Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island

Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island

Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island

Harris Family

The three vertical pigeons mark the Family Crest of the Harris Family.
Photo of the Harris Family Crest from the gravestone of Sarah Harris
(1702 - 1723) in the North Burial Ground, Providence, R.I. Location
of grave from John E. Sterling, "North Burial Ground: Providence, R.I.:
Old Section 1700-1848," R.I.G.S. Special Pub. No. 5, 2000, pp. 61 - 62.

The early history of this Harris Family is based upon the genealogy "The Harris Family," by
Martha A. Benns (1942) in the Rhode Island Historical Society Library and from John O. Austin's
"Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island," 1887 (GPC Reprint, 1969, 1995), pp. 310-313. See also
"Harris Family News" Website by my distant cousin Randy Harris: http://harrisfamilynews.com/ and
his article with Helen S. Ullmann, "The Origins of Thomas¹ Harris and William¹ Harris of
Providence, Rhode Island," N.E.H.G.S. REGISTER, Vol. 167 (April 2013): 96-104.

The information on Jenckes Harris and descendants is from my own research. Thanks to my cousin
Marjie of Massachusetts for information on the Landolina Harris Family.

***Andrew^A Harris

b. late 1500's    in Northbourne, Deal County, England
m. February 2, 1604 Jane Bagley in Northbourne, England    b. late 1500's in England    m2. October 29, 1618 James Grigges
m3. September 29, 1619 James Sayer    d. aft. 1619
d. 1616 in Northbourne, Deal County, England

Andrew was a wheelwright in Northbourne, Deal County, England. He died fairly young in 1616 leaving all of his estate to his wife Jane.
This family information is based on the article by Helen S. Ullman and L. Randall Harris, "The Origins of Thomas¹ Harris and William¹ Harris
of Providence, Rhode Island," N.E.H.G.S. REGISTER, Vol. 167 (April 2013): 96-104.

children:
Jane¹ Harris [1604 - Aft. 1635; probably immigrated to Scituate, Massachusetts by 1635, but no other information on her life there]
Parnell¹ Harris [1606 - 1676; married Thomas Roberts and immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island]
Ann² Harris [1608 - Aft. 1680?; possibly immigrated to Rhode Island, no other information]
William¹ Harris [1610 - 1681; William moved to London and worked as an apprentice; he married Susan Hyde about 1634 in London.
William was one of the original party with Roger Williams to found Providence, Rhode Island in 1636]
***Thomas¹ Harris [1613 - 1686]

***Thomas¹ Harris

b. July 1613    in Northbourne, Deal County, England
m. Elizabeth ( ? )    b. ? in England    d. aft. 1687
d. June 7, 1686 in Providence, R.I.

Some older genealogies claim that Thomas and William Harris were born in Wales. However, recent research
by a Harris cousin has proven that Northbourne near Deal, Kent County, England is the definitive place of
origin for our Harris Family (http://harrisfamilynews.com/).

William Harris was one of four companions of Roger Williams who travelled with Roger to Seekonk during his
banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. Roger Williams stated that William Harris was "then
Poor and destitute." Despite Roger Williams' good will to William, a bitter personal feud would develop
between Roger and William Harris over the accumulation of land and power in the new colony of Rhode Island.
While Roger Williams sacrificed much to ensure the success of his fledgling colony (Roger was financially
bankrupt in the 1670's), most of the early settlers of Providence were busy accumulating land and money.
Thomas Harris would also have disputes with Roger Williams during his life.

Thomas signed the 1637 compact of the original inhabitants of Providence. Thomas was a surveyor and
performed several civil duties for the early town of Providence, R.I., including: town commissioner
(1652 - 1657 and 1661 - 1663), deputy to the general court (1664, 1666-1667, 1670, 1672-1673), member
of the Providence Town Council (1664 - 1666 and 1669), and assistant to the governor (1666 - 1669 and
1671 - 1675). In 1656, Thomas Harris was charged with treason by Roger Williams over Thomas' view of
the liberties of individuals in the colony, although the charge was later dropped. Some genealogies
claim that Thomas Harris was the Quaker man of the same name who was jailed and whipped in July 1658 in
Boston, Massachusetts during a visit to the Puritan church there. However, this is not the case, although
Thomas Harris of Rhode Island was also likely a Quaker. The Quakers were indeed persecuted in Massachusetts
at the time as evidenced by the banishment of Anne Hutchinson from that colony in November 1637 and the
executions of Marmaduke Stephenson and William Robinson in October 1659 and Mary Dyer in the Spring of 1660.
The Thomas Harris who was whipped in Boston was from the island of Barbados and later in life settled in
Boston, Mass. and Long Island, New York (Sources: "History of the Society of Friends in America," Vol. 1,
by James Bowden, London, 1850, pp. 106 - 108 and p. 114; "American Criminal Trials," Vol. 1, by
Peleg W. Chandler, Boston, 1841, pp. 9 - 26, pp. 39 - 46; "Harrises in Boston before 1700," by
Roderick Bissell Jones, Ph.D., NEHGS Register, 1952, pp. 27 - 28).

