Benjamin Harrison, of Wakefield

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Benjamin Harrison, Sr

Also Known As: "(the immigrant)", "of Jamestown"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: England
Death: between March 21, 1648 and October 09, 1649
Southwark Parish, Warrosquinoake, Virginia Colony, British Colonial America
Place of Burial: Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, United States of America
Immediate Family:

Husband of Mary Sidway
Father of Colonel Benjamin Harrison, II, Esq. and Dr. Peter Harrison

Occupation: Clerk of the Council of Virginia in 1634
Immigration Year: about 1633
Y DNA: R-M269
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Benjamin Harrison, of Wakefield

“James River” Harrison Line


Benjamin HARRISON I

  • Dec 1594 - 1648
  • RESIDENCE: ENG & Wakefield, Surry Co. VA
  • BIRTH: Dec 1594, Poss. St. Giles, Northamptonshire, ENG [S5]
  • DEATH: 1648, Prob. "Wakefield", Warrosquinoake, now Surry Co, VA
  • Family 1 : Mary Stringer MARRIAGE: 1643. She married Benjamin Sidway 2nd Children:
  • Benjamin HARRISON II married Hannah
  • Peter HARRISON believed to have died childless

Not the same as Benjamin Harrison, of Isle of Wight


A patent of 1655 describes Capt. Sidway as “father-in-law to Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison dec’d & heir …” [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 18]


http://harrison.jhamedia.com/pats.html

Lineage 34-The James River / Presidential Harrison Line

Many Harrisons have a family legend passed down through the generations that their Harrison ancestor was a "cousin of the president." Using DNA, we can now support, or refute, those old stories. This family is haplogroup R-M269.

  • Benjamin Harrison, b. 1600 England, d. 21 Mar 1643 James Co., VA m. Mary Stringer-Bill Harrison [wobillcc AT aol.com]
    • Benjamin Harrison b.20 Sep 1645 Surry Co, VA, d. 30 Jan 1712 Surry Co., VA, m. Hannah Churchill
      • Benjamin Harrison (III) b. 1673 Surry Co., VA, d. 10 Apr 1710 Charles City Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Burwell
        • Benjamin Harrison (IV) b. 1695 Berkley, Charles City Co., VA, d. 12 Jul 1745 Berkley, Charles City Co., VA, m. Anne Carter

Note: cannot have been related to Isaiah Harrison, I, whose projected Y DNA haplogroup is I-M253.

Disputed Origins

Not proven as child of Richard Harrison
& Margaret Harrison


What is the evidence supporting as child of Lord of Gobions Manor Thomas Harrison, of St. Giles & Elizabeth Harrison ? Please add to discussion: https://www.geni.com/discussions/197433?msg=1301962


UNKNOWN POSSIBLE ANCESTORS OF THE PRESIDENTS HARRISON

“A house of Harrison“ by Murphy, Catherine May Bell Harrison, 1913- page 6. Archive.Org

Since Benjamin Harrison, Clerk of the Council of Virginia in 1634, is the earliest certainly kno\im ancestor of the Presidents, his identity is the one in question and the identity of a possible brother.

1. One theory is that this Benjamin Harrison was the son of the regicide. General Thomas Harrison, who was instrumental in the beheading of King Charles I of England; and who xjas himself beheaded later on, Charles P» Keith in his book, "Ancestry of Benjamin Harrison" discredits this by proving General Thomas Harrison was a contemporary of the Benjamin who emigrated to America. Any son of General Thomas Harrison's would have been too young to qualify for Clerk of the Council in 1634. These two Harrisons were, however, related.

2. A Rev. Joseph Harrison brought this tradition to New York early in the 19th Century; Four brothers from Yorkshire, England, emigrated to America during the reign of Charles I. They v;ere: Thomas, Richard, Benjamin, and Nathaniel Harrison. A fifth brother, Edward, a member of the Clergy, remained in England. Nothing has been found to connect this family \<r±th Benjamin, Clerk of the Council in Virginia. There were Harrisons of the same names in America at that time, but they were accounted for and living in different parts of the country.

