Henry Harris emigrated from Whales and settled in Virginia in 1691
No. 2. Edward Harris had thirteen children, eight sons, five daughters.
No. 3. Nathan Harris, tenth child, was born 1716 and married (1737) Catherine Walton of Burnswick County Virginia. Ahe was a daughter of Judge George Walton of that county. Fourteen Children: Walton, Nathan, Isaac, David (killed at the siege of Augusta, Ga.), Elias, Rowland, Herbert, Gideon, Howell, John Henry, Catherine, Martha, Elizabeth, Ann. (See page 8 Washington and Harris line.) [Note: this page number will not correspond when this is printed out. Original was on legal size paper. Note also we have retained all spelling and typographical errors, throughout,to keep this copy true to the original, e.g., Burnswick (Brunswick), Ahe (She), etc.]
No. 4. Walton Harris, first child, born in Burnswick Couty, Virginia, 1739, married Rebecca Lanier, who was a great grand-daughter of John Washington, the founder of the Washington family in America. (See Washington-Harris line.) They afterwards moved to North Carolina, where theyowned the large fisheries at the mouth of the Yadkin River, and then came to Georgia.
The Harrises belonged to an ancient family whos seat was in Glamorgan, Whales. They were enthusiastic members of the Welsh Baptist Society. During the flucuating religious troubles of that period, they had been compelled to fly to France, and there joined with the Hugenots, and it is probably that the intimacy was then formed between the French Laniers and the Welsh Harrises which resulted in the emigrating to America at the same time. On the promulgation of the Edict of Nantes, Welsh refugees in France returned to Whales, where they lived until the revocation of the Edict. It was then that the Laniers left their home in the south of France, and went first to England,and then to Whales. Emigrating soon after with the Harrises and others mentioned in the Lanier Papers, and settling in Virginia. Here they settled a town known as Monokim, or Monocan Town. Bishop Meade says this name was derived from the Indian "monacan," the name of a tribe which the great King Powhatan tried vainly to (warlike tribe) Subdue, and which dwelt on the James River from the Falls (Richmond) to Monacan. It is therefore from Monacan Town that the Laniers and the Harrises derive their origin in the United States. (See Bishop Meade's work, "The Old Churches and Families of Virginia.")
Copied from the records made by Iverson Lewis Harris, son of Augustin Harris, who in turn was son of Walton Harris, and brother of my great-great grandfather, Buckner (General) Harris. (Signed) Josephine Ethel M. Lynch, March, 1909
Document sent me by Mrs. L. C. Hall, grandaughter of Iverson Lewis Harris:
Dedication: A record of family relationship by blood, prepared with much care since the year 1852 from the best available sources, having both previous indifference and neglect omitted to procure from my father and mother whilst living, informatio which I now desire to register for the instruction and curiosity of my children and grandchildren. I desire this volume,when I am no more, to be carefully preserved in my family, they taking care to keep registers of their descendents. (Signed) Iverson Louis Harris, Milledgeville, Ga. 17th January, 1865.
"The Harrises have been noted for the bravery and the ambition of their men, and the beauty and purity of their women: and marked characteristics of both sexes are a decided clannishness and great talkativeness, and large families." (Signed) Iverson Louis Harris, 1865
The name Mankin is derived from the Indian "monocan"-- the name of the War-like tribe of Indians whom the great Powhatan in vain attempted to subdue: they reside on James River from Falls (Richmond) to Mamakin. Bishop William Meade, 1st Vol. 466, "Old Churches and Old Families of Virginia."
Sketch of the Harris family as furnished by my cousin Henry Clay Harris of Covington, Kentucky. Extracts from his letter 7th of September, 1857:
"Isham Green Harris of Tennessee is our relative; I knew him quite well. He is a man of decided talent; an eloquent man also. He is as perfect a Harris as ever lived; he whipped his ppponent and then beat him for governor,"
You remember our grandfather, Walton Harris, had several brothers, viz: Roland, Howell, Henry and John. Roland died in Powhaten county, Virginia; his children moved to Tennessee, and so did a portion of the Howell Harris family."
A portion of Henry Harris' family moved to North Carolina before our grandfather, lived at and owned the great fishery at the narrows of the Yadkin River."
From this North Carolina branch Isham G. Harris springs."
Howell Gideon Harris, cousin to our father, and son of Roland Harris, married Polly Lyle of Gerogia and died in Tennessee."
"John (?)"
Judge William H. Harris, the brother of General Isham G. Harris, was a man of high talent, but of irascible and ungovernable temper. He sent all the members of the Bar to jail and then resigned the Judgeship, leaving them to get out the best way they could."
John I Crittenden, late United States Senator from Kentucky, is the grandson of John Harris. The Crittendens are much like the Harrises, and get their talking qualities from that tribe."
"You are mistaken as to the origin of the Harrises springing from Burnswick, Virginia. I will give you our history on which you may implicitly rely."
