Benjamin Harris served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War; and, according to his Revolutionary War Pension Record, he was born in 1762 in Southampton County, Virginia, and died May 21, 1834, in White County, Tennessee. He was drafted into the militia service for three months from Brunswick County, Virginia, and served in the Regiment commanded by General Lucas. He returned home, then was drafted for another three months and served in the county of Isle of Wight. After the Revolutionary War, his brothers, William, John, and Wooten Harris were in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Benjamin's pension papers testify that he was there also:

The Greenville County, South Carolina, 1790 Census reveals that Benjamin Harris and his brother, Reuben Harris, were both living there. Both were married, but neither had children. By this time, Benjamin was age 28. He received a land grant in Greenville County of 732 acres on the middle fork of the Saluda River on June 4, 1804, and two grants in March 1814. The first, for 200 acres on March 4, 1814, and the other for 225 acres on March 5, 1814. He had acquired property even before that, for on February 15, 1796 (Greenville County Record Book D, page 441), he is selling 100 acres to Jonathan Potts "being part of two tracts of land, the one granted by Ephraim Ellis by Letters Patent dated May 1, 1786, and recorded in Secretaries Office in Grant Book JJJJ (or IIII) p. 398, and the other granted unto Robert Bailey by Letter Patent dated October 1, 1787, recorded in Grant Book UUUU. The land being on both sides of Ellis' Fork of the middle fork of Saluda River." Benjamin signs his name with an X.

Also, on December 18, 1807, John Slaton, of the state of Tennessee, Hawkins County, sold to Benjamin Harris, of the state of South Carolina, Greenville District, 150 acres of land on both sides of the Saluda River. Then on February 15, 1811, Edward, Nancy, Aaron, and Martha Stanton, all of the state of South Carolina, Greenville District, sell two tracts of land (300 acres) on both sides of the Saluda River to Benjamin Harris.

On March 6, 1818, which was about the time he moved to White County, Tennessee, Benjamin sold 500 acres to William Cannady, "including land where Benjamin Harris then lived." Included in this 500 acre grant was a 188 acre tract and a second tract purchased of Zachariah Harris in the same deed; a 145 acre tract conveyed by George Clancy, and one purchased of Abner Norris containing 112 acres. "If there then be not 500 acres, sd Harris do agree to make up the balance out of the balance of sd tract adjoining Edy Slaten."

On April 11, 1818, he purchased three tracts of land in White County, Tennessee containing 156 acres on Pigeon Roost Creek of Falling Water, grants No. 1993, 9927, and 9928, from John Young. His survey was on the line that divides Jackson and White Counties. Then, on April 13, 1824, he pruchased some additional land from William Neighbors.

Shortly before his death, Benjamin Harris deeded "156 acres land whereon said Benjamin Harris now lives, purchased of John Young" to his son-in-law, Jessie B. Terry, as the inheritance of his daughter, Betsy Terry, as mentioned in his will. He also deeded 100 acres of land "whereon William Carland now lives" to his son-in-law William Carland, as the inheritance of his daughter, Mary Ann. The deed to William Carland was dated April 21, 1834, and the one to Jesse B. Terry was dated April 25, 1834.

Benjamin was born in 1862 in Southampton County, Virginia, and Died May 21, 1834 in White County, Tennessee. He married Rutha Byers in Rutherford County, North Carolina. She was born about 1770 and died September 25, 1845 in Macoupin County, Illinois. Benjamin left a will dated April 25, 1834 and proven October 13, 1834 in White County, Tennessee. Also a copy of this will was included in his pension papers. It mentions their children who were all born in Greenville County, South Carolina, as well as some of his grandchildren who were children of his deceased sons. After his death his widow, Rutha, moved with son Silas and family to Macoupin County, Illinois.

