Perhaps these notes I have gathered over the years may help identify Dabney Harris of North Carolina. From all appearances, he seems to be the son of Christopher Harris of Madison Co., KY, previously of Albemarle Co., VA. His mother is said to have been Christopher's first wife, Mary Dabney [which is hearsay, as there seem to be no extant records. However, Christopher, in his will, differentiating his *first* children from his *second* children [by Agnes McCord] makes reference to the will of one Cornelius Dabney. There must be information in the Archives or perhaps in Ira Harris's databases of Harrises concerning this family, formerly of Albemarle Co., VA and prior to that, of Louisa Co., VA. Preparer: E. W. Wallace, Dec 1995 DABNEY HARRIS. Little is known of Dabney Harris. His birthdate, of 15 Dec 1745, 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. In Nov 1774 he was witness in Albemarle Co., VA to a will of one William Blackwell, written 23 Nov 1774, proved Mar court 1775. Other witnesses were Philip Thurmon and James Gardner. (J. Estelle Stewart King, ABSTRACTS OF WILLS, INVENTORIES AND ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA 1748-1800 [Beverly Hills, CA, 1940], p. 22) Dabney apparently moved to Surry Co., NC.(1) His name appears in Madison Co., KY Grant Deed Index. Dabney Harris, grantor; Christopher Harris, grantee; C-381, 9 Mar 1795; recorded 5 May 1795; power of attorney. "Know all men by these presents that I Dabney Harris of Surry County, North Carolina for sundry [reasons?] etc do constitute and appoint my son and Friend Christopher Harris of the said county & state my true & lawfull attorney to act demand sue for recover & ... of Christopher Harris & Foster Jones of Madison County & in the State of Kentucke Exrs to the Estate of my Deceased Father all such Legacys as may be due to me on that behalf? hereby ratifying and confirming whatever my said Attorney may do in and touching Premises in as full and Ample manner as though I were personally present in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this ninth (?] day of March one Thousand seven hundred and ninety four. /s/ Dabney Harris Teste Reuben Canterbury, John Canterbury, J. P. ----" A Dabney Harris is listed in the 1820 census of Kentucky as being in Pulaski Co., but we have no idea whether he is the son of Christopher. A Christopher Harris is also listed in Pulaski Co.; possibly he is the son of Dabney Harris. More research is needed. (1) On Family Tree Maker CD ROM CENSUS INDEX: COLONIAL AMERICA 1607-1789, he is listed in ... North Carolina, Hardin's District. An e-mail from [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) dated 7/2/03 gives this information: "Surry Co. NC abstracts: Deed books D, E and F (1779-1797 6 Aug 1793 Dabney Harris to John Personate, for 75 pounds, 95 acres adjacent Jesse Franklin and Mark Kenned(a)y. Wits (X) James Franklin, Thomas Ross, William Snow. Signed Dabney Harris (this land was most likely on Butler creek)" Dabney Harris is on 1782 Surry Co. tax list; Capt. Humphries District: Dabney has one horse, 2 cows and 100 acres (no location given) An earlier indication of Dabney's linkage to Albemarle Co VA was also sent by geharris, date not noted: Albemarle Co., VA Will Book 2, pg 322. Will of William Blackwell. Wife Sarah to have estate during her life, and at her decease it is to be divided among all my children (not named). Exrs: Wife, son Armistead Blackwell and William Blackwell. Wit: Dabney Harris, Philip Thurmon(d) and James Gardner. geharris also sent some excerpts from Wilkes Co. NC courty court minutes, Vol I & II, 1778-1788 listing Dabney Harris, among many others to serve on road juries in Apr 1785 and again Jan 1787. A place mentioned in these road orders: Mitchel's River. ////////////// From an e-mail Mar 2003: There was a Dabney Harris living in Wilkes County NC in the 1780's. Can anyone add to this information concerning Dabney Harris? A descendant of the second family of Christopher Harris, E.W.Wallace

Trying again - last effort resulted in a hideous mish-mash....<sigh> Hopefully this will of Christopher Harris will shed some light. Barb Terhune http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~confido/chrishwill.html Will of Christopher Harris, dated February 20, 1794; Probated March 4, 1794 "In the name of God, Amen. I Christopher Harris being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, tho weak in body, yet of perfect understanding and memory, do constitute this my last will and testament, and desire it should be received by all as such. Imprimis: That I will and desire that my first children, viz: Dabney Harris, Sarah Martin, Robert Harris, Mourning Jones, Christopher Harris and Mary Jones should have the following negroes, (excepting thirty pounds out of my son, Dabney's legacy, which