William Harris, of Louisa County

William Harris

• Born 1672 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia
• Son of William Harris Sr and Alice (Unknown) Alvis

Notes

from [Adventurers of Purse and Person]

William Harris, of Henrico, New Kent, Hanover, and Louisa counties, Virginia, son of Major William Harris son of Captain Thomas Harris of Jamestown. (page 270, footnote 57)

William Harris...was under 16 years old in April 1678 and probably was born in the early 1670s, as he moved with his mother and stepfather [George Alves] to New Kent County.... "William Harris, son of Maj. William Harris, deceased, now of New Kent County, carpenter, joined by his wife Mary" sold "250 acres which had been devised by his father to his half-brother Thomas, 31 July 1694.[52] (page 269)

..."apparently was the land bequeathed by Thomas to his half-sister" Love Harris, "which had escheated" (page 269, footnote 52)

He married Mary _____. Issue: William, Thomas, Elizabeth, George, John, Stephen, Edward, David (pages 270-271; however, footnote 57 page 270 seems to say that the seven sons had traditionally been attributed to Thomas)

Family

[HDoying.FTW] SOURCE:

The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol.III, pg 65--from Barbara Doying William Harris had only one wife. Glen Gohr show this William marrying Mary Giles. Fran Fletcher shows this William marrying Mary Willis.

This is Fran Fletcher's William Harris, son of William Harris and Alice:

William Harris b c 1663 Henrico co Virginia md by 1684 Mary Willis d of Edward Willis and Mary -- Edward Willis will proved 14 March 1734 makes a bequest to his grandson David Harris (see later) this constitutes proof. William Harris sold his sister in law Love Harris land in Henrico which had been escheated and sold by him 31 July 1694. Another Henrico Record dated October 1 1700 appointed John Broadnax and William Soane to clear the title to Curles and establish boundaries. this was after Capt Wm Harris death and after his son Thomas death - both suspiciously together in date. Wms mother Alice Harris had md George Alvis proved by Henrico records and gone with him and her sons to perhaps a safer and more friendly place.

George Alvis (Alvey sometimes) was a widower from New Kent and deeded to his three daughters Jane,Mrs Martin Slaughter , Susan , Mrs Robt King, and Elizabeth who md Samuel McGEEHee 217 acres in New Kent co Va. on 27 August 1688 Perhaps to protect them if he did not survive the rebellion or because he was a sympathizer.
George and Alice Harris Alvis were listed on the 1704 quit rent as owning 385 acres in New. Kent. William Harris and Mary Willis had the following children and lived in the Part of New Kent that became Hanover co, very near to his mother and step father George Alvis.

Children of William Harris & Mary

1. William Harris b c 1695 New Kent md? -- Possibly Gilliam on 24 March 1725 he had 400 acres on cub creek in Hanover in the part that became Goochland and then Louisia co Va. their known children were a Agnes Harris md by 16 Dec 1752 John Cauthoun b. Gillum Harris md Susannah -and c Sherod Harris who md l. Hannah Page and as second wife Elizabeth Jones

2. Thomas Harris b c 1696/7 King and Queenco Va. where his father was for a short time in 1697. he md Elizabeth Lindsey and by 24 March 1725 He also had 400 acres on Cub Creek in Hanover co that became Louisa. This Thomas eventually moved to Prince Edward co Va. and his will was proved there in 1787 In 1785 his enumeration was8-0 see w.b. 1 pp 339 e

3. Elizabeth Harris baptized 27 Nov. 1698 St Peters New Kent md by 1735 Mr Acree (see willis will)

4. Edward Harris known as "Ned" b c 1700 md Anne _ They had a son Edward H. Harris who was born c1735 and died c 1794 and ason William Harris who was in the Revol. and md 29 Jan 1758 Mary Hudson and md2 Elizabeth- the children were born in Hanover co Va but they later l lived in Louisa co Va. and he was alive there in 1747

5. George Harris b 13 April 1701 St. Peters New Kent co Va. lived in Louisa co Va. in 1750 md?

6.John Harrris b 28 March 1702/3 md Mary Tinsley lived and died in Amelia co Virginia they had Elizabeth Harris who md a son of David Harris and they also named a son who was born 8 August 1761 David Harris

7 Stephen Harris b c 1705 md 1. ? md 2. Mourning- - she was alive when Stephens will was written 25 July 1770 They were living in Amelia co Va in 1750. their known children were Anna Harris, Alse Harris and Edward "Ned" Harris

8. David Harris b1708 St Pauls Hanover co md a widow Jane Landy Richardson he was a surveyor, They had 2 sons Lewis Harris who md his cousin Elizabeth Harris d of John Harris and Mary Tinsley and Giles Harris who md Elizabeth Gray Chandler a widow with l child.

The Thomas Harris and Mary Giles in Merged Harris file:

Several people have noted that a Thomas Harris married a Mary Giles, but Jeanne Clark is the only one who put this family here in this line. Have no other parents listed for this Thomas, however, so I have put the family here.

Chuck Harris found in the Archive Record of LDS Church Salt Lake City. Thomas Harris and Mary Giles file with the 13 children named. The source indicated on the record is Valentine Papers, vol. 2 p 929. Submitted by Bernice Gibbs Anderson, Box 145, Corinne, Utah in 1962.

Origins

William Harris’ father’s will.

A careful study of Henrico County records will show that this is untrue. Thomas, son of Major William Harris, died unmarried, in 1679. Thomas Harris who d. 1679 has also been shown as brother of Major William, also untrue. There is nothing to show that Major William Harris had a brother named Thomas. Two widely used published works have perpetuated these mistakes.

