I most sincerely apologize for the format my previous postings 'acquired' after leaving my computer.  I am computer illiterate, but not quite that bad. Mrs. Wallace is very correct in her posting regarding Susannah Gass.   James HARRIS Son of Samuel and Rebecca Morrison HARRIS Grandson of James and Mary McIlhenny Harris Great grandson of Robert and Dorothy Wiley Harris Great, great grandson of Edward Harris and Flora Douglas (Assisted in this research by Ed Lee, descendant of son Samuel, brother to James Harris) JAMES HARRIS was born 24 Aug 1759 in Mecklenburg , North Carolina , and died 29 Sep 1830 in Franklin County , Tennessee .   He married Susannah GASS, daughter of David and Sarah Gass, on 2 Dec 1790 in Madison County, Kentucky (Marriage Records for Madison County, Kentucky Volume III Letters G, H, I, J 1790-1843). Buried in Old Bean's Creek Cemetery, "A large cemetery with many field stones." Inscription #39: to the memory of James Harris a Revolutioner who departed this life Sept. the 29th, 1830, Aged 71 years." From Cemetery Records, Franklin County, TN, complied by Franklin County Historical Society, 1986.                                               WILL OF JAMES HARRIS               Will Record Book 1808-1876, Page 89 Franklin Co TN Archives “From the various changes of providence and the mortality of things, I, James Harris of Franklin County and State of Tennessee calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die and it being my desire that the smallest might be as respect my worldly affairs I have constituted and ordained this to be my last Will and Testament and it is my Will and desire that my property and effects be disposed of in the following manner, viz: I bequeath to my dear Wife Susannah the plantation on which I now live estimated two hundred and thirty acres with all the negros now in my possession, also all my farming utensils and tools of every description, also all my household furniture and kitchen implements with all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs to remain in my dear Wife Susannah’s possession, care and management during her lifetime or widowhood for the use and support of the widow and family which are now unmarried and at home with her.   I further will and desire at the death of my Wife Susannah the negros with their increase be divided between my three Sons Samuel, David, and James also that the plantation with all the tools stock etc as above described remain in the possession of the unmarried part of the Family for their use and support so long as they may think proper to live on the plantation but so soon as they unanimously agree to live on it no longer it shall be sold and the proceeds equally divided amongst all my children viz. Sarah, Rebecca, Samuel, Marthy, Mary, Rhoda, David, Susannah and James and all the balance of personal property and household furniture then belonging to the plantation shall be divided equally between the unmarried children.   I also will and desire that if at any time any time any of the stock or perishable property should become troublesome, expensive or useless to them it shall be sold and the money appropriated to the use to the use of the Widdow and Family. I do further Will and desire that if any of my children should think proper to marry that they shall receive their proportions of the Stock, household furniture and possessions which may be on hand to be given at the discretion of the widow and Executors. I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Susannah and my three sons, Samuel Harris, David G. Harris and James B. Harris Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this Thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight.                                                      James Harris     (Seal) Signed & Sealed in the presence of Test M. B. Feamster __ah John O. Feamster __ah State of Tennessee    )   November Court Term 1830 Franklin County      (   This the within Last Will and Testament ofJames Harris Decd was duly proven in open Court by the oath of M. B. Feamster and John O. Feamster subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded Given my hand at office this 22 nd day of November 1830.                                            Ed Russell Clk. Recorded in my office this 17 th of January 1831.                                            Ed Russell Clk.   LAND RECORDS:   Madison Co., Ky. , Bk. E, pg. 371--Edward Harris of Newbern ( New Bern ), N. Carolina to James Harris, land in Madison on Muddy Creek, 750 acres granted said Edward Harris by patent Jan. 21, 1797 .  Dated Aug. 20, 1798 (filed 14 Oct 1802 ) Witnesses: James Harris, Archibald Harris and Andrew Province   Dec 1, 1800 . James Harris conveyed 180 acres to Higgason Grubbs, all his right to land on west side of Muddy Creek, granted to Edward Harris and conveyed by Edward Harris to James Harris. Bk E, pg 95 Sept. 25, 1807 . James Harris, John Mitchell and David Gass, executed a power of attorney to John Gass, of Bourbon County , Ky. to prosecute suits etc. in their name etc.   Bk F, pg 475   Oct. 5, 1807 . James Harris and wife Susannah, executed a quit claim deed to David Gass, as heir of David Gass, sr., deceased to land on Silver Creek. Bk F, Pg 483 Oct 5, 1807 , James Harris and wife Susannah, conveyed 500 acres Muddy Creek                                        to Philip H. Goodman Bk F, pg 499 Oct. 16, 1807 . They conveyed to James White 60 acres on the east side of Muddy Creek Bk F, pg 510 Dec 1, 1800 . James Harris conveyed 180 acres to Higgason Grubbs, all his right to land on west side of Muddy Creek, granted to Edward Harris and conveyed by Edward Harris to James Harris. Bk E, pg 95 Sept. 25, 1807 . James Harris, John Mitchell and David Gass, executed a power of attorney to John Gass, of Bourbon County , Ky. to prosecute suits etc. in their name etc.   Bk F, pg 475 Oct. 5, 1807 . James Harris and wife Susannah, executed a quit claim deed to David Gass, as heir of David Gass, sr., deceased to land on Silver Creek. Bk F,Pg 483   Oct 5, 1807 , James Harris and wife Susannah, conveyed 500 acres Muddy Creek                                        to Philip H. Goodman Bk F, pg 499 Oct. 16, 1807 . They conveyed to James White 60 acres on the east side of Muddy Creek Bk F, pg 510 James and Susannah left Kentucky after Fall, 1807 and prior to birth of James Bright Harris September, 1809 as he was born in Middle Tennessee.  