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This information and accompanying notes were originally posted by Barbara Doying in October 1998. Her comments were sent to the HARRIS-VA surname list on Rootsweb. She has granted me permission to include this information on my Harris web page in hopes that it will assist others in their research on the early Harrises of Virginia and in England.--Glenn Gohr
Source: Ligon Family and Connections, by William D. Ligon, Jr. , pp. 841-42:
Sir Thomas Dale, with his charter as Governor of Virginia, sailed from Land's End in England, March 27, 1611, with three ships, The Star, Prosperous, and Elizabeth, carrying 300 people, and this fleet anchored at Fort Algerian, now Old Point Comfort, May 22, 1611, making the crossing in less than 60 days, which was good sailing in those times. On November 13, 1611, the Prosperous arrived in England on its return trip from Virginia.
A coincidence might be cited in the fact that Thomas Harris witnessed the will of Folk Lee, mariner in Stepney, London, February 26, 1611, and was also given a small legacy in the will. This was shortly before the Prosperous sailed to Virginia in March 1611. Subsequently John Harris of Virginia, upon his return to England, in 1624, resided in the same parish of St. Dunstan, in the East, Stepney. (N. E. G. E. Vol. 46, p. 146)
c. In the will of Sir William Harris, dated 1616, his sons, Thomas and John are given L1,500, the same as the other younger children, and no place of residence is shown for any of the children. Thomas Harris came to Virginia in 1611, but he could have returned to England, as the first settlers often made trips back and forth. So, the will does not prove nor disprove anything.
William Harris, second son of Sir William Harris, made his will in 1622. He mentions his brothers Arthur and John, but does not mention his brother Thomas. John Harris, who seems to have been residing in Virginia at that time, was given a legacy of L400, and as shown before, returned to England in 1624, and came back to Virginia soon afterwards, as he was residing in Virginia in 1626. He may have returned to England to claim his legacy. He is proven to be a member of the Virginia Company by the above correspondence, and Thomas Harris was very likely the "Thomas Harris, member referred to in the Brown's Genesis, p. 221. Thomas Harris may not have been mentioned in his brother's will for various reasons. One supposition might be that he had already received an advance from his brother, which is sometimes the case.
Between the dates of the two wills before mentioned, 1616, and 1622, no will nor administration of any Thomas Harris of this family is found, so he evidently was not deceased.
The Parish Registers of Crixe do not begin until 1749, so nothing can be proven from that source.
Thomas Harris, of Henrico, gave his age as 38 in 1625, which age coincides with the age of Thomas, the son of Sir William. He was a Burgess in 1622, which shows he was a fairly prominent man in the early days. His family evidently ranked with the country gentry of England, as Capt. Paulet, brother of the Marquis of Winchester, was godfather for his son, (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 4, p. 153), and his daughter married Col. Thomas Ligon, a relative of Sir William Berkeley.
Thomas Harris signed his name, "Herris" and "Harries," very similar to the"Herris" of Essex (Journals House of Burgesses). His first son was named "William," and this would indicate that his father's name was "William" as he names his second son "Thomas."
Contributed by Brice McAdoo Clagett
Friendship, Maryland
In 1993 I learned, with the help of Dr. Neil D. Thompson of Salt Lake City that I have a descent through the McAdoo, Grills and Ligon families from Capt. Thomas Harris (1586/7-ca.1649), settler in Virginia, who came on the Prosperous in Sir Thomas Dale's fleet, 1611. I was soon led to the theory--first published by William D. Ligon, Jr., and subsequently in two works by John Bennett Boddie--that Capt. Thomas Harris was the third son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris of Creeksea (Cricksey, Crixsey, etc.), Co. Essex, and of illustrious and royal descent. The theory seemed plausible, being supported by considerable circumstantial evidence.
Unfortunately, a search at the Essex County Records Office in Chelmsford quickly unearthed the will of Thomas Harris, made and proved in 1617, which shows that Sir William Harris's third son died unmarried and was not the man who came to Virginia. Thomas' legatees included six of the seven other children of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris, as well as his sister Mary 's husband Giles Browne, so that there is no doubt whatever of the identification.
The original will is on file at Chelmsford, with the signature of the testator and witnesses, and is classified as Essex Archdeaconry Wills DABW20/299. I have a photostat of it and, in order to put the Ligon-Boddie theory to rest once and for all, it seems prudent to publish an exact transcript, as follows:
In the name of god Amen the tenthe daye of Marche in the yeare o' lord one thousand sixt hundred and sixteene. I Thomas Herris of Crixsey in the county of Essex Gentleman being at this pnte yll and weake in body but yet of good and pfect minde and memorie do make and declare this my testm and last will in form following, that is to say ffirst and above all things I do commend my soule into the handes of Almighty god my maker Assuredly believeing throughe the precious death and bloodshedding of Jhesus Christ his sonne my only Savior and redeemer to have free remyssion & forgivemes of all my synnes and to be saved. And my body I commytt to the Earthe to be Buried in Christian &decent manner. Item I give to the pore of the pishe of Crixsey aforesaid iii vi viii.
Item I give to my loving brother Sr Arthur Herris knight my Gray stoned horse.
Item I give to my Brethren Mr William Herris and Mr John Herris to either of them the sevrall some of tenn pounds.
Item I give to my three sisters Mrs Marie Browne, Mrs Ffrancis Harris and Mrs Elizabeth the sevrall somes of tenn pounds apece.
Item I give to Mrs Marie Browne and Mrs Franncys Browne sisters of my brother Mr Gyles Browne to either of them tenn pounds apece.
Item I give to my loving cosen Mr Edwarde Herris counsellor at lawe tenn poundes.
Item I give to my loveing ffreind Mr Gregorye Pratt? [can't read] my Baie Nagge.
Item I give to George King tenn poundes. All the said sevrall somes of tenn poundes formerly named and before given I will shal be paid within sixt monthes after my death by my Executor hereafter named.
Item I give twenty nobles amongst such servants as I shall apoynt my Executor to paie yt unto.
Item I give to my loving brother Gyles Browne Esquier all such stocke as I have at the ffarme called Troy Solforde in Burncham: And my desier is that he maie continue the holding of the said ffarme. And lastly I do make my said Brother Mr. Gyles Browne my Executor requiring him to paie my debts And pforme this my last will and Testament.
Thomas Herris
Signed Sealed and declared to be
his last will and Testament in
the presence of
Th: Burnet
William Gandy
Geo. King
pbat 8 Julii 1617
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