From https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.usa.states.virgi...

The following Will of Maj. William Harris was posted on Rootsweb Harris surname board by Janice Mauldin Castleman in 1999 - From "Capt. Thomas Harris 1586-1658 Immigrant 1611 A Rough Manuscript" by W. Lee Harris (Dallas Library, no copyright) page 29:

"PERSONAL WILL OF MAJOR WILLIAM HARRIS
Not knowing what the Lord hath ordained or at what time He may take me out of this life, I do settle my estate of lands, as follows:---

I give and bequeath TO MY SON THOMAS HARRIS ALL MY LAND BELOW THE WARE and keep the Ware run as his bounds till it shall come to ye spring at ye head, and then to follow ye Bottome on ye lower side of the clearing of John Rabon to the Hundred Road Path and then a straight course, or road, to the land of Colonel Peter Ashbrook, but, in no case, to cross Pocket's Path.

TO MY YOUNGER SONS, WILLIAM AND EDWARD HARRIS, I give the rest of my dividend, William the plantation where I now live, and Edward to have ye land next to Ashbrook but William to extend outward one hundred yards beyond the clearing of John Rabon, on the path called Pocket's Path, and thence on a straight course to ye Red Water.

MY YOUNGEST SONS (WILLIAM & EDWARD) TO LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHER TILL THE AGE OF SIXTEEN if she marry, but if not till the age of nineteen years.

My will is that MY WIFE, ALICE, live on the plantation during her life, but to not hinder my son William at the head of ye Ware, if he come to himself.

I desire my friends, Mr. Thomas Cocke and Mr. William Randolph, to see that this, my Will, is performed. In witness of every part hereof, I put my hand, on this the first day of February, 1678.

(signed) William Harris Signed in Presence of: Richard Ligon Ann Hunt Ann Stewart Proved in Henrico Co., VA Court, the 20th day of April 1678

Genforum: After the death of Major William Harris, his widow Alice remarried to George Alves. It seems certain that Alice was mother of William Harris, Jr. and Edward Harris for in his will, Major William Harris stated that: "MY YOUNGEST SONS (WILLIAM & EDWARD) TO LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHER TILL THE AGE OF SIXTEEN." The following abstracts further show that William Harris, Jr. was son of Alice, that the widow Alice remarried to George Alves, and that Edward Harris was the youngest son of Maj. William and Alice Harris:

From book: HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEEDS 1677-1705, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III. (Henrico Co VA Rec. Bk. No. 2, 1678-1693, p 137) [Henrico Ct. Feb. 1682/83] The Complaint of GEORGE ALVIS AGST MR RICHARD LYGON COMMENCING AN ORPHN OF MAJR WILLM HARRIS dec'd (BY NAME WILLIAM HARRIS) is referred until the next Court and then the sd Mr Lygon is to appear and bring the Indenture betwixt him and the orphn to the court, and there Exibitt it in the p'sents of the sd Orphn

(Henrico Co VA Rec. Bk.. #2, 1678-1695, p.139) [Henrico Ct., April 2, 1683] In the suite of GEORGE ALVIS AS MARRYING ALICE THE RELICT OF MAJR WITT [SIC] HARRIS dec'd (CONCERNING WILLIAM HARRIS AN ORPHN OF THE SD dec'd) AGST MR. RICHD LYGON, the sd Alvis declaring that he doth not use his endeavour for educating and maintining the sd Orphn according to the Indenture, wch Indenture being exhibited and the orphn present, and the Court thereupon concerning the allegacons aforesd not true, it is ordered that the orphn served his time, and that Mr. Lygon perform his part of the sd Indenture.

(Henrico Co VA Will & Deed Bk. 1688-1697, p. 646) William Byrd of Charles City Co for a tract of 225 accres assured to me by WILLIAM HARRIS, SON OF MAJ. WILLIAM HARRIS, late of Henrico Co dec'd, make over TO EDWARD HARRIS, SON OF SAID MAJ. WM HARRIS, AND YOUNGEST BROTHER OF SAID WILLIAM ABOVE, all my right in a tract on south side of James River near a place CALLED THE WARE, which Maj. Harris died seized of, and since escheated, except land I have already conveyed and except 225 acres since conveyed to me by William Harris 1 Oct. 1692. 2 Aug. 1697 No witnesses Signed: William Byrd -- Rec: 1 Aug. 1697.

(Henrico Co VA Will & Deed Bk. 1799-1697, p. 505) 31 July 1694. WILLIAM HARRIS, SON OF MAJ. WILLIAM HARRIS, dec'd, now of St. Peters Parish, New Kent Co carpenter, to Sarah Knibb, widow, of County & Parish of Henrico, for £51/10, land on south side of James River, BELOW A RUN CALLED THE WARE; BEING PART OF LAND MAJ. HARRIS DIED SEIZED OF, AND WAS PART GIVEN BY HIS WILL TO HIS SON THOMAS HARRIS, ALSO dec'd, bounded by the river, land of Joseph Tanner, dec'd, Peter Ashbrook, road from The Falls to the Hundred, 250 acres, which land lately escheated to His Majesty and was conveyed by Hon. William Byrd to above William Harris. 1 Oct. 1692. /s/ William Harris Wit: George Alves, All. Clerke Mary Harris, wife of William Harris, appoints Allanson Clerk her attorney to relinquish her dower right in above land. 28 July 1694 Wit: George Alves, Alice (A) Alves

References

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 21 2020, 17:17:29 UTC
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/harris-ydna?iframe=yresults