It is probable that all other children were born in Kentucky.   History of Shelby County , Tennessee (Goodspeed, 1887) (page 789) "But long previous to this treaty North Carolina , while Tennessee was yet under territorial government, made numerous large grants to individuals, mostly at the rate of £10 for every 100 acres so granted. The - first grant recorded in the register's books of Shelby County is North Carolina Grant No. 17 , to Samuel HARRIS for 5,000 acres, lying on the North Fork of Looshatchie River, near the mouth of that fork and adjoining Grant No. 1010 to John McKnitt Alexander, and Grant No. 572 to Robert Goodloe; Grant No. 561," .   Deed Record, Book F&K, page 198 Franklin County Archives, Tennessee WD from James Harris to daughter, Sarah: This Indenture made this eighth day of November Eighteen hundred and twenty five Between James HARRIS Senior of the County of Franklin and State of Tennessee of the one part and Sarah HARRIS of the County and State aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth:   That the said James HARRIS Snr for and in consideration of the love esteem good will affection which I have and do bear towards my well beloved Daughter, the Said Sarah HARRIS have given granted aliened and confirmed and by these presents do freely give grant alien and confirm unto her the Said Sarah HARRIS her heirs and assigns forever, One certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and twenty five acres, Situated lying and being in Shelby County on the waters of Looshatchey it being part of a tract originally granted to Samuel Harris Senior dec’d, and bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning on the South boundary line of the Original Survey on James HARRIS Senior South East corner and William Harris Senior South West corner, Thence North four hundred and Eleven poles to a Stake and corner of Furgus S. HARRIS one hundred and twenty five acre tract and Thence West forty eight and three fourth poles to a Stake Thence South four hundred and eleven poles to a Stake in the South boundary line of the Original Survey Thence with said line East to the Beginning, containing one hundred and twenty five acres the Same being a part of five thousand acre tract originally granted to Samuel HARRIS by Grant No. 17. To hold to the said Sarah HARRIS the aforesaid one hundred twenty five acres together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to her, her heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said James HARRIS hath set my hand and seal the day and date above written in presence of                                                                           James HARRIS   (Seal) James B. HARRIS Legnand W. KING   State of Tennessee     (         February Term   1817 Franklin County        )         Then the within deed of conveyance from James HARRIS to Sarah                                  HARRIS was duly proven in open Court by the oaths of James B. HARRIS and Legnand W. KING subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be Registered.   Let it be registered                                                                             E. Russell      clerk Registered this 1 st day of March 1817, Soloman Wagner, Register                                                        By W. B. Wagner, D.R.   Franklin County Archives, Tennessee Deed Record Book O, pages 237-238    Know all men by these presence that whereas JAMES HARRIS by his last Will and Testament bearing date the thirtieth day of May One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight and which has been regularly proven and recorded ___  and did by said will and Testament give and bequeath unto me,DAVID G. HARRIS, one third part of all his personal property consisting in Negroes, Horses, Cattle, Hogs and Farming utensils which was to remain in the hands of his wife, SUSANNAH HARRIS during her life time and at or after her death to be divided equally between his Three sons SAMUEL HARRIS,   JAMES and DAVID G. HARRIS (myself) and also one ninth part of the land where on the said widow SUSANNAH HARRIS now lives estimated at Two hundred and thirty nine acres as the will and Testament will more plainly show.   Now the consideration of this obligation is such that whereas I the said DAVID G. HARRIS did on the second day of March One thousand eight-hundred and thirty four borrowed Four Thousand Dollars from one Moses L. Barr and the said SAMUEL HARRIS and JAMES B. HARRIS becoming security for me and the said SAMUEL HARRIS having to pay One Thousand Dollars as security on said am’t borrowed from said Moses L. Barr and the said DAVID G. HARRIS having no other way of compensating the said SAMUEL HARRIS and I, D. G. H. hath _______ assigned, sold, transferred and conveyed and by these presence doth grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said SAMUEL HARRIS, his heirs executors assigns and administrators all the right title claim and interest that I the said D. G. HARRIS have in and to said personal property and real estate as willed to me by my father, JAMES HARRIS to his use and benefit forever. Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-fifth day of May One thousand eight hundred and thirty five.    Pres (?)  __L. Baker                                                       DAVID G. HARRIS (Seal) State of Tennessee, Franklin County    Personally appeared before me Wille B. Wagner, Clerk of the County Court of said County the within named DAVID G. HARRIS, the bargainer with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed the within Deed for the purposes therein contained.   Witness my hand at office this 1st day of June A.D. 1835.                                                                     W. B. Wagner, Clerk Registered in my office this 3rd day of June 1835.                                                                   