1. William HARRIS b 11 Jun 1791 d before 1834; m Betsy ______. The 1830 Census indicates he had six children at that time. His father willed his widow, Betsy, $100.00 "for the support and Maintenance of her children by her husband, William Harris."
2. *Silas HARRIS b 15 Dec 1792 d 12 Jan 1853 Montgomery Co., IL; m 1812 Jane HILL.
3. Benjamin HARRIS b abt 1794 Greenville Co., SC, d before Apr 1826; m Polly ______.
   Children:
   1. William HARRIS b abt 1821 White Co., TN.
   2. Benjamin HARRIS b abt 1823 White Co., TN.
4. Sarah HARRIS b abt 1796
5. Sterling HARRIS b abt 1798 d before 1834.
   Child:
   1. Nancy Ann HARRIS, named in her grandfather's will; m ______ MAXWELL.
6. Leah "Lear" HARRIS b 1799 d 11 March 1844 age 44 Fulton Co., IL bur Lacy Cem., Table Grove, Fulton Co., IL; m William RUTLEDGE (b 1790 South Carolina, d 14 Sep 1851).
   Children:
   1. Perrin RUTLEDGE b 2 May 1815 Abbyville, SC, d 16 Jun 1879; m 9 Sep 1840 Nancy HOWARD.
   2. Elizabeth RUTLEDGE B Nov 1818 White Co., TN; m 3 Dec 1843 Martin LOUGH.
   3. Matilda RUTLEDGE b 20 Dec 1819 White Co., TN, d 26 Jul 1910; m 4 Nov 1847 Orville FRANCE.
   4. Ruth RUTLEDGE b abt 1820 White Co., TN; m 17 Dec 1835 William HARWICK.
   5. William RUTLEDGE b abt 1822 White Co., TN; m 29 Dec 1842 Jane HOWARD
   6. Elijah RUTLEDGE b abt 1824 White Co., TN; m 12 Dec 1844 Mary HOWARD.
   7. John Henry RUTLEDGE b 20 Dec 1826 White Co., TN, d 20 Dec 1865; m 9 Nov 1848 Celia Ann RENEAU.
   8. Anne RUTLEDGE b abt 1829 White Co., TN; m 18 Dec 1850 Aquilla BELLAS.
   9. Mary Anne RUTLEDGE b 10 Oct 1833 White Co., TN m 9 Nov 1848 David Ramsey RENEAU.
   10. James Silas RUTLEDGE b 3 Oct 1836 White Co., TN, d 26 Dec 1920; m 15 Nov 1855 Jane Ramsey RENEAU (b 10 Apr 1835 TN d 30 Jan 1911 d/o John Flemings RENEAU and Sarah Jane WALTERS).
7. Ruth HARRIS* b 1801 (20-30 in 1830); m William NANNEY [b 1799/1800 (30-40 in 1830) Rutherford Co., NC s/o Shadrack NANNEY and Mary COBB]. Their family is included in the 1835 state census and the 1840 federal census of Fayette County, IL. On 10 Jan 1850 William NANNEY and wife Ruth sold their 40 acres in Fayette Co., IL. [* - Ruth's name is recorded as Mary Ann on her marriage record. Mary Ann was her sister, but she married William Carland. Also William Nanney and Ruth's marriage date is recorded in their family Bible and the date is the same.]
   Children:
   1. Charles N. NANNEY b 17 Jul 1822 White Co., TN.
   2. Benjamin W. NANNEY b 18 Nov 1824 White Co., TN, d Mar 1850; m 5 Dec 1843 Amanda HARRIS.
   3. Silas W. NANNEY b 19 Oct 1830 White Co., TN, d Jan 1842.
   4. Mary Ann NANNEY b 28 May 1833 Jefferson Co., TN d 1905; m 7 Mar 1847 McDonough Co., IL, Zachariah William HARRIS (b 15 Aug 1826 TN, d 19 Dec Nodaway Co., MO s/o Reuben Ransom HARRIS and Alee WOLF) see Part VI Descendants of Reuben Harris.
   5. Amos W. NANNEY b 11 Nov 1837 Fayette Co., IL.
   6. Emily NANNEY b Sep 1839 Fayette Co., IL, d July 1940
8. Wooten HARRIS b abt 1803; m ______.
   1. Benjamin HARRIS b abt 1827.
   2. William HARRIS b abt 1829.
9. Mary Ann HARRIS b 1805 (48 in 1853) d 1878; m William CARLAND [b 1802 (48 in 1850) SC]
   Children:
   1. Amos M. CARLAND b abt 1825, lvd Knoxville, IA in 1902.
   2. Ruth CARLAND b 11 Dec 1826, d 21 Feb 1856; m William HITCHCOCK.
   3. Amy Elizabeth CARLAND B 22 Mar 1829; M after 1856 William HITCHCOCK.
   4. Benjamin CARLAND B 1833 (17 IN 1850).
   5. Miranda CARLAND b 1835 (15 in 1850); m Mr. MARTIN, moved to Paducah, KY.
      Child:
      1. Ida Martin.
   6. Watson H. CARLAND b 1840 (11 in 1850), was in Raymond, MS in 1861.
   7. Lavica CARLAND b 1840 (10 in 1850).
   8. James CARLAND b 1843, d 1868.
   9. Margaret CARLAND b 11 May 1849 (not in 1850 census).
   10. Jane CARLAND; m T. James PATETTE.
   11. John H. CARLAND; m Samantha J. MORRIS.
10. Amos HARRIS b abt 1807.
11. Mr. HARRIS b abt 1809.
12. Elizabeth or Betsy HARRIS b 1815 (35 in 1815) Greenville Col, SC; m Jesse B. TERRY [b 1810 (40 in 1850) TN].
    Children (1850 White Co., TN):
    1. Elijah TERRY b 1836 (14 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    2. William TERRY B 1839 (11 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    3. Rutha TERRY b 1841 (9 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    4. Martha TERRY b 1844 (6 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    5. Joseph S. TERRY b 1845 (5 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    6. Thomas J. TERRY b 1847 (3 in 1850) White Co., TN.
    7. Susan TERRY b 1849 (1 in 1850) White Co., TN.

