The story of our Harris family begins in Upper Alton, Illinois on April 22, 1858, when Benjamin F. Harris wrote a letter to his nephew, William Jasper Harris, giving him a brief account of his father's family:

The brothers, Benjamin and Wooten Harris, both served in the Revolutionary War, and valuable evidence of their family is found in their Pension Papers. Benjamin applied for his pension October 12, 1832 in White County, Tennessee, and stated that he: ". . .was born in 1762 Southampton County, Virginia, and that he was a resident of Brunswick County when he first entered the service in 1777."

When Wooten applied for his pension September 19, 1832 in Montgomery Co., Illinois, he stated that he was born in March 1759 in Brunswick Co., Virginia, and entered the service from there in 1777. He removed to North Carolina about 1787 where he lived about 30 years then removed to Tennessee where he lived ten years or upwards. From there he removed to Montgomery County, Illinois, where he lived until his death.

As I began my search of the Brunswick Co., Va., records, I knew many others had tried and failed to find anything there. Apparently, however, they didn't search the Court Order books, for that is where I found the following:

Finding three of the six brothers at last in exactly the right place and time period seems more than coincidental especially when one of them has a name like Wooten Harris. I have never found this name in any other branch of the family. Not listed were William and the two younger brothers, Reuben and Zachariah. I reasoned that William was the oldest, rather than John, and over age 21 by 1777; and, since the court considers children orphans if their father is deceased, even though their mother is still living, the two younger children probably remained with their mother. Reuben Harris was born March 22, 1771, so was age six years in 1777, and Zachariah would have been about age four years at that time.

Finding the two girls made me wonder if Isaac had other daughters who were not mentioned because they were over age 21, married, or very young. What a boon it would be for present day genealogists, if the Meherrin Parish Registers could be found for this period. The secrets that they hold would undoubtedly add considerably to our knowledge of this family.

When I first found this information, I also found the christening records of Wooten Harris' wife Frances Adams, and her brothers and sisters. I knew her birth year from her testimony given under oath before the Fayette Co., Ill., Court, November 1, 1843 at which time she stated that she was 78 years old. Also, she was age 85 in the 1850 census for Fayette Co., Ill., where she was living in the household of her son William B. Harris.

Recently her birthdate was also found in the Johathan Cook Family Bible. The dates agree exactly with those in the parish register:

You will note that there are two children named Howell in this family. It was common practice at that time to give a child the same name as an older brother or sister who had passed away. The fact that the older Howell was the only child who was christened the same day he was born indicates to me that he probably didn't live very long. Also found in Albamarle Parish Register are the families of Frances Adams's grandparents -- Benjamin Adams and Agnes Ezell and Thomas Atkinson and Eliza.

In the records from Rutherford Co., North Carolina, we find Frances's father referred to as Benjamin Adams, Sr., and her brother referred to as Benjamin Adams, Jr. This brother was also mentioned in Wooten Harris's pension papers at the time his (Wooten's) widow, Frances, appeared before the Fayette Court on November 1, 1843 giving testimony in order to receive her widows pension, to wit:

[[[[[*** QUESTION FOR GARDA:***]]]]]]

[[[[[[[[ In my prior transcription of this paragraph, I think I had the name as Frances Adams -- so here is an issue for you to resolve, e.g., which name appeared in the original? Also, I will annotate later a question about the spelling of the name Laben/Labin/Laban Walker. All I will need is for you to verify which spelling is used in the original documents, whether or not it is the correct spelling of his name.]]]]]]]

We quote from Benjamin Harris's Pension Record:

It is interesting that Benjamin Harris's pension papers tell us that he lived and married in Rutherford Co., North Carolina, while the records there are silent. On the other hand Wooten's pension papers state that he lived in North Carolina, but the county isn't specified. It is the records of Rutherford County that make it clear that this is where he lived. Records of John and William Harris are found there as well, which leads us to believe that the entire family moved to this area and this is where the younger boys grew to manhood. Still there are many questions. Did the children's mother remarry? Did she move to Rutherford County also? Or did she die before the move? As yet, we do not know the given or maiden name of their mother although the surname Wooten does seem to be a possibility.

