Here are some notes collected over several decades concerning Tyree Harris, son of Major Robert Harris (surveyor) of colonial Louisa Co., and later of Albemarle Co., VA. I am sharing these notes with Harris-Hunters.  If you wish to make corrections or add additions, please post on Harris-Hunters.  Tyree Harris is a name given to many generations of Harris males.  (With google, I believe I found a person with that name who was current-day college professor.) Please share your critiques not only with me but with Harris-Hunters.  No genealogy is ever complete. With stable health (at least for a few days) I will share some notes on the father of Tyree Harris--Major Robert Harris, who died testate in Albemale Co., VA butwho was active in Louisa Co., Va, where he was county surveyor. Evelyn W. Wallace hdanw@verizon.net 1/1/04  North Carolina land patents: Patent 3432, pg. 350, Tyre Harris, 31 March 1750, 450 acres in Anson County, joining the fork of the Cataba river and the Main river. Patent 3433, pg. 350, Tyre Harris, 13 September 1749, 600 acres in Anson County on the N. side of the S. fork of the Cataba river, joining the river and the lower end of an Indian old field on the river. Submitted by Ira Harris III My notes: Preparer:  Evelyn W. Wallace, CA Rev Dec 1999      TYRE/TYREE HARRIS.  WIR00542.   Caveat:  There is some question in the mind of this writer that Tyree Harris of early Caswell Co. NC is the same Tyree Harris of colonial Albemarle Co. and Louisa Cos., VA although the possibility remains that they are the same person.  However, in constructing a timeline of activities in Virginia one finds that such activities precede those of North Carolina--Granville Co., Orange Co., Caswell Co.  One should bear in mind that not only did Tyree Harris have a son Tyree Harris, he also had a nephew by that name--son of Christopher Harris, his brother.  Christopher Harris of Albemarle Co., VA later removed with many of his of his large family to Madison Co., KY.  His first wife was (--) Dabney and his second wife was Agnes McCord of Scotch-Irish descendancy.  She was born or baptised by Rev. John Craig in Augusta Co. in the 1740s. Virginia Activities     That a Tyree Harris of Virginia is the son of Robert Harris of Louisa (and later of Albemarle Cos., VA) is verified by the following Louisa Co. deed:      Louisa Co., VA Deed Bk A-452. 31 Jan 1751.  Robert Harris of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co., Gent., to Tyree Harris of same, Son of Robert Harris.  For natural Love and Affection and for 5 shillings currt. money.  400 acres and plantation in Fredericksville Par., whereon sd. Robert Harris now lives...Thomas Poindexter's corner...head of Rocky branch in John Street's line ...along sd. Street's and John Matlock's line ...Samuel Waddy's line by the main branch of Hiccory Bear Creek ...Thomas Thompson's corner ...Thompson's and John Wollums' line; part of a tract granted to John Blair of the City of Williamsburg, Esq., by patent 17 Mar 1736; by Indenture of 23 Oct 1742 conveyed to Benjamin Harris; by sd. Benjamin Harris and Sarah, his wife by Indenture of 25 June 1745 sold to sd. Robert Harris.      Robert Harris Wit:  Ben. Brown Jr., Lucy Harris, Sarah Harris, Thomas Perkins. 25 Jan 1752 acknowledged by Robert Harris.     (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA CO. VA DEED BOOKS A AND B, 1742-1759 [Bellevue, WA:  1976)        (Refer to the biography of Matthew Jouett who also held land on Hickory Bear Creek.  Jouett's daughter Henrietta married Joseph Williams I, son of John Williams I "of Hanover."  Jouett's probable grandson John Jouett, later of early Albemarle Co., married Mourning Glen Harris, daughter of Robert Harris and his wife Mourning Glen.  Robert Harris of colonial Louisa Co. VA was father of Tyree Harris also.  In colonial Hanover Co., VA, there was an association of the Matlock family with Nathaniel Williams, probable son of John Williams I "of Hanover Co."  Research is continuing in 1999 on Nathaniel Williams, who was a neighbor of William Graves, son of Henry Graves.  William Graves, later of Granville Co., NC, in his deeds in Louisa Co., makes reference to land of Nathaniel Williams.  