"In the first place we are of Welsh origin, as our name indicates. The word "Harris" means in the Celtic language 'an heir or son'. Our original seat was in Whales in the town of Harrisron."
"Have you not noticed in the English papers an account of a great Baptist preacher by the name of Howell Harris,now living in Whales?"
During the religious troubles growing out of the dissension between the Puritans and Presbyterians and the Established Church in the reign of James I and Charles I, The Harrises and a number of Welsh Baptists fled from Glamorgan to Brittany and Navarre. They united with the Hugenots and remained until about the reign of Charles II, when he returned."
"They remained in England until after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes."
"This Edict wa made by Henry IV shortly after his return to the Catholic Church in 1594, a matter of necessity that he might resign. The revocation of this Edict was October 1685 by Louis XIV."
"The Welsh Baptist cast about after their return to England as to what course they should pursue. To remain in England was impractical for James II was their secret enemy and a Catholic at heart. They couldn't reach in safety to the mountains of Cevennes, or the Protestant provinces between the Garonne and the Rhone in the south of France. Their eyes were turned to America."
"In 1691 William and Mary granted to Henry Harris and John Jourdan ten miles square of crown lands in the county of Powhaten, Virginia, on the James River and to their heirs forever. Between that period and 1716 the Hugenots emigrated to Virginia."
"The Harrises brought over with them the Chastains, Bondurants, Pettigries, Trenallen, etc., and all settled within the grant and called their town Manakin Town."
"It is from this town that we all spring. It was the original seat of the Harrises on this continent. Benjamin Watkins Leigh of Virginia told me in 1844 that he had in his possession this original grant, or patent to our ancestors."
"From Manakin one branch of the Harrises settled in Albermarle. Our grandfather's father, and a few others settled in Burnswick County, Virginia. Our grandfather was born in Powhatan,also two of his elder brothers, who died in the country, and whose descendants are now there. (N.B. avobe refers to Walton Harris, my great-great-great-grandfather, (Signed) J. E. M. Lynch.
"We were distinguished thus: Manakin Town Harrises, the Albermarle Harrises, and the Burnswick Harrises; but the Manakin Town is the hive from which we all spring."
"From the Albermarle branch there are a great many of the family in Kentucky and Missouri. You can always distinguish them by the name of Overton and Clifton. They spred over Fauquier and Nelson Counties, Virginia. William A. Harris of "The Union" is a Manakin Town Harris. He was born in Fauquier, and is a son of George Harris, who was cousin to our fathers.
"The Harrises generally had light gray eyes, red skins and generally were six feet tall. They have remarkable memories and are generally good talkers."
I feel gratified to know that so many of us, however, so much scattered, have risen abive the groundlings and the common level and have occupied prominent positions wherever they have lived. This is, I think, the result of surroundings and a family pride more than intellectual endowments. And that apparent hauteur has been the means of many a 'witholding' still it has been the secrret of our success. Was there ever such a number of judges, lawyers, stc. in a family? Never, I believe on earth."
Extract from another letter of Henry Clay Harris, Esq. of Covington, 20th October, 1858:
"You have correctly given the names of our great uncles except the double names. John Henry, called in the family 'Henry' -- at least so my father called him -- and Roland, whom you call 'rowe', his ture name was Roland.
"John I. Crittenden is the grandson of John Henry Harris; his mother was first cousin to my grandfather."
"Governor Isham G, Harris says to me, "Howell Gideon Harris who was the son of Roland Harris, was the cousin of his grandfather; he sprang from an elder branch of the Harrises." I have not sent him the tables, but will do so and get h m to write to you."
"You ask me how do I know these things. I have my information from my father, Gideon Harris, and Benjamin Watson Leigh of Virginia. and many others of our kindred, and you may rely on these statements."
"The Harrises are descendents of the ancient Britons and are of pure Celtic blood."
"One of the Manakin Harrises became a sea captain, or rather a captain of the Chesapeake Bay. He married a lady in Somerset County, Maryland, not far from Salisbury, and there founded another branch. His name was Josiah. The family is not large and is to be found in Ohio.
"The Albermarle Harrises are not confined to that county, but are to be found in Orange, Louisa, and Nelson, and Fauquier. They are easily ascertained by the names of Overton and Clifton, as the Burnswick stock by those of Buckner and Augustin.
"William Harris Crawford od Georgia descended from the Albemarle Branch.
"Crest. The family crest of the Welsh Harrises as given by Mr. Elven in his collection, is a hedgehog, or porcupine, charged with a kay az. "Ubique patriam reminisci."
"Another -- an arm grasping a dart.