3. There was a Benjamin Harrison of Aldham, England, considered a possibility. He was the son of Rev. Francis Harrison who died in 1632. Benjamin of Aldham had brothers: John of London and William. Records show that six years after Rev. Francis died, his widov; and sons Uilliam and Benjamin were living in Ipswich, England. Benjamin of Aldham had a son, Benjamin, but he was too young to be Clerk of the Council in 1634.

4. J.H. Harrison, in his book, "Settlers by the Long Grey Trail", tells of three brothers who lived and died in England* John, Benjamin and Thomas, The brother Thomas, bom 1695, married Hannah Morrison and had six sons: John, Benjamin, Thomas, Samuel, Daniel and James, All the sons came to America. All enlisted in the Revolutionary War. All had families except Thomas, Jr. All but John and Thomas, Jr., were killed in the war.

The brother Benjamin had sons: Benjamin and Robert; both sons came to America. Robert settled in Maryland and had a son. Governor Robert Harrison of Maryland. Benjamin settled in Virginia and is said by some county histories (History of Audrain County, Mo., for one) to be the ancestor of the Presidents.

While Harrisons of this name did all these things, their claim to the ancestry of the Presidents Harrison is late in time and not recognized by authorities.


“A house of Harrison“ by Murphy, Catherine May Bell Harrison, 1913- page 7. Archive.Org

5. Worth S. Ray, in his book "Tennessee Cousins", thinks Benjamin Harrison, Clerk of the Council, was son of Richard Harrison, the Master's Mate who was killed in 1603 by Indians on the Virginia coast. Richard left money with a brother, Peter Harrison of Warmington, only for a son, Peter. No mention was made of a son, Benjamin. There is a strange coincidence to back up Worth S. Ray's claim. Richard Harrison married Margaret Pilkington. A Margaret Pilkington and her husband, William, were found living next to Benjamin Harrison, Clerk of the Council, in Virginia - as a mother or a close relative, would follow to a new covmtry and settle nearby.


James River family

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_family_of_Virginia Retrieved April 2021

Berkeley Plantation, homestead of the James River Harrisons

//media.geni.com/p13/ec/04/84/1e/5344485ea5219a8c/d070e7ca-06ff-4b43-b905-e33e2a463e44_original.jpg?hash=64578a9371f7b1cba00431d190d2b0c13f6f10603d2645b0a0f542fb25510fd4.1742108399

The history of the James River Harrisons in the Colony of Virginia began in 1630 when Benjamin Harrison I left England for America by way of Bermuda.[4] Author J. Houston Harrison references the tradition, supported by other writers, that Benjamin had four brothers: Thomas, who also ended up in the south, Richard and Nathaniel who were in the north, and Edward who remained in England. [5][6][b]

The parentage of the brothers is the subject of several different viewpoints. Genealogist McConathy states that the father might have been Richard Harrison, who descended from Rowland Harrison of Durham.[8] McConathy's work also allows that the brothers could have been the sons of Thomas Harrison, Lord of Gobion's Manor (1568–1625), and wife Elizabeth Bernard (1569–1643) of St. Giles, Nottinghamshire, England. [9][10] Still other sources indicate that the father may have been merchant Robert Harrison of Yorkshire.[7][11]

Benjamin Harrison's brother Richard settled in Connecticut Colony, while Nathaniel was in Boston. Thomas (1619–1682) arrived in Virginia in 1640 and was temporarily the minister at Elizabeth River Parish before removing to New England. He most likely was the ancestor of Harrison emigrants to the Shenandoah Valley.[12]

Benjamin arrived in Virginia by 1633, as he was installed as clerk of the Virginia Governor's Council in that year. In 1642, he became the first of the family to serve as a legislator in the Virginia House of Burgesses.[13] His son Benjamin II (1645–1712) served as county sheriff and in the House of Burgesses, and also was appointed to the Governor's Council, the upper house of the Colony's legislature.[14][c]



https://archive.org/details/jstor-4243899/page/n1 Notes:

