Pat Clare asks about a Robert Harris, reported son of Christopher Harris, the elder, formerly of Albemarle Co., VA, but who died testate in Madison Co., KY. She is inquiring about a Robert Harris of Allen Co., KY. Here are my notes on Robert Harris, son of Christopher Harris and his first wife, said to be Mary Dabney, which circumstantial evidence indicates may be true. I invite comments, corrections, etc. Pat has some information about Robert's involvement in the American Revolution. Her sources differ from mine, but they both may be correct. Submitted by E. W.Wallace descendant of another of Christopher's sons, Overton Harris (d. testate 1827) ROBERT HARRIS Son of Christopher I and his 1st wife Mary Dabney. Refer to will of his father. His birthdate, 24 Aug 1749, apparently unconfirmed, is taken from DAR application 598925. Those of his siblings and most of the marriages are given, indicating the applicant MAY have used a Bible record. A Robert Harris appears in [Revolutionary War] Public Service Claims, Albemarle County Court Booklet, No. 156 [same number as Christopher Harris in same booklet]. Much of the old handwriting cannot be read by this writer. It appears "for diets furnished drivers for 6.140". He seemingly was paid 6 shillings in Continental money. (Copy of unnumbered page obtained from Virginia State Library, May 1991.) Robert Harris and his father Christopher Harris were both signers of a petition to divide the county of Lincoln [Kentucky, but then Virginia] into three counties, Lincoln, Mercer and Madison. 1786. Granted. Many of the signers of this petition were at Boonesboro, states the compiler. (The year 1786 preceded the formation of Kentucky as a State/Commonwealth in 1792.) (Katherine Phelps Caperton, "A Partial List of Those at Fort Boonesborough," in THE REGISTER OF THE KENTUCKY STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, VOL. 23, p. 151 [renumbered, it seems, from original].) Robert Harris later resided in Madison Co., and, according to Hazel A. Spraker in THE BOONE FAMILY, his wife was Nancy Grubbs, daughter of William Grubbs and his wife Susanna Hearne. He was in the 1810 census, Madison Co., KY, not yet read as of 8/97. He is specified "Tate's Creek." He is shown in the 1820 census index of Madison Co. Apparently he and Nancy, his wife, were witnesses in court for one John Jackson. At July court 1789, John Jackson was ordered to pay Nancy Harris for two days; "same to pay Robt Harris same." (No doubt this was because they were witnesses for Jackson.) Marriages in Madison Co. of some of Robert's children; FB = father of bride; FG = father of groom. Harris, Polly & William Woods, 13 Jan 1801; Martin Hardin, bm.; Robert Harris, FB Harris, Lucy & William Wilkerson, 23 Feb 1801; Daniel Purcel, bm; Robert Harris, FB Harris, William Elliot & Mary Manion; Thomas Manion, bm; John Manion FB; Robert Harris. FG. Harris, Nancy & William Stone, 22 Oct 1805; Tyree Harris, bm; Robert Harris, FB Harris, Rebeccah & Samuel Hayden, 30 Jul 1813; Robert Harris, bm & FB Does this pertain to the same Robert Harris? According to Madison Co. marriage records, a Robert Harris m. Jael Ellison, 21 Apr 1812; Joseph Ellison, father of bride was bondsman and also gave consent. (Bill & Kathy Vockery MARRIAGES OF MADISON CO, KY ,Vol. I, 1786-1822 [Richmond, KY: Privately published, 1993], p. 37) There were two other marriages of a Robert Harris in 1814 and 1815, leading us to believe there may have been several Robert Harrises in Madison Co. Some may have been nephews of the older Robert Harris.. A Robert Harris, with wife Jael appears in the 1850 census of Madison Co., KY. Note that the children were born in Missouri.: Dwelling 152(?), Family 154 Robert Harris, age 63, M, Farmer, 9380, b. Virginia Jael " , age 54, b. Missouri Paulna, age 22 F, b. Missouri Nancy, age 17, F- b. Missouri Louisa, age 15, F - b. Missouri Sarah, age 13, F - b. Missouri William, age 11, M - b Missouri Possibly another child was Elizabeth Harris, as stated in THE BOONE FAMILY, under the heading of "No. 441, Hettie Boone Copher," first wife of Tyree H. Berry, a Baptist preacher, "son of John Berry of Kentucky, and wife Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Robert Harris and wife Nancy Grubbs." Evidently the Berrys moved to or near Boonslick Country, MO. Other children of Robert Harris are listed in THE BOONE FAMILY under "Harris Family." A Different Robert Harris? The Robert Harris who appears in the 1850 census is a younger man that the reported son of Christopher Harris who was born ca. 1749. The Robert Harris in the following census was born ca. 1787 in Virginia and was married in Madison Co., KY. Household of Robert Harris - 1850 Madison Co., KY census, p. 256 A Dwelling 152, Family 154, (taken 15 Aug 1850) Robert Harris, age 63, M, Farmer, RE $9500, b. Virginia Jael Harris, age 54, F, b. Madison Paulina Harris, age 22, F, b. Madison Nancy Harris, age 17, F, b Madison Susan Harris, age 15, F, b. Madison Sarah Harris, age 13, F, b Madison (attended school) William Harris, age 11, M, b. Madison (attended school), EWW Footnote to Pat, who located a Robert Harris in Allen Co., KY ca 1820. Let's see: Allen County, of which I know nothing. This is what a PLACE search on _www.familysearch.org_ (http://www.familysearch.org) gives: 1815, created from the southern parts of Barren and Warren counties. A disaster in 1902 destroyed many records ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com