Elizabeth (Tate) Harris (1746 - 1834)

Born 18 Aug 1746 in Hanover County, Virginia Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Matthew Harris — married 28 Apr 1764 in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died 30 May 1834 at age 87 in Nelson, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth was born on 18 Aug 1746 in Hanover County, Virginia Colony, to Henry John Tate and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (Netherland) Tate.

Elizabeth married Matthew Harris on 28 Apr 1764 in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia Colony.^[1] Matthew and Elizabeth had several children. The names of 15 children were identified when a chancery case concerning Elizabeth's husband's estate was brought before the court in Nelson County, Virginia. The children listed were (in no particular order): Sophia, Polly, Sarah Netherland, William Jr, Matthew, John Jr, Benjamin, Henry T., Matilda, Pamelia, Nancy, Caroline, Frances "Fanny," Shiler, and Elizabeth "Betsy."

Matthew was a prosperous farmer with a thriving plantation. At his death on on 18 May 1805, in Amherst County, Virginia, his real and personal estate was substantial, with at least 55 slaves, a great deal of livestock, crops, and other plantation goods, and a large amount of real estate. He died having only left verbal instructions as to the division of his real estate, and without an actual will. A case was brought to the chancery court of Nelson County about 1808 to settle the matter. The matter of the real estate was continued, but the personal estate was settled around 1809, with a valuation and division of personal property signed on 4 January 1809. Elizabeth was assigned, "by consent of all parties interested," the following: one cart and a yoke of oxen, 14 head of cattle, one small bay mare 14 years old, two mares named Dove and Diamond, one mare named Medley, and Dove's colt, 11 sheep, 6 sows, 27 pigs, 15 shoats, one bed and furniture, 10 chairs, two cupboards and three tables, one cask and bottles and one desk, 100 barrels of corn and spring wheat, kitchen furniture and grindstone, one oven and one crop cut saw, and a good portion of the plantation tools and supplies. She also received 16 slaves--Robin, age 39, valued at $110; Frank, age 45, valued at $80; Old Sam, age 60, valued at $40; Charlotte, age 12, valued at $60; Jenny, age 37, valued at $70; Jacob, age 13, valued at $75; Robin (son of Jenny), age 9, valued at $60; Conda, age 7, valued at $45; Agga/Aggy, age 33, valued at $80; John, age 5, valued at $40; Jenny (young), age 3, valued at $12; Billy, age 3 months, valued at $10; Hannah, age 11, valued at $50; James, no age given, but likely elderly, valued at nothing; Pat, no age given, but likely elderly, valued at nothing; and Sarah no age given, but likely elderly, valued at nothing;. Edmund, age 16, and valued at $90, was not apportioned and perhaps also went to Matthew's widow.

In the 1810 census, Elizabeth's household was enumerated in Nelson County, Virginia. Her sons, William, Henry T., and Benjamin each appear with their households near her. Her household was structured as follows:^[2]

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 3

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1 [Elizabeth]

Slaves: 31

In the 1820 census, Elizabeth's household was enumerated in Nelson County, Virginia. Elizabeth's son, Matthew M. Harris, appeared next to her on the census. Elizabeth's household was structured as follows:^[3]

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 2 [Elizabeth and probably her daughter, Nancy]

Slaves - Males - Under 14: 8

Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: 3

Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 2

Slaves - Males - 45 and over: 3

Slaves - Females - Under 14: 1

Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 2

Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: 4

Slaves - Females - 45 and over: 2

Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 13

Total Free White Persons: 2

Total Slaves: 25

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 27

In the 1830 census, Elizabeth's household was enumerated in Nelson County, Virginia. Elizabeth's daughter, Nancy, and her son, Benjamin, appeared near her on the census. Elizabeth's household was structured as follows:^[4]

Free White Persons - Females - 80 thru 89: 1 [Elizabeth]

Slaves - Males - Under 10: 4

Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 8

Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35: 1

Slaves - Females - Under 10: 9

Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 5

Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 5

Total Free White Persons: 1

Total Slaves: 32

Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 33

Slaves

• Robin
  
  
• Frank
  
  
• Sam "Old Sam"
  
  
• Charlotte
  
  
• Jenny (age 37)
  
  
• Jacob
  
  
• Robin (the younger)
  
  
• Conda
  
  
• Aggy
  
  
• John
  
  
• Jenny (age 3)
  
  
• Billy
  
  
• Hannah
  
  
• Sarah
  
  
• Pat
  
  
• James
  
  

Elizabeth died on 30 May 1834.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
   Source number: 627.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: TSJ
   Ancestry Record 7836 #1197713 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Elizabeth Tate marriage to Matthew Harriss in 1764.
2. ↑ 1810 Census: "1810 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1810; Census Place: Amherst, Nelson, Virginia; Roll: 70; Page: 697; Image: 00144; Family History Library Film: 0181430
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7613 #698849 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Elizabeth Hanis.
3. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
   1820 U S Census; Census Place: Buckingham, Nelson, Virginia; Page: 195; NARA Roll: M33_130; Image: 372
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #15220 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Elizabeth Harris.
4. ↑ 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1830; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 196; Page: 108; Family History Library Film: 0029675
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #894954 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Elizabeth Harris.

• Ira L. Harris III, "Re: Orange County, North Carolina", Online posting, Friday, 24 Jan 2003, HARRIS-HUNTERS-L Archives (Online: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017), <http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/HARRIS-HUNTERS/2003-01/1043453506>
• "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HJYH-FPN2 : 29 January 2020), Eliz. Harris in entry for Benjamin Harris, 1860.
• https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=125-1813-003#img
• Ancestry Family Trees.
• 1810 U.S. Census, Amherst, Nelson County, Virginia, p. 697; Family History Library Film: 0181430, image 144; citing roll 70.
• 1820 U S Census, Buckingham, Nelson County, Virginia, p. 195A; NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 130, image 373.
• 1830 U.S. Census, Nelson County, Virginia, p. 108; Family History Library Film 29675; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 196.
• "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900."