I am sharing with Harris-Hunters (and other researchers) this information. Correctons, and a few additions, are solicited. Please give dates and places, if at all possible. I do not know who the parents of this James Harris are. He married Mary Harris, daughter of Major Robert Harris of colonial Louisa Co. Can you add any *evidence*? Harris does not sound like a Huguenot name to me (keep on reading), but perhaps his mother may have been of that group--centered largely around Manakin Town in Goochland Co. Many of the descendants of Major Robert Harris married into families of Huguenot descent. For example, John Jouett, Maupin, later Chenault, et al. REQUEST: If you use this material in your own genealogy program--or wherever you keep your ancestral trails--please include the citations, insofar as I have included them. I was careless when I first began my searches, some decades ago. As Elizabeth Shown Mills has written: *The validity of any piece of evidence cannot be analyzed if its source is unknown. Citing a worthless source is an effort that produces worthless results.* (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence: Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian [Baltimore, MD; Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997], p. 13 Incidentally, one of the sources cited below is Rev. Edgar Woods, Albemarle County in Virginia, full citation given in material below. Although his work is useful, particularly the appendices, which material seems to be from county records, as far as the Harrises are concerned, he *dumped* several different Harris lines together, which can certainly lead a Harris-Hunter astray. Use his work as a source, but since genealogical material is more readily available these days, check out his statements. Submitted by E.W.Wallace Rev Jul 2007 JAMES HARRIS of ALBEMARLE. By 1751 James Harris was a son-in-law of Robert Harris, as demonstrated in this abstracted deed: Louisa Co. DB A-443 21 Oct 1751 Robert Harris of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co. For Natural Love and affection to my son, Christopher Harris, and son-in-law, James Harris, to son Christopher Harris: Negroes Jimmy, a man; Millington, a boy; Abby, a woman. To son-in-law, James Harris: 2 negro girls, Janney and Henriette. /s/ Robert Harris. Wit: Thomas Perkins, Tyree Harris. 22 Oct 1751 Acknowledged by Robert Harris. (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOKS A & B, 1742-1759 [Manchester, MO: 1977] p. 69) According to Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris in A HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, "Appendix", p. 356, James Harris was of Huguenot Ancestry "and they (Mary Harris and her husband James Harris) reared their family in Albemarle." My comment: Since James was of Huguenot ancestry, it is unlikely he was of the same lineage as Mary Harris, daughter of Major Robert Harris, who was a vestryman in Fredericksville Parish, Louisa Co. However, possibly he was a cousin of Mary's. At a vestry held for Fredericksville Parish 25th day Octo 1758: Ord. that James Harris and Gabriel Maupin do procession all the lands on North side the Buck elbow to the Extant of the County [Louisa?] and so all along the Ridge of the Mountains to the Coty. line Northward down the County line to where it crosseth Doyls River down the same to Moremans River up Moremans River to Danl. Maupins Junr. and so to the Lower Point of the Bucks elbow. (p. 61 of Vestry book) Ordered that the Several Processioners do begin to Procession the first Munday in December next if fair and if not the next fair day and to make return to the Vestry by the last day of March next. (p. 62 of Vestry book) (Rosalie Edith Davis, FREDERICKSVILLE PARISH VESTRY BOOK 1742-1787, Vol. I [Manchester, MO: Published by author, 4th printing 1989], p. 66) In 1761 From Fredericksville Parish vestry book, p. 81, ca 1767: "Order'd that James Harris and John Mullens do procession all the lands between Doyls & Moremans River up to the Great Mountain." (Rosalie Edith Davis, FREDERICKSVILLE PARISH VESTRY BOOK, 1742-1787, Vol. I [Manchester, MO: privately printed, 