Thomas Harris of Rhode Island lived out the remainder of his life in Providence. His house was destroyed
in the Narragansett attack on Providence during King Phillip's War on March 26, 1676. After rebuilding,
Thomas would live for another 10 years until 1686. Thomas was a good friend of Providence original
immigrant Thomas Olney.
(Sources: John O. Austin, "Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island," 1887 (1969), pp. 310-313
Dean Crawford Smith, "Ancestry of Emily Jane Angell," NEHGS, Boston, 1992
John Russell Bartlett, "Records of the Colony and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,"
Volumes 1 - 3
Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, "King Phillip's War," The Countryman Press, Vermont, 1999
Information Brochure, Roger Williams National Memorial, Providence, R.I., U.S. National Park Service)

children:
***Thomas² Harris
Mary² Harris
Martha² Harris

***Thomas² Harris Jr. (Thomas¹)

b. ?    Providence, R.I.
m. November 3, 1664 in Providence, R.I.    Elnathan Tew    b. October 15, 1644 d. January 11, 1718 in Providence, R.I.
d. February 27, 1711 in Providence, R.I.

Thomas was a farmer and member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). He served as a deputy (Lower House) for
Providence to the general assembly in 1671, 1679 - 1682, 1685, 1691, 1694, 1697, 1702, 1706 - 1708,
and 1710. He served on the Providence Town Council 1684 - 1686. Thomas' wife Elnathan Tew is
buried in the Providence North Burial Ground (John E. Sterling, "North Burial Ground, Providence,
Rhode Island, Old Section 1700 - 1848," R.I.G.S., 2000, p. 61).

children:
Thomas³ Harris (1665 - 1741)
***Richard³ Harris
Nicholas³ Harris (1671 - 1746)
William³ Harris (1673 - 1726)
Henry³ Harris (1675 - 1727)
Amity³ Harris (1677 - ?)
Job³ Harris (1682 - 1689)
Elnathan³ Harris ( ? - Aft. 1749)
Mary³ Harris ( ? - Aft. 1737)

Gravestone of Elnathan (Tew) Harris in the North Burial Ground (PV001),
Providence, R.I. Location of grave from John E. Sterling,
"North Burial Ground: Providence, R.I.: Old Section 1700-1848,"
R.I.G.S. Special Pub. No. 5, 2000, p. 61. Elnathan's grave was
moved from the old Harris Lot (JN065) in Johnston, R.I. to the
North Burial Ground. Inscription reads: "In memory of Mrs.
Elnathan Harris widow & relict of Mr. Thomas Harris who departed
this life January 11, 1718 in ye 77th year of her age."

Footstone of Elnathan Harris in the North Burial Ground.

Gravestone of Elnathan Harris' son William Harris (1673 - 1726) in the
North Burial Ground (PV001), Providence, R.I. Location of grave from
John E. Sterling, "North Burial Ground: Providence, R.I.: Old Section 1700-1848,"
R.I.G.S. Special Pub. No. 5, 2000, p. 61. Note the variation of the Harris
Family Crest, three pigeons in a triangle pattern.

Mary² Harris (Thomas¹)

b. 1639    Providence, R.I.
m. 1667    Samuel Whipple    b. 1644 (christened March 17, 1644 in Dorchester, Mass.)   d. March 12, 1710 in Providence, R.I.
d. December 14, 1722 in Providence, R.I.
burial: North Burial Ground (PV001), Providence, R.I.

children:
Noah³ Whipple (Abt. 1667 - 1703)
Samuel³ Whipple (1669 - 1728)
Thomas³ Whipple (1671 - 1730)
Abigail³ Whipple (1683 - ?)
Hope³ Whipple (1685 - ?)

Information from "The Louquisset Brothers: Samuel, Eleazer, and William Sons of Capt. John Whipple," by
Dr. Charles Whipple Jr. and Barbara R. Carroll, June 2003, available on:    www.Whipple.org.

Gravestone of Mary (Harris) Whipple in the North Burial
Ground, Providence, R.I. Location of grave from
John E. Sterling, "North Burial Ground: Providence, R.I.:
Old Section 1700-1848," R.I.G.S. Special Pub. No. 5, 2000, p. 135.

Gravestone of Samuel Whipple in the North Burial Ground,
Providence, R.I. Location of grave from John E. Sterling,
"North Burial Ground: Providence, R.I.: Old Section 1700-1848,"
R.I.G.S. Special Pub. No. 5, 2000, p. 135.

Martha² Harris (Thomas¹)

b. Abt. 1643    Providence, R.I.
m. ?    Thomas Field    b. ?    d. August 10, 1717
d. 1717 in Providence, R.I.

***Richard³ Harris (Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. October 14, 1668 in Providence, R.I.
m1. ?    Lydia King    [daughter of Rhode Island Immigrant Clement¹ King, progenitor of the prominent
King Family of Rhode Island]
m2. ?    Susannah (Burton) Gorton    b. 1665    d. June 25, 1737
d. August 18, 1750 in Smithfield, R.I.