Except for reference in land records, however, there seems to be no trace of Nathaniel Williams in later records of Virginia, unless he is the one who is found in Lunenburg Co. records.  No link has yet been discovered, however.) Other Louisa Co. Records of Tyree Harris        The following are abstracts of Louisa Co. deeds of Robert Harris (the father) which were witnessed by Tyree Harris:      In 1751, DB A-442-443 shows deeds of Robert Harris's gift of slaves to son-in-law John Jouett, to son Christopher Harris, and to son-in-law James Harris.  (Ibid.)     (James Harris probably was the husband of Mary Harris, Robert's daughter.  James may have been Mary's cousin, but this has not been established.  Virginia deeds seem to link Benjamin Harris, son of William Harris, and Robert Harris, but the relationship is unstated, except that Benjamin is son of William.  Robert, of course, has long been assumed to have been a son of William Harris, and thus the two men were probably brothers.  Refer to biography of Robert Harris II in which there is reference to Feb 1733 indentures between Robert Harris and Benjamin Harris.  In the second indenture, Benjamin refers to 256 A. left him by the last will and testament of his father, William Harris.  James Harris and Richard Harris witnessed these indentures.  The land was commonly known by the name of "Walker's Neck.")       In 1752, a deed of gift of slaves, Robert Harris to son-in-law William Shelton (A-486-487). (Ibid.)      This deed appears in Albemarle Co., VA, and it verifies that Tyree Harris is of Louisa Co.      DB 1-333:  15 Jul 1751 Tyree Harris of Louisa, to Jas. Bradley for 30 pds., 315 ac. on branches of Willis, pat. 15 Dec 1749.  Adj. Gideon Patterson, Edmd. Gray, Wm. Gray, Jno. Cook.  Wit:  Claten Cook, Jno Brown, Jno. Cook.  (Ibid.)      (The abstract, which appears in Sparacio & Sparacio's abstracts of Albemarle Co. deeds, expands on the reference to the patent: "... granted to ... Harris by Patent bearing the date the fifteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred & forty nine..."   Willis River and Little Willis Creek were later in Cumberland Co.)       (Albemarle Co. abstracts from The Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis, THE DEEDS OF AMHERST CO, VA 1761-1807, AND ALBEMARLE CO., VA, 1748-1763, pp. 2 and 23.)      Reference to the land of Tire [Tyree] Harris is found in Virginia Patent Bk 31:  "Charles Lee, 248 acs. Albemarle Co. on S side of James Riv. on both sides of Willis's Cr. adj Tire Harris, Gideon Patterson & Edmund Gray; 10 Sep 1755, p. 709.  25 Shill."      ("Land Patent Book 31" in MAGAZINE OF VIRGINIA GENEALOGY, Vol. 31, No. 3, p. 253)   Note that at that time, Albemarle Co. extended to the S side of the James River.  Willis's Creek is also found in early Goochland Co. deeds, but was later in Cumberland Co.      At about the time these deeds were being recorded in Louisa Co., VA, it appears Tyree was also selling property in North Carolina.  There is evidence of a Tyree Harris [same man?] being granted land in Anson Co., NC in 1749: Anson County NC Deeds Tyree Harris of Va....appoints Benjamin Dumas of Anson, Gent, lawful attorney to sell my lands in Anson county 21 Apr 1752. Tyree Harris of Louisa County, Va..planter, to Andrew Lambert of Anson county..80 pounds Va money, 600 Acres on neare side of S fork of Cataba..."lower end of an Engin old field..."granted to Tyree Harris 13 Sep 1749 More Louisa Co. Records       In 1753 and 1754, Tyree Harris was one of the Vestrymen of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co.   See Deed Bk. A-520-521 in which Nicholas Meriwether and Frances his wife sold 400 acres to the listed vestrymen, among them Tyree Harris.   The purchase of land may have been for a glebe for the parish.      As late as late 1757, Tyree Harris was still a vestryman.  This notation appears in the entries "at a Vestry Held for Fredericksville Parish 24th Janr. 1758:  "Robert Harris [probably Tyree's father and not his brother] Gent. is Chose a Vestryman in the room of Tyree Harris Gent. he having Removed out of this Parish."      (Rosalie Edith Davis, FREDERICKSVILLE PARISH VESTRY BOOK, 1742-1787, Vol. I [Manchester, MO: privately published, 1978], p. 60)      In the following deed, we learn of the first wife of Tyree Harris--Elizabeth, whose reported surname was Chapman.  