Dear Harris Hunters, Concerning some early marriages of Pittsylvania Co., VA, here is some information I have gathered concerning Agnes Payne. Her first husband was Robert Harris. She subsequently married Marmaduke Williams of Caswell Co., NC. I have some information on Marmaduke Williams, but not a great deal on Robert Harris, son of Tyree Harris of early Caswell Co., NC, formerly of Orange Co., NC, and formerly of Albemarle Co., VA and formerly of Louisa Co., VA Submitted by E.W.Wallace ROBERT HARRIS, son of TYREE HARRIS and 2nd wife Mary Ann Simpson. (b. ca 1768, probably in Orange Co., NC; d. bef Dec 1798, Caswell Co., NC) Refer to the biography of his father Tyree Harris concerning Robert's guardianship Oct 1787 (Caswell Co. court minutes). His brother, Sampson [Simpson] Harris also choose the same guardian in 1787. (If Robert had children by Agnes, please share with Harris-Hunters. I may find more information.) E.W.Wallace AGNESS HARRIS NEE PAYNE. (1775-1850 dob unverified) According to a long-ago query, 1896, in VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY, v. 3, concerning the Williams family, Hon. Marmaduke Williams (see Wheeler's HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA, PART II, p. 78), "a great-grandson of the emigrant above [John Williams I and wife Mary]," married Mrs. Agnes Harris nee Payne, the widow of Robert Harris (son of Tyra Harris and Mary Ann Simpson). She was a cousin of Mrs. Dolly Payne Madison. They had, among other children, one named Madison Williams and one named Dolly Payne Williams (the writer's grandmother). Can any one give exact relationship to Mrs. Madison, names of Agnes (Payne) Williams' parents, and sources for a full account of the Payne family?" /s/ Descendant." Supposition is that this unidentified query was submitted by Thomas McAdory Owen, Sr. (1866-1920), of Alabama State Archives, who was conducting much research of the Williams family during this time period. Rather recently in the 1990s some of Owen's notes on Granville Co. (but not Caswell Co.) residents have been published by Southern Historical Press. The book is entitled (loosely) History and Genealogies of Granville Co., NC. Maud Carter Clement in THE HISTORY OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA has a footnote on page 144 concerning the Payne family. Agnes Payne was one of several children of Robert Payne whose will was probated at Pittsylvania Courthouse 19 Dec 1785. His wife was Anne Burton of Goochland Co. The info does not state the date of marriage of Agnes to Marmaduke Williams, and it provides no info re Marmaduke. [Lynchburg, VA: J. P. Bell, Inc., 1929) Quoting from the lineage of Thomas McAdory Owen, Jr. (1894-?) in Virkus's The Compendium of American Genealogy, , Vol. V, Agnes Payne's lineage is linked with that of Dolly Madison. Agnes's father was Robert Payne. Her grandfather was Josiah. This is according to "The Payne Family of Goochland County, Etc." as appears in GENEALOGIES OF VIRGINIA FAMILIES IV, He-S (Family Archive Viewer, CD 162), p. 638. According to the history of the Payne family, cited above, Robert Payne removed to Pittsylvania county. He married, July 22, 1762, Ann Burton, of Goochland. His will was proved May 16, 1791, in Pittsylvania County. At any rate, these Payne males were in Caswell Co. in 1777, at its formation: Robert Payne; John Payne. (Katherine Kerr Kendall, CASWELL COUNTY, 1777-1877 HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS OF MINUTES OF CASWELL COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA [Raleigh, NC: Published by author, 1976], p. 1) MARMADUKE WILLIAMS. (1774-1850) (M. Oct 1798 Caswell Co., NC to Agnes Payne Harris) From BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF U. S. CONGRESS, p. 2059 "Williams, Marmaduke (cousin of John Williams, of Tennessee, Lewis Williams, and Robert Williams), a Representative from North Carolina; born in Caswell County, NC, April 6, 1774; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced; member of the State senate in 1802; elected as a Republican to the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Congresses (March 4, 1803-March 3, 1809); was not a candidate for renomination; moved to Mississippi Territory in 1810 and later to Huntsville, Madison County, Ala; in 1818 settled in Tuscaloosa, Ala; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1819 and the same year was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Alabama; member of the Stqte house of representatives 1821-1839; judged of the Tuscaloosa County Court 1832-1842; died in Tuscaloosa, Ala., October 29, 1850; interment in Greenwood Cemetery." Submitted by E.W.Wallace