Honorable Benjamin Harrison ((2)) (Benjamin ((1))), of Surry, b. in Southwark Parish, Surry Co., Va., September 20, 1645, d. January 30, 1712-13. He was sent to England as a commissioner from the Colony, against Commissary Blair, member of the Council of the Province from 1699. Married Hannah -, who was born February 13, 1651-52; d. February 16, 1698-99. They were buried at the Chapel, near Cabin Point, where their tombstones were still to be seen in 1869.

The following is the epitaph on his tombstone:

"Here lyeth the body of the Honorable Benjamin Harrison, Esq., who did justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with God,-was always loyal to his Prince, and a great benefactor to his country."

The tombstone of Benjamin Harrison, of Surry, the councillor, and Hannah, his wife, gives the date of her birth and death, but not her parentage, and the destruction of so many of the public records and the incompleteness of family records prevent our discovering this. The late William Byrd Harrison, of "Upper Brandon," was of the opinion that she was a Churchill but there is nothing to confirm this, and it may have been derived from the marriage of her granddaughter, Hannah, with Mr. Churchill.

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Children:

• 1. Sarah, b. Aug. 14, 1670; d. May 5, 1713; m. Rev. James Blair, minister of Jamestown Parish ; Commissary of the Bishop of London for Virginia, and President of William and Mary College; he d. 1743 ; no issue. 3 -
• 2. BENJAMIN, b. 1673; of whom later.
• 3-3. NATHANIEL; of whom later.
• 3 - 4. Hannah, b. Dec. 15, 1678; d. April 4, 1732; m. Hon. Philip Ludwell, b. Feb: 4, 1672 ; an influential member of the King's Coun cil ; son of Hon. Philip Ludwell, Gov. of Carolina, and later of the Virginia Council, and his wife Lucy (Higginson-Burwell) Barnard. (See Burwell lineage.)
• 3 - 5. Henry, of Sussex Co., Va., the ancestor of the "Sussex Harrisons."
• 3 - 6. Elizabeth b. 1680; d. 1707; m. Hon. William Edwards, of Surry Co., Va., a Burgess, 1706; son of William and Ann (Mansfield) Edwards, of Jamestown, Va., and had issue.
  

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Benjamin Harrison, the councillor, and Hannah, his wife, had issue:

• I. Sarah Harrison ((3)), of whose birth the date on the tombstone at Jamestown has been printed both 1670 and 1678, the latter being clearly wrong, as Hannah was born that year. If 1670 be correct, it shows that all the children, except perhaps Mrs. Edwards, but probably including her, were by wife Hannah, as Sarah is declared to have been, the tombstone saying: "She was daughter of Col. Benjamin and Mrs. Hannah Harrison, of Surry. Born, August 14th, 1670; died May ye 5, 1713, exceedingly beloved and lamented. Sarah married Rev. James Blair, D. D., minister of Jamestown Parish, Commissary of the Bishop of London for Virginia, and President of William and Mary College, who survived her thirty years."
• II. Benjamin Harrison ((3)), ancestor of the Presidents, b. about 1673; d. 1710.
• III. Nathaniel Harrison ((3)), b. August 8, 1677; d. November 30, 1727.
• IV. Hannah Harrison ((3)), b. December 15, 1678; d. April 4, 1731.

I give the following note from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. IV, No. 2, October, 1898:

James Blair, D. D., educated at Edinburgh, came to Virginia in 1665; appointed commissary of the Bishop of London, and exofficio member of the Council in 1690; was the father of William and Mary College, and its first president; married the daughter of Hon. Benjamin Harrison, of "Wakefield," Surry County, and died in 1743, having been a minister for fifty-eight, commissary and councillor fifty-four, and President of the College, fifty years. _________________________________

Col. Benjamin II m. Hannah _______

Children:

• 1. Sarah Harrison (1656-1743) m. Dr. James Blair
• 2. Benjamin III b. (1673)
• 3. Nathaniel Harrison (1677-1727)[Tombstone at 'Wakefield']
• 4. Henry Harrison [HA.2.4] (- 1732) [Tombstone at 'Brandon']
• 5. Hannah Harrison (1678-1731) m. a Ludwell
• 6. Elizabeth Harrison