Richard owned a significant portion of the Harris Lime Quarries near Limerock, R.I. His son
David Harris (1714 - 1797) became the chief business manager of the quarries and turned the
Harris Lime Quarries into a major producer for the colonial and later American Atlantic seaboard
lime market ("Lincoln R.I. Statewide Historical Preservation Report P.L-1," Rhode Island
Historical Preservation Commission, 1982, p. 13).

children1:
Uriah⁴ Harris ( ? - 1729?)
Richard⁴ Harris ( ? - ? )
Dinah⁴ Harris ( ? - Aft. 1745)
Elnathan⁴ Harris ( ? - ? )
Amity⁴ Harris (1697 - 1769)
Amaziah⁴ Harris (1705 - 1784)
***Jonathan⁴ Harris
David⁴ Harris (1714 - 1797)
Preserved⁴ Harris (1716 - 1797)

This is the modern view of the limestone quarries off Wilbur Road in Lincoln, R.I.
The Harris Family owned and operated a limestone quarry in this area during the 1700's.

Jonathan⁴ Harris (Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. April 10, 1710 in Smithfield, R.I.
m1. before 1737 Mary Brown b. ? in Smithfield, R.I. d. Bef. Fall 1764 in Smithfield, R.I.
m2. Aft. Fall 1764 Anne (Whipple) Mowry
d. September 24, 1785 in Smithfield, R.I.

Jonathan was a farmer in Smithfield, R.I. He was a member of the Smithfield Society of Friends
(Quakers). He lived at the Old Louisquisset Pike and Wilbur Road intersection, where the house
that he built in 1742 still stands. Jonathan sold his share of the Harris Limerock Quarry that he had
inherited from his father Richard to his brother David Harris. His first wife, Mary Brown, died
before 1764. Jonathan married after Fall 1764, Anne (Whipple) Mowry, the widow of Joseph Mowry, son of
Capt. Daniel Mowry (see "Descendants of Nathaniel Mowry of R.I.," p. 80 and 85; also NEHGS Register, July 1935,
"Memoir of Henrietta Corson Harris, B.A. of Springfield, Mass.," pp. 263 - 264).

children1:
Jabez⁵ Harris ( ? - ? )
William⁵ Harris ( ? - 1765)
Susannah⁵ Harris ( ? - ? )
***Abner⁵ Harris
Dinah⁵ Harris (1737 - 1821)
Mary⁵ Harris ( ? - Aft. 1761)

Will of Jonathan Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.
Click on picture for a larger view.

Continuation of Will of Jonathan Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.

The Jonathan Harris House at the intersection of Old Louisquisset Pike and Wilbur Road in Lincoln, R.I.
The original house was built here in 1742, while the current structure was remodelled in 1810 (�Lincoln R.I.
Statewide Historical Preservation Report P.L-1,� Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1982, p. 66).

Abner⁵ Harris (Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. June 10, 1730 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. ? Amey Colwell b. June 11, 1731 d. August 31, 1821 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. March 16, 1788 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Harris Lot (SM016), Harris Rd., Smithfield, R.I.
GPS coordinates: 41^o 54' 41.60" N; 71^o 30' 01.61" W

Abner was a farmer in Smithfield, R.I. His wife Amey Colwell was a descendant of Roger Williams (see above link).

Abner served as a highway surveyor and was the supervisor of a highway district in Smithfield, R.I. in 1775, 1776, and
1782 (Smithfield Town Council Journal, 1771 - 1797, FHL Microfilm 959,526). Abner was also very likely a member of the
Quaker Faith, as he was fined 22 pounds on December 19, 1778 along with Ananias Mowry Jr. and Elisha Thornton (12 pounds)
for refusal to pay a substitute for required militia duty (Smithfield Town Council Journal, 1771 - 1797, FHL Microfilm 959,526).
Ananias Mowry and Elisha Thornton were well known Quakers from Smithfield, R.I.

children:
Abner⁶ Harris ( ? - 1821)
Sarah⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
Rhoda⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
Dinah⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
Lilles⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
Mary⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
Phebe⁶ Harris ( ? - ? )
***Robert⁶ Harris
Martha⁶ Harris ( ? - 1842)
Jonathan⁶ Harris (1762 - 1830)
David⁶ Harris (1762 - 1837)
William⁶ Harris (1767 - ?)

Will of Abner Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.
Click on picture for a larger view.

Continuation of Will of Abner Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.

Harris Lot (SM016), Harris Rd. - - Many of Jonathan⁶ Harris' (1762 - 1830) descendants are
buried here. This is a beautiful, well-maintained historical cemetery. I wish all of them looked like this.

Gravestone of Abner Harris and Amey Colwell in Harris Lot (SM016), Harris Rd.

The Harris House at 135 Harris Road in Smithfield, R.I. was built in 1841 by Abner Harris' grandson
Jonathan⁷ Harris (1809 - 1886) ("Smithfield Architectural and Historical Resources," Rhode Island Historical
Preservation Commission, 1992, p. 50).

Another view of the Greek Revival Style Harris House on Harris Road in Smithfield, R.I.