1978], pp. 85.) From Fredericksville Parish vestry book, p. 118, 13th day of Nov 1783 at Charlottesville: Ordered that James Harris, John Mullins, John Maupin & Martin Gentry do possession [sic] the Land Beginning at the fork of Moormans River, thence up doyls River to Harrises Road, thence up to the Widow Harrises Quarter, thence straight to the Top of the Great Mountains thence along that to the Ridge that Comes down to the fork of Moreman's River thence down that River to the Beginning. (Davis, p. 125) Albemarle Co. Deeds Deed Bk C pg 16-17 18 Feb 1754 Benjamin Brown of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co. to James Harris of Albemarle Co L12 curr.money; 80 acres... James Harrisses corner in Albemarle Co. line... Wm Browns line. Benjamin Brown Wit: Ben Brown Jr., Wm Brown, David Thomson, David Epperson. 26 Apr 1754 proved by three of the witnesses. [From VA Gen Web - Albemarle Co.] Albemarle Co. DB 3-38-39 11 Mar 1761 James Harris and Mary his wife of Albemarle Co. to Thomas Grubbs of said county... consideration ten pds. curent money of Virginia... certain parcel of land lying on Moormans Run... [Measurements but no acreage given] Presence: John Rodes James Harris Wm. Shelton, John McCord (Adapted from Ruth & Sam Sparacio, DEED ABSTRACTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOK 3, 12 FEBRUARY 1761-9 AUGUST 1764 [McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1988], p. 12) Albemarle Co. DB-3 pg. 389 23 Jan 1763 Jno. Mullens, Goochland, to James Harris for 40 pds., 200 A adj Benj. Brown. Wit: Mosias Jones, David Rodes, Ro. Miller, Jos. Woods, Ro. Morris. (Benjamin Brown, a neighbor of Harris, is the father of Lucretia Brown who married Robert Harris, son of Major Robert Harris of Albemarle Co.) .............................................................................. ............ In 1768 James Harris purchased some land from Benjamin Brown, probably the younger Benjamin Brown, whose sister Lucretia had married Robert Harris, Jr., son of Maj. Robert Harris of Louisa Co. As seen above, Benjamin Brown was a neighbor of James Harris. Albemarle Co. DB 4-521-522 .. 12 May 1768 Benjamin Brown of Parish of St. Martins and County of Hanover to James Harris of Parish of Fredericksville and County of Albemarle... for 20 pds current money of Virginia... parcel of land in Fredericksville Par, County of Albemarle, 22 acres of land and bounded beginning at James Harrises corner... /s/ Ben Brown Witnesses; Zachariah Mills, Thomas Langford, John Mullins Junr. (Adapted from Ruth & Sam Sparacio, DEED ABSTRACTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY VIRGINIA, DEED BOOK NO. 4, 9 AUGUST 1764-12 AUGUST 1768 [McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1989], p. 123) In Nov 1772, James Harris was witness to a deed of Barnard Brown of Albemarle Co. to Ben Brown of Hanover Co., branch of Rockey Creek, granted to the late Benj. Brown, deced, bequeathed to his son Barnard Brown. In Oct 1773, John Burk & Feba his wife of Augusta Co. to James Harris 331 acs., Albemarle Co., on both sides of South Fork of Rockey Creek. (Sparacio & Sparacio, ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEEDS 1772-1776) A neighbor was Mosias Jones, who is probably the man of the same name who removed to Madison Co., KY. Another neighbor was Henry Bunch. The witnesses were Jonas Cabe, William Crawford, Robert Harris. According to Rev. Edgar Woods, ALBEMARLE COUNTY IN VIRGINIA [Bridgewater, VA: C. J. Carrier Co., 1900], p. 221, Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Major Robert Harris and Mourning Glenn, married William Crawford, one of the witnesses above llsted.. She was the mother of William H. Crawford, United States Senator from Georgia, minister to France, secretary of the Treasury under Mr. Monroe, and a prominent candidate for the Presidency in 1824. p. 221, James Harris died in 1792. He and his wife Mary had ten childen [nine are named in the 1792 will]: Thomas, Joel, Nathan, James, Lucy, the wife of Thomas Grubbs [more likely the wife of Higgason Grubbs, later of Madison Co., KY], Mourning, the wife of Cornelius Maupin, Sarah, the wife