Capt. Daniel Harris

Daniel was, as his older brothers, granted a houselot in Rowley about 1643. He settled in Rowley and took the freeman's oath September 30, 1651. In 1652, along with his brother William, he moved to Middletown, CT where he was an inn-keeper in 1660, Lieutenant of the train-band in 1661, later elevated to Captain. in his will dated March 13, 1699 he left his homestaed and all appurtenances, including his negro Mengo, to his son John, in return for care and support of his parents during their lives. Daniel also devised large acreages to sons Daniel, Thomas, and William, daughters Mary Johnson, Elizabeth Honeywell, Hannah Cook, and grandchildren Thankful Bidwell and Abial Honeywell.

WILL OF DANIEL HARRIS - dated March 13, 1698/99 - Middletown, Connecticut:

I, Daniel Harris, Sen., of Middletown, do make this my last will and testament. I give to my son Daniel all that lott he now dwells on, excepting only that part already disposed of to Comfort Starr. Also the remainder of that lott lying to the southward of the Town, about 12 acres; also 1 parcel of land lying at Pecowsett; also 1/2 of my great lot abutting on Farmington and Wethersfield bounds, to be equally parted in the middle of the lott north and south, and my son Daniel to take his choice. Item. I give to my son Thomas Harris all that parcel of land which he now stands possessed of, as by deed of gift is specified. Item. I give unto my son William Harris all those parcels of land as by deed of gift are specified. Item. I give unto my son John Harris my now dwelling house, barn, barnyards, orchards, gardens and inclosures now belonging to my home. Also so much of my land not inclosed as reaches from my south fence to my son Thomas Harris and John Cook's north line, abutting on Kirby's land west and on Isaac Johnson's land east. Also 1 parcel of land in Hop Swamp, about 26 1/2 acres. Also my negro Mengo, to be wholly at his dispose for and during the term of 20 years after the date hereof, provided that my sd. son John shall provide for myself and my wife all such comfortable and convenient maintenance, both for food and physic, rayment, lodging, firing and what else shall be comfortably and conveniently necessary for our comfortable being during our natural lives. And accordingly to take the estate I now stand possessed of into his care, custody and management, to improve the same to the best advantage for his and our comforts, and then at our decease to stand lawfully seized and possessed of each and every particular given to him in this my last will. I give to my daughter Mary Johnson one parcel of land in my farm, 65 acres. I give to my daughter Elizabeth the other half of my lott abutting on Wethersfield and Farmington bounds, after my son Daniel has taken his choice; also to my daughter Elizabeth that 2 acres of land in Middletown which I bought of Joseph Bull of Hartford. I give to my daughter Hannah Cook all those two parcels of land which by a deed of gift are already certified. I give unto my grandchild Thankfull Bidwell one parcel of land lying in my farm, 133 acres, which is my last division in my farm. I give unto my grandchild Abiell one parcel of land in my farm, 43 acres. Also it is my will that if either or both of these my grandchildren shall decease before they come to the age of 18 years or the time of their marriage, that the lands given to them shall fall to their parents, that is, Abiell's to her mother (my daughter Elizabeth), and Thankfull Bidwell's to her father (my son-in-law), Samuel Bidwell. Also I commit the sd. Abiell unto the care and custody of my son John Harris until she attain the age of 18 years or the time of her marriage. I appoint my son John Harris and my son-in-law Samuel Bidwell joint executors, hereby giving, ratifying and confirming to my sd. son-in-law Samuel Bidwell what in reversion was to have been my daughter Sarah's.

Witness: Daniel Johnson, Alexander Rollo.

Daniel Harris, ls.

Will proven January 1, 1701/2 (Court Record, page 24)

Page 39 (Vol. VIII) 9 November, 1711: Mr. John Harris of Middletown, executor of the last will of Capt. Daniel Harris (his the said John's father), late of Middletown decd., presented to this Court a distribution of some remaining part of the estate. Allowed, and to be kept on file.

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Page 40--19 November, 1711: Isaac Johnson objects against the dist. The Court order them to present reasons.

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Page 69--8 April, 1712: Whereas, Daniel Harris and Isaac Johnson of Middletown did summon and cite John Harris and Samuel Bidwell of said Middletown to appear before this Court of Probate, as executors to the last will of Capt. Daniel Harris, late of sd. Middletown decd., to answer the complaint of sd. Daniel Harris and Isaac Johnson, wherefore the said John Harris and Samuel Bidwell have not performed the trust committed to them, in neglecting to set out to them their legacies according to the said will of the decd., upon consideration whereof this Court are of opinion that this case is not cognizable before this Court, and therefore do dismiss the same and do declare that this case is proper and cognizable before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and therefore have considered that the said John Harris and Samuel Bidwell shall recover their costs of this Court, and cost allowed is fifteen shillings money, and this Court do order that execution be issued forth upon this order.