Rutherford County, North Carolina was formed in 1779 from Old Tryon County which was discontinued. Wooten Harris was listed in the 1790 census of Morgan District, Burke County, North Carolina, along with Ben and Howell Adams, Mark Hailey, Richard Hailey, and William Hailey. The Hailey/Haley families are interesting because Zachariah Harris later married Bathsheba Haley who was born in North Carolina, according to the 1880 censuses of two of her children. Actually, the area where Wooten Harris lived in Burke County in 1790 was added to Rutherford County in 1794-6. The people there petitioned the General Assembly of North Carolina to add "...that part of Burke County to Rutherford County that includes the waters of 2d Broad River and Conaways Creek...." because of the distance they had to travel to the Courthouse. This petition was signed by Wooten Harris, Willaim Hayley, Hodge Rayburn, Elijah Green, Philip and Joseph Goodbred, and others. (See Bulletin of the Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County - May 1987, Vol XV No. 2.

Frances Adams's father, Benjamin Adams, purchased 300 acres of land in Rutherford County, North Carolina, on both sides of Mount Creek of 2nd Broad River on January 1, 1779, in which he describes himself as being "of Tryon County, NC." Then in 1783, William Harris purchased 100 acres in Rutherford County on a branch of Cove Creek. Wooten Harris was a witness to this deed made on October 13, 1783. He married Frances Adams in 1784.

William Harris appears on the tax list of Rutherford County in 1782. Later, after William's death in October, 1811, Wooten is a co-defendant with William's widow, Ruth Harris, in a lawsuit brought by the administrators of his estate. Apparently Wooten co-signed a bond with Ruth Harris. This is strong evidence that William was in fact the brother of Wooten.

The year 1784 was eventful for Wooten Harris. He was married to Frances Adams in January, her father died in July, and their first child was born in November. The following June (1785), he was in Brunswick County, Virginia at least long enough to be reimbursed for his gun that was taken by the militia. Wooten said in his pension application that he moved to North Carolina in about 1787. Apparently, in his old age he had difficulty remembering the exact year of an event that took place in his youth.

John Harris was in Rutherford County, North Carolina before October 1, 1785 when James Black sold John Harris, "both of Rutherford County, North Carolina," 100 acres on the Middle Fork of Cathey's Creek, for £80. Between 1786 and 1794, he purchased 350 acres of additional land in Rutherford County. He is the only possible candidate to be identified as the brother of Benjamin Harris as mentioned in the letter from B. F. Harris in 1858.

The only mention of a Reuben Harris in the Rutherford County records is in April Court 1795 when the court ordered "Reuben Harris to be fined for not serving as juror after being legally summoned." This is not likely our Reuben because he and Benjamin Harris were reported as living near each other in the Greenville County, South Carolina 1790 and 1800 censuses. These records reveal that they were both married but neither had children in 1790. In 1800 Benjamin had six children, four sons and two daughters, all under age ten. Reuben had two sons and two daughters also under ten. James Walker Jr., who is believed to have married their sister, Elizabeth, is there in 1800. By 1810, both Reuben and James Walker, Jr., had moved on, but Benjamin and family were still there. He is over age 45, his wife Rutha age 26-45. They now have ten children; 3M 16-25, 1M 2 F 10-16, 3M 2F under 10.

Benjamin moved his family to White county, Tennessee, and sold his 500 acres in Rutherford County, in 1818. In 1820, in addition to Benjamin's five children over age ten who were still living at home, there is one female under age ten. This makes a total of eleven children, all of which have been identified except one male who was age 10-15 in 1820. There are only six male chldren in the family without including him, and what B.F. Harris said in his 1858 letter indicates that Silas had seven brothers. The unidentified son is not included with the family in the 1830 census, and was not included in Benjamin Harris's will in 1834. Evidently he was deceased at that time. If he had married and had children, they would undoubtedly have been mentioned in the will as were the children of Benjamin and Sterling Harris.

