Dr. Peter Harrison

James River Harrison Line

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

Benjamin Harrison I

• m. Mary Stringer 2nd Mary Sidway Children:
• Benjamin II 1645 - 1712/13
• Peter - died childless

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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

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Biography with notes on grants via Headrights

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]

References

• http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pistoleros/jamesr.html
• “Tennessee Cousins: A History of Tennessee People.” By Worth Stickley Ray. Page 505. GoogleBooks