Robert⁶ Harris (Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. Abt. February 1758 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. February 19, 1780 Phebe Jenckes b. April 26, 1760 d. November 3, 1833 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. October 17, 1824 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Robert Harris Lot (SM070), north of Lydia Ann Rd., Smithfield, R.I. [G.P.S. Coordinates: N41^o 55.340' W71^o 30.273']

Robert was a farmer in Smithfield, R.I. Robert was likely a member of the Quaker religion early in his life, as he was
ordered by the Town Council of Smithfield to pay for a replacement for his required militia duty on August 31, 1778
(Smithfield Town Council Journal, 1771 - 1797, FHL Microfilm 959,526).

Robert Harris served as a Representative to the Rhode Island General Assembly from 1802 to 1809 for the Town of Smithfield
(Thomas Steere, "History of the Town of Smithfield," 1881, p. 175).

children:
Amy⁷ Harris (Abt. 1781 - 1866) [Amy married Thomas Angell (1771 - 1823)]
Sarah⁷ Harris (1782 - 1853) [Sarah married Stephen Steere (1781 - 1853)]
William⁷ Harris (Abt. 1783 - 1848)
***Jenckes⁷ Harris (1786 - 1855)
Phebe⁷ Harris (Abt. 1792 - 1881) [Phebe married Caleb Farnum (1784 - 1857)]
Thomas⁷ Harris (Abt. 1794 - 1840) [Thomas married Chloe ( ? ) (Abt. 1795 - 1867)]
Robert⁷ Harris Jr. (1797 - 1888) [Robert married Martha Smith (1796 - 1880)]
Asha⁷ Harris (Abt. 1789 - 1833) [Asha married Ethan Sweet (Abt. 1787 - 1872)]
Ethan⁷ Harris (1800 - 1857) [Ethan married Abigail Appleby (1806 - 1897)]

Will of Robert Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.
Click on picture for a larger view.

Continuation of Will of Robert Harris courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office.

Map of grandson Robert Harris' Farm in 1930's from Plat Map 36 courtesy of Smithfield (Georgiaville) Town Clerk's Office.
Notice Edwin C. Harris Land west of Harris Fish Pond.

Detail of north end of Robert Harris Farm Map.

November 2013 View of Robert Harris Lot (SM070). This cemetery was reserved out of the original property in the Land Deed
from Ethan Harris (son of Robert Harris) to Benjamin Phetteplace, February 12, 1838, Smithfield Deeds Book 19 [Central Falls],
p. 348. This cemetery is legally owned by all descendants of Robert Harris and Ethan Harris, who also have a right of passage
"at all times" across the surrounding property. The current surrounding land property owner, Michael T. Smith Jr., is a Smithfield
Police Officer; he insists that all descendants crossing from Lydia Ann Road knock on the front door at 210 Lydia Ann Road and
inform him before they cross his yard [if he is not in, call the Smithfield Police Department]. The easiest way for us descendants
to get to the cemetery and avoid disturbing the residents on Lydia Ann Road is go through the woods from Harris Road north of the
stone wall which runs to the west directly across the State of Rhode Island Airport property to the cemetery. If any of my relatives
want to go this route, you will have to bushwhack some [I cut a primitive path to Michael Smith's property line in April 2015]; also
use insect repellant liberally as there are ticks in these woods!

The major maintenance issue for the Robert Harris Cemetery are the large trees in and surrounding the cemetery. Trees of course
eventually fall down potentially destroying cemetery fences and old gravestones; the tree roots also disrupt and disturb the human
remains buried underneath. The trees inside the cemetery belong to Harris Family descendants, and we will need to pay to remove them.
Similarly, the trees outside the cemetery fence belong to Mr. Smith.

I AM ASKING AT LEAST ONE OF MY LIVING RELATIVES (A DESCENDANT OF ROBERT HARRIS) WHO LIVES IN
RHODE ISLAND OR NEARBY NEW ENGLAND TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND VOLUNTEER AS A CEMETERY CARETAKER FOR
THE ROBERT HARRIS LOT. YOUR MISSION WILL BE TO COORDINATE CLEANUPS/TREE REMOVALS/ETC. WITH RELATIVES
AND EFFECTED LOCAL LANDOWNERS. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU, BUT I AM TIRED OF DOING THIS
WORK BY MYSELF WHILE MY NUMEROUS LIVING RELATIVES IN RHODE ISLAND AND NEW ENGLAND SIT ON THE SIDELINES
AND DO NOTHING!

November 2013 view from northwest corner of Robert Harris Lot to the southeast. The small stones behind the larger gravestones are
footstones. The small fieldstones in the upper right corner are the graves of Harris children. Thanks to Friends of Smithfield
Cemeteries for resetting the stones and some cleanup work.

November 2013 view of Robert Harris Grave in SM070.

November 2013 view of Phebe (Jenckes) Harris Grave in SM070.