Benjamin Harris died in White County, Tennessee, May 21, 1834. His widow, Rutha, and some of his children later moved to Macoupin County, Illinois, where she died September 21, 1845.

Isaac's daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, were apparently younger than Benjamin Harris, who was born in 1762, and older than Reuben Harris, who was born March 22, 1771. We have estimated their birth dates as about 1765 and 1768. The two main reasons we think the older daughter, Elizabeth, married James Walker are: First -- When Frances Harris, widow of Wooten Harris, submitted the register of births of her children in order to obtain her widow's pension, some of the names on this register were crossed off. Two of these names were the children of Benjamin Harris, and another can only be a son of Reuben Harris. In addition, the names of Frances Walker, Born June 30, 1785, and Labin Walker, born August 2, 1787, were included. Second -- In the 1800 Greenville County census, the name of James Walker, Jun. was listed as No. 263 after No. 261, Rheuben Harris and No. 262, Benjamin Harris.

Furthermore, the following record found in the Rutherford County Court Minutes of July 10, 1815 mentions a James Walker and Elizabeth as well as a Labin Walker. The above Laban [[[Spelling??]]]*** Walker, born in 1787, would be about age 28 at that time:

[[[***QUESTION FOR GARDA***]]]

[[[[[[[ *** Here is the spot where I have a question about the spelling of Laban/Labin/Laben again. In the quote below, it is spelled "Laban," but above, it is spelled "Labin" in both paragraphs immediately above. And, as noted previously, it is spelled "Laben" in the paragraph with the heading "NAMES RECORDED IN THE BIBLE CROSSED OFF." *** ]]]]]]]

Peggy Kirtland, Ledbetter Bradley, James Walker and Elizabeth and Laban Walker, being under summons to attend court as witnesses on behalf of John Kelly in his suit with Phill Goodbread, admr, being solemnly called, failed to attend, therefore forfieted, agreeable to act of assembly.

A James Walker and Laubourn Walker were included in the 1820 census record of Rutherford County. The Labourn Walker was age 26-44, which is the right age to be the Laban Walker who was born in 1787. The 1790 Rutherford County James Walker and wife have four children, two boys and two girls. Then the 1800 Greenville County James Walker, Jun. is over 45 and his wife 26-44 years (if Elizabeth was born about 1765, she would have been about age 35 then). They have seven children, a son and daughter age 10-16, and three sons and two daughters under the age of ten. If the son age 10-16 is Labin Walker, born 1787, he would be age 13 in 1800 and age 28 in 1815 when ordered to appear in court.

[[[***QUESTION FOR GARDA***]]]

[[[[[[[ *** This paragraph also has two different spellings of Laban/Labin. Which may be perfectly correct, since they refer to different records. I simply need to have you verify either that it is correct as written here, or indicate any change you deem appropriate. *** ]]]]]]]

We have not identified Mary Harris unless she is the Polly Harris who married John Black on February 4, 1795 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. If she was born about 1768, she would be about age 27 at that time. We know that a John Black of Tryon County purchased 100 acres in the Cove (for 50 shillings each 100 a) beginning at a red oak marked B on a branch of Cove Creek, a little above Philip Goodbread's claim or old improvement, on October 28, 1782. John Black later (October 13, 1783) sold this property to William Harris.

There was an extra male included in the household of Benjamin Harris when the 1790 census of Greenville County, South Carolina was taken. At that time Benjamin would have been age 28, Reuben about age 19, and Zachariah about age 17, so there is a good possibility that Zachariah was staying with his brother, Benjamin, at that time. Another evidence that Zachariah was in Greenville County for a time is found in the deed dated March 6, 1818 (Greenville County Deed Book, p. 174) where Benjamin Harris is selling two tracts of land "which he purchased from Zachariah Harris." However, I was unable to find the deed where Zachariah sold this land to him. The land grants and deeds are not completely indexed, plus there are some mistakes in the indexing which makes finding these records very difficult.

