The following information may provide some clues to the discovery of the lineage of William Harrison:Library of Virginia, Reconstructed Census of 1720
The following William Harrison's were found at the Library of Virginia (Virginia State Archives) in Richmond, published in “1720 Virginia: A Reconstructed Census”, published in 1998 by TLC Genealogy. These are possible father's of William Harrison and require further research:
Harrison, William Prince George County; Prince George Orders, Reel 7.
Harrison, William Richmond County; Richmond Will Book 4, 1717-1725 Reel 23.
Harrison, William Stafford County; Quit Rent Roll 1723.
Harrison, William Surry County; Surry Deeds 1715-1730 Reel 4.
Harrison, William Westmoreland County; Westmoreland Orders, 1705-1721, Reel 54.
TLC Genealogy also published “Virginia in 1740: A Reconstructed Census”, in 1992:
Harrison, William Accomack County County Orders Book 1737-1744. The will of Joseph Harrison, which lists his wife Elizabeth and sons Josias, William, and Stephen, daughters Sarah, Tabitha, and a grandson William.
Harrison, William Caroline County County Order Book 1732-1740. This William Harrison was a Constable, and was listed in several court cases.
Harrison, William Isle of Wight County Newport Parish Vestry Book 1723/4-1772. A William Harrison who married Mary Hodges, had a brother Henry who died about 1775, and also an unknown relationship to Benjamin Harrison; also had a son William Harrison who married Ann, listed in several deeds.
Harrison, William King George County County Orders Book 2. In 1750 was given Power of Attorney to collect rents.
Harrison, William Prince George County County Minute Book 1737-1740. A William Harrison who was an officer of the Court and was listed in multiple court proceedings.
Harrison, William Westmoreland County County Orders Book 1739-1743, listed a Willowby Harrison.
Harrison, William York County Deed Book 5 1741-1754, and Orders, Wills and Inventories 18 1732-1740. A William Harrison who served on several juries, and was listed in the settlement of the estate of Joseph Buck.
Is it possible that William was "bound" to the James River Harrison's? - From Marie Mackey a fellow researcher:
"Besides the Black slaves that you know from history, there were many whites and Hispanic or Indians that were brought to these shores during Colonial days. Many indentured themselves before they came here for a certain number of years in return for their passage being paid. That is how many of the Lords and Governors were able to have more free labor for their plantations. After some got here and got into financial trouble they were forced to pay off debts by indentured service. Another method of indenture took this course and was quite popular. People with large families that were interested in furthering their children's education and had no way to pay for it , would "Bound" their children (say maybe 13-25, 25 was legal age.) this was to learn a trade or particular job skills. i.e.: printing, blacksmith, pottery, building, lucky if to a doctor or lawyer, shipbuilding, road building, fishing, etc. Our great, Benjamin Franklin was a prime example; he was 'bound' to an older brother for seven years to learn printing. An activity that made him wealthy by the time he was 35, but he chafed under it (hated his brother) and I think he ran away from it. Many of these overseers were high-handed and abusive while others were not. In the case of the French and Spanish Priests, they had their own method of brutality.... chaining them, beating them because they were not 'enlightened' In the case of the Spanish Priests in California, they often killed runaway Indians as a ‘lesson’ to the others. Both of these Priestly orders were more often representatives to their overseas governments."
Notes on Charles City County, Virginia, the reported birthplace of William Harrison:
"The County, strategically located between the James and Chickahominy Rivers and close to the colonial capitals of Jamestown and Williamsburg, was the first westward expansion of English-speaking America. The county was established in 1616 and its plantations and farms along the James River have survived the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. The county's gracious manor houses all privately owned and preserved historic National Register properties, are open for visitors to experience and enjoy today. Despite its proximity to historic Williamsburg and Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Charles City has remained a rural oasis. Extensive timberlands, tidal waters and thousands of acres of richly cultivated farmland are preserved here. Ironically, there is no city in Charles City County. The heart of the community is its early l8th-century courthouse, a 250-year-old cultural link between past and present. Charles City has been home to Indians and early settlers, planters, slaves and free blacks, Presidents and signers of the Declaration of Independence, emancipators, educators and agronomists. Descendants of these founding fathers still live in the county today. Chief Powhatan, head of the largest Indian confederation in America, located his capital at Sandy Point. His daughter, Pocahontas, saved the life of Captain John Smith, who wrote the county's first history. Thomas Jefferson married Martha Skelton in Charles City at "The Forest." Benjamin Harrison, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Presidents William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were born and lived here. General Robert L. Lee spent much of his boyhood here, and agriculturist Edmund Ruffin, who fired the first shot of the Civil War, practiced his innovative techniques on Charles City soil. Lott Cary, the first black American missionary to Africa and founding father of Liberia, was born here. One of the first free black communities in America, established in the 1600s, was located in Charles City, as well as the third oldest organized free black church."