A classic example of a cemetery reservation clause in an old Rhode Island Land Deed: detail view of the Land Deed from
Ethan Harris (son of Robert Harris) to Benjamin Phetteplace, February 12, 1838, Smithfield Deeds Book 19 [Central Falls],
p. 348, courtesy of Central Falls City Clerk's Office. Click on the image for a larger view. The "northern burial ground"
refers to the Robert Harris Lot (SM070), whereas the "southern burial ground" is the other main Harris Burial Ground, the
Abner Harris Cemetery (SM016), to the south, and east of Harris Road. Rhode Island Title companies are only required to
go back 100 years in their title searches by Rhode Island State Law, so many of these fairly early cemetery reservation
clauses [Ethan Harris' cemetery reservation is 175 years old] are not reported to the current landowners during the land
buying/home closing process. Most of my living relatives who are descendants of Robert Harris also are unaware and
completely clueless that they legally own the cemetery and are responsible for its upkeep!

Preferred Route for Robert Harris Descendants to visit Cemetery
The dashed black line is the preferred route for us Robert Harris Descendants to visit
our family cemetery. Park at the end of the cul-de-sac on Lydia Ann Road and walk east
to Harris Road. Walk north on Harris Road single file facing traffic (be careful and
watch out for cars on this narrow road!). Look for Telephone Pole 59 and enter the
woods to the west just north of the old stone wall (Lot 47, State of Rhode Island
Property, Smithfield Airport). Follow the primitive trail I cut in April 2015 that
meanders on the north side of the old stone wall. Map from Town of Smithfield G.I.S.
The old Robert Harris House was on the east side of Harris Road, but was torn down in
the early 1900's.

Aerial photo of the area with property lines. The old stone wall which you will
follow goes directly to the Robert Harris Cemetery and is visible in this photograph,
courtesy of Town of Smithfield G.I.S. Robert Harris owned most of the land north of
Lydia Ann Road.

View to the east of Telephone Pole 59 on east side of Harris Road.
The entrance to the rough trail to the west is opposite to this
telephone pole.

Entrance to rough trail that runs to the Robert Harris Cemetery.
The old stone wall is visible which extends to Harris Road on the left.
It is best to use sturdy hiking boots and go in the colder months.

Beginning of rough trail that runs to the Robert Harris Cemetery.
Stay to the left near the old stone wall to avoid the wetland to the
right. After you clear the wetland, the trail will meander some and
avoid a large tree blowdown on your left. You might see a few golf
balls that mark some of the trail. I left a wooden stake on part of
the trail before it reaches Mr. Smith's property line. I stopped the
trail just before Mr. Smith's property line (you will see a yellow
"No Trespassing" sign high up on a tree at Mr. Smith's property line),
so you have to meander around some more bushes and trees, just keep the
old stone wall to your left. Descendants of Robert Harris have a legal
right-of-way over Mr. Smith's property to get to the cemetery, but you
can't cut down any trees or extend the trail on Mr. Smith's property.
The old stone wall runs directly into the Robert Harris Cemetery. If you
are not a descendant of Robert Harris, you do have to get Mr. Smith's
permission to cross his property line (Lot 46 on above G.I.S. maps).

Jenckes⁷ Harris (Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. December 18, 1786 in Smithfield, R.I.
m1. Bef. 1809 Rachel ( ? ) b. Abt. 1787 d. September 27, 1811 in Smithfield, R.I.
m2. Bet. 1811-1813 Nancy (Shaw or Greene?) b. Abt. 1795 probably in Coventry, R.I. d. About March 1882
d. August 22, 1855 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Robert Harris Lot (SM070), north of Lydia Ann Rd., Smithfield, R.I.

Jenckes Harris was a Blacksmith, Wheelwright, and a Farmer in Smithfield (See page 1873 of "Representative Men and Old
Families of Rhode Island," J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1908).

children1:
Orrin⁸ Harris (1809 - 1879)

children2:
Gilbert⁸ Harris (1813 - 1888)
Rachel⁸ Harris (Abt. 1815 - 1822) [Rachel died young and is buried in the Robert Harris Lot (SM070)]
Jenckes⁸ Harris Jr. (Abt. 1818 - 1869)
***Orman⁸ Harris

Map of Estate Division of Jenckes Harris upon his death from Plat Map 19, courtesy of Town of Smithfield (Georgiaville).
Nancy Harris, wife of Jenckes Harris, inherited the 78 acre farm on the east side of Douglas Pike. Notice the
Thomas Smith Farm to the southwest of the Nancy Harris inheritance.
Click on picture for a larger view.

November 2013 view of Jenckes Harris Grave in Robert Harris Lot (SM070).

November 2013 view of Rachel ( ? ) Harris (First Wife of Jenckes Harris) Grave in SM070.

Ethan⁷ Harris (Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. 1800 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. Bef. 1826 Abigail W. Appleby b. August 12, 1806 in Smithfield, R.I. d. December 31, 1897 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. June 14, 1857 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Ethan and Abigail Harris are buried in Stephen Appleby Lot (SM059), off Swan Road, Smithfield, R.I.