Zachariah Harris married Bathsheba Haley. When their son, Thomas Wooten Harrs married for the fourth time on January 15, 1881, he reported his mother's maiden name as Basheby Haly (see Marriage Records of Fayette County, Illinois, Book A, p. 66). Her name is recorded as Bathsheba Harris in the records of the Liberty Church of Bingham, Illinois.

When we searched the records of Fayette County, Illinois, where Zachariah's family lived and where he died, we were surprised to find from the census records that his older children were born in Georgia. Later, when I was searching the records of Greenville County, South Carolina, I noticed that a lot of people were selling their property there and moving to Franklin County, Georgia. I took this as a clue and began my search for Zachariah in that county. This saved a lot of time because that's where I found him.

The first mention of Zachariah Harris was found in the Inferior Court Minutes of Franklin County, Georgia (Film No. 365,923), for Nov 25, 1799:

The following persons were drawn to serve as jurors at the next Superior Court: (Zachariah Harris's name was included along with others.)

In the Franklin County, Georgia Tax Digest 1800-1819 (film no. 159,144), Zachariah Harris's name was recorded along with some members of the Haley family. The data includes the name of the taxpayer, the number of acres of first, second, or third class land he owned, the name in which the land was entered, the watercourse whereon the land was located, and the tax paid. For the year 1800, the names of the following persons were listed consecutively: James Hailey (100 a land on Crooked Creek), Andrew Hendricks (no land), Zachariah Harris (no land pole tax), Gabriel Martin (no land), William Hailey (Jr) (pole tax), and William Hailey (Sr) with 100 a land on Indian Creek. William Haley (Sr.) 20 acres of first class land and 80 acres of second class land located on Indian Creek. The list was the same in 1801 and 1802, but in 1803, Zachariah is recorded with 240 acres on Indian Creek for Richard Harris. (Richard Harris appears to be absent, but is charged a pole tax.)

[[[***QUESTION FOR GARDA***]]]

[[[[[[[ *** I expect the record reflects the spelling, "pole tax." I wonder if this is a misspelling of "poll tax," or if it is a different usage, prevalent at the time? A poll tax, of course is a tax paid by residents with the right to vote, in any number of southern states, ruled illegal in our generation. I note also, in some land descriptions the use of the term "pole" or "poles," where I would expect to see the normal term of land measurement "rod" or "rods," which is still in use on some land surveys. This makes me wonder if this could be an error in transcription by someone using Gregg Shorthand to copy down this information? A Gregg note could be rendered either rod or pole, perhaps, depending on the stenographer. --Just a wild speculation on my part, not pertinent at this point, but it may be in the quotes in the Addendum. *** ]]]]]]]

The record is the same for 1804; however, this is the last time the name of William Haley, Sr. was included in this record. William Haley, Jr., and Zachariah Harris are listed in 1805 for the last time. Basilla Harias,* as agent for Robert Harias, has 191 acres entered in the name of Mark Haley in 1805. Also, the names of Allen and Absalom Harris appear on the tax list for several years. [* In the deed his name is Barzillai Harrison, but he is recorded as Basil Harris other times.]

[[[*** EXPLANATION FOR GARDA ***]]]

[[[[[[[ *** Garda: I changed your footnotes to asterisks, with explanations in brackets at the end of the paragraph, because there is no way to do page footnotes on an HTML Web Page. I could restore these as footnotes to be included either before or after the Addenda at the end of the chapter, if you prefer. *** ]]]]]]]

Franklin County, Georgia Deed Book, pp. 40, 41:

Deed ddt Franklin Co., NC 28 Nov 1803, Recorded 24 Apr 1806, from Zecheriah Harris (X) of aforesaid to Lewis Davis of same. In consideration of $200.00 conveys 240 acres in Franklin Co., on waters of Indian Creek, adjacent to Stephen Westbrook, and Leach.
Wit: Esias Harbour, James Dudley. Acknowledged 21 Jul 1804.