Mr. C. P. Keith, while preparing his "Ancestry of Benjamin Har- rison", made, without success, extensive investigations with a view to ascertaining the English ancestry of Benjamin Harrison, the emigrant to Virginia. All that can be said of him is that he must have been a man of education and of some influence to have obtained the important position of Clerk of the Council soon after his arrival in the Colony.


http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/genealogy/Harrison/d0023...
Lists them as Father: Richard HARRISON & Mother: Margaret PILKINGTON and Comments:

“Benjamin's father is controversial. 1. His father is possibly Thomas Harrison of Gobion's Manor, Northamptonshire,d ante 1616. married cir 1581 Elizabeth Bernard of Abington, Northamptonshire. Elizabeth m(2 ) Henry Travel of Coventry, Warwickshire; she was an aunt of the immigrant double first cousins Richard Bernard of Purton, Gloucester Co., VA and William Bernard of Nansemond & Ilse of Wight Cos., VA, and a ggaunt of Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Bt., colonial governor of MA and NJ. Benjamin patented land on Warrosquivake Creek, 7 July 1635. He served as Clerk of the Virginia Council about 1629, and as Burgess, 1642.



https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I0714... Has:

”There has been a long held belief that the Harrisons are the descendents of Thomas Harrison, the regicide general who served under Oliver Cromwell, and was executed by King Charles II upon his return to power. According to this tradition, Thomas Harrison's family fled to Jamestown after his execution in order to escape further persecution, with Benjamin Harrison (I) carrying on the family name. However, a closer look at what we know of these two individuals makes this connection impossible. First of all Thomas Harrison was born in 1616, only a decade and a half before Benjamin Harrison (I) arrived in Jamestown. Furthermore, at the time of his execution in 1660 for his part in the death of King Charles I, Thomas Harrison had no living children. the burial register of St. Anne’s Cathedral in London (?) records the death of each of his three sons, each having died will before his own death. Thus, Thomas Harrison simply could not have been the father of Benjamin Harrison (I).


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_family_of_Virginia

The Virginia Harrison family consists primarily of two branches with origins in northern England. One branch, led by Benjamin Harrison I, journeyed by way of Bermuda to Virginia before 1633 and settled on the James River; they are often referred to as the James River Harrisons. Successive generations of this branch served in the legislature of the Colony of Virginia, including Benjamin V, who was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of the Commonwealth. This family branch produced President William Henry Harrison, Benjamin V's son, and President Benjamin Harrison, William Henry's grandson, as well as another Virginia governor, Albertis Harrison. The family also includes two Chicago mayors and members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

A different Harrison !

1. Thomas Harrison of Gobion's Manor in Northampton, England (c1568, St. Giles, Northants, England-aft. 1616, St. Giles, Northants, England) m. c1614, St. Giles, Northants, England, Elizabeth BERNARD (b. c1558, Abington Hall, Abington, Northhampshire

  • +2. Benjamin Harrison (1593, England-1677, Isle of Wight, VA) m. Mary _____

THIRD GENERATION: Children of Benjamin and Mary Harrison

  • 3. John Harrison m. Melborough BRUSSIE
  • +3. Joseph Harrison (c1620, England-c1673, MD) m. Elizabeth TROOPE, daughter of Robert TROOPE
  • +3. Richard Harrison (d. 1677, MD) m. Eliza ___

Biography

The first Harrison appears to have left but two children surviving him: Benjamin and Peter, both by his wife Mary, who afterwards married Benjamin Sidway, and as in a patent, dated October 9, 1649, it is recited that 500 acres granted to Benjamin Harrison, deceased, on March 21, 1643, were due to Benjamin, Jr., as "his son and heir," we conclude, the law of primogeniture being in force, that Benjamin ((2)) was the eldest son, and that the property belonging to Peter in his minority was not inherited, but devised to him, probably by his father, whose will has not been found. On January 16, 1652, Benjamin Sidway, by order of the Court, conveyed certain land belonging to "Peter Harrison, orphan of Benjamin Harrison." In a patent dated 1655, quoted by "The Critic," published in Richmond, certain land is said to adjoin that of "Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison, deceased, and son-in-law of Captain Sidney," the last word being doubtless "Sidway."