Silas Harris was born 15 Dec 1792 Greenville County, North Carolina, and died 12 Jan 1853 Montgomery County, Illinois. He married Jane Hill in 1812. They had three children.

1. * Zachariah HARRIS b 4 Apr 1813 Jackson Co., TN; m 1834 Almira Emily HILL.
2. Benjamin Franklin HARRIS b abt 1816 Jackson Co., TN; m Mary Ann WILLIAMSON [b 1816 (34 in 1850) KY]. Note: In a letter dated 22 Apr 1858 from Benjamin Franklin HARRIS to his nephew, William Jasper HARRIS, he named his five children. Child No. 5, Harriet Isabell, was the last named; however, in 1850 they had four children, Julia Emma was 10 months old. In 1860, Julia is age 10, and the fifth child is Elizabeth, age 8 years. Are they the same? Or did Julia die and Elizabeth was born?
   Children (1850 Madison Co., IL):
   1. Martha Jane HARRIS b 1836 (14 in 1850) IL.
   2. John Silas HARRIS b 1841 (9 in 1850) IL.
   3. Benjamin Pearson HARRIS b 1843 (7 in 1850, 16 in 1860) IL
   4. Julia Emma HARRIS b 1849 (10-12 in 1850, 10 in 1860) IL.
   5. Harriet Isabell HARRIS.
   6. Elizabeth HARRIS* b 1852 (8 in 1860) IL. [* - She is not mentioned in B. F. Harris's letter dated 22 Apr 1858, but was alive in 1860. Is she the same as Harriet Isabell who was named as his fifth child in his 1858 letter? Harriet was not in the census. ]
3. Wooten HARRIS b abt 1819 Jackson Co., IL adm. 8 Nov 1938 Macoupin Co., IL; m Nancy __________.

Zachariah Harris was born April 4, 1813, in Jackson County, Tennessee, and died in 1841 in Geneva, Morgan County, Illinois. He married Almira Emily Hill, daughter of Jehu and Martha [Carlin] Hill March 6, 1834. (Jehu Hill is the brother of Jane Hill who married Silas Harris.) She was born November 25, 1816 "of the Pendleton District" South Carolina, and died March 29, 1882 at Provo, Utah County, Utah.