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A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND, BEFORE 1692 - Vol. 2 - Savage, James - 1860-62:

HARRIS, DANIEL, Rowley 1643, perhaps br. of Anthony, m. Mary, d. of Joseph Weld of Roxbury rem. a. 1652, to Middletown, there in 1660 was appro. to keep an inn, a lieut. in 1661, and capt. after, had large fam. Of his ds. Mary, b. 2 Apr. 1651, at Rowley, m. 26 Oct. 1669, Isaac Johnson, Jr. of Roxbury; Elizabeth 22 Mar. 1660, m. John Hunnewell; Sarah, 17 Feb. 1661, d. soon; Sarah, again, 3 Sept. 1663, m. Samuel Bidwell; Hannah, 11 Feb. 1670, m. first, a Cook, and, next, 5 June 1714, a Sprague. The s. were Daniel, b. 15 July 1653; Joseph, 12 Feb. 1655; Thomas, 20 May 1657; William, 17 July 1665; and John, 4 Jan. 1668. He d. last of Nov. 1701, and in his will, of 1699, names all the ch. ns liv. except d. Bidwell wh. he refers to as d. and Joseph, prob. d. His wid. Mary d. 5 Sept. 1711.

From a book titled "The Harris Family Book - 1909", which includes the Harris Family from A.D . 1630 in two lines, there is an entry for Daniel and Mary (WELD) Harris which reads "(Captai n) Daniel of Rowley, married about 1648, Mary Weld, born in England, a daughter of Captain Jo seph and Elizabeth Weld of Roxbury, and in 1652 removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where, i n 1660, he was appointed to keep an inn. In 1661 he received his commission as lieutenant o f the trainband, of which company he was soon promoted to the captaincy, became the father o f a large family and died November 30, 1701. His widow survived him until September 5, 1711."

From "A Catalogue of the Names of the First Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut.":

Harris, Capt. Daniel, Middletown--died in 1701--had children, Daniel, Thomas, William, John--(to John he gave Mingo, his negro,) Mary Johnson, Elizabeth ---, and Hannah Cook. He had a grand child, Thankful Bidwell, daughter of Samuel Bidwell--also a grand child, Abiel, daughter of Elizabeth.

Vol 1, p 9

The brothers Daniel and William Harris1 came early from Rowley, Massachusetts, to Middletown. Daniel had lands recorded 9 June, 1654, though he appears to have had lands in Rowley as early as 1644; he sold lands in Rowley in August, 1652. He was a carpenter and wheelwright, a licensed innkeeper, a captain, 1678-1689.2 The Harrises and the Collinses were the chief proprietors in the town. The estate of Nathaniel Collins was in 1670 the largest in the town, that of William Harris being second. Daniel's wife was Mary; she died 5 September, 1711. He died 30 November, 1701. His children were: Mary, born at Rowley, 1651; Daniel,3 16 July, 1653, married Abigail Barnes; Joseph, 12 February, 1654(5); Thomas, 20 May, 1657; Elizabeth, 22 March, 1659(60); Sarah, 17 February, 1660(1), died 1661; Sarah, 30 September, 1663; William, 17 July, 1665; John, 4 January, 1667, married Susanna Collins, 18 March, 1702(3); Hannah, 11 February, 1669.

This name is one frequently found in early New England records, as several families settled in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, prior to 1700/ This branch of the family descends from English ancestors. The name is derived from the possessive of Henry or Harry as Harry's, finally becoming the surname Harris. Thomas Harris, born in England, emigrated to New England and settled at Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1630. His wife was Elizabeth, who survived him and became the wife of Deacon William Stilson, of Charlestown. She died February 16, 1669-70, aged ninety-three years.

Deacon Stilson in his will, made April 12, 1688, named John Harris, Thomas Harris, William Harris, Daniel Harris and Anne Maverick (widow of Elias Maverick) as the children of his first wife. Daniel, son of William and Elizabeth Harris, had a house lot assigned to him in Rowley, Massachusetts, very soon after the first assignment of lots in 1644. He was a carpenter and wheelwright, and carried on both trades at Rowley. On the 10th and 21st of August, 1652, he sold his lands in Rowley, and soon afterward removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where, in 1660, he was "approved to keep an inn." He was appointed Lieutenant in 1661, and later was commissioned Captain. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Weld, of Roxbury, Massachusetts. "Captain Daniel Harris departed this life September 5, 1711." Chilren, all but the first, born at Middletown; Mary, born July 17, 1665; John, married (first) Susannah Collins, (second) Mindwell Lyman; Hannanh, twice married. From the book: Genealogical and Family History of Central, NY., By Cutter. jane_devlin

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/r/Brad-G-Harris/GENE...

Daniel Harris, born 1615 in Hatherup, Gloucester, England; died November 30, 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut; married Mary Weld Abt. 1648 in Massachusetts.

Parents: Thomas Harris and Elizabeth Hills

Notes for Daniel Harris:

(Captain) Daniel of Rowley, Massachusetts; about 1645 is supposed to have been the brother of Anthony Harris. He married about 1648, Mary Weld, born in England, a daughter of Captain Joseph and Elizabeth Weld of Roxbury, and in 1652 he removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where, in 1660, he was appointed to keep an inn. In 1661, he received his commission as lieutenant of the trainband, of which company he was soon promoted to the captainery, became the father of a large family and died November 30, 1701. He had ten children, the oldest born 1651.

Anthony in his will in 1651 mentions brothers Daniel and Thomas, and brother-in-law Elias Maverick who married his sister Anne.

References

1. Harris, Gale Ion. "The Brothers William and Daniel Harris of Middletown, Connecticut", in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society) 164:283. < AmericanAncestors > Children of Daniel Harris and Mary Weld: "Mary3 Harris, b. Rowley 2 Apr 1651, d. Middletown 1 Aug 1740, She m. Roxbury, Mass., 26 Oct 1669 Isaac3 Johnson, … son of Isaac2 (John1) and Elizabeth (Porter) Johnson.(document attached).