Peter Harrison appeared to have died without issue, before middle age, as he was not mentioned in the will of his mother, Mary Sidway, dated March 1, 1687 or '88. It gives as follows:

" Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter, Hannah Harrison, the horse colt that sucks on the black mare.

"I tem. I give and bequeath unto John Kersey, one yearling hepher. And for the rest of my estate my will is after my just debts paid that it be equally divided between my two sons, Benjamin Harrison, and Thomas Sidway, whom I do make my executors, to see this my will performed."

The will was witnessed by Lyddeia Norwood and Sam'l Alsebrook, who proved it on May 29, 1688.

Thomas Sidway, half brother of Harrison, appears to have died childless. His will, dated January 16, 1694, probated December 3, 1695, gives all his land and personal property to his wife Jeane, for life, and at her death to William Stringer and his heirs. The wife was named as executrix, and the witnesses were Benjamin Harrison and Sarah Pedington. Harrison also left something to William Stringer, if he came to this country, meaning probably, that he had gone to England. So it is evident that he was nearly related to or connected with Sidway's and Harrison's mother. He appears to have been the William Stringer, of Charles City County, who, January 1, 1682, made Elias Osborne his attorney in the law suits between him and Wm. Pickerill and Thomas Hayard, of Surry County. The witnesses to the letter of attorney were Paul Williams, John Harrison and George Jennings.

Source: Benjamin Harrison, from. "Virginia, Prominent Families, Vol. II, Chapter XV; Original data: Louise Pecquet du Bellet. Some Prominent Virginia Families. Lynchburgh, VA, USA: J.P. Bell Company
_____________________________________

Benjamin Harrison I ^m. Mary Stringer 2nd Mary Sidway

Children:

  • Benjamin II 1645 - 1712/13
  • Peter - died childless Some time before 1635

Benjamin was settled in Jamestown. Nothing is known of his life before coming to Virginia but we know he was an educated man of high standing because he was clerk of Council by 15 March 1633/4 when he signed a document in that capacity, and later was elected to the House of Burgesses.[The General Assembly of Virginia (Leonard)]

The governor granted him 200 acres in Warrosquyoake (later Isle of Wight) County 7 July 1635 in addition to the 50 acres of a freeman which he later sold to Thomas Davis. [Patent Book 2, p. 71], 600 acres in James City County 18 May 1637, and 500 acres in James City 21 March 1643/4. [Patent Book 1, pp. 207, 420, 949] In 1642 he was elected to the House of Burgesses and he purchased 500 acres on the south side of the James River in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. where his children were born. One of Benjamin's neighbors was Richard Bennett Esqr. After the death of Benjamin I, Bennett sold the land to Francis Jordan.
After Benjamin's death his widow married Benjamin Sidway. Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin and Mary Harrison, as “Peter Harrison, orphan of Benjamin Harrison, deceased,” received from his stepfather Benjamin Sidway a tract of land in 1652. A patent of 1655 describes Capt. Sidway as “father-in-law to Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison dec’d & heir …” [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 18]

His mother’s will of 1688 omits him. Mary Harrison Sidway made her will in Surry County leaving granddaughter Hannah Harrison a colt and John Kersey, a heifer. The rest of her estate she left to her two sons Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Sidway will dated 1 Mar. 1687/8 recorded 29 May 1688. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 41]. Benjamin Harrison [II] witnessed the 1694-will of his half-brother Thomas Sidway. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 5, 1694-1709, p. 79]

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

___________________________________

The Harrison family is a prominent political family in U.S. history. Among the First Families of Virginia , they came to the Colony of Virginia in 1630 when Benjamin Harrison (the first of many to bear that name) left England for the Americas

His son, Benjamin Harrison Jr., begat Benjamin Harrison III, who begat Colonel Benjamin Harrison IV in 1693. His son is known in modern times as Benjamin Harrison V, and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. For the next two centuries the Harrisons would play some role in American political history.

