Lt. William Harris

http://webspace.webring.com/people/pm/manakin/gregg.html#Owsley

William Harris (1633, England-5/16/1698) and Jane of Stafford Co. He arrived around 1660 as a Lieutenant in the English army. He was granted patent on 4200 acres in Stafford County, now in Fairfax County (including the town of Colchester and land in Occoquan Regional Park, DC Dept of Corrections, Fort Belvoir, and Lorton, as well as Occoquan. In 1679 he was granted another 1600 acres at the head of Neabsco Creek. A 1681 letter indicates that he had been captured by the Indians and was held for ransom for over a year. In 1686 he bought three slaves, a ship, and livestock from his father-in-law, perhaps reestablishing his household after a calamity. In 1690 he was granted another patent of 1600 acres on Neabsco Creek. He bought a slave, Benjamin Lewis, who sued successfully for his freedom as having come to America under indenture. At his death he still had 2446 acres, divided by granddaughters. He was buried at Neabsco Creek under an unusual carved stone later moved to the Pohick Church. "Heare lyes bodey of Liut Willeame. Herris who died May 16: 1698: aged: 065 years: by birth a Britaine: A good soldier A good husband and Kinde neighbour. A bronze plaque notes that he was the father of Anne Harris, the wife of Thomas Owsley.("Owsley Family Historical Society Newsletter, Dec. 1993).

Ref: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=29049783

William Harris died on 16 May 1698, less than two months after composing his will. He was laid to rest in a grave located near the banks of Neabsco Creek, on the land that he, Thomas Baxter and Burr Harrys had patented in 1669. His final resting place was marked with an ornately engraved stone and is best described in the OFHS Newsletter of December 1986, p. 6, wherein "The top and bottom ends and sides of the top surface of the stone are beveled and the center of the stone surface is flat where the inscription is given. The beveled portions contain three symbols....A cherub, signifying the beginning of life, is carved at the top of the stone. At the right-hand side, a sabre is carved, representing Lt. Harris's military service. A carving at the foot of the stone, appearing to be a bow, is in reality a tipped over hour glass signifying that life is finished." The tombstone was originally of a "table" style, elevated on four corner leg-posts, and a popular style of the 17th century. A sketch of the stone, still elevated on its leg posts, was drawn by Katherine Haynes prior to its relocation and is depicted in D'Anne Evans' Prince William County: A Pictorial History (The Donning Company Publishers, Norfolk, 1989, p. 14).

Anticipating the beginning of highway construction, the gravestone was removed from its original site to Pohick Episcopal Church shortly before 3 November 1953. This site was selected because Pohich Church was the only Anglican church in the area at the time of Harris's death. The church vestry minutes of that date record:

"It was reported that Capt. Joyce had obtained a container of soil from the Lt. Harris gravesite, representative of the remains of Lt. Harris, Died: 1698, having a tombstone originally on the Neabsco Creek, Prince William County, Va, now having been moved to Pohick Church Cemetery." (Pohich Church Vestry Book, 1942-1969, p. 194)

(bio by: M Duncan)

Inscription: HEARE LYES BODEY OF LIEUT WILLEAME HERRIS WHO DIED MAY Y. 16: 1698: AGED: 65 YEARS: BY BIRTH A BRITAINE: A GOOD SOLDIER A GOOD HUSBAND & KINDE: NEIGHBOR.

Burial: Pohick Episcopal Church Cemetery Lorton Fairfax County Virginia, USA

===========================

Note: There is not corraborating evidence that the wife's name was Lucy, nor of the parents. Moreover, this may not be the brother of Major Robert Harris (see Major Robert Harris of "The Forks").

Ref: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43171358

Birth: 1633, Wales
Death: May 16, 1698 Virginia, USA

William was the son of Thomas and Joane Harris. William Harris married a lady named Lucy. He was an officer in the regiment of Col. Herbert Jeffryes. William was the brother of Major Robert Harris, my 7th great grandfather.

William is buried at the head of Neabsco Creek (not a cemetery) near Neabsco Mills (not Neabsco Hills)in Prince William County, Va. His marker/ tombstone was moved to the Pohick Church.

Created by: Beatrice Bennett Record added: Oct 16, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 43171358

He arrived around 1660 as a Lieutenant in the English army. He was granted patent on 4200 acres in Stafford County, now in Fairfax County (including the town of Colchester and land in Occoquan Regional Park, DC Dept of Corrections, Fort Belvoir, and Lorton, as well as Occoquan. In 1679 he was granted another 1600 acres at the head of Neabsco Creek. A 1681 letter indicates that he had been captured by the Indians and was held for ransom for over a year. In 1686 he bought three slaves, a ship, and livestock from his father-in-law, perhaps reestablishing his household after a calamity. In 1690 he was granted another patent of 1600 acres on Neabsco Creek. He bought a slave, Benjamin Lewis, who sued successfully for his freedom as having come to America under indenture. At his death he still had 2446 acres, divided by granddaughters. He was buried at Neabsco Creek under an unusual carved stone later moved to the Pohick Church. "Heare lyes bodey of Liut Willeame. Herris who died May 16: 1698: aged: 065 years: by birth a Britaine: A good soldier A good husband and Kinde neighbour. A bronze plaque notes that he was the father of Anne Harris, the wife of Thomas Owsley.

Ann Harris, the only known child of Lieutenant William Harris of Stafford County, Virginia, married first Major Thomas Owsley. They had four daughters and two sons. Thomas died in 1700, and by 1704 she had remarried to John West, with whom she had two further sons. John West died by 1714, and by September 1718 Ann had married John Wheeler.[1]

http://www.ofhs.org/william-harris.html

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=29049783

Soldier. William Harris died on 16 May 1698, less than two months after composing his will. He was laid to rest in a grave located near the banks of Neabsco Creek, on the land that he, Thomas Baxter and Burr Harrys had patented in 1669. His final resting place was marked with an ornately engraved stone and is best described in the OFHS Newsletter of December 1986, p. 6, wherein "The top and bottom ends and sides of the top surface of the stone are beveled and the center of the stone surface is flat where the inscription is given. The beveled portions contain three symbols....A cherub, signifying the beginning of life, is carved at the top of the stone. At the right-hand side, a sabre is carved, representing Lt. Harris's military service. A carving at the foot of the stone, appearing to be a bow, is in reality a tipped over hour glass signifying that life is finished." The tombstone was originally of a "table" style, elevated on four corner leg-posts, and a popular style of the 17th century. A sketch of the stone, still elevated on its leg posts, was drawn by Katherine Haynes prior to its relocation and is depicted in D'Anne Evans' Prince William County: A Pictorial History (The Donning Company Publishers, Norfolk, 1989, p. 14). A short article also appears in the 1898 Volume 4 edition of the William and Mary Quarterly from 1896. Anticipating the beginning of highway construction, the gravestone was removed from its original site to Pohick Episcopal Church shortly before 3 November 1953. This site was selected because Pohich Church was the only Anglican church in the area at the time of Harris's death. The church vestry minutes of that date record: "It was reported that Capt. Joyce had obtained a container of soil from the Lt. Harris gravesite, representative of the remains of Lt. Harris, Died: 1698, having a tombstone originally on the Neabsco Creek, Prince William County, Va, now having been moved to Pohick Church Cemetery." (Pohich Church Vestry Book, 1942-1969, p. 194)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 25 2018, 11:26:57 UTC