The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, Maryland listed a William Harrison as paying rents in Frederick County, Maryland during the following years:
"Year 1763 1766 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773
Folio 94 65 87 70 63 76 74 88
84 81
From the Church records index file at the Maryland State Archives:
"Harrison, Ephraim Anne Arundel County, All Hallows Parish
Baptized 28 May 1720 (no parents listed).Harrison, Joseph Anne Arundel County, All Hallows Parish
Baptized 2 July 1721 Son of Joseph and Hannah.Harrisson, Josias Anne Arundel County, All Hallows Parish
Baptized 3 July 1726 son of Joseph and Mary.Harrison, Sarah Anne Arundel County, All Hallows Parish
Baptized 4 October 1724 Joseph and Mary."
In the "Maryland Revoutionary Record", by Harry Wright Newman, published in 1967:
Name Birth Rank Service Harrison, Benjamin 1759 PVT Militia Harrison, Joseph 1756 PVT Maryland Line Harrison, Kinsey 1758 PVT Maryland Line Harrison, William 1735 PVT Maryland Line
The first Federal Census of 1790 for Franklin County Pennsylvania, listed:
Males over 16 years Males under 16 years All Females
Harrison, Wm. 2 4 2
Also of interesting note is the close proximity of William Harrison in Franklin County, Pennsylvania to the Irwin Family who lived near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Jane Irwin married William H. Harrison, Jr. (the son of President W.H. Harrison) and her sister Elizabeth Irwin married his brother John Scott Harrison (the parents of President Benjamin Harrison). An excerpt from "The Irwins and the Harrisons", by Dorothy Bowers, published in 1973:
“Harrison’s [President William H. Harrison] interests were tending to local affairs. With James Smith, another pioneer form Mercersburg, Pa. and a relative of James Findlay, Harrison set up a large distillery operation."This would have been around 1796-1797 after future president William H. Harrison resigned from the Army. He then went back to Virginia, to Berkeley Plantation where his daughter Lucy Singleton Harrison was born in September 1800. After her birth he was appointed the Governor of the western half of the Northwest Territory. This reference to a distillery fits the Michigan Pioneer notes.The history from the Michigan Pioneer Collections also states:
“Bazil and his wife remained in Franklin county for three or four years when they moved across the Alleghenies into Washington county, where they lived until 1810, and during that time nine children were born unto them, viz. William, Shadrack, Sally, Nathan, Cynthia, Ephraim, Worlenda, Martha, and two others who died young.”
In Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a William Harrison appeared in Dublin Township on an early tax list:
1795/6 Bedford County, Pennsylvania Tax List
Unseated Lands in Dublin Township (no deed file by the inhabitant)
419.27 acres William Harrison on Sideling Hill Creek adj. John Philips
Bazil and Martha (Stillwell) Harrison do not appear on any of these early tax lists. However there are some years missing from the Franklin County records, or it could be assumed that they remained with his father William. William Harrison again appeared in Dublin Township on the U.S. Direct Tax of 1798. This first federal tax was sometimes referred to as the “window tax”, as window panes, called “lights” on the original tax forms were a sign of wealth in the 18th century. Of the original 1798 tax lists only the ones for Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, and part of Georgia still exist. Even in Pennsylvania, part of Chester and Berks Counties, and most of Lancaster and Northampton Counties are missing (for more details on this Dublin Township plot see the Land Warrant link below). Remarkably, with a few minor exceptions, the Bedford County data is complete:
U.S. Direct Tax of 1798 Bedford County Pennsylvania
Unseated Dwelling/Size/Value Outbuildings Neighbor Township Acres/Value
Harrison, Wm. John Phillips Dublin 419 2.38
For a comparison here is John Stillwell on the same list:
Stillwell, John House/23x19/20 Barn Benjamin Truax Bethel 250 1,380
Ditto S. Mill Bethel 200 300
Additional Davis and other names of interest from "Frederick Maryland, Lutheran Marriages and Burials 1743-1811", translated and edited by Frederick Sheeley Weiser, published by the National Genealogical Society, fourth printing 1993.
A transcription of the Revolutionary War Pension file # S38782, of William Harrison of Hawkins County, Tennessee, contributed by Cathy Gowdy.
A copy of an original Land Warrant filed and issued to a William Harrison in Bethel Township, Bedford County (now Fulton County) Pennsylvania. The warrant is located at the Fulton County Courthouse in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. The plot is listed as 400 acres filed on 15 April 1794 and executed on 14 October 1795. Additonally, William Harrison filed Land Warrants in Dublin and Hopewell Townships.
This web page is authored by Scott Duncan. All information listed without a reference should be verified. Any additions, questions, or comments should be sent to:
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