Dear Harris-Hunters, especially of Colonial Virginia, Here are some notes (and attempted analysis) I have made over the years in an attempt to link, if possible, Robert Harris, of Louisa Co., to his probable brothers. I believe these documents indicate that there were at least two brothers: Benjamin and Frederick. Please send your comments and corrections to the List, so that all may benefit. If you can cite your sources (not plucked from some vast undocumented database), your efforts will be greatly by all your knfolk--out there !!! This is long, so take a deep breath. E.W.Wallace BENJAMIN HARRIS I OF COLONIAL LOUISA CO., VA. Malcolm Hart Harris in "Three William Harrises in Hanover County" in VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST, V. 22, p. 3 ff, states that Benjamin Harris married Sarah Dumas 27 Jun 1737 and he died 13 Mar 1762. A patent cited below indicates that a Dumas family was a neighbor of Benjamin Harris. He apparently had a wife named Mary at the time of his death ca 1765 in Louisa Co., VA which had been formed from Hanover Co. in 1742. Benjamin Harris in his Louisa Co. will of 1765 (WB 1-72) named as executors his wife Mary and his two brothers, Frederick Harris and Robert Harris (of Louisa, later of Albemarle Co.) He named two sons, as indicated below, and there was a third son, whose name does not appear in the torn will. Apparently Benjamin Harris had been married previously to a woman named Sarah, as indicated in the following deed, but Sarah is not the name of his widow Mary.+ Benjamin Harris had previously lived in Hanover Co. from which Louisa Co. had been formed 1742. Hanover Co. VA Records - 1733 Hanover Co., VA Court Records 1733-1735: pp. 14-15: INDENT. 1 Feb 1733 Robert Harris of Hanover Co. to Benjamin Harris of Co. afsd; 40 pds sterling money; 256 a. on both sides of north fork of Little River bounded by the lines of Stephen Pettus, John Garland, William Mullin, Benjamin Brown, William Harris and Benjamin Byb. /s/ Robert Harris. Wit: Thomas Dickinson, James Harris, Richard Harris 1 Feb 1733 ack. by Robert Harris. p. 15 INDENT. 1 Feb 1733 Benjamin Harris of Hanover Co. to Robert Harris of Co. afsd; 40 pds sterling money of England; 256 a. left him by the Last Will and Testament of his Father, William Harris dec'd., being commonly known by the name of Walkers Neck. /s/ Benjamin Harris. Wit: Thomas Dickinson, James Harris, Richard Harris. 1 Feb 1733 ack. by Benjamin Harris. (Rosalie Edith Davis, HANOVER COUNTY, VIRGINIA COURT RECORDS 1733-1735: DEEDS, WILLS AND INVENTORIES [Manchester, MO: 1979], pp. 4-5) This latter deed establishes the fact that Benjamin Harris is a child of William Harris and his wife Temperance Overton, as is Robert Harris. The identities of two of the witnesses, James Harris and Richard Harris, are unknown to this writer. We do not know to which Harris an ordinary in Hanover Co. ca 1733 had belonged, but reference is made in an ordinary license bond in which Thomas Trevillion and Matthew Jouet bound themselves. Trevillion had obtained a license to keep an Ordinary "at the place called Harris's Ordinary in this Co." for one year. One of the daughters of Robert Harris married John Jouett, who in Revolutionary times lived in or near Albemarle Co., VA. Whether the Harrises intermarried with the Trevillions is unknown. Louisa Co. Records (Louisa Co. formed 1742 from Hanover Co.) 1745 - Louisa Co. DB A-187 25 Jun 1745 Benjamin Harris and Sarah, his wife, of St. Martin's Par., Louisa Co., to Robert Harris of Fredericksville Par., Louisa Co. 50 pds currt money. 400 A in Fredericksville Par... land whereon sd. Harris now lives ... at head of Rocky branch in Harper Ratclift's line .. Ratclift's and John Matlock's line ... Samuel Waddy's line by main branch of Hickory Bear Creek ... Thomas Thomson's corner; granted to John Blair of the city of Williamsburg, Esqr., by patent 17 Mar 1736; conveyed to Benjamin Harris by deed at the Capitol, 23 Oct 1742. /s/ Benja. Harris, Sarah Harris. Wit: Joseph Fox, Jeremiah Glen, Rich. Yancey, Nathl. Williams. 25 June 1745 ack. by Benja. Harris, Sarah, his wife, gave consent. (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOKS A AND B 1742-1759 [Bellevue, WA: Published by author, 1976], p. 21) Comment 1: The above document confirms that Benjamin's then wife was named Sarah. This also seems to confirm that Benjamin is related to Robert Harris [Major], surveyor of Louisa Co., vestryman of Fredericksville Parish, and sometime member of House of Burgesses. The degree of relationship is not stated in this abstract. Comment 2: Louisa Co. DB A-452 indicates that several years later, in Jan. 1752, Robert Harris conveyed this same parcel of land to his son Tyree Harris (qv), and then in in 1757 Tyree Harris and wife Elizabeth conveyed the same tract to William Anderson, DB B-148, 22 Feb 1757. Tyree Harris may have been preparing for his move to Orange Co., NC. Other deeds show that other land owners on or near Hickory Bear Creek were John Matlock (qv), Thomas Travillion, Thomas Shelton, John Stree, Richard Bullock, Samuel Waddy and Matthew Jouett (qv). 