is to be paid by the executors of this part of my will for the use and benefit of my wife, and other children) viz: Ritter and her children, Pomp, Moses, Alice, George, Betty, Lucy and Deephy, the above negroes, to be divided agreeable to Cornelius Dabney, Sr. I will and I do appoint Foster Jones and Christopher Harris as executors of the above part of this will, and as to the balance of my estate, I direct that just my debts shall be paid out of what money I have by, or is owing to me. The house where I live I direct shall be furnished, which together with the tract of land whereon I live, I leave to my dear and loving wife during her life and at her death to my son Overton Harris. As to the balance of my negroes, David, Cato, Fanny, Stephen and Eady, together with my house hold furniture, stock of every kind and plantation utensils I desire that my wife may have the whole benefit of them during her life or widow-hood, and if she should marry the whole to be sold, and equally divided amongst her, and her children. As to my lands on Muddy Creek, I will and bequeath them as follows: The Drowning Creek tract to my son, Benjamin Harris. The tract on which my son William has built to my son, William Harris, the tract called the Holly Tract, to my son, Barnabas Harris. And my lands in Albemarle County, together with the stock that is thereon, I direct shall be sold, and that my sons James and Samuel Harris, shall receive of the money as much as Colonel John Miller and Robert Rodes shall judge the land to be worth that I willed to my other sons, viz: to be made equal to them. As to my three daughters, viz: Jane Gentry, Margaret Harris and Isabel Harris, my will and desire is that Jane Gentry should receive ten pounds, and Margaret and Isabel Harris to have fifty pounds apiece out of the balance of what my Albemarle land, and the profits arising from that place, and if that should not be sufficient that it sahll be made up to them out of any personal estate that my wife and executors after mentioned shall thingk best. As to my lands on Licking waters my will is that if they are obtained it should be sold and equally divided amongst my last set of children. And I do appoint my dear and loving wife, with John Sappington, and John Harris to execute that part of my will that respects my wife and her children. As witness my hand and seal this twentieth day of Frbruary, one thousand and seven hundred and ninety four. Christopher Harris (seal) Witness: Hartly Sappington, Richard Sappington, Joseph Wells At a Court held for Madison County on Tuesday, the 4th day of March 1794, this will was proved to be the last will and testament of Christopher Harris, by the oath of Joseph Wells, Hartly and Richard Sappington,witnesses thereto,and ordered to be recorded. Test, Will Irvine. Tuesday, March 04, 1794. On motion of Foster Jones, Christopher Harris Jr., Agnes Harris, John Sappington and John Harris the executors therein named, a certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, they having first made oath, and together with John Miller, James Berry, Willliam Jones, William Irvine and Joseph Pelpithier securities, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two thousand pounds, conditioned as the law directs." ******************************** In the will which speaks for itself he styles the children by his first wife, his "first children," and those by his last wife his "last set of children," and refers to the will of Cornelius Dabney, Sr. (father of his first wife ?) He appoints Foster Jones and Christopher Harris (his son-in-law, and son) executors of the first part of his will applying to his first children and his wife (Agnes) and John Sappington and John Harris (his son) executors of the part applying to his last wife and her children. *************************** Sources of Information: A History Of The State, Kentucky, 4th Edition, "Biographical Sketches" pp. 945-946 Harris And Allied Families, Maud Callaway Hays, 1953 Harris Genealogy, Gideon Dowse Harris DAR Lineage Books, Patriot Index, Volume I ************************ [email protected] wrote: >Perhaps these notes I have gathered over the years may help identify Dabney >Harris of North Carolina. From all appearances, he seems to be the son of >Christopher Harris of Madison Co., KY, previously of Albemarle Co., VA. His >mother is said to have been Christopher's first wife, Mary Dabney [which is >hearsay, as there seem to be no extant records. However, Christopher, in his >will, differentiating his *first* children from his *second* children [by Agnes >McCord] makes reference to the will of one Cornelius Dabney. There must be >information in the Archives or perhaps in Ira Harris's databases of Harrises >concerning this family, formerly of Albemarle Co., VA and prior to that, of >Louisa Co., VA. > ... > >