pg 2 & 103, New England Historic Genealogical Society, CS/71/N858/1953. "

The Norris family of St Marys co., Md. is descended from John Norris, who was the youngest son of Thomas Norris, The Immigrant. This John Norris reamind in St. Marys co., Md. when his brothers moved to Talbot and Baltimore counties in the later 1600's. He parents prominent in the Catholic church of St. Mary's co."

4. Personal Records of Corinne Hanna Diller, C

5. Personal Records of Christine E. (Mrs. James M.) Williams, Kentucky Historical Society, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, Kentucy 40601-1931, E-Mail: www.kyhistory.org, Fax:502-564-4701.

6. Personal Records of Thomas Green III, E-Mail: tmgreen@batnet.com. His records refer to paper(s) Library of Congress; asssuming he is refering to 4 Vol. transcript of Harry Alexander Davies. "

before we started to document he had marriage as 1682 in Md., which may be typo?

One person doubts that this John who died 1710 died 1710 in St. Marys co., Md. was the son of Thomas the immigrant. He never had any dealings with the other siblings or their associates. His descendants were all Catholics.

He may have had a brother William whose children lived in Prince George co., Md. His will dtd 13 Apr. 1709 & was probated 10 Jul. 1710, proved 2 Aug. 1710. He gives wife as Elizabeth Capell - Warning do not confuse this Elizabeth with Elizabeth married John Norris who married Elizabeth Parsons; at one time we had this John married to Elizabeth Parsons, as that John was born in 1663."

NOTE added 31 Aug. 1996 Family History Library lists a second Elizabeth Parsons, #QVJQ-Z7 shows b. after 1659 Md., how related to Benjamin Capell; because of this confusion he had double entries for the children which I [Judith E. Burns] omitted in entering into this PAF 3.0 file on 25 &d 26 Jan. 1999.

7. Corrine Hanna Diller, John and Thomases: Using Named Farmland to Sort Indenties (National Genealogical Quartlery), National Genealogical Society, 4527 Seventeenth St. N., Arlington, Virginia. 22207-2399. "

The elder John was b. abt 1642 & immigrated to Md. in 1676. The headrights he earned by paying his own way was the foundation upon which he built his modest fortunes. All of his known children were born after his arrival. [Prerogative Land Office Patents, 14:453 Md. State Archives]...Many Norris researchers assert that the wife & children of the immigrant John [Norris] were catholic, but that he was not. The St. Clement's Bay study presents the Heard's as catholic [Colonial Settlers of St. Clements Day 1634 - 1780, Ennis, Tx. 1996 privately printed Mary L. Donnelly]...However this older John Norris did own a large portion of 'Wheatly's Content' - a decade before 1717...John Sr.'s will dtd 13 Apr. 1709 and proved 2 Aug. 1710 [St. Marys co. Wills JJ-11 pg. 192] further clarifies both his identity & the chain of title to the Norris part of 'Wheatly's Content' [St. Mary's co. Will Book PC-1:165; Prerogative Court Wills 13:78]. To his wife Susanna, John gave the use of all lands for her lifetime. To son's Thomas & Luke, he gave title (possession after Susanna's death) to the 100 acres he called 'Lugare's [Lewger's] Hills. To his sons John & Mark, he bequeathed the 164 acres on which the family dwelled, although John Sr. gives no name to the acreage, it is clear from the 1707 quitent roll that the 164 acre tract was the Norris part of 'Wheatley's Content'. John's daughters - Monica, Elizabeth (Eliza) & Mary inherited the residue of his estate...On the 1707 Quit-rent roll John Norris has 164 acres of 'Wheatly's Content'; 1709-10 will & 1717 Quit-rent roll appears 164 acres of "Wheatly's Content'...1759 Debt [Quitrent] Book 1759 - all 'Wheatley's Content' Thomas Norris - 95 acres; Luke Norris - 69 acres; Mark 110 acres [St. Marys Debt Bk.40:11,14,17,25,34]. These tracts total 164 acres, the amount that Thomas's father, John Jr., inherited in 1710-17 jointly with his brother Mark. Since another brother Luke, inherited none of the 'Wheatley Content', it might be assumed that Luke purchased his part of the 164 acres from either John Jr. or Mark. However, John Jr.'s son Thomas, died in possession of John Jr's 82 acres share & the rent rolls imply that Mark kept his own 82 acre block & passed it on to his son, Mark Jr. between 1768 & 1774. Another possible explanation for Luke's possession of acreage called 'Wheatly's Content' is that John or Mark added acreage to their shares & then sold part or all of the addition to Luke - or that Luke purchased part of the acerage that Thomas Wheatly had added to his portion in 1750. The only clear conculsion to be reached from this series of land enteries is that more data are needed before the transfers, additions & dedcutions can be realiably defined. Mark enlarged his share, apparently by purchase via a lost deed, since no patent can be found in the extant patent books. While the 1759 rent rolls cite 110 acres, the 1768 roll cites 118, & the 1774 roll divides the 118 into two tracts; the 82 inherited acres & an additional 36."

John's ancestry dates back to 1320 in Congham county, England, which was the homeplace for nine generations of Norays and Norrises, six of whom were named Geoffrey. The youngest son of the last Geoffrey, Thomas Norris (1606-1675), who was probably pressed into maritime service at the age of eleven, later settled in the New World, specifically Virginia, and fathered three generations of sailors. Thomas, Jr (1638-1683) sailed out of Maryland but lived for several years in Charleston, SC, where his son John was born. John (1672-1752) followed in Thonas Jr's footsteps, sailing out of Baltimore at age 17, but later settling on a 300-acre land grant near Charleston. His son, also named John (1710-1777) was a Charleston mariner who married Jane Cammell, also of South Carolina, before migrating to Lunenburg County, VA.

Taken from: The Norrises of Watauga: A Genealogy of John Norris, Minuteman, by Jeff L Norris

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Norris-1010 created through the import of Ronny _ Marilyn_s Family Histo.ged on Mar 26, 2012 by Ronald Johnston. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ronald and others.