"In Bishop Meade's work, "Old Churches and Families of Virginia", 1st Vol. Page 468, title King William Parish, or Manakin Town, the Hugenot settlement on James River, he says: 'Nothing now remains but that I mention the names of the families still remaining in Virginia who derive their desent from the Hugenots. From information coming through books-... (word undecipherqble) they are as follows: Marye, Fontaine, Dupuy, Harris, Sublett, Watkins, Markham, Sulluy, Chastain, Durvall, Bondurant, Flournoy, Potter, Michaux, Pemberton, Munford, Hatcher, Jacqueline, Bernard, Berrand, Latrane, Monocure, Agee, Amonet, Chaudoiuin, Dilzell (or Dibrell), Farrar, Fuqua, Ister, Jourdon, Jouette, LeGrand, Ligon, Maupin, Maxey, Pasteur, Perron, Thweat, Maury, Bisseau, Fouche, Lanier, LeNeve. Concerning a few of these, it may be questioned whether they be not of Welsh descent, whilst these are doubtless who might be added. (Signed) William Meade, D. B., Bishop T.E.V Virginia
Information furnished by Judge Thomas W. Harris, of Columbus, Mississippi:
"Nathan Harris, brother of our grandfather Walton, was his junior. He lived in Columbia County, Georgia. He was twice married. By his first wife he had many children. The second wife was the widow of the Reverend Ebernezer Starnes, grandfather of Judge Carnes of Augusta. By her he had three sons, Rowe, Raymond and Benjamin. Rowe married a daughter of Edmund Abercrombie of Hancock. He acted badly, seperated from his wife, went to Texas and died. She is now the wife of Judge Hiram Warner of Merriwether County. Doctor Raymond Harris was educated at Franklin College by his half-brother, Harris Starnes. He married a beautiful widow, the sister of Judge William Law of Savannah. His son, Dr. Steven, the partner of Dr. Wildman, fell a victim in Savannah to yellow fever. He had other children.
"Benjamin, after being Solicitor-General of the Flint Circuit Court, removed to Mississippi and married Susan, sister of Judge Thomas W, Harris. Their daughter married a Dr. Strong, a clever gentleman in Mississippi.
"Herbert Harris, a younger brother of our grandfather, was in Georgia. Of his family I have little knowledge. It is believed he died in Virginia and that he left only one child, Thomas K. Harris, who was raised by his uncle Howell Harris, and when grown up he went to Tenessee, and became a prominent man and a member of Congress. He was killed in a street fight in White County, left several children. One of this daughters is the wife of Judge Phelan of Alabama.
"Howell Harris, a younger brother of my grandfather, died in Virginia. He left two children, a son and a daughter. They removed to Tennessee. The daughter, Betsy, married Benjamin Williams. They are old people, residing now (1865) at Holly Springs, Mississippi. Their Son, Major Henry, married a daughter of General A. B. Bradford. Robert, another son, is a prisoner in the hands of the yankees. Colonel Hannibal Harris son of Howell, has been killed during the war, as also his son Howell. The other son, Courtland, is in the army. Eleanora, his daughter, is married to Luke J.Whitfield of Movile, son of James Whitfield, formerly of Putman, Georgia."
Trace out the Harris and lewis family in the Parish of Saint james. Marth Gouchland.
In Chesterfield, Rev'd William Leigh married a daughter of Benjamin Watkins. His children were Judge William Leigh, Benjamin Watkins, Miss Harris and Miss Fannie. Miss Harris resides at Petersburg.
William de Hergburn, the progenitor of the Washington family, was knight and follower of William of Normandy. His surname was taken from the village of Hertburn (now Hartburn) on the bonks of the tees, England. In 1183 William de Herburn exchanged his villags of Hertburn for that of Wissington, in the same diocees. The family changed its surname with its estate, and thenceforward assumed that of De Wissington.
in 1264 there was William Wishington of Wishington, knight and follower of Henry III of England. In the reign of Edward II, Sir Stephen Wishington, also a knight. In 1416 John de Wishington. By degrees the signoral sign od "de" disappeared from the family name, which also gradually changed from Wissington to Wassington, and lastly to Washington.
The branch of the family to which our Washington belong sprang from Lawrence Washington of Grays Inn, son of John Washington of Warton in Lancashire, England. (See Accompanying chart). The tombs with inscriptions are still intact. See Munsey's Magazine, February 1896 for very interesting sketch.)
No. 1. John Washington of Lancashire, England.
No. 2. Laurent Washington of Northampton and Grays Inns died February 19, 1584, buried in Sulgrave Church. Was mayor of North Hampton some years, and in 1538 wa granted by Henry VII the manor of Sulgrave in North Hampton. Sir William Washingon, on od his direct descendents, married a sister of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, the favorite of Charles First. Sir Henry Washington, his son and heir, was the noble defender of Worchester n 1646. Lieutentnt Colonel James Washington, another member of this branch took arms in the cause of Charles First, and lost his life at the seige of Pontefract Castle.
No. 3. Robert Washington of Sulgrave, died 1619, buried with his father Lawrence Washington, in Sulgrave Church.
No. 4. Lawrence Washington of Sulgrave and Brington died December 13, 1616, buried in Brington Church.
