I am sharing with Harris-Hunters these notes, which seem somewhat disjointed, on William Harris. There are so many William Harrises that it is difficult to sort them out. A great deal of study needs to be devoted to this person--and his like named contemporaries. If you can add--or subtract--to these notes, please share with the Harris-Hunters or VA rootsweb lists, so we can get the records straight. For example, several wives' names are presented. Are these different men with different wives--or did William Harris have serial wives? The deed, cited below, mentioning Christopher Harris fairly well establishes that the widow of his deceased brother William was Elizabeth. Since Christopher Harris was the son of Major Robert Harris, we can establish that by 1777 William Harris, son of Major Robert Harris, was deceased. And that his widow was Elizabeth. E.W.Wallace WILLIAM HARRIS SON OF ROBERT HARRIS, MAJOR. Little is known of William Harris, reportedly born Nov 1752. He reportedly died before 1777, according to the Albemarle Co. deed cited below. William was seemingly under age or ill when his father Major Robert Harris of Louisa Co., VA wrote his will in June 1765. According to Malcolm Hart Harris, author of several articles on the Harris family of Hanover Co., his first wife was a Miss Michie. Another account states his wife was Hannah Jameson. The Albemarle Co. deed cited below involving his brother Chirstopher indicates his widow was Elizabeth. At any rate, he is reported to have died in 1776. More research is needed. Robert Harris's (abstracted) will (W.B. 3-165) in Louisa Co. reads as follows. Robert's widow was Mourning, said to have surname Glen [not sufficiently proved]: 18 June 1765. I August 1765. Son Christopher to have 40 acres of land in Albemarle County, known as "Bears Cornfield." After decease of wife, son William to have all land I now hold in Albemarle County. Sons, Robert, Tyre and William Harris to have slaves. Wife Mowrning (Mourning) to have use of all lands during her life. Son William [who probably was underage] to be under direction of son-in-law John Rodes. Exrs: sons-in-law John Rodes and William Shelton. Wit: Daniel Maupin, John Mullins, Jr, William Maupin and Connerly Mullins. (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOKS A AND B, 1742-1759 [Bellevue, WA, 1976] shows many Harris males involved in land transactions in that county. Perhaps these Harrises were related because their names appear often in conjunction with others who are related to female lines, i.e., Rice, Dabney, Glen.) We believe, but cannot prove, that this patent may apply to the son of Maj. Robert Harris of Louisa Co. We know from other land records that the Harrises owned land near Moorman's River in Albemarle Co. Patent Bk 42-633: William Harris, 211 acs. Albemarle Co. on the S side of Pasture fence Mountain on some of the Eastern brs. of Moremans Riv., adj his own line; 5 Jul 1774, p. 633, 1 pd. 5 Shillings. (Dennis Ray Hudgins, CAVALIERS & PIONEERS, V. 7 [Richmond: Virginia Genealogical Society], p. 346) Can the following Amherst Co. deed refer to this particular William Harris? Amherst Co. DB C-190 1 Jul 1771. William Harris, Albemarle, to John Diggs, AC [Amherst Co.] for 50 pds., 150 acres on N side of Rockfish. Pat of tract bought by Wm. Harris from Jacob Writh. Lines: Wm. Harris, N side of the main road, crossing Buck Creek. Wit: Wm. Harris, Jr., Jno Montgomery, Josiah Jopling. (Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis, THE DEEDS OF AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 1761-1807 AND ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 1748-1763 [Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1979] p. 127) Amherst Co. DB A-227 gives information that William Harris on 2 Jul 1764 bought part of the original 900 acres belonging to Jacob Wright and wife Elizabeth. (ibid, p. 82) In December 2002, one correspondent states that William Harris with wife Henrietta [unknown] is the son of Robert Harris, but we cannot verify this union from the following abstracted deed, which is signed acknowledged by a William Harris with a wife named Elizabeth. Question: Did Elizabeth have two names, or are these distinctly different wives? Furthermore, we cannot identify Samuel Harris, Overton Harris and James Harris. A James Harris is said to have married Mary, the daughter of Robert Harris and is verified to have been son-in-law of Major Robert Harris. Are Samuel and Overton Harris brothers of James Harris, the groom of Mary? Because of the late date of this deed--1786--this person seems