Most famously, the Harrison family produced numerous Governors of Virginia (serving during both the Colonial era and after independence), as well as two U.S. Presidents; William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.

The family has a longer recorded heritage in politics, however. Their earliest notable ancestor is the thirteenth century Baron Robert II de Holland, also an ancestor to James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant , and Winston Churchill.

By marriage they are related to the Lee family, the Washington family, and Randolph family.


  • Benjamin Harrison (I); b. ca. 1623, St. Giles, Northampton, England; Clerk of the Council 1634; Burgess 1642; owner of large estates in modern Surry & Prince George Co.
   = Mary
  • *1.1 Col. Benjamin Harrison (II) of Wakefield; b. 20 Sept 1645, Surry Co; d. 30 Jan 1712/3, Surry Co. See below.
    • 1.2 Peter Harrison; b. 1647.

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

______________________________________

Land grants from CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 1 Part I; Pg 25 BENJAMINE HARRISON, 200 acs. Warresquioake Co., 7 July 1635, P. 207. About 2 mi. up Warresquioake Cr., beg. at a pine marked with 3 notches, extending N. W. &c., which land is now in the tenure of Thomas Jordan, Gent. Due by deed of sale from John Davis, of Kiskiake, 9 July 1633, being part of a devdt. graunted sd. Davis by order of Ct. 5 June 1633 as being heire to his uncle Walter Davis [From Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635 A Biographic Dictionary: Walter Davis died at Martin's Hundred during the Indian attack on March 22, 1622. A reference to the estate dated January 3, 1625, mentions his younger brother John. On June 5, 1633 pantented land in Warresqueak that he acquired baded on his bother's entitlement. He quickly sold the land to Benjamin Harrison.)

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 1 Part I; Pg 56 BENJAMINE HARRISON, 600 acs. James Citty Co., 18 May 1637, p. 420. S. of the Riv. about 1-1/2 mi. up the Upper Chippokes Cr. upon the Ely. side neare land graunted unto Jerimiah Clements, bounding upon the Ely. side of a Sw. over against Sandy point. 500 acs. due by order of Ct. 3 June 1635 & alsoe due with 100 acs. for trans. of 12 pers: Robert Sorrell, Thomas Essington, Richard James, Richard Court, Hen. Bagly, Humphry Campton, Mathew Hauton, John Resburye, David Vaughan, Mary —, Mathew Rayson, Christopher Hargrave.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 2; Pg 186 BEN. HARRISON, the son of Ben. Harrison, Gent., dec'd., 500 acs. James City Co., 9 Oct. 1649, p. 189. On the S. side James River, beg. on the Sly side of the Round Island Swamp. Granted to Benja. Harrison, dec'd., by patent dated 21 March, 1643, "and now due unto the said Banja. Harrison Junr. by being his son in heir."