No. 5. Reverand lawrence Washington, M.A., Fellow of Bransenose College, Oxford, Rector of Purleigh, Essex, 1632-1643, died 1650, buried in Brington Church.
No. 6. John Washington, born at Tring, England, 1634, emigrated with his brother Lawrence to America (Virginia) 1637. Under the protectorate of Cromwell they were Royalist and Church of England men. John married Anne, daughter of Nathaniel Pope, his second wife. Their children were Lawrence, from whom General George Washington was dexended, Anne, John and Elizabeth.
No. 7. Elizabeth Washington, born 1665, married 1687 to Thomas Lanier, son of Louis Lanier of Brodeaux, France. Information obtained from the Virginia land office shows that Thomas Lanier was a large land-owner in Lunenburg Counties Virginia, and in Rockingham County, North Carolina. They finally moved to North Carolina. Their children were Richard, Elizabeth, Sampson.
No. 8. Sampson Lanier, born 1700, married 1726 Elizabeth Chamberlain. Children: Lewis, who married Miss Mary Ball, sister of the mother of George Washington, Buckner, Winifred, Nancy and Rebecca.
No. 9. Rebecca Lanier, born 1740, married Walton Harris, son of Catherine Walton and Nathaniel Harris, who was born 1716, married 1737 in Burnswick County, Virginia. The children of Rebecca Lanier and Walton Harris were: Buckner (Major General, assassinated in Florida); Sampson, Joel, Edwin (Edwin married Miss Logan of Kentucky); Augustin, Nathan, Simeon, Walton (taken prisoner at seige of Augusta); Elizabeth Littleton and Jeptha Vining. The Sampson Harris mentioned above married Susanna Willis.
No. 10. Japtha V. Harris, youngest child, born 27th April, 1782, married 1804 Sallie Hunt, born 15 June, 1789, only daughter of Doctor Richardson Hunt and Nancy Carter, both of Virginia descent. Children: James, William, George, Anne, Sarah, Jeptha, Eljah, Rebexxa Lanier, Eugene, Susan, Tallula and Mary Louise.
No. 11. Mary Louise Harris, born April 24, 1824, married William Oliver Saffold, only son of Judge Gondilock Saffold and Ann Porter. Children: Reuben, Anne, Adam, Eugene, Roberta, Gondielock And Rebecca Lanier.
No. 12. Rebecca Lanier Saffold, born June 13, 1845, May 4, 1865 married Robert Taylor Nesbit, only son of Dr. Hugh O'Keefe Nesbit, and Martha DeLong Perrin. Children: William Duncan Nesbit, born March 1, 1869, who married Anne Bush of Alabama, December 12, 1895. They are now living in Birmingham, no children. Mary Eleanor, who married Thomas Worth Glover of Marietta and died without children; and Robert Hugh of Spartenburg, S. C., unmarried.
Much of the above is copied from the record of General Jeptha V. Harris, copied principally from records of George W. Curtis of Arlington, adopted son of George Washington. It was Furnished to Hon. Sampson Harris,representative in United States Congress from Alabama by Mr. Custis in 186_.
Other children of Nathan Harris and Catherine Walton were Nathan, who resides in Columbia County, Georgia; Isaac, David (killed at the siege of Augusta); Elias, Roland, Gideon,Herbert Howell. The daughters were Mrs. Martha Coleman, Mrs. Catherine Williams of Wildes County, GA., Mrs. Elizabeth Pennington, Ann Patrick of Burnswick County, Va.
Augustin Harris, son of Walton Harris and Rebecca Lanier, was born in Burnswick County Virginia, June 30 1867. Marries Anne Byne, daughter of Reverand Edward Byne and Anne Lewis of King and Queen County, Virginia. Children: Susan, who married William Hansell,Esq, who married Thomas Hartley Hall; Iverson Lewis, or Lanier, who maried Mary E. Davis, daughter of Judge William Davis of Savannah, Ga. [Note: not clear whether author omitted the name of one child, or Susan married twice?]
The letter containing the foregoing information is in the handwriting of Rebecca Nesbit, dated Farm Hill, ner Marieta, Ga., April 17, 1909.
For the facts in the following statements see Bishop William Meade's work, "Old Churches and Families of Virginia", also the family tree, and a manuscript entitled "History of the Harris Family", by Judge Iverson Lanier Lewis Harris; also the autobiography of J.E.V. Lanier of the banking firm of Winslow, Lanier & Co., New York City. See Abstracts from a letter from Sindey Lanier, to his cousin J.F.V. lanier, Under date of July 6, 1879.
No. 1. The Laniers, as is shown in the name, are of French Origin. Thomas Lanier came to this country in17th century on account of relegious persecutions in his home in the south of France. He went first to Wales and came from there with the Harrises, and with them settled in Virginia. He married a daughter of John Washington, the emigrant, and was a large land owner in Virginia in Lunenberg and Burnswick counties in the Rockingham County, N.C., finally moving tothe latter state. The children of Thomas Lanier and Elizabeth Washington were Richard, Thomas, James, Elizabeth and Sampson.