NOT to be the same as Robert Harris's son William who died ca. 1776-1777, as indicated in an Albemarle Co. deed cited below. Why is one of the grantors named Hennaretta, and yet the deed is signed by a woman named Elizabeth Harris? Louisa Co. DB F-150-151 5 Oct 1786 William Harris & Hennaretta his wife of Louisa Co. to Manoah Lasley of same; 9 pds; 48 1/2 a. on north east side of Long Cr. bounded by lands of Menoah Lasley, William Harress & John Boswell. William Harris Elizabeth Harris Wit: Samuel Harris, James (X) Harris, Overton Harris (Rosalie Edith Davis, LOUISA COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEED BOOKS E & F, 1774-1790 [Manchester, MO: Privately published, 1983] p. 60) An earlier Louisa Co. deed specifies that one William Harris has a wife named Elizabeth. Louisa Co. DB E-238-239, 9 Mar 1778 William Harris & Elizabeth his wife of Louisa Co. to David Bigger of sd. Co.; 200 pds.; 100 a. on the south side the North Anna River... Parson Douglass corner on the river...Wm. Harris' line...Thomas Graves line...Thomas Harris line Wit: none William (+) Harris Elizabeth (X) Harris 9 Mar 1778 ack. by William Harris & Elizabeth his wife (Davis, p. 27) William Harris, son of Robert Harris, apparently died ca 1777, as indicated by a deed executed with his widow Elizabeth and his brother Christopher and Christopher's then wife, cited below. Is he the William Harris who appears in this Albemarle Co. deed? The association with a male Mechie suggests that he is the same person. Albemarle Co. DB 5-188,189: [blank] day of [blank] 1770 between William Mechie of Fredericksville Par. and Albemarle Co. & William Harris of same... 60 pds. 150 acres .. n. side of Mechams River ... Robert Lewis's line... /s/ William Mechie Ackd by William Mechie at Albemarle June court 1770 (Adapted from Ruth & Sam Sparacio, DEED ABSTRACTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1768-1770 [McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1990], p. 95) Albemarle Co. DB 5-312-313 12 Nov 1770 William Clark and Frances his wife of county of Albemarle and Parish of Fredericksville to William Harris of above county & parish for 57 pds. one shilling & three pence ... 336 acres ... upper side of Meachams River .. John Mechie's line William Clark Frances her mark X Clark Wit: Nonan Mills, Benjamin Clark, John Rodes At Albemarle May Court 1771 proved by oaths of Nonan Mills, Benjamin Clark & John Rodes (Adapted from Ruth & Sam Sparacio, ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEEDS AND WILLS, 1768-1772, PART II [McLean VA: The Antient Press, 19??] p. 23) Because there is an association with a John Rodes, whose wife was Sarah Harris, a daughter of Major Robert Harris, and because the land is on Mechum's River, we suspect the William Harris of Albemarle Co. is the more likely candidate to have been son of Robert Harris. The name of the widow of William Harris--Elizabeth--appears in a 1777 deed in Albemarle Co Deed Bk 1776-1782, p. 56-58. Abstracted, the deed reads: 8 May 1777 between Christopher Harris and Agnes, his wife, and Elizabeth Harris, the widow of William Harris deced. all of Albemarle Co. to Thomas Garth - two parcels of land 150 acres on N. side of Mechum's River and 336 acres on both sides of Mecham's River ... Albemarle Co. Old Line .. John Michie's ln.... said Elizabeth his widow and said Christopher his Brother and Heir, and said Elizabeth his Widow and said Christopher his Brother and Heir .. Elizabeth .. possessed of one third part of each of the parcels of land as of her Dower of the Estate ... and Christopher .. as brother and Heir to said William ... remaining two thirds of each of the parcels and is also entitled to a Reversion after the death of said Elizabeth whensoever the same shall happen... Now the said Christopher Harris and Agnes his Wife and said Elizabeth in consideration of ... 100 pounds .. convey to Thomas Garth in fee simple ... two tracts of land containing by estimation 486 acres. (no witnesses recorded) Christopher Harris Agness Harris Elizabeth Harris (Adapted from Ruth & Sam Sparacio, ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEEDS 1776-1778 [McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1997] pp. 27-29) Apparently, there are two William Harrises with a wife named Elizabeth, one who had died by 1777 as indicated in the Albemarle Co. deed cited above, and one who was very much alive in 1778 in Louisa Co. as indicated in the Louisa Co. deed. Or, conceivably the 1778 deed was recorded after William's death. ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.