Benjamin (V) Harrison was born in 1726 on Berkeley, the family plantation beautifully situated on the banks of the James River overlooking the seaport of Petersburg and Richmond. He was a descendant of a family long established in Virginia, his father, Benjamin (IV) Harrison, having married the eldest daughter of the King's surveyor general (Anne Carter). Young Harrison was the eldest son of ten children. He was a student in the College of William and Mary when, his father and two of his sisters were all killed in the mansion house, by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. Harrison left college before graduation and returned home to manage his father's estate. Although he was considered young to be entrusted with such a charge, he displayed unusual good judgment and prudence in his responsibilities.  He married Elizabeth Burwell the daughter of Colonel William Bassett of “Eltham”, New Kent, Maryland.  Harrison's family had long been distinguished as political leaders and he was appointed at an early age to sustain the reputation to which he had been born.

    He started his political career around 1764 and he continued to hold political offices throughout his lifetime, being elected to a seat whenever his other offices permitted. As a member of the provincial assembly, Harrison soon became outstanding.  He united common good sense with great firmness and the ability to make decisions. Besides being quite wealthy, and having made respectable connections by marriage, he was naturally a political leader and he held the confidence of his constituents. The British, being aware of his influence and respectability, were anxious to have him, and proposed to name him a member of the executive council of Virginia, a position few would have had the firmness to decline.  Harrison, although a young man, was not seduced by the rank conferred by office. In opposition to the British, he identified himself with the people, whose rights and liberties he pursued with zeal. As a member of the House of Burgesses in 1764, he served on the committee that prepared the memorials to the King, Lords and commons, but in 1765, he opposed the stamp act resolutions. He was chosen in 1773 as one of the committee of correspondence that united the colonies against Britain. In 1774, he was appointed one of the delegates to the continental congress and was four times re-elected to that seat.  Harrison was witty, jovial and entertaining, having a wry, often black sense of humor that delighted his fellow congressmen. When there was discussion about the possibility of being hanged for signing the Declaration of Independence, the heavyweight Harrison was reported to have uttered to Elbridge Gerry, a very thin man, "I shall have all the advantage over you. It will be all over in a minute for me, but you will be kicking in the air half an hour after I am gone."

    Harrison loved his family and his several large plantations and was an intimate friend of George Washington. He married Elizabeth Bassett and they had seven children who survived infancy. Of his children, his third son, William Henry Harrison, would become the ninth President of the United States. His great grandson, Benjamin Harrison, would become our twenty third President.  During nearly every session of congress, Harrison represented his state of Virginia, distinguishing himself in many important positions. He was chairman of the board of war and held that office until he left congress in 1777. He was also often called to preside as chairman of the committee of the whole house, in which post he was extremely popular. He occupied that chair during the deliberations on the dispatches of General Washington, the settlement of commercial restrictions against Britain, the state of the colonies, the regulation of trade and during the momentous question on the debates for the declaration of independence.  Towards the end of 1777, Harrison resigned his seat in congress and returned to Virginia. He was once again elected to his state legislature. In 1782, he was elected to the office of chief magistrate of Virginia and became one of the state's most popular governors. He was twice re-elected governor and in 1785, having become ineligible by the provisions of his state's constitution, he returned to private life, carrying with him the esteem of his fellow citizens.  In 1788, when the new constitution of the United States was submitted to Virginia, he was elected a member of the state convention. Owing to his advanced years, and to increasing attacks of gout, he did not take a very active part in the debates of the convention. He was generally in favor of the constitution, provided certain amendments could be made to it, but voted against its unconditional ratification.  In the spring of 1791, Harrison was again severely attacked by gout, and he partially recovered. In the month of April, he was again elected a member of his state legislature. On the evening of the day after his election, following a festive party in celebration of his election, he was again stricken with gout and died at Berkeley on April 24, 1791.  Below is his will, on file at the Library of Virginia, transcribed by Scott Duncan:
 
 

The will of Benjamin (V) Harrison, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Heads of a Will written by one Benjamin of Berkeley all in my own hand, being in perfect sense health and memory and intended to be carried into due form by my friend Peter Lyons Esq. But if any accident should happen to deprive me of life before this is done it is my desire that it be taken for my last will and testament written and signed this third day of January 1780------

 I give to my Dear and affectionate wife Elizabeth Harrison to her and her heirs forever, all my furniture except my plate which she is to have for use of during her life.  I also give her my Coach harness and six of the horses belonging _____ is to be chosen by her, to her and her heirs forever--------

 I also give to my Dear wife the use of all my tract of land whereon I now live called Berkeley, with all the slaves thereon, or belonging thereto, as well tradesmen as other with all the stocks of horses, Mules, Cattle, Sheep, and hogs during her life except such as I shall hereafter specifically give away, _____ for which she is to pay my just debts and to support and maintain my son _____ and my Daughter Sarah; the better to enable her to as which I give her _____ part of the ship? now on the _____, and all the money that may be due from the other _____, which I hope she will apply immediately in the discharge of such debts as I shall leave unpaid, and to assist? In any manner that she shall think fit my Son Carter in building or buying a house at Cabin point, and _____ is to her to sell two of the three shares I have reserved? For myself in the said ships and to keep the other to import necessities for herself and family.  There is a debt due to the Estate of Wm Lightfoot due from my father’s Estate, which I desire may be paid, not that I think I am indebted to the Estate, for I solemnly declare, that I think I have paid abundantly more than ever came to my hands I direct the debt to be paid, to prevent? _____and dispute.