Data from a history compiled by Tina Maxfield Larsen Birrell, daughter of William Albert Maxfield, and granddaughter of Richard Maxfield, was used for the following:

When Emily Hill was four years of age, her parents moved to Tennessee, traveling on horses, carrying what they required for food and bedding. They settled on Duck River, White County, and resided there for about eight years. They spent one summer in Christian County, Kentucky before moving to Illinois. They reached their destination in the fall and homesteaded land in Macoupin County.

Emily Hill married Zachariah Harris in 1834 when she was eighteen years of age. She and her husband moved to Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Illinois where they lived for a few months before she was called to her dying mother's bedside; however, her mother died before she arrived. Zachariah and Emily stayed there to care for her brothers and sisters. While living there their first child was born. Soon after this, her father's family scattered among relatives.

Zachariah and Emily then moved to Morgan County where he became successful in the harness and grocery business. Here their other children were born. They had four children; but only the oldest daughter, Artemisia, and their son, William Jasper Harris, survived. The two youngest died in 1840 and 1841. Between the deaths of these children, Zachariah suddenly died of consumption, having eaten his breakfast a few hours before with his family. Emily was left a widow with three children, but the youngest daughter survived only a few weeks. Emily took her two surviving children to live with her oldest sister, Elizabeth, and her husband, Charles Chrisman, at Massidona, Iowa, thirty miles from Nauvoo, Illinois. She helped support the children by weaving.

This is where she first heard the Elders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preach the gospel. Two of her sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, joined the church earlier. Emily had joined the Campbellites and was strong in that faith, so resisted the Elders' teachings. Later she attended an LDS conference in Nauvoo, where she heard the prophet Joseph Smith preach a powerful sermon; afterwards she never doubted. She was baptized by Andrew Perkins in the winter of 1842. Two feet of ice had to be broken in the river for her baptism.

The week the prophet was killed, she was visiting with the Perkins family, who lived on the main road to Nauvoo. She then went to visit her husband's family where she remained for a year. She bore her testimony to them, trying to persuade them to believe as she did, and go with her to the Rocky Mountains. They were all strong Campbellites and opposed her bitterly. She returned to her sister to make preparations to go west with the Saints.

She married Abraham Owen Smoot at Nauvoo January 16, 1846 at Nauvoo, and came to Utah in 1847. They settled in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City, and had three children: (1) Albert Smoot, who drowned at age 12 years, (2) Zina Smoot, who married Orson F. Whitney, and (3) Margaret (or Maggie) Smoot, who married Wilson Dussenberry.

1. Artemisia Ann HARRIS b 3 Jan 1835 McDonough Co., IL, d 3 Jun 1885 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, bur in Murray City Cem.; m 31 Oct 1854 Richard Dunwell Maxfield b 5 May 1831 s/o John Ellison and Sarah Elizabeth (BAKER) MAXFIELD.
   Children:
   1. Emily Elizabeth MAXFIELD b 22 Jun 1855 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 6 Apr 1927 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT; m 1 Jun 1873 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, Caleb Dilworth BRINTON.
   2. Mary Ann MAXFIELD b 8 May 1857 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 14 Sep 1940 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT; m 13 Apr 1879 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, Thomas WALL.
   3. Richard Dunwell MAXFIELD b 8 Mar1859 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 14 Dec 1931 Murray, Salt Lake Co., UT; m 3 Oct 1878 UT, Mary Lewellyn HUNT.
   4. John Abraham MAXFIELD b 1 Sep 1861 Holladay, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 29 Aug Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT; m 8 Oct 1885 Eliza Catherine BISHOP.
   5. William Albert MAXFIELD b 23 Sep 1864 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 17 Jun 1933 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT;m 29 Nov 1893 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT Johannah OLSEN.
   6. Harris Timothy MAXFIELD b 19 Feb 1859 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 21 Feb 1931; m 14 Jul 1892 Manti, Sanpete Co., UT.
   7. Robert Burns MAXFIELD B 2 May 1871 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 30 Jan 1956 Rupert, Minidoka Co., ID; m 29 Aug 1892 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, Cynthia Jane WILSON.
   8. Ellis Montaque MAXFIELD b 23 Jan 1873 South Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 16 Feb 1931; m 11 Aug 1897 Ellen Adel BROWN.
      