This record seems very strange! The tax record is written as though the 240 acres belonged to Richard Harris, but then Zachariah sells the land as though it were his. (?)

Several land lotteries were held in Georgia in order to encourage settlement in the state. The following persons, all of Franklin County, Georgia,* were included in the Land Lottery of 1805: No. 598 Zachariah Harris, No. 599 James Haley, No. 608 William Haley, Jr., No. 676 Benjamin Harris, No. 598 Reuben Harris, No. 690 Basil Harris, No. 691 Robert Harris, and No. 659 Absalom Harris. They all drew blanks except William Haley, Jr., who drew a prize. It appears that Benjamin and Reuben came to Georgia long enough to establish residence (or pay a tax to the government) and participate in the land drawing. I'm very curious about Richard, Basil, and Robert Harris. Could they be relatives of the brothers? [* - Franklin County, Georgia is the nearest Georgia County to Greenville County, South Carolina.]

By 1806, Zachariah Harris and members of the Haley family had moved to Tennessee. Later, Zachariah moved from Hickman County to Humphreys County, Tennessee. Reuben Harris and James Walker, Jr., disappeared from Greenville County, South Carolina, after the 1800 census. James Walker, Jr., may have returned to Rutherford County, North CArolina, temporarily before going to Tennessee, and Reuben moved to White County, Tennessee, before the 1820 census, which is the first census record for that area. Benjamin Harris moved from Greenville County, South Carolina to White County, Tennessee, in 1818 after he sold his 500 acres there. Later Reuben ended up in Jackson County, Tennessee, which was taken from Smith County in 1801. White County was taken from Smith County in 1806. These two counties were side by side until 1842 when Putnum County was formed from Smith, White and DeKalb Counties. DeKalb County wa formed in 1838 from Cannon, Warren, and White Counties.

The only thing we know about Isaac Harris is that he died in Brunswick County, Virginia shortly before November 26, 1777, and that his children "John Harris, Wooten Harris, Benjamin Harris, Elizabeth Harris, and Mary Harris, orpahns of Isaac Harris, dec'd," were ordered by the court to "be bound out by the church warden of Meherrin Parish according to law." From this record and the letter to William J. Harris, dated April 22, 1858, we know the names of eight of their children. That the family lived in Brunswick County, Virginia is given in both Wooten's and Benjamin's pension records. However, Wooten gives his place of birth as Brunswick County and Benjamin claims he was born in Southampton County. I suspect they both were talking about the same place. It was Brunswick County at the time they were born, but after 1780, when Greenville County was formed from Brunswick County, Meherrin Parish became part of that county. It seems logical that Benjamin reported his place of birth as where it was located at the time he filled out his pension papers, but Wooten reported his as it was at the time of his birth.

[[[[[*** QUESTION FOR GARDA:***]]]]]]

[[[[[[[[ *** Do we know that Isaac died in Brunswick County? Eve Fenrich has located a document that seems to indicate he may have died in a battle with Indians in West Virginia. The time is somewhat after the official dates of the French and Indian Wars, but the website on which it is listed implies that it was considered as part of the French and Indian Wars. I have enclosed printouts of the documents Eve called to my attention, and something that contains her address and contact information. She asked for your current info, but I don't think I gave it to her, thinking you would want to be in charge of who gets your current address, etc. I don't think this needs to be changed, unless you want to change it, however. *** ]]]]]]]

Descendants of Isaac's children will be presented in separate parts of this history. William's descendants in Part I, John's in Part II, Wooten's in Part III, etc.