Later, in North Carolina, Tyree remarried to Mary Ann  Simpson, one of several daughters of Richard Simpson II of Caswell Co., NC (qv).  The surname Chapman (reported maiden name of Elizabeth) is not noted in Fredericksville Parish.      Louisa Co. DB B-148.  22 Feb 1757.  Tyree Harris of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co., Planter, and Elizabeth, his wife, to William Anderson of St. Martin's Par., Hanover Co. 75 pds. currt. money. 400 acres in Fredericksville Par. ...Thomas Poindexter's corner ...head of Rocky branch in John Street's line ...sd. Street's and John Matlock's lines ...Matlock's corner in Samuel Waddy's line by main branch of Hickory Barr Creek ...Thomas Thomson's corner ...on Thomas Thomson's and John Woollom's line ...Woollom's corner...Poindexter's line; granted to John Blair of City of Williamsburg, Esq., by patent 17 Mar 1736; conveyed to Benjamin Harris 23 Oct 1742; conveyed by sd. Harris and Sarah, his wife, to Robert Harris 26 June 1745; conveyed to Tyree Harris by deed of Gift 31 Jan 1752.      Tyree Harris      Elizabeth Harris Wit:  Saml. Waddy, Nathl. Pope, Antho. Waddy 22 Feb 1757 acknowledged by Tyree Harris. 24 May 1757 Elizabeth Harris, relinquished right of dower.        (Davis, op. cit., p. 119)      Comment:  This is apparently the same land involved in the 1751 deed of Robert Harris to Tyree Harris.  The identity of Benjamin Harris is unknown, but, again, he is conjectured to be the brother of Robert Harris and thus paternal uncle of Tyree.  "Sarah, his wife" refers to the wife of Benjamin Harris.   Refer to biographies of the Matlocks, who seemed to be close associates of the Williamses of Hanover Co.      In Louisa Co., VA, between 1742 and 1762, two of the vestrymen of Frederickville Par. were Robert Harris and Tyree Harris.      (James Morris Bagby, "Vestrymen of Frederick Parish, 1742-1762," THE LOUISA COUNTY HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, V. I, June 1969, p. 10)       The Harrises, including Tyree, also owned property in Albemarle Co.  It is said by Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris in his article on Robert Harris in VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST that although Robert Harris, the father, resided for a time in Louisa, he returned to Albemarle Co., where he died testate.      Another deed indicates that another former neighbor of Tyree Harris was Richard Bullock II, now of Granville Co., NC      DB B-170-172  11 Apr 1757 Richard Bullock and Ann, his wife, of the Province of North Carolina to Thomas Shelton of Louisa Co., 12 pds-10 s. currt. money.  50 acres... sd Bullock's and Sheltons their corner in John Metlock's line ... pine near the road.  /s/ Richard Bullock  Acknowledged before us 25 Apr 1757:  John Pettus, Charles Smith.  Sealed and Delivered in presents of :  Tyree Harris, John (M) Matlock, Elizabeth Harris.  24 Apr proved by oaths of Tyree Harris, John Matlock and Elizabeth Harris.  (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOKS A AND B, 1742-1759 [Bellevue, WA: Published by author 19..], p. 122) Albemarle Co. Records    Tyree Harris is found occasionally in the records of Albemarle Co., VA, formed 1744 from Goochland and Louisa Cos.       Among the survey items of Joshua Fry, Gentleman, Surveyor, is a survey noted for Tyree Harris, approximately 1 June 1745, for 400 acres.  This is found in the first court order book, p. 122.        "Tire" Harris was granted land, 15 Dec 1749, in Albemarle Co. VA:  "315 A, Albemarle Co. on the S side of James Riv. on the Brs. of Willis's Cr; adj. Gideon Patterson, Edmund Gray, William Gray & John Cook; 15 Dec 1749, p. 489. 1 pd., S15."       (Denis Hudgins, CAVALIERS & PIONEERS, V. V, [Richmond, VA:  Virginia Genealogical Society, 1998], p. 300)      Two years later, Tyree sold this patent:      Albemarle Co. DB 1-333-334 15 Jul 1751 Tyree Harris of Louisa Co. to James Bradley of Albemarle Co., 30 pds. current money of VA, 315 A, Albemarle Co., on Branches of Willis's Creek which land was granted to Tyree Harris by patent 15 Dec 1749; Gideon Patterson's ln., Edmund Gra[blurred] Cor; Wm. Gray's cor., John Cook.  /s/ Tyree Harris.  Wit:  Claten Cook, John Brown, John X Cook.  