No. 2. Sampson Lanier married Elizabeth Chamberlain. their children wer Lewis, Buckner, Burwell, Winifred, Nancy, and Rebecca.
No. 3. Rebecca Lanier marri d Walton Harris and her history became one with the Harrises, and is shown in connection with them.
"It would seem that our forefathers we e extremely careless in preserving records of our family, but this paucity of history is explained to a much extent by their nomadic habits, and the great inconvenience of much luggage in their flights into England and Wales. And, Without doubt, many interesting reminiscences of the Laniers might be obtained by intelligent inquiry proscetuted in the south of France, in England, and in Wales. ---Perhaps, the first authentic mention of our name in history is that which records th part borne by Sir John Lanier at the Battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690, where he commanded the Queen's Regiment of Horse (See Macaulay's History of England, Vol. 3, page 490, Harper Bros., New York Edition, 1856).
He rose within the next two years to the rank of general and prsided with gallant Douglas and McKay at the batle of Stein Kirk."
Sometime between the year 1691 and 1716, a party of colonists and others came to Virginia from Great Britain, and settled upon a grant of land ten miles square which embraced the present site of the City of Richmond. This grant of land was made by William and Mary in 1691 to Henry Harris and John Jourdan, conveying to them a certain tract of land along the James River in Powhaten County, Virginia. The Original of this grant was in possession of Benjamin Leigh of Virginia in the year 1844.
"Henry Harris, with whose family ours became intimately connected, by marriage of Walton Harris and Rebecca Lanier, belonged to the ancient family of Glamorgan, Wales, etc. (See Harris-Washington records.)
"The Harrises, and Laniers spread out through many northern and southern states, and their names are found in many positions of honor and trust. The following are names of families who represent widely distinct branches of the Laniers, but all of whom derived their lineage from our common Hugenot stock herinbefore described. They will serve as useful clubs to any member of the family who may herafter desire to obtain a more complete account of it.
"There is also a group of Laniers on the island of Cuba.
The brothers, John Washington (born 1634 at Tring, England) and Lawrence (Andrew) Washington (See Washington Irving's 'Washington' page 15), during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, say in 1657, emigrated from England to America and settled on the Potomac in Westmoreland County, Va. (For corrected Washington date, see Washington and Harris famiies marked "Harris").
John was chosen commander against the Indians in Maryland and for his service was made colonel. He married Anne Pope--his second wife--and left two sons and a daughter; Lawrence, John and Anne. Lawrence, his eldest son, married Mildred Warner, daughter of Colonel Augustin Warner of Gloucester.
By her he had two sons and a daughter; 1st, John, 2nd, Augustin, 3rd., Mildred. Lawrence died in 1697 and was buried at Bridge Creek. John, the eldest son of Lawrence, married Catherine Whiting--(Something Missing). Where he settled and died. He had two sons, Warner and Henry, and three daughters, Mildred, Elizabeth and Catherine.
Warner first married a Miss Macon of New Kent, and then a Miss Fairfax. (See Mrs. Nesbitt's account on tablet paper.)
Henry married a Miss Thacker of Middlesox, Mildred was twice married. Catherine married a Fielding Lewis. Elizabeth Washington, born 1665, married Thomas Lanier 1687. Their children were Richard Lanier, Elizabeth and Sampson Lanier.
Samson Lanier married Elizabeth Chamberlain. Their children were Lewis, Lanier, Buckner, Lanier, Burwell Lanier, Winifred, Nancy and Rebecca Lanier, who married Walton Harris, the father of Buckner Harris. [It seems obvious the commas don't belong after Lewis and Buckner's first names -dp]
AAugustin Washington, second son of Lawrence, married first Jane Butler, by whom he had Lawrence and Augustine. Second married Mary Ball, 6th of March 1730, by whom he had George Washington, betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred.
This is a copy of a family table furnished the Hon. Sampson W. Harris, Member of Congress from Alabama, by George Washington Parke Custis, esq., from Arlington near Washington City in the year 1853.
John. His children were John, Elizabeth, anne and Lawrence.
Elizabeth married Thomas Lanier. The children of this marriage were Richard Lanier, Elizabeth, who married Craft, and Sampson Lanier.
Sampson Lanier, born 1700 married Elizabeth Chamberlain. Their children were Lewis Lanier of Scriven County,Ga., Buckner Lanier of Virginia, Burwell Lanier of Virginia, Winifred, who married Colonel Drewry Ledbetter of Virginia, Nancy Lanier, wife of Major Vaughn of Roanoke, N.C., and Rebecca Lanier, who married Walton Harris of Burnswick County, Va.
From Lawrence Washington therough Augustin Washington and Mary Ball Washington came George Washington.