Solomon Wagner, Register                                                                 By W. B. Wagner, D.R Copied from Deed Record Book P, page 178 Franklin County, Tennessee This Indenture made and entered into this Twenty-sixth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Six between James B. Harris, Executor of the last Will and Testament of James Harris of the one part and John L. Keith of the other part, both of the County of Franklin and State of Tennessee, Witnesseth that, Whereas by the last Will and Testament of the said James Harris he devised to his wife Susannah Harris the plantation on which he lived immediately previous to his death for her life to be held by her for the support of herself and the unmarried part of his family during her life and after her death to remain in the possession of the unmarried part of the family for their use and support so long as they may think proper to live on the plantation, but so soon as they unanimously agree to live on it no longer it shall be sold and, Whereas the said Susannah together with all the UNMARRIED part or members of the family of the said James Harris Decd, to wit:  DAVID G. HARRIS,James B. Harris, REBECCA HARRIS and Mary Harris have unanimously agreed to live on said land no longer which is evidenced by their deed to the said John L. Keith dated the Twentieth day of March one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty six by which they have conveyed all their interest in the said tract of land to the said Keith, Now therefore in consideration of the premises and in consideration of the sum of twenty Five hundred dollars paid or Secured to be paid by the said John L. Keith the said James B. Harris Executor as aforesaid by nature of the before recited clause in the Will of the said James Harris Decd, have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell to the said John L. Keith the aforesaid tract of land Lying in the County of Franklin and State of Tennessee on the waters of Cove Spring Creek, the same being a part of an eight hundred acre tract granted to Edward Harris, Decd and deeded by the heirs of Edward Harris, Decd to James Harris and bounded as follows: Beginning at the South east Corner of said Original tract and running North with a line thereof two Hundred poles to two black oaks the South West corner of a Two Hundred acre tract deeded by the heirs of said Edward Harris to Robert McCord now owned by Sam’l A. Harris, Thence east five and an half degrees north two hundred and seventy poles, to said Robert McCord’s South East corner, the East boundary line of the original Tract Thence South_____ with the meanders of a Spur of Cumberland mountain and the line of the original tract to a persimmon and Elm a corner thereof Thence with an other Said lines West to the beginning, Containing 249 acres  ______ the same more or less. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, all and singular the said land and bargained premises with the appurtenance to the said John L. Keith, his heirs and assigns forever and the said James B. Harris doth hereby warrant the title of the said Land and bar- gained premises against the claim of the heirs or devices of the said James Harris, Decd and the claim of any person or persons claiming by through or under them or other of them. In Testimony whereof the said James B. Harris hath hereunto subscribed his name and offered his Seal the day and year first above written.  Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of: W. Green Jno Dehend                                           James B. Harris, Exe (Seal) State of Tennessee Franklin County,      Personally appeared before me William W. Brazetton, Clerk of the County Court of said County, James B. Harris, the bargainer named in the foregoing deed with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed the deed for the purposes therein contained. Witnesseth my hand at office the 27th day of April A.D. 1836.                                                             Solomon Wagner, Register                                                             By W. B. Wagner, D.R.       NOTE:  James B. was married; included as he was Executor. The Land Patent following issued to David GASS Harris verifies that Susannah, wife of James Harris (son of Samuel and Rebecca Morrison Harris) was in fact a GASS.       Note: I have been unable to 'copy and paste' the original, hand written Patent. You may read the original by going to http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx. Do a search in Arkansas, Washington County for Harris only. Then on David G. Harris click Image on the extreme left for AR0940 .085 David G. Harris. You will also find on this page James B. Harris and Samuel Harris. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Certificate ) No 4670 ) To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: WHEREAS David Gass (written in the old style 'f') Harris of Washington County Arkansas has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE at Fayetteville whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said David Gass Harris according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled "An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for the West half of the South West quarter, of Section Twenty in Township Eighteen North of Range Twenty Eight West, in the District of Lands subject to Sale at Fayetteville Arkansas containing Eighty acres. according to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, return to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR GENERAL, which said tract has been purchased by the said David Gass Harris. NOW KNOW YE, That the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said David Gass Harris and to his heirs, the said tract above described TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature belonging, unto the said David Gass Harris and to his heirs and assigns forever. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, James K. Polk, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed. GIVEN under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the tenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Forty eight and of the INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES the Seventy Third. BY THE PRESIDENT, James K. Polk By J H Stephens Asst Sec'y T. H. Laughlin, RECORDER of the General Land Office. My purpose in these 4 postings in detail is to prove: 1. The Rebecca Harris who married Bailey Dent around 1815-18 in Kentucky was not the daughter of James and Susannah Gass Harris as she was still single when the above deed was made in 1836 in Tennessee. 2. That James Harris, son of Samuel and Rebecca Morrison Harris, married Susannah GASS. It is my opinion the LAND PATENT issued to DAVID GASS HARRIS is documented proof. Thank you all for your indulgence in my long postings. Should anyone wish an entire file, please contact my directly at bbteam@centurylink.net. Ann Gary Group 3, Kit #58520