Martha Harris

MARTHA (WINSLOW)9,10,11,12,13,14,15 was born 1609 in England, and died Dec 28, 1699 in Boston, Mass.

Parents: Not known.

Married Arthur Harris Abt. 1640 in Duxbury, Plymouth.

Children:

i. ISAAC HARRIS, b. Abt. 1644, Duxbury, Mass.; d. Jan 22, 1706/07, Bridgewater, Mass..

ii. SAMUEL HARRIS b. Abt. 1645, Bridgewater, Mass.18; d. Nov 02, 1678, Boston, Mass.19; m. HANNAH ?20; b. Abt. 1645.

iii. MARY HARRIS b. Abt. 1647, Bridgewater, Mass; d. Aft. 1717; m. JOHN WINCHCOMB1676, Bridgewater or Boston; b. Abt. 1645, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.

iv. MARTHA HARRIS, b. May 1650, Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; d. Abt. 1728, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.

Weblinks:

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/r/Andrew-G-Harris/GE...

Notes for MARTHA (WINSLOW):

Martha Harris is buried in King's Chapel Burial Grounds, Boston. The inscription on her headstone reads:

           Here lies ye body

           of Martha Harris

           Aged about 90

           Years Departed this

           Life December ye 28

           1699

Based on this, her birth date is determined to be about 1609.

There are a number of conflicting references regarding Arthur Harris' wife, as well as the date of Arthur's death. His wife's first name was Martha, but her last name is not always certain. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, page 345, lists an "Arthur Harris (-1774) mar Martha (?Lake/Winslow?) in 1630? 1640?, living at Roxbury, Boston, Duxbury and Bridgewater." Charles Pope in The Pioneers of Massachusetts, page 241 makes reference to "Arthur Harris (aka Harrison) of Duxbury, at about 1643. Propr. 1 June 1640. He resided at Boston. Will dated 17 March 1673, probated 7 July 1674, bequested to eldest son Isaac, son Samuel, and daughter Mary; rest to wife who was to care for other children. The son Samuel died in 1678 and bequested to his wife Hannah, his brother Isaac, sisters Mary Snell and ....Winchcorne, and their children." [Witness to this will were Peter Brackett and Sarah Winslow] On the same page in this source is a reference to "Thomas Harris, fisherman, seaman of Ipswich, married Martha Lake 15 Nov 1647." James Savage, in A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, page. 360 lists: "Arthur Harris, Duxbury 1640, was earlier settler of Bridgewater, but rem to Boston, there died 10 June 1774, leav. wife Martha and child Isaac, who live at Bridgewater; Samuel; Martha, who mar. Thomas Snell, and Mary, who mar. John Winchcomb."

The consensus seems to be that it was likely Martha Winslow. The fact that she is buried near other Winslow's is also an indication of this. As well, her son Samuel's will was witnessed by a Sarah Winslow, and Mary Chilton & John Winslow had a daughter Sarah. However I have been unable, to date, to establish a link to the other Winslow's that were a part of the Plymouth group, and that have a link through Isaac's wife, Marcy Latham. The Winslow family were part of the Mayflower group, but no connection between Martha and the Mayflower Winslow's has yet to be established.

Citations:

9. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, 345, "Arthur Harris (-1774) mar Martha (?Lake/Winslow?) in 1630? 1640?, living at Roxbury, Boston, Duxbury and Bridgewater."

10. Pope, Charles, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, 241, "Arthur Harris (aka Harrison) of Duxbury, at about 1643. Propr. 1 June 1640. He resided at Boston. Will dated 17 March 1673, probated 7 July 1674, bequested to eldest son Isaac, son Samuel, and daughter Mary; rest to wife who was to care for other children. The son Samuel died in 1678 and bequested to his wife Hannah, his brother Isaac, sisters Mary Snell and ... Winchcorne, and their children." On the same page is a reference to "Thomas Harris, fisherman, seaman of Ipswich, married Martha Lake 15 Nov 1647."

11. FTM 1-2346, "CD-ROM," 360, Arthur Harris, Duxbury 1640, was earlier settler of Bridgewater, but rem to Boston, there died 10 June 1774, leav. wife Martha and child Isaac, who lived at Bridgewater; Samuel; Martha, who mar. Thomas Snell, and Mary, who mar. John Winchcomb."

12. Mitchell, Nahum, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1840, pg 176.

13. "Harris, Arthur St. George, initial source of Harris study."

14. General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Two, (James Chilton, Richard More, Thomas Rogers), Sherman, Robert M., Ed..

15. King's Chapel Buriel Ground, As recorded on her grave stone.