Benjamin II was born on his father's Plantation in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. Had a river wharf and store where he built ships and traded in tobacco. He bought the plantation “Berkley Hundred” in Chas City Co. from Giles Bland [est.in 1619] and made it his home. [I am currently looking for proof of this ascertion. Every narrative I have read so far says that Ben Harrison III purchased Berkeley Hundred from Governor Berkeley after the execution of Giles Bland, who had inherited the property from his father, John.] “Berkeley Hundred” was located on the north side of the James River. Col. Benjamin Harrison II (1645-1712) re-patented the 500 acres his father held in James City County 9 October 1649. [Patent Book 2, p. 189] His name appeared in remaining Surry County tithable lists from 1686 through 1703 when surviving tithable lists end. [I have found this info and will include it.] Harrison was a Surry justice as early as 1671 and sheriff in 1679. He represented Surry County in the Virginia House of Burgesses and served as a member of the Colonial Council of State. Harrison paid quit rents on 2,750 acres in Surry County in 1704. Benjamin left a will in Surry County naming children Nathaniel, Henry, Sarah, and Sarah Harrison, and grandson Benjamin Harrison III (will dated 6 April 1711, His epitaph at Cabin Point Church reveals that he was born 20 September 1645 and died 30 January 1712/13. Likewise, his wife was born 13 February 1761/2 and died 16 February 1698/9.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pistoleros/jamesr.html

____________________________________

Benjamin Harrison Jr is the great grandfather of Benjamin Harris V, Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Arms - Azure, three demi lions rampant, or.

Crest - A demi lion rampant, argent, holding a laurel branch, vert.

Motto - Vincit qui patitur. (He conquers who endures).

Sent to England as Commissioner for the Colony against Commissioner Blair. He was an influential member of the King's Council and a liberal supporter of the Established Church.

The epitaph on his tombstone bears eloquent testimony to his life: "Here lyeth the body of Benjamin Harrison, Esq., Who did justice and loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God; was always loyal to his Prince and a great benefactor to his country.",

His will dated 16 Apr 1711, prov. 18 Feb 1712.

Source: <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/Harrison/d0021...>

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Benjamin Harrison of "Wakefield," Surry county, a son of Benjamin Harrison, of the same place, was born Sept. 20, 1645. He was a minor at the time of his father's death, and in 1663, was under the guardianship of Capt. Thomas Flood, of Surry. On June 15, 1677, his name appears for the first time as a justice and he continued for many years to be a member of the county court. On June 16, 1679, he took the oath as sheriff. He was a member of the house of burgesses in 1681, 1692, 1696, 1697 and 1698, and in the latter year was promoted to the council, of which he was a regular attendant until his death. In the charter of William and Mary College, 1692. Benjamin Harrison was appointed one of the first trustees. Gov. Nicholson was not on friendly terms with Harrison and his friends and wrote to the lords of trades and plantations in 1703 that the family of Harrisons had endeavored to engross the major part of the land on the south side of Blackwater Swamp, but that, for his majesty's interest, he had put a stop to their proceedings. Col. Harrison died Jan. 30, 1712-13.

Brandon Plantation: Harrison

Robert Richardson sold Brandon Plantation in 1720 to Nathaniel Harrison (1677-1727) of "Wakefield," Surry County, son of Honorable Benjamin Harrison (1645-1712) of "Wakefield," who was second of the name in Virginia...

"The new owner of Brandon was a burgess and a councillor, naval officer of the Lower James, county lieutenant of Surry and Prince George and finally auditor general of the Colony. He married a widow, Mrs. Mary Young, nee Cary, and had seven children--among them Nathaniel Harrison II, eldest son, who inherited Brandon and built the present house. Nathaniel Harrison, of Brandon, was like his father a prominent man in the colony and a member of the Council of State. He married first Mary, daughter of Colonel Cole Digges (1692-1744), and secondly, Lucy, widow of Henry Fitzhugh and daughter of Honorable Robert Carter, of Corotoman. His first wife was the mother of his eldest son and the heir of Brandon, Benjamin Harrison, whose portrait is among those upon the walls.

"Banjamin Harrison was twice married, and the portraits of his two exceeding fair ladies hang amicably in the same room at Brandon. His irst wife was Anne Randolph, of Wilton, who left no children, and the second, Evelyn Taylor Byrd, daughter of Colonel William Byrd III, of Westover ... By his marriage with her, Banjamin Harrison had two sons, between whom the plantation was divided--George Evelyn, the elder son, of course, inherited the lower part ... and William Byrd Harrison, the younger son, received the part upon whic Upper Brandon was built..."

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Col. Benjamin Harrison (II) of "Wakefield", Surry Co; b. 20 Sept 1645, Surry Co; d. 30 Jan 1712/3, Surry Co; Commissioner to England for the Colony against Commissioner Blair; memb. King's Council; Justice; Sheriff 1679; Burgess 1681, 1692, 1697-98; one of the first trustees of William & Mary College.

   =(ca. 1669) Hannah Churchill; b. 13 Feb 1651/2, Norfolk Co; d. 16 Feb 1698/99, Surry Co.

http://dcodriscoll.pbworks.com/w/page/27898371/Harrison_%28IV%29

__________________________ Old Cabin Point Cemetery in Surry County, Virginia

These photographs were taken in June 2008 by The Reverend William B. Taylor, Jr., Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hopewell. Thank you, Mr. Taylor! This cemetery is on land donated to the church in 1711 by the will of Benjamin Harrison. Members of the Harrison family originally were buried here, but they were removed later to the Harrison Cemetery at Brandon.