Children:

1. William Harris, b abt 1754 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA, Letters of Admin 16 Oct 1811 Rutherford Co. NC; m Ruth _____ her surname possibly was Sellers.
2. John Harris, b abt 1757 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA wd 29 Dec 1797 wp Oct 1798 Rutherford Co., NC; m Frances ____. There is some evidence that her first two children were born in Virginia, before they arrived in North Carolina.
3. Wooten Harris, b Mar 1759 Brunswick Co., VA, d 11 Feb 1840 Hurricane Twp., Fayette Co., IL, bur Glendale Cem., Montgomery, IL; m 6 Jan 1784 Rutherford Co., NC, Frances Adams (b 19 Mar 1765 Albemarle Parish, Surry or Sussex Co. VA, d/o Benjamin and Frances (ATKINSON) ADAMS).
4. Benjamin HARRIS, b 1762 Southampton Co., VA, d 21 May 1834 White Co., Tenn; m Rutherford Co., NC, Rutha Byers (b abt 1770 d 25 Sep 1845 Macoupin Co., IL.)
5. Elizabeth HARRIS, b abt 1765 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA
6. Mary HARRIS, b abt 1768 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA.
7. Reuben HARRIS, b 22 Mar 1771 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA, d 29 May 1834; m 1st ___, m 2nd 11 Jan 1838 Mary or Polly (LYNCH) DUNCAN, widow of Thomas DUNCAN, McDonough Co. IL (b 17 Oct 1773 VA).
8. Zachariah HARRIS, b abt 1773 of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick Co., VA d 1840-44 Hurricane Twp, Fayette Co, IL; m Bathseba HALEY (b abt 1774 North Carolina).

030,666 BRUNSWICK CO VA COURT ORDER BOOKS

Bk 12 p. 175    26 Nov 1777 Ordered that John HARRIS, Wooten HARRIS, Benjamin HARRIS, Elizabeth HARRIS, & Mary HARRIS, orphans of Isaac HARRIS, dec'd, be bound out by the church warden of Meherrin Parish according to law.

Bk 14 p 165    29 June 1785 "Wooten HARRIS allowed for one gun taken by the militia £ 14-10-0"

019,912 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC DEEDS

Deed Bk AD p41    1 Jan 1779 Patrick HAMILTON & Margaret, his wife, of Rowan Co, NC, convey 300 acres to Benjamin ADAMS, Sr., of Tryon Co, NC for £35. Sd land granted by patent to sd Benjamin HAMILTON bearing date 15 May 1777 in Tryon Co, NC, on both sides of Mount Cr of 2nd Broad River. Signed, Patrick HAMILTON, Margaret Hamilton.
Wit: Benjamin ADAMS, Jr., Jas. COOK, Mumford WILSON.

[[[[[*** QUESTION FOR GARDA:***]]]]]]

[[[[[[[[ *** In the second sentence, above, my prior transcription of this record reads: "Sd land granted by patent to sd Paterick HAMILTON . . . ." That reading seems to make more sense than the text in the current version. Which is correct? *** ]]]]]]]

428.854 RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC COURT MINUTES

July Term 1783    William HARRIS named as one of ten men of a jujry to lay off and mark a road from the courthouse to George LEDBETTERS mills in the cove.

July Term 1784    Letters of Admin to Benjamin and Howell ADAMS for estate of Benjamin Adams, dec'd.

019,912 RUTHERFORD CO NC DEEDS

Deed Bk AD p 141    No 105 (State of NC No. 169) 28 Oct 1782 To John BLACK 100 a Tryon Co in the Cove (for 50 shillings each 100 a) Beginning at a red oak marked B on a branch of Cover Cr, a litte below Phillip Goodbread's claim or old improvement, running thence S 160 poles to a pine, W 100 poles to a black oak, thence N 160 poles to a stake, thence to the beginning as by a plat hereunto annexed doth appear. . . .

(Note: Rutherford County Marriage Bonds: Polly HARRIS - John Black 4 Feb 1795. Is this the Mary HARRIS who is the daughter of Isaac HARRIS?