1746 - There is indication that Benjamin Harris and some of his neighbors were Quakers, thus affirming documents and not swearing to them. In 1746, Benjamin Harris was appointed guardian for Charles Yancey, "an infant and eldest son and heir at law of said decedent." (Probate Robert Yancey, Apr 1746, Louisa Co. WB 1, p. 8). Benjamin Harris had been a witness to the will of Robert Yancey. A later entry in WB 3-21, settlement of estate of Rev. Robert Yancey, names all his creditors, among them Rbt. Harris, probably the brother of Benjamin Harris, and also John Jouett, the son-in-law of Robert Harris. In 1747/48, Benjamin patented land in Louisa Co. Patent Bk 26: BENJAMIN HARRIS, 699 acs. Louisa Co. on both sides of Hickory Cr., Beg. at Dumas & Browns former C., on the Orphans Line {Orphans of Hugh Owen}, adj. Benjamin Brown; 5 Mar 1747/48, p. 256. 1 Pound 10 Shillings. The sd L. being formerly grt. Jeremiah Dumas by pat. 28 Sep 1728 (PB 13 p. 468} for 400 acs. but upon a Survey lately made by Robert Harris Surveyor of sd Co. is found to contain 699 acs. the Right & Title of which is since become vested in the sd Benjamin Harris (Dennis Ray Hudgins, CAVALIERS & POINEERS, V. 5, [Richmond, VA: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1998] p. 249) Study of the Benjamin Brown family indicates that one of his sons married Lucretia Harris, believed to be daughter of Robert Harris. 1745 In 1745 a deed was recorded in Amelia Co.: "p. 332 David Harris, planter, of St. Martin's Parish, Hanover Co. to Benjamin Harris, Planter of St. Martin's Parish, Louisa Co., VA. Deed dated 26 Nov 1745. Consideration: 35 pds. Wit: Robert Harris, Thomas Pavilett [Paulett or Pawlett?], William Snelson, James Johnson, James Yancey, Wm. Rice, and Benj. Dumas. 387 A Vaughans Creek being patented to said David Harris on Sep 16, 1743. (Adapted from Gibson Jefferson McConnaughey, AMELIA COUNTY VIRGINIA WILLS 1735-1761; BONDS 1735-1754 [Amelia, VA: Mid South Publications, 1978], p. 50) (Comment: The identity of David Harris is unknown to this writer. A reading of the original deed may help pinpoint his identity. He has not been identified as a son of Capt. William Harris and Temperance Overton nor as a son of Robert Harris. According to the will of Benjamin Harris and subsequent guardianship of his orphans, David Harris was not a child of Benjamin. We have not determined successfully how many related Harrises may have lived in the same neighborhoods.) 1747/48 Patent Bk. NO. 26: Benjamin Harris, 699 acs. Louisa Co. on both sides of Hickory Cr., Beg. at Dumas & Browns form C. on the Orphans Line [Orphans of Hugh Owen], adj. Benjamin Brown; 5 Mar 1747/48, p. 256. L1.S10. The sd L. being formerly gtd Jeremiah Dumas by pat. 28 Sep 1728 [PB 13 p. 468] for 400 acs. but upon a Survey lately made by Robert Harris Surveyor of sd. Co. is found to contain 699 acs. the Right & Title of which is since become vested in the sd. Benjamin Harris. Are the dates in the following abstract in error? Or was that when the will was recorded, or when the guardianship was dismissed? Further research is in order. 1785 Louisa Co. Will Bk 1-72 "Will of Benjamin Harris of Trinity Parish. Wife Mary. 3 sons: Robert, eldest son Overton & ---. Dau: Nancy. Lands to be divided among my eldest son Overton & son Robert at death of my wife. Excrs: wife Mary Harris & two brothers: Frederick Harris & Robert Harris. Signed: Benjamin Harris. Wit: James Overton, Charles Nuckolls, Mary Ratlif. Dated 30 July 1785. Rcd 14 Oct 1785." (Nancy Chappelear & Kate Binford Hatch, ABSTRACTS OF LOUISA COUNTY WILL BOOKS , p. 13) This will (abstracted) confirms that Frederick Harris is also a brother of Benjamin and of Robert Harris. Louisa Co. Will Bk 3-227: "Settlement of est. of Benj. Harris by Elias Thomasson, Excr. For boarding and clothing Overton, Nancy, Robert & Benj; 443 pds-10-10 1/2. Signed: Chs. Barret, Robt. Barret, John Crutchfield, Elijah Dickinson. Rcd. ... 1785" Question: Had the widow Mary Harris remarried to Elias Thomasson, and that is the reason for change of executorship? Stepfathers, by law, could request recompense for boarding their stepchildren. .................. +e-mail from Warren 7/16/2000 indicates this wife's name is Sarah Dumas. She may be a daughter of Benjamin Dumas, a resident of Louisa Co. in 1742.)