The will of Benjamin Harrison of Surry County, Virginia, was signed on 16 April 1711 and presented in court by his executor, Nathaniel Harrison, on 8 February 1712. In Item 5, he gave twenty pounds sterling "to buy ornaments for the Chappell and that my executor take care to provide them so soon as may be after the new Chapell is built ". In addition, "my will is that five acres of my land be laid out where the old Chappell now stands and that it be held for that use for ever". (Surry County, Virginia, Deeds, etc. 1709-1715, p. 131)

The boundaries of this chapel and cemetery lot are shown on a 1949 plat of the land of J. S. Gwaltney (at left). The tract had shrunk from 5 acres to 4.4 by that time. (Surry County, Virginia, Plat Book 5, page 17)

The "brick church tract" was acknowledged in an 1899 deed from Samuel and Nellie Burt to Irving Barnes for 100 acres of land, more or less, described as part of the Sledge Tract and "commencing at a post of fence on the road running through the village of Cabin Point, thence straight with hedge row between the land of M. R. Burt and said S. H. Burt to the Montpelier line, there to corner. Thence from said corner south to a pine marked on the road known as the brick church road. Thence east with said brick church road to line of brick church tract. Thence with said brick church line round to said brick church road." (Surry County, Virginia, Deed Book 28, page 575-576)

There is more information about Cabin Point cemeteries and churches in Barbara's Hopper's Cabin Point The Forgotten Village. This book contains much interesting information about the Cabin Point area and can be purchased from the Surry County Historical Society's BOOKS page.

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Col. Benjamin II

m. Hannah _______ Children:

1. Sarah Harrison (1656-1743) m. Dr. James Blair 2. Benjamin III b. (1673) 3. Nathaniel Harrison (1677-1727)[Tombstone at 'Wakefield'] 4. Henry Harrison [HA.2.4] (- 1732) [Tombstone at 'Brandon'] 5. Hannah Harrison (1678-1731) m. a Ludwell 6. Elizabeth Harrison

Benjamin II was born on his father's Plantation in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. Had a river wharf and store where he built ships and traded in tobacco. He bought the plantation “Berkley Hundred” in Chas City Co. from Giles Bland [est.in 1619] and made it his home. [I am currently looking for proof of this ascertion. Every narrative I have read so far says that Ben Harrison III purchased Berkeley Hundred from Governor Berkeley after the execution of Giles Bland, who had inherited the property from his father, John.] “Berkeley Hundred” was located on the north side of the James River. Col. Benjamin Harrison II (1645-1712) re-patented the 500 acres his father held in James City County 9 October 1649. [Patent Book 2, p. 189] His name appeared in remaining Surry County tithable lists from 1686 through 1703 when surviving tithable lists end. [I have found this info and will include it.] Harrison was a Surry justice as early as 1671 and sheriff in 1679. He represented Surry County in the Virginia House of Burgesses and served as a member of the Colonial Council of State. Harrison paid quit rents on 2,750 acres in Surry County in 1704. Benjamin left a will in Surry County naming children Nathaniel, Henry, Sarah, and Sarah Harrison, and grandson Benjamin Harrison III (will dated 6 April 1711, His epitaph at Cabin Point Church reveals that he was born 20 September 1645 and died 30 January 1712/13. Likewise, his wife was born 13 February 1761/2 and died 16 February 1698/9.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pistoleros/jamesr.html

____________________________________

Benjamin Harrison Jr is the great grandfather of Benjamin Harris V, Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

---

Arms - Azure, three demi lions rampant, or.

Crest - A demi lion rampant, argent, holding a laurel branch, vert.

Motto - Vincit qui patitur. (He conquers who endures).

Sent to England as Commissioner for the Colony against Commissioner Blair. He was an influential member of the King's Council and a liberal supporter of the Established Church.

The epitaph on his tombstone bears eloquent testimony to his life: "Here lyeth the body of Benjamin Harrison, Esq., Who did justice and loved mercy, and walked humbly with his God; was always loyal to his Prince and a great benefactor to his country.",

His will dated 16 Apr 1711, prov. 18 Feb 1712.

Source: <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/Harrison/d0021...> -------------------- Benjamin Harrison of "Wakefield," Surry county, a son of Benjamin Harrison, of the same place, was born Sept. 20, 1645. He was a minor at the time of his father's death, and in 1663, was under the guardianship of Capt. Thomas Flood, of Surry. On June 15, 1677, his name appears for the first time as a justice and he continued for many years to be a member of the county court. On June 16, 1679, he took the oath as sheriff. He was a member of the house of burgesses in 1681, 1692, 1696, 1697 and 1698, and in the latter year was promoted to the council, of which he was a regular attendant until his death. In the charter of William and Mary College, 1692. Benjamin Harrison was appointed one of the first trustees. Gov. Nicholson was not on friendly terms with Harrison and his friends and wrote to the lords of trades and plantations in 1703 that the family of Harrisons had endeavored to engross the major part of the land on the south side of Blackwater Swamp, but that, for his majesty's interest, he had put a stop to their proceedings. Col. Harrison died Jan. 30, 1712-13.