Deed Bk AD p 439    13 Oct 1783 John BLACK conveys 100 acres to William HARRIS, both of Rutherford Co, NC for £30. Sd land on a branch of Cove Cr. a little above Philip GOODBREAD'S claim or old improvement. The same granted to John BLACK by virtue of a state patent dated 28 Oct 1782. No. 169.
Signed: John BLACK Wit: Ezekel Potts, Wooten ( X ) HARRIS.

Deed Bk AD p 474    1 Oct 1785 James BLACK to John HARRIS both of Rutherford County, NC for £80 conveys 100 acres on the Middle Fork of CATHEY'S Cr the same granted to James BLACK by patent ddt 28 Oct 1782.
Signed: James BLACK Wit: George FLEMING & Loudick WRAY.

Deed Bk E-I p 21    7 Mar 1786 Thomas DONNELSON, of Able Co, SC to John HERRIS, of Rutherford Co., NC, for £80 conveys 100 acres on Middle Fork of Cathey's Creek of Second Broad River, close under the mountain, joining land of James Black on the east side including his own improvement. The same granted to Thomas DONNELSON by a state deed dated 28 Oct 1782. Signed: Thomas DONNELSON Wit: George FLEMING, Loudewick WRAY

Deed Bk J-L p 229    3 May 1790, Martha DOUGLAS, of Rutherford Co, NC to John HERRIS, of same, for £40 conveys 100 acres on a fork of Barens Creek joining lands of Hugh QUINS. Beginning at a red oak, corner Hugh Quins, and runs N10 E140 poles to a pine; thens S80E113 poles to a hickory; thence W148 poles to a hickory in Quins line; thence with said line to the beginning. Granted by patent to Martha DOUGLAS 11 Oct 1783.
Signed: Martha DOUGLAS Wit: James HAMBRICK, Samuel HAMBRICK

Deed Bk J-L p 311    23 Aug 1794 Thomas McSWAIN, of Rutherford Co, NC to John HERRIS, of same, for £120 150 acres on the Suck Branch of Borens Creek, waters of Main Broad River. Beginning at a hickory in Goodman's line; thence running N110 poles to a pine; thence W along Gooodman's line 220 poles to a white oak then S110 poles to a pine; then E220 poles to beginning. Granted to McSWAIN by Alexander Martain, Governor of said state.
Signed: Thomas McSWAIN Wit: Jere HAMBRICK, Silas RANDAL

Deed Bk J-L p 312    No. 1309 Recorded 19 Dec 1794
26 Apr 1794 John BLACK of Rutherford Co., NC conveys to John Withrow, of same, for £300 the same land that was left to him by George BLACK, Esq., his father, 275 a in Rutherford Co., NC on both sides of 2nd Broad River; beginning on the east side of Connoway's Creek at the mouth of the old line running up the old original line for compliment, joining Josiah BLACK's line, from thence bounded with MARLOW's line on the W side of the river, from thence joining Hugh BLACKs line from thence to the beginning for compliment.
Signed: John BLACK Wit: John REED, William WINTHROW

1,578,695 NC DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY ORIGINAL WILLS

Book B p 99    Rutherford County wd 29 Dec 1797 wp Oct 1798
John HARRIS will. Wife: Frances all my estate real and personal for herself and bringing up her children during her life or widowhood, and at expiration of either (my land) to be divided between my three sons: Peter, John, and Reuben; (my personal estate) to my four daughters: Sally, Betsy, Anny and Judah and wife Frances.
Wife, extrx, and George BLANTON, Extr. Signed: John (his X mark) HARRIS
Wit: Frances (her X mark, her surname not written) John Willson

019,916 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC DEEDS

Deed Book 24-26 p 131    9 Apr 1804 No. 142 Lewis BEARD, for himself and as attorney for Peter MALLETT and Edward JONES, of Rowan Co, NC, conveys 60 acres to William HARRIS of Rutherford Co, NC for $60.00. Land on waters of Cove Creek a branch of Main Broad River. Beginning at a post oak standing on the side of the great road leading through Mumford's Cove, corner to said HARRIS', Alexander GRANT's, and Richard BRADLEY's land. Running thence W115 poles to a pine sd HARRIS' corner, thence N92 poles to a stake, thence S to the beginning being subdivided from of a tract of 600 acres originally granted to Joseph MUMFORD. (Deed recorded 23 Dec 1807)
Signed: L. BEARD for himself and for Peter MALLETT and Edward JONES.