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 2; Pg 224
BENJ. HARRISON, 500 acs. James City Co., 21 Mar. 1643, p. 362. Incomplete.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 4; Pg 326
WILLIAM JENINGES, 251 acs. Surry Co., 1 Feb. 1655, p. 18, (27). S. side of James Riv. near Col. Floods, bounded N. on the main river, E. on Capt. Sidway (or Tidway) copied in new Bk. 4, p. 27 as Sidney) father in law to Peter Harrison son of Benjamin Harrison decd. & heir of the aforesd. land, E. & W. on Mr. Foards land, Ely. on Col. Floods land & S. on John Floods land. 151 acs. granted unto John Blackborne 11 Mar. 1652 & assigned unto sd. Jenings; & 100 aa. granted unto Francis Jorden, same date, & assigned unto sd. Jenings. Marginal note: Renewed in name of Robt. Lane, being assigned to him by Thomas Culmer, who had order for same from Surry Court & granted to Lane 18 Mar. 1662. Fra. Kirkman, Clk.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 6; Pg 122
BENJAMIN HARRISON, 1240 acs Surry Co.; 12 Nov. 1672,- page 440. 600 acres on S. side the Riv., about 11/2 mi, up Upper Chipokes Cr., upon the E. side, -neere land formerly Jeremy Clements; upon side or -a Sw., against Sandy point; granted 18 May 1637 to Benja. Harrison, his father, & due him as heire; 140 acs.' in sd. Co., from the Sunken Marsh neere Up. Chipokes; adj. lands formerly Henry Neale's & Henry White's; granted Wm. Gapin 22 Aug. 1645, sold to his father, & descended to him, &c; 500 acs. in sd. Co., on. S. -side James RivI, upon a br. of Sunken marsh; on S. side the round Island Sw; granted his father 9 Oct. 1649, & due, &c. 12 Oct. 1672,



The first Harrison appears to have left but two children surviving him: Benjamin and Peter, both by his wife Mary, who afterwards married Benjamin Sidway, and as in a patent, dated October 9, 1649, it is recited that 500 acres granted to Benjamin Harrison, deceased, on March 21, 1643, were due to Benjamin, Jr., as "his son and heir," we conclude, the law of primogeniture being in force, that Benjamin ((2)) was the eldest son, and that the property belonging to Peter in his minority was not inherited, but devised to him, probably by his father, whose will has not been found. On January 16, 1652, Benjamin Sidway, by order of the Court, conveyed certain land belonging to "Peter Harrison, orphan of Benjamin Harrison." In a patent dated 1655, quoted by "The Critic," published in Richmond, certain land is said to adjoin that of "Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison, deceased, and son-in-law of Captain Sidney," the last word being doubtless "Sidway."

Peter Harrison appeared to have died without issue, before middle age, as he was not mentioned in the will of his mother, Mary Sidway, dated March 1, 1687 or '88. It gives as follows:

" Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter, Hannah Harrison, the horse colt that sucks on the black mare.

"I tem. I give and bequeath unto John Kersey, one yearling hepher. And for the rest of my estate my will is after my just debts paid that it be equally divided between my two sons, Benjamin Harrison, and Thomas Sidway, whom I do make my executors, to see this my will performed."

The will was witnessed by Lyddeia Norwood and Sam'l Alsebrook, who proved it on May 29, 1688.

Thomas Sidway, half brother of Harrison, appears to have died childless. His will, dated January 16, 1694, probated December 3, 1695, gives all his land and personal property to his wife Jeane, for life, and at her death to William Stringer and his heirs. The wife was named as executrix, and the witnesses were Benjamin Harrison and Sarah Pedington. Harrison also left something to William Stringer, if he came to this country, meaning probably, that he had gone to England. So it is evident that he was nearly related to or connected with Sidway's and Harrison's mother. He appears to have been the William Stringer, of Charles City County, who, January 1, 1682, made Elias Osborne his attorney in the law suits between him and Wm. Pickerill and Thomas Hayard, of Surry County. The witnesses to the letter of attorney were Paul Williams, John Harrison and George Jennings.

Source: Benjamin Harrison, from. "Virginia, Prominent Families, Vol. II, Chapter XV; Original data: Louise Pecquet du Bellet. Some Prominent Virginia Families. Lynchburgh, VA, USA: J.P. Bell Company _____________________________________