Brandon Plantation: Harrison

Robert Richardson sold Brandon Plantation in 1720 to Nathaniel Harrison (1677-1727) of "Wakefield," Surry County, son of Honorable Benjamin Harrison (1645-1712) of "Wakefield," who was second of the name in Virginia...

"The new owner of Brandon was a burgess and a councillor, naval officer of the Lower James, county lieutenant of Surry and Prince George and finally auditor general of the Colony. He married a widow, Mrs. Mary Young, nee Cary, and had seven children--among them Nathaniel Harrison II, eldest son, who inherited Brandon and built the present house. Nathaniel Harrison, of Brandon, was like his father a prominent man in the colony and a member of the Council of State. He married first Mary, daughter of Colonel Cole Digges (1692-1744), and secondly, Lucy, widow of Henry Fitzhugh and daughter of Honorable Robert Carter, of Corotoman. His first wife was the mother of his eldest son and the heir of Brandon, Benjamin Harrison, whose portrait is among those upon the walls.

"Banjamin Harrison was twice married, and the portraits of his two exceeding fair ladies hang amicably in the same room at Brandon. His irst wife was Anne Randolph, of Wilton, who left no children, and the second, Evelyn Taylor Byrd, daughter of Colonel William Byrd III, of Westover ... By his marriage with her, Banjamin Harrison had two sons, between whom the plantation was divided--George Evelyn, the elder son, of course, inherited the lower part ... and William Byrd Harrison, the younger son, received the part upon whic Upper Brandon was built..."

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Col. Benjamin Harrison (II) of "Wakefield", Surry Co; b. 20 Sept 1645, Surry Co; d. 30 Jan 1712/3, Surry Co; Commissioner to England for the Colony against Commissioner Blair; memb. King's Council; Justice; Sheriff 1679; Burgess 1681, 1692, 1697-98; one of the first trustees of William & Mary College.

(ca. 1669) Hannah Churchill; b. 13 Feb 1651/2, Norfolk Co; d. 16 Feb 1698/99, Surry Co.

http://dcodriscoll.pbworks.com/w/page/27898371/Harrison_%28IV%29

__________________________ Old Cabin Point Cemetery in Surry County, Virginia

These photographs were taken in June 2008 by The Reverend William B. Taylor, Jr., Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hopewell. Thank you, Mr. Taylor! This cemetery is on land donated to the church in 1711 by the will of Benjamin Harrison. Members of the Harrison family originally were buried here, but they were removed later to the Harrison Cemetery at Brandon.

The will of Benjamin Harrison of Surry County, Virginia, was signed on 16 April 1711 and presented in court by his executor, Nathaniel Harrison, on 8 February 1712. In Item 5, he gave twenty pounds sterling "to buy ornaments for the Chappell and that my executor take care to provide them so soon as may be after the new Chapell is built ". In addition, "my will is that five acres of my land be laid out where the old Chappell now stands and that it be held for that use for ever". (Surry County, Virginia, Deeds, etc. 1709-1715, p. 131)

The boundaries of this chapel and cemetery lot are shown on a 1949 plat of the land of J. S. Gwaltney (at left). The tract had shrunk from 5 acres to 4.4 by that time. (Surry County, Virginia, Plat Book 5, page 17)

The "brick church tract" was acknowledged in an 1899 deed from Samuel and Nellie Burt to Irving Barnes for 100 acres of land, more or less, described as part of the Sledge Tract and "commencing at a post of fence on the road running through the village of Cabin Point, thence straight with hedge row between the land of M. R. Burt and said S. H. Burt to the Montpelier line, there to corner. Thence from said corner south to a pine marked on the road known as the brick church road. Thence east with said brick church road to line of brick church tract. Thence with said brick church line round to said brick church road." (Surry County, Virginia, Deed Book 28, page 575-576)

There is more information about Cabin Point cemeteries and churches in Barbara's Hopper's Cabin Point The Forgotten Village. This book contains much interesting information about the Cabin Point area and can be purchased from the Surry County Historical Society's BOOKS page.

read more

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43362902
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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 20 2020, 22:31:43 UTC

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References

• “Tennessee Cousins: A History of Tennessee People.” By Worth Stickley Ray. Page 505. GoogleBooks. Benjamin Harrison (son of Mary and Benjamin Harrison) married Hannah, 3 sons and 3 daughters.

James River Harrison Line. < link >