In letter of General Washington to Sir Isaac Heard of the College of Heralds, dated May 2, 1792 (See Spark's Live of Washington, page 506), he says,"John Washington, elder son of Laurent and Mildred, married Catherine Whiting. (The name looks as much like Whitney as whitig) of Goucester. He had two sons, Warner and Henry, and three daughters, Mildred, Elizabeth and Catherine."
Near the bottom of the page, he says: "Elizabeth ws never married." This is a mistake, as the table furnished by Mr. Custis proves.
Nathan Harris married CAtherine Walton, daughter of George Walton. They resided in Burnswick County, Virginia. Their children were (1) Walton, born 1739 Burnswick County, Va. (2) Nathan, (3) Isaac, (4) David, (5) Elias, (5) Roland, (7) Gideon, (9) Howell, (10) John, or John Henry. His daughter was mother of John I. Crittenden of Kentucky. (11) Catherine (william of Wilkes County) (12) Martha (Coleman) (13) Elizabeth (Pennington) (14) Anne patrick (Wife of John Patrick of Burnswick County, Va.) Walton Harris with his wiver Rebecca and their children removed about the year 18__ from Burnswick County, Va., to the celebrated fisheries ot the narows of Yadkin, N. C. from there to Wilkes County, Ga., and from there to near Skull Shoals of the Oconee River in Greene County,Ga. Their children were (1) General Buckner Harris (born about 1761) (2) Sampson Harris, born 1763 (3) Joel Harris, (4) Augustine Harris, born 30th of January, 1767; (5) Edwin Harris; (6) Nathan Harris; (7) Simeon Harris, (8) Walton Harris, (9) Elizabeth Harris, (10) Littleton Harris, (11) General Jeptha V. Har is, born 27th of April, 1782.
Joel, Littleton and simeon died unmarried. Betsy married John Crews: she died leaving two children, a son and a daughter. The son married in Florida and I have lost sight of him. The daughter married in Clarke County, a man named Love. Date February 1865.
General Buckner Harris, first son of Walton and Rebecca Lanier, was born _________ in Virginia. At an early age he was engaged with the Late Governor Clarke in fighting the Tories and Indians during the Revolutionary War; was at the siege of Augusta when the fort was held by a British Colonel Brown. Under secret orders from Mr. Madison's cabinet, he occupied a part of East Florida, then the property of Spain, he was general of the American troops called the Patriots. Governor Matthews of Revolutionary fame, Major Alexander and General Harris, were authorized by the Federal Government to occupy Florida, etc., but the Government perfidiously in its diplomatic intercourse with Spain disavowed its complicity. General Harris married a Miss Nancy Early. (See Early records to be entered later.)
Nancy Early was a cousin of the afterwards celebrated Governor Pete Early. General Buckner Harris resided with his young family at St. Augustine, East Florida, until he was assassinated under the reward for his head by the Spanish Governor in the year 1815. Upon the happening of this event, his widow removed with her younger children to Jackson, Miss. Their children were: (1) Robert Early Harris, (2) Sophie Harris, (3) Laetitia Harris, (4) Wiley Pope Harris, (5) Buckner Harris, (6) William Crawford Harris, (7) Charles Walton Harris.
Early Harris, after he had grown up, resided in Jackson County Georgia. In some difficulty he killed a man, was tried for it, and convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The law as it then stood, required the culprit to be branded: he was pardoned by Governor Jared Erwin, a very good and kind-hearted gentleman, through the intercession of Augustine (?) who wa his warm personal friend, and whose house Governor Erwin then boarded. Early Harris was in the war against the Creek Indians in 1813 and 1814 and was distinguished for his courage. Subsequently a few years afterwards, he became involved in a duel with a kinsman of his family by the name of Coleman, growing out of some remark made by Coleman about his father, General Buckner Harris, Coleman was killed upon the third fire.
Early married, it is believed a Miss Harrison of South Carolina, who was a blood relative of the late William Henry Harrison President of the United States. He removed to the southwest and died. Of the children left him I ha ve no knowledge except of his son, Judge Wiley Pope Harris, who resides at Jackson, Mississippi. This person was eleveted to the Circuit Court Branch when quite young; he acquired high reputation as a judge, and it is believed that h d not the Union been dissolved, he would have been placed on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States by Mr. Buchanan before his term expired, supplying an existing vacancy in that court. It is a curious fact that two cousins were pressed by their respective friends at the same time on the consideration of President Buchanan for the vacant Judgeship. Judge Wiley P. Harris and Judge William L. Harris of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, son of late General Jeptha V. Harris of Georgia.
