Here are somewhat garbled notes I have made on a Benjamin Harris whose estimated date of birth i ca 1720 but who died before Oct 1765. I suspect Benjamin is a child of William Harris and Temperance Overton, but if this is an incorrect conclusion, please correct me and tell me your reasons. I cut and paste my notes so frequently that I prefer to cite my sources immediately after the part which I have copied from a compiler of books. This way of making notes is not acceptable to lots of people, but it helps me remember where I found the material (and to go back to it to check on some of my previous theories and to check on other persons associated with the family.) Those who have collected information on this particular Harris family, apparently descendants of William Harris and Temperance Overton, know that the Benjamin Brown family is closely associated with the family of Robert Harris and Mourning Glen. (That is why I note who the witnesses and the neighbors are--and the watercourse, if the document names such.) Submitted by E.W.Wallace BENJAMIN HARRIS I. (ca 1720- bef. 14 Oct 1765 ) Malcolm Hart Harris in "Three William Harrises in Hanover County," in THE VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST, V. 22, pp. 9-15 has presented such a thorough biography of Benjamin, his wife, and offspring that the material will not be repeated here. Harris writes that because Robert Harris, son of William of Cedar Hill, conveyed land to Benjamin Harris, "it seems certain that they were brothers." (Benjamin was the grantor in a 1733 deed in which Robert Harris was grantee, according to Malcolm Harris. The land was on north fork of Little River and it was land left to Benjamin by the will of his father William Harris, decd, "being commonly known as Walker's Neck.") The abstracted deeds are given here: p. 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. 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. Benjamin Harris Wit: Thos. Dickenson, James Harris, Richard Harris (Rosalie Edith Davis, HANOVER COUNTY, VIRGINIA COURT RECORDS 1733-1735: Deeds, Wills and Inventories [Manchester, MO: Published by author, 1979], p. 4-5) QUESTION: Can anyone identify the witnesses with the surname Harris: James and Richard? Robert Harris later had a son-in-law named James Harris. Is there any documentation about the relationship of James and Richard Harris? Benjamin appeared to be of legal age in 1733 in Hanover Co (Ct Rec p. 15, 1733) Louisa Co. was formed from Hanover Co. ca 1742, and the following abstracted will is probably that of Benjamin Harris, son of William Harris and brother of Major Robert Harris. The latter was to be an executor along with the widow Mary and Frederick Harris. A Benjamin Harris of Trinity Parish, Louisa Co. - d. before Oct 1765 Louisa Co. WB 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. Exors: wife Mary Harris & two brothers: Frederick Harris & Robert Harris. Signed: Benjamin Harris. Wit: James Overton, Charles Nuckolls, Mary Ratlif. Dated 30 July 1765. Rcd. 14 Oct 1765. (Comment: the name of the omitted child seems to have been Benjamin as indicated in the guardianship document cited below.) (Nancy Chappelear and Kate Binford Hatch, ABSTRACTS OF LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WILL BOOKS..., p. 13) The names of the children, Robert and Overton, and the name of the brothers, seems to further identify this Benjamin Harris as one of the brothers of Major Robert Harris (wife Mourning Glen) and thus a child of William Harris and Temperance Overton. From Louisa Co. records: p. 53 Gdn. Bond Frederick Harriss Gdn. to Overton, Robert, Benjamen & Nancy Harriss Orphans of Benja. Harriss Dec'd; 2000 pds. currt. money; Sec. David Anderson & Garrett Minor. 13 Mar. 1774 (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1743-1814: WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN GONE? [Manchester, MO: Published by author, 1980], p. 8) (We believe Frederick Harris is another brother of Benjamin Harris. By 1774, Robert Harris, sometimes called Major, was deceased.) We believe this land patent belongs to the same Benjamin Harris. Note that the land is adjacent to that of Benjamin Brown. 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 AND PIONEERS, VOLUME FIVE: 1741-1749 [Richmond, VA: Virginia Genealogical Society] Please note carefully: The following notes --- because of the dates -- pertain to at least one other Benjamin Harris and perhaps to two persons. Here is where a timeline comes in handy. A Younger Benjamin Harris 1785 Another Benjamin Harris of later date resided in Louisa Co. and left a will (WB3-227) dated 1785. His children were Overton, Nancy, Robert and Benj. (No wife was named). The witneses were Charles and Robert Barret, John Crutchfield, Elijah Dickinson. (Nancy Chappelear and Kate Binford Hatch, ABSTRACTS OF LOUISA COUNTY WILLS 1743-1801 [Washington, DC: 1964], p. 93). Because of the naming patterns of the children, this latter Benjamin Harris seems linked to Robert Harris and Mourning Glen--perhaps a nephew. From Louisa Co. GenForum (do a google.com search for louisa county virginia + genealogy) Otherwise, I have to give you a commercial URL, and sometimes rootsweb administrators get really mad. Apparently, it is a commercial outfit where the family likes genealogy!!!!) Still another Benjamin Harris, as the preceding one was deceased ca. 1785. [county not stated, but since it was on the Louisa Co. GenForum, it probably is from Louisa Co. 1800 Book: J, Page: 80, Grantor: Richard Nuckolls, Grantee: Mezzapina, Duke Cosby and Amelia his wife, Date: 08-Dec-1800 Richard Nuckolls of Tennessee to Mezzapina, Duke Cosby and Amelia his wife, Benjamin Harris, Robert Harris, Richard Mantelo and Martha Burrett his wife, Joseph Harris, Thomas Harris, Richard Harris and Nancy Rice Harris, which said Mezzapina is the widow of Robert Harris Dec'd. and said Amelia, Benjamin, Robert, Martha, Burrett, Joseph, Thomas Richard and Nancy Rice are his children and heirs. Richard Nuckolls in the life time of Richard Harrris sold Robert a tract on the waters of Little river on the north and west branch being land where Keziah Nuckolls, mother of said Richard formerly lived; 145 acres adjoining Charles Trainum, Will Nuckolls, Barretts, mill pond. Sig. Richard Nuckolls by William Cook, his attorney. At a much earlier date, the surnames of Nuckolls and Barrett are found in Goochland Co. records. However, by 1800, they seem to be much more common than at earlier dates. Please send corrections--and your impressions--to the list--and to me so that all can share. EWW