Benjamin Harrison I m. Mary Stringer 2nd Mary Sidway

Children: Benjamin II 1645 - 1712/13 Peter - died childless Some time before 1635 Benjamin he was settled in Jamestown. Nothing is known of his life before coming to Virginia but we know he was an educated man of high standing because he was clerk of Council by 15 March 1633/4 when he signed a document in that capacity, and later was elected to the House of Burgesses.[The General Assembly of Virginia (Leonard)] The governor granted him 200 acres in Warrosquyoake (later Isle of Wight) County 7 July 1635 in addition to the 50 acres of a freeman which he later sold to Thomas Davis. [Patent Book 2, p. 71], 600 acres in James City County 18 May 1637, and 500 acres in James City 21 March 1643/4. [Patent Book 1, pp. 207, 420, 949] In 1642 he was elected to the House of Burgesses and he purchased 500 acres on the south side of the James River in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. where his children were born. One of Benjamin's neighbors was Richard Bennett Esqr. After the death of Benjamin I, Bennett sold the land to Francis Jordan. After Benjamin's death his widow married Benjamin Sidway. Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin and Mary Harrison, as “Peter Harrison, orphan of Benjamin Harrison, deceased,” received from his stepfather Benjamin Sidway a tract of land in 1652. A patent of 1655 describes Capt. Sidway as “father-in-law to Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison dec’d & heir …” [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 18]

His mother’s will of 1688 omits him. Mary Harrison Sidway made her will in Surry County leaving granddaughter Hannah Harrison a colt and John Kersey, a heifer. The rest of her estate she left to her two sons Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Sidway will dated 1 Mar. 1687/8 recorded 29 May 1688. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 41]. Benjamin Harrison [II] witnessed the 1694-will of his half-brother Thomas Sidway. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 5, 1694-1709, p. 79] http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pistoleros/jamesr.html ___________________________________

The Harrison family is a prominent political family in U.S. history. Among the First Families of Virginia , they came to the Colony of Virginia in 1630 when Benjamin Harrison (the first of many to bear that name) left England for the Americas

His son, Benjamin Harrison Jr., begat Benjamin Harrison III, who begat Colonel Benjamin Harrison IV in 1693. His son is known in modern times as Benjamin Harrison V, and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. For the next two centuries the Harrisons would play some role in American political history.

Most famously, the Harrison family produced numerous Governors of Virginia (serving during both the Colonial era and after independence), as well as two U.S. Presidents; William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.

The family has a longer recorded heritage in politics, however. Their earliest notable ancestor is the thirteenth century Baron Robert II de Holland, also an ancestor to James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant , and Winston Churchill.

By marriage they are related to the Lee family, the Washington family, and Randolph family.

Links

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/Harrison/d0023...


Benjamin Harrison (I); b. ca. 1623, St. Giles, Northampton, England; Clerk of the Council 1634; Burgess 1642; owner of large estates in modern Surry & Prince George Co. = Mary 1.1 Col. Benjamin Harrison (II) of Wakefield; b. 20 Sept 1645, Surry Co; d. 30 Jan 1712/3, Surry Co. See below. 1.2 Peter Harrison; b. 1647.

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

______________________________________

Land grants from CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 1 Part I; Pg 25 BENJAMINE HARRISON, 200 acs. Warresquioake Co., 7 July 1635, P. 207. About 2 mi. up Warresquioake Cr., beg. at a pine marked with 3 notches, extending N. W. &c., which land is now in the tenure of Thomas Jordan, Gent. Due by deed of sale from John Davis, of Kiskiake, 9 July 1633, being part of a devdt. graunted sd. Davis by order of Ct. 5 June 1633 as being heire to his uncle Walter Davis [From Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635 A Biographic Dictionary: Walter Davis died at Martin's Hundred during the Indian attack on March 22, 1622. A reference to the estate dated January 3, 1625, mentions his younger brother John. On June 5, 1633 pantented land in Warresqueak that he acquired baded on his bother's entitlement. He quickly sold the land to Benjamin Harrison.)