Ethan owned a large farm east of the Douglas Pike next to his brother Jenckes Harris. Ethan served on the Probate Court
for Smithfield, R.I., but ironically died intestate.

children:
Cordelia⁸ Maria Harris (1826 - 1892) [Cordelia married Daniel Gaskill Aldrich and had children]
Betsey⁸ Olney Harris (1830 - 1919) [Betsey married Duty Smith Mowry and had children]
Oscar⁸ Byron Harris (1841 - Bef. 1922)
Jerome⁸ A. Harris (1843 - 1907) [Jerome married Almira Sheldon and had at least one daughter]

November 2013 view of grave of Ethan Harris in Stephen Appleby Lot (SM059) in Smithfield, R.I.
This cemetery was cleaned and stones reset by Friends of Smithfield Cemeteries.

November 2013 view of Abigail W. (Appleby) Harris grave in SM059.

Orrin⁸ Harris (Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. September 26, 1809 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. ? Sophia Olney Mathewson b. May 2, 1811 in Johnston, Rhode Island d. January 14, 1896 in Johnston, R.I.
d. January 1, 1879 in Providence, R.I.
burial: Mathewson Lot (JN002) Johnston, R.I.
This cemetery lies on a morraine about 250 yards west of Orchard Ave. just north of the cemetery that lies
along Orchard Ave. The cemetery was overgrown with brush in 2004, and some of the stones have fallen.

Orrin was born and raised on his father's Jenckes farm in Smithfield. In his early twenties, Orrin
moved to Providence and worked as a clerk in the American House hotel on North Main Street. In 1849,
he moved to California and worked as a gold miner for four or five years. He returned to Providence and
became manager of the Hoyle Hotel upon his half brother Jenckes Harris Jr.'s death in July 1869.

Orrin enlisted at age 53 in the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment of Volunteers on July 25, 1862 at Providence.
He mustered into the Seventh Rhode Island as a sergeant on September 4, 1862 at Camp Bliss near Providence.
The regiment arrived at Washington D.C. on September 12, 1862 and trained in the area under the command of
Col. Zenas Bliss. In October, the Seventh Rhode Island marched to the Harpers Ferry area, where it
remained until receiving orders to march to Fredericksburg, VA. Orrin fought with Company B on December 13, 1862
at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where the Seventh Rhode Island sustained over 150 casualties while attempting
to assault the heavily entrenched Confederates on Marye's Heights. The Union frontal assault at
Fredericksburg failed with ghastly results as dead and wounded Federals covered the battlefield. After
expending all of its ammunition, the Seventh Rhode Island withdrew from the open fields below Marye's Heights
at 7:30 PM. It was already very dark and cold and the northern lights soon illuminated the carnage.
The regiment stayed at Falmouth, VA until February 9, 1863, when it marched to Newport News, VA. From
Virginia the regiment was transferred with the Union Ninth Corps to Kentucky, where it remained until June.
In June 1863, the Seventh Rhode Island was ordered south to assist Grant's Army besieging Vicksburg, MS.
They were stationed on the Yazoo River until Vicksburg surrendered on July 4. The regiment then advanced
on Jackson, MS, destroying a quarter mile section of the Mobile and Ohio Railway on July 11, 1863. On
July 13, 1863 the Seventh Rhode Island engaged in skirmishing with the rebels on the front lines around
Jackson. Many of the men suffered in the high heat and humidity. Local water sources had been poisoned
by the Cofederates (leaving dead animals in streams) and several men developed dysentery. The rebels
evacuated Jackson, MS on July 16, 1863.

The regiment left Jackson on July 20, 1863 and marched 60 miles to Milldale, MS by July 23. On August 8,
the Seventh Rhode Island embarked on a steamboat to return to Cairo, IL but were soon stranded in the
Yazoo River when the boat ran aground and could not get free until August 10. The men of the regiment
were exposed to the numerous mosquitos along the river and many became sick with yellow fever or malaria.
The regiment returned to Kentucky and had so many sick men that the regiment was sent to convalesce at
Lexington, Kentucky.

Sgt. Orrin Harris was among the many sick of the regiment. He was reduced in rank to private on
October 16, 1863 and sent to the hospital at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. He joined the U.S. General Hospital
at Lexington, KY on December 27, 1863. He rejoined his regiment on the sick rolls at Annapolis, MD in
April 1864. Orrin remained at the hospital in Annapolis after his regiment left to fight in Virginia.
He was sent to the U.S. General Hospital in Philadelphia, PA on June 14, 1864. He was finally discharged
from the Army on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability on August 4, 1864 at Augur US General Hospital
in Alexandria, VA.

After he returned to R.I., Orrin became a bartender at the old Hoyle Hotel in Providence. On the night
of January 1, 1879, he was walking home on the railroad tracks between Providence and Pawtucket and was
struck by a train and killed instantly.