of James Harrison, Susan, the wife of Nicholas Burnley, Ann, the wife of a Haden [probably Anna], and Jane, the wife of a Dabney. (Some genealogists dispute the genealogies put forth by Rev. Woods. Neither a Jane nor a female Dabney is named in the will of James Harris. Either may have died without issue.) Woods adds more information about the children, but his history will not be repeated here. An abstract of the will of James Harris of Albemarle Co. is this: Harris, James 5 Feb 1792 Sept 1792 Sons: Thomas, Joel, James, Nathan. Daughters: Ann Haden, Mourning Maupin, Sarah Harrison, Susannah Burnley and Lucy Grubbs. Wife Mary Harris, all land not bequeathed to son Thomas Harris, land adjoining Capt. Robert Harris, dec'd. Exrs: sons Joel and James. Wit: B. Brown and William Spears (Page 165) (J. Estelle Stewart King, ABSTRACTS OF WILLS, INVENTORIES, AND ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY 1748-1800 [Beverly Hills, CA 1940], p. 38) Marriage Records It is probable that the James Harris mentioned in these marriage records is the son-in-law of Robert Harris and Mourning Glen, being married to their daughter Mary Harris, as indicated in Malcolm Hart Harris, A HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, "Appendix", p. 355. More research is needed. According to his Albemarle Co. will, he died before September 1792. The daughter Lucy Grubbs probably was the wife of Higgason Grubbs of early Madison Co., KY. Grubbs, her husband, seemed to be a land speculator in Kentucky as his name appears many, many times in the deeds of early Madison Co., KY. A fuller abstract of the will of James Harris is given in "Dabney Family" in EDWARD PLEASANTS VALENTINE PAPERS, Vol. I, pp. 396-397. That abstract of WB 3-p. 165 gives the names of multiple executors: "wife Mary; sons, Thomas, Joel and Nathan Harris. " Witnesses were Bernis Brown, Wm. Spears, James Reveley. The will was dated 25 Feb 1792 and was proved September court 1792. These marriage records, taken from Albemarle Co. Hist. Soc Papers, V. 6, "Some Albemarle Co., VA Marriage Records" MAY pertain to one of their children, but more likely the bride is a granddaughter of the elder James Harris and his wife Mary: Item No. Dt of Bond Groom & Bride Sureties 54 12/23/1783 David Owen Mary Harris (spin.) James Harris dau. of James Harris Rev. Woods states that James was a son of Robert Harris, but this may be in error; he more probably was a son-in-law, having married Robert Harris's daughter, Mary Harris. Thomas m. Susan Dabney. Joel b. 25 Apr 1761, m. Ann Waller, d. 31 March 1826. James b. 7 July 1766, m. Mary McCulloch, d. 1830 Nathan b. 1771, d. 1852, m. Ann Allan Anderson. Lucy, the wife of Thomas Grubbs [error?]; Malcolm Hart Harris says she married Higgason Grubbs, moved to Kentucky. (Early Madison Co., KY deed books tend to verify this marriage. Harris does not list any dates.) Mourning, the wife of Cornelius Maupin Sarah, the wife of James Harrison Susan, the wife of Nicholas Burnley Ann, the wife of a Haden. (Hart calls her Anna and states she married 1st William Dabney and 2nd Anthony Haden). Jane, the wife of a Dabney. Joel was appointed a magistrate in 1801, and in 1811 he was Commissioner of the Revenue for Fredericksville parish, which office he held until his death in 1826. Three sons were born to Joel and his wife Anna: Ira, Joel, Clifton. Woods gives information about the son Ira and Nathan. (Source: Woods, Albemarle County in Virginia [Bridgewater, VA: C. J. Carrier Company, pages 221 and 377) The fact that the children in this family married into the same families as the children of Christopher Harris and as his siblings and ancestors leads one to believe that James Harris may have been a cousin of Mary Harris his wife and probably was a member of the extended Harris family of Albemarle, Louisa, Hanover and surrounding counties. **************Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Showtimes, theaters, movie news & more!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212774565x1200812037/aol?redir=htt p://toolbar.aol.com/moviefone/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000001)