Rec 13 Aug 1751. Family Migrations         It is inferred from the following deed that Tyree migrated from Albemarle Co., VA to North Carolina after 1768, but more probably by late 1762, as indicated by Orange Co., NC court minutes.  However, his name is found intermittently in Granville Co., NC records.  Tyree Harris of Granville Co. may have been a member of a related family as there were many Harris males in that colonial county who have not been identified but whose names suggest they may have been related, e.g., Clayborn Harris.  (The first Robert Harris "the immigrant" was reportedly married to Mary Claiborne Rice, a widow of Rice, whose first name, but not proved, was said to be Edward.  John Frderick Dorman, long-time editor of The Virginia Genealogist periodical, in a recent book concerning the Claiborne family refutes the idea that an early Hrris male was married to a female Claiborne.      Albemarle Co. Deed Bk 5-37:  "William Dabney & Jane his wife, of Albemarle Co. to Wm. Shelton of same Co. 200 pds curr.  Tract of land on Mechans [Meecham's] River in Albemarle Co. adj. Wm. Wallace.  Witnesses-.-Thomas Grubbs, Elizabeth Jones, Christopher Harris, Robert Harris, Tyre Harris.  Nov. 1768."      (Edward Pleasants Valentine, "Dabney Family, EDWARD PLEASANTS VALENTINE PAPERS, V. I [Richmond: ....], p. 398)  One of the Harris females, Lucy, was married to Higgason Grubbs, who was an early resident of Madison Co., KY.  Higgason executed many deeds in which wife Lucy joined.  It is probable he was a land agent, but more research is needed.  The parentage of Lucy Harris is unknown.)  The above named Tyree Harris is probably one of the many children of Christopher Harris (19 children by two wives.) Tyree Harris in North Carolina   Granville Co., NC Records of Tyree Harris       As stated, Tyree Harris MAY have migrated ca 1760 to North Carolina,   Some of Tyree's records are found in Granville Co., NC.  Deed Bk. D-32 indicates he was one of the witnesses for Thomas George's deed to Robert Caller, 19 Mar 1760 for land on Knapp of Reeds Creek (near the Tar River).  Other Harrises in Granville Co. may or may not have been his relatives:  Robert Harris and his son Sherwood Harris (land on Tar River just above the old Trading Path as in Deed D-129).  Interestingly, the son of the elder Sherwood Harris, Sherwood Harris II, was a land agent in early Madison Co., KY, according to early deed books of that county.      Occasionally a Christopher Harris appears in Granville Co., NC records, but he may have a younger nephew of  Christopher Harris I of Madison Co., KY, formerly of Albemarle Co., VA., who had many siblings. Orange Co., NC Records      In Orange Co., NC at May court 1763, "Thomas Hart, Tyrie Harris & Lawrence Thompson recommended as candidates for Sheriff of Orange County."  Court minutes indicate Thomas Hart won the election, but at at August court 1766, "Tyrie Harris, Esq, qualified as High Sheriff for Orange County.  Bond 1,000 pds.  Bondsmen:  Thomas Hart, Richard Simpson."      Tyrie Harriss had appeared in the Orange Co., NC court records of Aug 1762, indicating his earliest known record in that county. Harris's second wife was a daughter of above-mentioned Richard Simpson.      Nov court, 1763, Childsburg [Orange Co., NC], justices present:  Tyrie Harris, Thomas Lloyd, William Lea.      On 11 Nov 1766 Tyrie Harris, Sheriff sold William Johnson Part of Lot #6 in Hillsborough.        (Eve B. Weeks, REGISTER OF ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA DEEDS, 1752-1768, AND 1793, p. 46)      See biographies of Richard Simpson and of Jesse Oldham, who were also in Orange Co., NC in 1764, and later in St. David's Dist., Caswell Co., NC. Tyree Harris was to marry one of the many daughters of Richard Simpson; Jesse Oldham was also a Simpson son-in-law. Caswell Co., NC      Caswell Co., NC was formed in 1777 from Orange Co., NC. Tyree Harris entered land in Caswell Co. 11 Mary 1778:      No. 108 Tryee Harris enters 320 acres land beginning at Richard Simpson's corner, White Oak in said Harris's line running thence North Easterly joining the said Harris's line for Compl [complement] on both sides of the South Fork of Stoney Creek.  11 Mar 1778.      (FHL film 18,416 Caswell Co NC Land & Property Land Entries 1778-1863.) Harris's second wife was a daughter of Richard Simpson and his wife Mary Kincheloe of Caswell Co., NC, previously of Orange Co., NC and after marriage for a time of Fairfax Co., VA. Mary Ann Simpson, daughter of Richard Simpson Sr. of Caswell Co. was the second wife of Tyree Harris.  The marriage does not appear in Caswell Co. marriage records; it may have taken place in Orange Co., from which Caswell Co. was formed in 1777.        Harris appears on the 1777 tax list of Caswell Co.  His assessment was more than 6731 pounds, which seems to indicate he was a large landholder.      A Tyree Harris was earlier granted land in Anson Co., NC, or else he entered land in that county.  Details have not been studied in relation to this grant.         As stated, the senior Tyree Harris and the senior Jesse Oldham (who died testate in Madison Co., KY) were both married to Simpson daughters. The names of many of these Simpson sons-in-law (there were at least ten daughters of Richard Simpson, Jr. aka Sr. of Caswell Co.) are found in Caswell Co. NC records:  Tyree Harris, Nathaniel Hart, David Burton, Wm. B. Buchanan, J. Williamson, J. Oldham, Jere Poston, Z. Tate, Wm. Nunn, Waddy Tate.   The Tates, too, seem to have been of Louisa Co. Will of Tyree Harris      In his will, made 1 Sep 1786 and recorded in Caswell Co., NC will book B-162, Tyree named as executors his son Tyree and his son Simpson as well as his son-in-law, Cornelius Dabney.+   His children were Nancy Abercrombie; Frances, wife of Cornelius Dabney; sons Tyree, Simpson, Robert (to receive land in Rockingham Co. on Little Troublesome Cr.)   Other daughters were Ede Harris (wife of Duke Williams), Liddy Harris.  He named a grandson William Chapman Abercromby.      (Reportedly the first wife of Christopher Harris of Albemarle Co. was Mary Dabney.  We do not know the relationship of Cornelius Dabney to Mary Dabney, but Christopher Harris, in his Madison Co., KY will, in making reference to his "first children," refers to the will of Cornelius Dabney.  This relationship of the Dabneys and the Harrises seemed to be long-standing.)  Tyree's Children?      From Caswell Co., NC Marriage Bonds:       Robert Harris & Elizabeth Lawson; 18 Oct 1791; Pleasant Pryor, bm.       Tyree Harris & Susanah Swift; 18 Apr 1785; Jesse Oldham, bm.       (Comment:  Jesse Oldham's son, Richard [Ready-Money] Oldham was to marry in Caswell Co. Ursley Duke Williams Peoples, widow, who was daughter of Henry Williams of Caswell Co.  The Oldhams removed to Madison Co., KY, and Ursley's daughter, Nancy Oldham married in 1810 Overton Harris, son of Christopher Harris.  The Oldhams and the Henry Williams are this writer's direct ancestors.)      Edey Harris & Duke Williams; 19 Oct 1790; Robert Williams, bm.      Lydia Harris & Robert Brown; 19 Dec 1795; William Shelton, bm.        (Marriages from Katherine Kerr Kendall, CASWELL COUNTY, NC MARRIAGE BONDS 1778-1868 [Baltimore:  Clearfield Publ., 1990], pp. 10. 43, 110) Other Contemporary Harris Males in North Carolina      Cursory research indicates there may have been several Tyree Harrises, possibly cousins.  The will of a Richard Harris, North Carolina [county unspecified], dated 1787 names the following persons:  Richard, Charles, Samuel, Tyre, Priscilla.      Comments:  The surnames Harris, Hart, Williamson, Tate, found in Caswell Co., NC are earlier found in colonial Hanover Co., VA, whence came many of the Harrises who populated Louisa and Albemarle Cos., VA and later Madison Co., KY.  This was true in Madison Co., KY, to where many of these related families migrated.         Much information on the father and grandfather of Tyree Harris is found in Malcolm Hart Harris, "Three William Harrises in Hanover County," VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST, V. 22.  Harris quotes from a family record which states that Tyree was married (1) Elizabeth Chapman (2) Mary Ann Simpson.       + The name Cornelius Dabney appears in many deeds of Caswell Co., NC.  He owned land on Horsley's creek.  In 1789, he sold 200 A on this creek to Robert Harris.  In 1794 he sold 140 A on Horsley's Creek to Duke Williams, reported to be a descendant of Daniel Williams, who died in Granville Co., ca 1759; he probably was the brother of Ursley Williams. Certainly the deeds of Caswell Co. indicate close relationships of Harrises, Simpsons, Williamses.