(Sources: "The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865" by William P. Hopkins,
Snow & Farmham Printers, Providence, R.I., 1903, page 388.
"Military Service Record," "Orrin Harris," Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers, U.S. National Archives - -
contains company muster roll extracts and Surgeon's Certificate of Disability.
Website: "DEPARTMENT of RHODE ISLAND SONS of UNION VETERANS of the CIVIL WAR
Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21, 7TH REGIMENT, RHODE ISLAND INFANTRY:"
http://suvcwricamp21.tripod.com/Infantry/7infmain.htm )

children:
Rollin⁹ Mathewson Harris (1848 - 1898) [Rollin married Isophine I. Crumb and had at least two children; Rollin is buried
in River Bend Cemetery (WY008) in Westerly, Rhode Island]
Daniel⁹ Jenckes Harris (1854 - 1937) [Daniel enlisted as a Private in Company H, 15th U.S. Infantry Regiment
on November 19, 1875. He served primarily in New Mexico with the 15th Regiment against the Cheyenne and Apache. After
Daniel learned of the death of his father, he was discharged from the U.S. Army on June 13, 1879 at Fort Marcy (Sante Fe),
New Mexico (Daniel J. Harris Indian War Pension Application 12292, U.S. National Archives)]

Picture of Sgt. Orrin Harris from "The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers
in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865" by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farmham
Printers, Providence, R.I., 1903.

Gilbert⁸ Harris (Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. December 25, 1813 in Smithfield, R.I.
m1. Bef. 1841 Rowena ( ? ) b. Abt. 1817 d. July 22, 1841 in Smithfield, R.I.
m2. Bef. 1850 Everlina ( ? ) b. Abt. 1812 d. October 19, 1876 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. December 25, 1888 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Gilbert Harris Lot (SM003), Douglas Pike (RT. 7), Smithfield, R.I.

Gilbert was a farmer in Smithfield. Late in life he lived with his mother Nancy.
Gilbert was an excellent saver and invester during his life. At the time of his death,
his estate was worth almost $500,000 in today's dollars. His niece Lenora Harris and
nephew Landolina Harris both received a share of the estate worth about $73,000 in
today's dollars in 1889 as Gilbert had no living children when he died.

children:
Samuel⁹ Harris? b. 1845 d. Bef. 1860?
Elizabeth⁹ Harris? b. 1847 d. Bef. 1860?

Gravestone of Gilbert Harris in Gilbert Harris Lot (SM003), Douglas Pike.
This cemetery was reserved out of the property in the Land Deed from Jenckes Harris Jr.
to Sarah A. Patt, January 17, 1895, Smithfield Deeds Book 5 (Georgiaville), pp. 121-122.

Jenckes⁸ Harris Jr. (Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. Abt. 1818 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. Bef. 1852 Mary Ann White b. Abt. 1830 d. October 18, 1897 in Providence, R.I.
d. July 15, 1869 in Providence, R.I.
burial: Oak Hill Cemetery (WO0007), Woonsocket, R.I.

Jenckes was a blacksmith in Cumberland, R.I. before 1868. In 1868, he took over ownership of the Hoyle Hotel in west Providence,
Rhode Island, at the corner of Cranston Street and Westminster Street. Jenckes died at the hotel apparently by suicide at age 51 in July 1869.
His half brother Sgt. Orrin Harris ran the Hoyle Hotel for a year after Jenckes Harris' death. Later, Orrin Harris was a noted bartender
at the Hoyle Hotel until he was killed by a train walking home the night of January 1, 1879. See the article "The Old Hoyle Tavern"
by Horace G. Belcher, "Rhode Island Historical Society Collections," Vol. 28, No. 2, April 1935, 33-48;No. 3, July 1935, 83-96.

children:
Female⁹ Harris b. 1852 d. ?
Jenckes⁹ Harris 3rd b. 1856
Alice⁹ Harris b. 1860 d. ?
Mary⁹ Harris b. 1865 d. 1865
Hortense⁹ Harris b. 1868 d. Aft. 1920

Original notice of Jenckes Harris Jr.'s Death in the Providence Evening
Press newspaper of July 15, 1869.

Gravestone of Jenckes Harris Jr. in the Oak Hill Cemetery (WO007), Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Thanks to Elizabeth Vangel, caretaker of Oak Hill Cemetery, for showing me the location of the
grave of Jenckes Harris Jr. Note the death date on the stone is incorrect; it should be July 15, 1869.

Orman⁸ Harris (Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. Abt. January 18, 1825 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. Bef. 1843 Roxana G. Greene b. April 10, 1823 d. July 10, 1885 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. August 21, 1853 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Gilbert Harris Lot (SM003), Douglas Pike (RT. 7), Smithfield, R.I.

Orman was a farmer in Smithfield. He died at age 28 leaving a wife and two young children. His wife Roxana remained his widow for the rest
of her life.

children:
Landolina ⁹ Harris
***Lenora ⁹ Harris

I believe this photo is of Roxana (Greene) Harris, wife of Orman Harris.
Compare her face to Lenora Harris' below.
Image from Smith Daguerrotype Album, courtesy of Ted Eayrs of Middleborough, Massachusetts.

Gravestone of Orman Harris in Gilbert Harris Lot (SM003) on Douglas Pike.
This cemetery was reserved out of the property in the Land Deed from Jenckes Harris Jr.
to Sarah A. Patt, January 17, 1895, Smithfield Deeds Book 5 (Georgiaville), pp. 121-122.
The cemetery is legally owned by all living descendants of Orman Harris.