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 1 Part I; Pg 56 BENJAMINE HARRISON, 600 acs. James Citty Co., 18 May 1637, p. 420. S. of the Riv. about 1-1/2 mi. up the Upper Chippokes Cr. upon the Ely. side neare land graunted unto Jerimiah Clements, bounding upon the Ely. side of a Sw. over against Sandy point. 500 acs. due by order of Ct. 3 June 1635 & alsoe due with 100 acs. for trans. of 12 pers: Robert Sorrell, Thomas Essington, Richard James, Richard Court, Hen. Bagly, Humphry Campton, Mathew Hauton, John Resburye, David Vaughan, Mary —, Mathew Rayson, Christopher Hargrave.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 2; Pg 186 BEN. HARRISON, the son of Ben. Harrison, Gent., dec'd., 500 acs. James City Co., 9 Oct. 1649, p. 189. On the S. side James River, beg. on the Sly side of the Round Island Swamp. Granted to Benja. Harrison, dec'd., by patent dated 21 March, 1643, "and now due unto the said Banja. Harrison Junr. by being his son in heir."

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 2; Pg 224 BENJ. HARRISON, 500 acs. James City Co., 21 Mar. 1643, p. 362. Incomplete.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 4; Pg 326 WILLIAM JENINGES, 251 acs. Surry Co., 1 Feb. 1655, p. 18, (27). S. side of James Riv. near Col. Floods, bounded N. on the main river, E. on Capt. Sidway (or Tidway) copied in new Bk. 4, p. 27 as Sidney) father in law to Peter Harrison son of Benjamin Harrison decd. & heir of the aforesd. land, E. & W. on Mr. Foards land, Ely. on Col. Floods land & S. on John Floods land. 151 acs. granted unto John Blackborne 11 Mar. 1652 & assigned unto sd. Jenings; & 100 aa. granted unto Francis Jorden, same date, & assigned unto sd. Jenings. Marginal note: Renewed in name of Robt. Lane, being assigned to him by Thomas Culmer, who had order for same from Surry Court & granted to Lane 18 Mar. 1662. Fra. Kirkman, Clk.

CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS PATENT BOOK No. 6; Pg 122 BENJAMIN HARRISON, 1240 acs Surry Co.; 12 Nov. 1672,- page 440. 600 acres on S. side the Riv., about 11/2 mi, up Upper Chipokes Cr., upon the E. side, -neere land formerly Jeremy Clements; upon side or -a Sw., against Sandy point; granted 18 May 1637 to Benja. Harrison, his father, & due him as heire; 140 acs.' in sd. Co., from the Sunken Marsh neere Up. Chipokes; adj. lands formerly Henry Neale's & Henry White's; granted Wm. Gapin 22 Aug. 1645, sold to his father, & descended to him, &c; 500 acs. in sd. Co., on. S. -side James RivI, upon a br. of Sunken marsh; on S. side the round Island Sw; granted his father 9 Oct. 1649, & due, &c. 12 Oct. 1672,

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7656419



Pub. 1972.House of Cravens: Father of Benjamin is Richard Harrison b 1595, son of Rowland Harrison, b 1550, son of John Harrison b 1530, son of Thomas Harrison d. 1595,son of John Harrison and Margaret, Lord Mayor of Yorke,and back to Henry de Hede - d. March 31, 1374 of Durham, Northumberland, England.

Coat of Arms embraces 10 generations and is the same as displayed by Daniel Harrison, son of Isaiah Harrison and Robert Harrison, grandson of Isaiah, Rockingham Co. VA in the 1700's.

Issue of Richard Harrison father of Benjamin the Signer:

Thomas Harrison, Rev. (1619-1682) father of Isaiah of Oyster Bay, NY and Rockingham, VA.


http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~harrisonrep/genealogy/hhdocs/81DecENG

BENJAMIN HARRISON - d. 1648; m. Mary--; settled in the James River, Virginia Colony. (See further record. ) He was the ancestor of the Presidents Harrisons and Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

References

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Benjamin Harrison, of Wakefield's Timeline

1594
December 1594
Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom
December 1594
St. Giles, Northamptonshire, Eng
1594
England
1645
September 20, 1645
Wakefield, Surry, Virginia
1647
1647
Surry, Virginia
1648
March 21, 1648
Age 54
Southwark Parish, Warrosquinoake, Virginia Colony, British Colonial America
????
Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, United States of America