      
      
      [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[NOTE FOR GARDA: Is the middle name of Ellis Montaque MAXFIELD spelled correctly? "Montague" is more commonly seen, though I suppose "Montaque" is a real name also. I like to double check names like this, is all. -- dp]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
      
      
      
2. William Jasper HARRIS b 25 Oct 1836 Geneva, Morgan Co., IL, d 23 Apr 1909; m 21 Apr 1857 Martha Ann SMITH d/o Hyrum and Mary (FIELDING) SMITH. They had 11 children.
   
   
   
   [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[NOTE FOR GARDA: I have info on the children, marriages, etc. in the William Jasper Harris family (my ancestral line). I don't have complete info for all the children, e.g., dates of marriages, but it is available from a cousin, if you'd like to have me splice it in. I have listed just the data from my own database, which is a bit incomplete. I have tagged the listing on at the end of the page, and have enclosed a family group sheet for your reference. If you wish to include this material, feel free to do so. If you prefer for it to remain as is, that's okay too. Just let me know which you prefer. -- dp]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
   
   
   
   
3. Martha Jane HARRIS b 1 Jan 1839 Geneva, Morgan Co., IL, d 16 Jan 1840.
4. Mary Elizabeth HARRIS b 3 Mar 1841 Geneva, Morgan Co., IL, d 13 Oct 1841.

1.  [Artimissa & her family]
   
2. William Jasper HARRIS b 25 Oct 1836 Geneva, Morgan Co., IL, d 23 Apr 1909; m 21 Apr 1857 Martha Ann SMITH d/o Hyrum and Mary (FIELDING) SMITH.
   They had 11 children:
   1. William Jasper HARRIS, Jr. b 4 Aug 1859 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 23 Aug 1926, Provo, Utah Co., UT; m 28 Dec 1882 Jessie Lena FRECKLETON (b 22 Sep 1865 d/o John Orr FRECKLETON and Jessie GARDNER).
   2. Joseph Albert HARRIS b 19 Aug 1861 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 28 May 1911, UT; m 13 Sep Joanna PATTEN.
   3. Hyrum Smith HARRIS b 15 Aug 1863 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 24 Feb 1924 UT; m 9 Apr 1890 Delia TWEDEE.
   4. Mary Emily HARRIS b 23 Oct 1865 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 25 Nov 1947 UT; m 12 Nov 1884 Walter Sutton CORBETT.
   5. Franklin Hill HARRIS b 11 Sep 1867 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 5 Feb 1947 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT; m 26 Jan 1898 Josephine ROBINSON.
   6. Lucy Smith HARRIS b 10 Mar 1870 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, d 26 Jul 1930 UT; m 15 Jun 1898 Jonothan SIMMONS.
   7. John Fielding HARRIS b 28 Jun 1872 Provo, Utah Co., UT, d 28 Nov 1946 UT; 1m 9 Jun 1897 Lydia BOYLE 2m Evelyn Betsy Christensen HARDING.
   8. Mercy Ann HARRIS b 30 Mar 1874 Provo, Utah Co., UT, d 23 Jan 1905 UT; m 25 Jun 1903 John Thomas DENNIS.
   9. Zina Christene HARRIS b 13 Mar 1876 Provo, Utah Co., UT, d 16 Mar 1958 UT; 1m 13 Oct 1893 George Thomas FURNER, 2m 9 Oct 1909 John Thomas DENNIS, 3m 6 Oct 1943 Irving L. PRATT.
   10. Martha Artie Missa HARRIS b 27 Jun 1879 Provo, Utah Co., UT, d ______; m 16 Sep 1900 Harry Walter STARTUP.
   11. Sarah Lovina HARRIS b 8 Dec 1882 Provo, Utah Co., UT, d 21 Apr 1961 Provo, Utah Co., UT; m 26 Mar 1907 Roy PASSEY.

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