Jenckes⁹ Harris 3rd (Jenckes⁸ Jr., Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. Abt. August 1855 in Cumberland, Rhode Island
m. November 26, 1874 in Smithfield, Rhode Island Julia M. Angell of Edwin R. and Eliza B. Angell b. Abt. August 1856 d. June 3, 1928 in Scituate, R.I.
d. January 24, 1929 in Rhode Island

Jenckes Harris 3rd lived in Scituate, Rhode Island.

children:
Ida¹⁰ Louisa Harris b. 1875
Eliza¹⁰ A. Harris b. 1877
Arnold A.¹⁰ Harris b. 1886 d. 1886

Landolina⁹ [Randall] Harris (Orman⁸, Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. May 11, 1842? in Smithfield, R.I.
m. Aft. 1860 Eleanor E. "Nellie" Jillson (of Pardon P. and Abby A. Jillson) b. October 2, 1840? in Providence, Rhode Island? m1. September 30, 1858 in Johnston, R.I. Andrew F. Brown (of John B. and Amey W. Brown) d. March 7, 1901 at Howard Institution, Cranston, R.I.
d. July 5, 1925 in Cranston, Rhode Island
burials: Lando is in State Farm Cemetery Annex, Cranston Historical Cemetery CR107, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Nellie Harris was buried in Plot 1483 in the original State Farm Cemetery, which now lies buried
under Rhode Island State Route 37. There are no surviving grave markers from this cemetery. The
State of Rhode Island is supposed to erect a monument for this cemetery, but it hasn't been put
up yet to my knowledge.

Landolina ("Orlando," "Lando") drops from the town records after 1895. He was the man "Landon Harris" who was at the Cranston
State Institution in the early 1900's. His wife Elinora (a.k.a. "Nellie") is the "Nellie Harris" who was at the Cranston
State Almshouse in 1897, and 1899 to 1901. Son Gilbert Harris moved to Stoughton, Massachusetts and had descendants. For a biographical
web page on Gilbert Harris, click here (thanks to my cousin Marjie of Massachusetts, a descendant of Gilbert, for the
link and additional information on this family). Landolina's son Hiram Harris moved to Plymouth, Massachusetts and had descendants.
Son Orman Harris probably lived in North Smithfield and may be the Orman buried in NS036 who died July 8, 1938; not sure if he was
married. Orman was admitted to the Rhode Island State Poor Farm in Cranston, Rhode Island in December 1917 and was discharged in
July 1918. Son William Harris lived in Providence and Johnston and had a large family, but he died in 1915. Son Charles Harris disappears
after 1900.

children:
Orman¹⁰ Harris b. 1868 - 1938?
William¹⁰ C. Harris b. 1870 - 1915
Gilbert¹⁰ Harris b. 1874 - Aft. 1918
Charles¹⁰ Harris b. 1875 - ?
Hiram¹⁰ A. Harris b. 1878 - 1939

Photo of Gilbert¹⁰ Harris with children Prescott and Marjorie in
Massachusetts about 1907 (Photo from the Gilbert Harris Collection courtesy
of my cousin Marjie of Massachusetts, a descendant of Gilbert).

Entrance Sign to Thomas C. Slater Prison Training School on "W Road"
for Rhode Island Juvenile Offenders in Cranston, Rhode Island. The
old State Farm Cemetery Annex (Cranston Historic Cemetery CR107) is
located behind this facility in some woods. It is best to get
permission from the Slater Training School Director to visit this
cemetery as it is a high security prison facility with active
monitoring of the perimeter.

View looking east to front of Thomas C. Slater Prison Training School.

April 2015 view of the State Farm Cemetery Annex (CR107) behind the
Thomas C. Slater Training School. The people buried here were all
residents of the Rhode Island State Poor Facility in Cranston and
were interred in numbered graves. In typical Rhode Island fashion,
this historic cemetery is overgrown with brush and trees.

Lando Harris' Grave (No. 484) in State Farm Cemetery CR107 (Burial
information from Rhode Island State Archives Poor Farm Records).

Close-up view of Lando Harris' Grave (No. 484).

Map of the State Farm Cemetery Annex behind the Thomas C. Slater Prison Training School on "W Road"
in Cranston, Rhode Island courtesy of Google Maps.

***Lenora⁹ Harris (Orman⁸, Jenckes⁷, Robert⁶, Abner⁵, Jonathan⁴, Richard³, Thomas², Thomas¹)

b. November 24, 1847 or 1848 in Smithfield, R.I.
m. December 10, 1866 in Cumberland, R.I. Jencks Smith b. Abt. 1837 in Smithfield, R.I. d. October 18, 1910 in Providence, R.I.
d. August 11, 1930 in Greenville (Smithfield), R.I.
burial: Greenville Cemetery (SM045)

Lenora Harris was my great-great grandmother.

I believe all of these images are of Lenora Harris, from Smith Daguerrotype Album, courtesy of Ted Eayrs
of Middleborough, Massachusetts.

These web pages are currently under construction, so please be patient.

If you are a relative or are interested in obtaining or providing additional information
on these families, then please send me an email.