Judge Wiley P, Harris was the successor of General Quitman in the Congress of the United States. His speech on the Kansaa Bill in unique, fullo f wit, and displayed peculiar talent. Hew was a member of the Provisional Congress of the Confedrate States, which met at Montgomery, Alabama, in February, 1861. He was regarded by his associates of that distinguished Congress as one of its ablest and wisest members. He was there the intimate and confidential friend of President Davis. By several gentlemen from Mississippi I have heard Judge Wiley P. Harris spoken of as the very first man in ability of Mississippi. It is deeply to be deplored that the vice to which he is addicted and of the weakness of which no one is more sensible than himself but which he lacks iron will to conquer, keeps such a man of his own choice in private life.
J. Bomar harris at Jackson, Mississippi, is a son of the above. Mrs. Fannie Harris Virdin, and Mrs Cynthia Harris Virden, are daughters of Judge Wiley Pope Harris.
Sopiah married Colonel Russell Jones of Madison County, Ga. I have no knowledge of what children are left. They have a son, William Early Jones, who while in Franklin College gave evidence of mcuh talent. EHe edited a newspaper in Athens, Ga., afterwards was a member of legislature, edited a pape in Augusta, Ga. and practice law. He removed to Texas, was a member of its Congress before annexation, and the last I heard of him he was a Judge of the State Court.
A daughter of Russel Jones married Doctor Cunningham, who resides in ___________ County, Mississippi. He is a member of the Legislatrue and highly respected.
Letitia Harris. This daughter married General Dickson of Mississippi, who after having filled some State office with credit, was elected to Congress of the United States in 1834 or 1835. General Dickson married his wife in Jackson County, Georgia,and at once removed to Mississippi.
Harris Dickson, lawyer and author, living at 204 Drummond St., Vicksburg, Miss. is a great grandson of the above. her married Madeline L. Metcalfe of Louisville, Kentucky. His novels have been much read and favorably reviewed by leading periodicals.
Wiley Pope Harris was several times a member of the Mississipi __________________ elected a General of militia; was very popular and frequently desired by the people to become a canidate for Governor, which he declined. He was an ardent supporter of General Andrew Jackson, and was appointed by him when President, Register of the land Offices at Columbus, Mississippi. Social, humerous, and hospitable to a fault, he became intemperate. Confiding in every one who professed friendship and relying on their probity, he became a large defaulter in his office to the Government. His own large properity, though promptly surrenderd by him to meet his deficts as public officer, was inadequate. He died not long after of a broken heart, crushed to earth by betrayed confidence. He married Mary Vivian Ragland. (Raglin) He had a devoted wife and an interesting family of children, in November 1835 when I last saw Him.
| Date | 1661. | John Early married ____________ in ____________ County, Va. (Rev. G. C. Smith) |
| Date | 1676. | John Early of Mulgrave. Commission to officers of the five companies of foot in his Majesty's Regiment of Guards, emplyed n expeditin ot Virginia. Capt. Herbert Jeffries, commander-in- chief. (From Robert Beverly's History of the present state of Virginia.) | Date | 1705. | Thomas and Elizabeth Early. (Christ Church Parish registrar Middlesex County, Va.) Elizabeth Early Died 1716, a widow. | 1705. | Their son Jerimiah Early, born December 9, 1705, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Buford of Lnacaster. (Born 1709) They were married in 1728. Both of them lived in Culpepper County, Va. Jerimiah died in 1787. Buried on his estate. Their sixth and ninth children, sons, moved to Georgia. The sixth child, Jacob Early, married in Bedford County. Roberson (1767) and moved to Wilkes County, Ga. Jacob Early died in 1806 and his will is on recod in Athens County, Ga. The ninth child, Joel Early (his fathers executo r) married Lucy Smith of Cuopepper Couthy, Va., June 23, 1772. Moved with his family to Wilkes County (afterwards Green County, Ga.) This was about 1795. Had his manor place on the Oconee River. He was the father of Governor Peter Early and a large family of sons and daughters. His will recorded in 1807 in Greensboro, Ga., 3000 acres of land in the northeast corner of Greene County. Also their nephew (son of their second brither Jerimiah Early.) Jeffry Early (father of at least seven children) moved to Lexington, Ga., then Wilkes County. Will recorded September 1811 in Ogl thrope County for benefit of his wife and seven children. Jeffery makes a deed to the daughters Sally, Elizabeth and Nancy Early of one Rachel Early of Sureey County, Ga. "for love, good will and affection" of two negroes. See deed book "E", page 17, Oglethrope County, Ga. |
1st Generation, 1661, John Early. In 1676 he was an officer in the King's troops.
2nd Generation, 1705. Thomas Early, son of above, married Elizabeth in Middlesex County.
3rd Generation. Jeriaiah Early, son of above, married Elizabeth Buford-Early, in 1728. They had nine children. The sixth child, a son named Jacob, married Elizabeth Roberson, and moved to Wilkes County, Ga. The will of this Jacob Early, dated 1806 is on record in Clarks County, Ga. His first child, a daughter, Anne Early (called Nancy) married Buckner Harris. He had four other children, Sally early, Mary Early and Alice Early. (Note: Full details of this Early family are contained in the records belonging to Miss Joephine Ethel Massy Lynch, now living at Marietta, O. September 1911.)