(Note that Alexander Grant's and Richard Bradley's land lies adjacent to William Harris's.)

019,917 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC DEEDS

Deed Book 29-31 p 555    3 May 1810 Wooten HARRIS conveys 108 acres to Sterling HARRIS, both of Rutherford County, for the love and good will that I bear towards my son, Sterling HARRIS . . . Land on the west side of 2nd Broad River, adj. Wooten's land, Thomas MARLOW'S and Seawill WADKIN's land . . . to a popular near Sterling's house . . . .
Signed: Wooten (X) Harris Wit: M. R. ALEXANDER, Absalem COXEY

428,854 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC COURT MINUTES

April Court 1795    Ordered by the court that Reuben HARRIS . . . be fined for not serving as jurors after being legally summoned. (Only mention of Reuben Harris in Rutherford Co., records. It seems unlikely that this is Reuben Harris (son of Isaac Harris) for he was in Greenville Co., SC in 1790 and 1800. Also, Reuben Harris, son of John Harris, was born about 1789 so was not old enough to be this Reuben Harris.)

428,855 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC COURT MINUTES

16 Oct 1811    Lucy (sic)* HARRIS came into court and relinquished her right of administration on her late husband, William HARRIS, dec'd, in favor of Betty JONES and William HARRIS, Jun., wh came into open court and entered into bond with John BRADLEY (Cove) and Benjamin KIRKLAND in the sum of £500 and was duly qualified, made return on the personal estate of the deceased and prayed order of sale. Granted. [* - Name is Ruth in all other places where her name is mentioned]
The court appointed Thomas and Jonathan WILLIAMS, Richard BRADLEY and John ELMS to lay off to Mrs. HARRIS, wife of William HARRIS, dec'd one years provisions under the act of the assembly in that case provided.

Jul 1814    (p 42) No. 19 Berry JONES and William HARRIS, admrs of William HARRIS, dec'd, Vs Ruth* and Wooten HARRIS. Judgment by default, and writ of enquiry ordered. (Jury) being heretofore sworn was duly empaneled, find the bond default to be the act and deed of the defendants, and assess their damages to £74 14 4 and sixpence and costs. [* - This Ruth is the widow of William HARRIS]

July 1816 Ruth HARRIS Vs Sims HARRIS.
This day came into court Jonathan CURTIS who has married the plaintiff and was made a party to the said suit and it was dismissed on the parties paying an equal part of the said suit.

428,857 RUTHERFORD COUNTY NC COURT MINUTES

Spring Ct 1839    Jeremiah RUNYAN appeared in court and deposed to the following facts:
State of North Carolina: At a court held for Rutherford County April 1839 satisfactory evidence was adduced in court to prove that John HARRIS, who was a soldier of the 7th Regiment of Infantry, is dead and died 3 Sep 1818, that he was not married, that he left brothers and sisters: Peter HARRIS, Sally married Jeremiah RUNYON, Elizabeth HUSKEY, Nancy married Josiah McFARLAND, Judy married Robert RUSS, and Elizabeth HARRIS, the daughter of Reuben HARRIS, dec'd, the brother of John HARRIS, late soldier of the 7th Regiment of Infantry.
(This record of the death of John HARRIS proves he was the son of John HARRIS whose will was dated 29 Dec 1797 and proved Oct Court 1798, and who was undoubtedly one of the six brothers and the son of Isaac HARRIS of Meherrin Parish, Brunswick County, Virginia.)