 At the Death of my wife I give my tract of Land called Berkeley / except such part of it as I shall give my Son William / to my Son Benjamin to him and his heirs forever, but it is my will and desire that if my Son Benjamin die without a male heir, that then my said tract of land as aforesaid go in remainder or _____ to my Son Carter Basset Harrison to him and his heirs forever-----

 I give my Son Carter B. Harrison my tract of Land at Cabbin point, my Mill and Miller _____, and the land I have on both sides Savages Run?, my lots in or near the town of Richmond and those known? In _____ _____ _____ in partnership with Nathaniel Harrison to him and his heirs forever-----
 

                   Henry

 I give to my Son William ^ Harrison at the Death of his mother, or on his coming of age, the upper part of my Berkeley tract of land, to him and his heirs forever; that is to say, beginning on my west line near the stumps of a pine tree fronting the house that James Handman lives in, from which _____ cut for the large ship, running from thence straight due east course till it strikes my east line.  But if my said Son William should die before he comes of age, or has a Son, or should after he comes of Age died and have no Son, in either of these three cases it is my will and desire that the said tract or parcel of land _____ __________ _____ _____ to my Son Carter B. Harrison to him and his heirs forever-----

 I give to my Son Benjamin and his heirs forever all the negros he has of mine in his possession at hand_____ , except George the Son of Frankey, I also confirm to him his right to Son _____, and give him ship carpenter Tom and his wife Judy and her children and Tabb the wife of Emanuel.

 I give to my Son Carter B. Harrison, Old Will and his wife Betty and her children, Sally daughter of Sarah and her two sons Coye and _____ _____, Old Coye and his wife Betty, _____ the Son of old Will, _____ baker Dick, and Anthoney to him and his heirs forever, I also give him forty Ewes and a Ram, and direct that forty? Head of Cattle and three good work horses be bought for him, and I give him my Phaton? and _____ _____ and my two colts ____ two years old, and at the death of his mother I give him_____ plate, and at the death of his aunt _____ I give him the _____ I lent her and all her _____ two of them which I shall hereafter give away to him and his heirs forever-----

I give to my Son William and his heirs forever at the Death of his Mother or his coming of age all the negros with their increase which I now have at my plantation called_____ hides; and _____ Tom the husband of Moll, and Grittys son Charles, I also give my said Son at the time aforesaid all the stock of cattle _____ and hogs at the said Plantation and forty Ewes and a Ram from Berkeley-----

 I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Rickman And her heirs forever Moll Stoker and her Daughter Patty and granddaughter Betty and their increase and _____ _____ George the son of Frank now at _____, and Stable Boy now _____-----

 I give to my Daughter Ann Coupland and her heirs forever, her maids Molly and Sally and their children and _____ _____ Grittys children Phebe & Tom and Aggs daughter and I also desire that any _____ _____ may be ______ _____ in the best manner and four men _____ _____ and delivered to her-----

 I give to my Daughter Lucy Randolph and her heirs forever her maid Betty and her increase, I give my granddaughter Betty Randolph a girl nearly of her own age to be chosen by my wife I give my grandson William Randolph Grittys son Dick, and to the child not yet named a negro boy about his age to be chosen by my wife to them and their heirs forever.

 I give to my Daughter Sarah Harrison and her heirs forever Sarah the Daughter of Jenny, Molly the Daughter of Tabb, and _____ the Daughter of Liddy, with their increase; and it is my will and desire that my Son Benjamin at the Death of his Mother, he being so much better provided for than my other children, pay to my said daughter Sarah two hundred and twenty half _____ in gold, but if my said daughter should not then be of age or married that he maintain the said sum in his hands, till one of them wants? takes place, paying an annual interest of five _____ return in the same coin towards the support of my said Daughter-----

 At the Death of my dear Wife I give all my stock of Horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs on my plantation of Berkeley _____ before given away, to my Son Benjamin and his heirs forever.  And if at the time aforesaid my Sons Benjamin and Carter should be living I give all the negros possessed by my said Wife and not before disposed off to be equally divided between them, but if either of them should die before that time having no Son I give them to the survivor to his or them or his or their heirs forever.  But if these Negros should all fall by survivorship to either of my said sons my will is that he pay to each of my four Daughters their _____ _____ the sum of two hundred pounds in gold _____ _____, and moreover that he deliver to my Son William two boys and two girls healthy and sound of between twelve and fifteen years of age-----

 I give to my niece Ann Bassett to her and her heirs forever at the death of her aunt with her choice of the negro children which the woman now has that I lent her; and I give to my nephew Carter Bassett the next choice of the said children-----And whereas I omitted to give my Dear Wife the tools of my Carpenters and the plantation tools, Waggons, and _____ I hereby declare it as my will that she should possess the whole of them with the millstones and _____ article belonging to my Mills my share of the felt pans in Glouster and the great pot I have here for the purpose of making felt.

       Benjamin Harrison

January 8, 1780 On consideration of the above bequest to my four Daughters I’m lead to think I have not done them that justice that is due so much affection.  _____ it is therefore my will that at the death of my wife the Negros they had in possession at the time of her Death be laid off into four as equal parts as possible without parting men and their wives, that three of the said four parts be equally divided between my Sons Benjamin Carter and that the other fourth part be equally divided between my four Daughters over and above what I have before given them----- This bequest is not to alter, except as to the fourth part of the Slaves given to my Daughters, the bequest in my will of the slaves, to my Sons if they survive them-----."
 

       "Benjamin Harrison"

 

This web page is authored by Scott Duncan. All information listed without a reference should be verified.
 

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