Emily Early Harris (is this an error? Was this not Early Harris, one of the daughters of General Buckner Harris?)
This Doctor P. B. Massey was born in South Carolina, either in hte Krshaw or Lancaster District, on December 15, 1818. The Masseys were prominent and wealthy peopke of South Carolina, supposed to be descended fromn Lord Massey of England (London) who held large possessions in the north of Ireland conferred by Chales L. His brother Pierre .... Massey was the first settler in Maryland 1645.
In these Massey papers a certain Cousin Mary Morehead is spoken of as being a granddaughter of Wiley Pope, Brother of Dr. Charles Harris.
Catherine McIntosh married the celebrated Charles Harris of Savannah, for whom Harris County was named. Charles Harris, by his noble descent, had he remained in England, would have succeded Mr. Dymoke as the Champion of Queen Victoria.
(Note: In a letter dated April 16, 1910, Miss R. H. Early, of 102 Harrison Street, Lynchburb, speaks of some of the Early descendents who wanted to join the Sons of the Revolution, and she gave fine records through Joseph Early, who was the elder brother of Jacob.)
Dr. Charles Walton Harris, son of General Buckner and Nancy Early Harris, Was born May 4, 1804 in Georgia. Sarah A. Raglin was born October 13, 1807, probably in Tennessee. Dr. Harris and Sarah Raglin married June 5, 1823. Their children were all born on Gallatin, Miss. They were Emily Early, born Nov. 9, 1824; Eveline, born August 9, 1826; Eliza A., born Nov. 5, 1829; Winslow Dudley, born June 8, 1831; Charles Walton, born Dec. 2, 1835, William, born Feb. 7, 1839, Henry Raglin, born January 9, 1842, Mary Walton, born Aug. 9, 1846.
Sarah Raglin Harris died....buried in Gallatin, Miss.
Dr. Charles Walton Harris was a near relative of George Walton of Georgia, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
In January 11, 1911, Mary Walton Harris and Henry Raglin Harris are still living; the former, the wife of Ruffin G. Davis, living at Camden, Ark. The latter, Henry Raglin Harris, is the father of a large family of boys.
Aunt Mary's eldest child, Minnie, married .......... died leaving two little girls.
A son, Henry, died aged 15 years.
Dudley Harris is 30years old at the present writing.
Willa Harris married a Congregational Minister, William Hardy Woodsin, lived in Lake Charles, La.
Hilliard Stone Davis, age 23 years, lives at Mangum, Oklahoma, Green County, (January 11, 1911.)
Information contained in letters from Miss Ruth H. Early, 122 Harrison St., Lynchburg, Va. November 24, 1908.
Wiley P. Harris of Jackson, Miss. is the son of Early Harris, son of General Buckner Harris of Georgia and Nancy Early.
Three Early's moved to Georgia, two brothers and a nephew; Jacob Early and Joel Early (father of Governor Peter Early) and their nephew Jeffery, son of Jerimiah second of that name.
A granddaughter, or a great granddaughter of Joel Early, Lucy Todd, married Sampson Harris, a member of Buckner Harris's family. This makes a double connection with the Earlys.
Samuel Stockwell Early of LaPorte, Ind., wrote a book about the family.
General Joe Wheeler
Mrs. Morehead, mother of cousin Mary L, Morehead and Cousin Dora, Cousin Bingham Harris Morehead of Cincinnati, Ohio, all are descended from this family (E. M. Lynch).
No. 5. Judge Buckner Harris, "This person was on the Circuit Bench in Mississippi for some years. How he sustained himself I know not. Whom he married? What children he had? I have yet to learn. He resided, it is believed, in Texas. He has been dead for several years."
"Cousin Walter Rown (M.D.) of Wiggins,Miss., mentins him as a great lawyer ranking next to Wiley P. Harris (Judge) of Jackson.
No. 6.
[This is the last entry on the copy of this document in my possession. I don't recall at this late date whether there was more, and I only obtained copies of the first 12 pages, or if this is the end of the document. I also don't recall whether any of the charts or other attachments, e.g. the sheet of "tablet paper" were included with the material at the Virginia State Library. I lean toward thinking there were just no futher references to Harris surnames, so I cut expenses by copying only these pages. -dp, Webmaster]
[Webmaster's note: This document is replete with misspellings, quote marks in the wrong places or omitted where they
should be, and numerous other typographical errors. No doubt the
person who compiled the record copied the handwritten original
assiduously. We have tried to copy the document precisely. The only exeption has been to insert a space where typed words were run
together. Hopefully, through our careful proofreading, we have
insured that the above copy accurately reflects the document. It is
perhaps more difficult to ensure that errors are copied precisely
than to correct them, almost automatically. Hopefully no such
instances entered into the above transcription. -dp]
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