Robert Harris

 

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Robert Harris   see  FAMILY TREE
Born: 1696 St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, VA

 

   
Married: 13 Jan 1719/20 Louisa Co., VA

 

   
Died: 18 Jun 1765 Brown's Cove, Albemarle Co., VA   "In the name of God, Amen. I, Robert Harris of the County of Albemarle, being of perfect mind, and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following: first and principally I recommend my soul to God, who gave it me, not doubting but through the merits of my blessed Saviour to have full pardon and remission of my sins, and my body, I recommend to the earth from whence it came, to be buried in such manner, as my executors hereafter named shall see fit. And as touching such temporal estate as it hath pleased God to bestow on me, I give and dispose of in manner and form following. Imprinis: I give and bequeath to my son, Christopher Harris, forty acres of woodland, ground lying and being in the County of Albemarle, on a large spur of the Blue Ridge of Mountains near to a place commonly called and known by the name of Bear Cornfield to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Harris, after the decease of my loving wife Mourning Harris, all the lands which I hold in County of Albemarle to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I leave to my loving wife, Mourning Harris, the sole use and benefit of all the lands and plantations during her natural life which is above given to my son William Harris after her decease.
Item: I leave to the said loving wife, the sole use and benefit during her natural life, six slaves, that is to say Harry, Peter, and Dick, men: Patta and Nancy: women.
Item: My will and desire is after the decease of my wife, that if my negro man Harry should be then living in that case I give and bequeath the said Harry to my son Robert Harris, Jr. to be his and his heirs.
Item: My will and desire is, after the decease of my wife, that my negro man Peter, he then be living in that case, I give and bequeath the said Peter to my son Tyree Harris to him and his heirs.
Item: My will and desire is, after the decease of my wife, that if my other four negroes Dick, Aaron, men and Patta and Nancy, women be then living I give and bequeath them and their increase to my son William Harris, to him and his heirs.
Item: My will and desire is that if my son William should die before he reaches lawful age or without issue, this in that case he the said William Harris should be further educated and charges thereof shall be payed out of the estate given him, after the whole being sold, by my executors herein after named, and the remainder of the money arising from such sale be equally divided amongst all my children, or other legal representations.
Item: My will and desire is that my son William Harris to be under the tuition and direction and government of my son-in-law John Rodes until he shall attain lawful age.
Item: I give and bequeath to my loving wife when all my lawful debts and financial expenses be paid, all the residue of my estate be it of whatever nature or quality forever to her and her heirs forever.
I do constitute and nominate and appoint my sons-in-law John Rodes and William Shelton, to be my executors of this my last will and testament, as witnesses, my hand and seal this eighteenth day of June the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty five.
signed Robert Harris L. S.
signed, sealed in the presence of Daniel Maupin, John Mullins, James William, Maupin,  Courtly Mullins.

FATHER

William Harris

MOTHER

Temperance Overton

WIFE

Mourning Glenn

CHILDREN

1. Anna Harris

2. Christopher Overton Harris

3. Tyree Harris

4. Mary Harris

5. Mourning Glenn Harris

6. Lucy Harris

7. Sarah Harris

8. Robert Harris

9. Rachel Harris

10. Frances Harris

11. William Harris

12. Elizabeth Harris

Robert lived in that part of Hanover County which became Louisa County in 1742. He held four land grants for approximately 1,295 and in 1745 purchased his brother's plantation on Little River. In the fall of 1752 he patented land in Albemarle county. He had a tobacco plantation of over 3,000 acres on Doyle's River at Brown's Cove.
He was elected to the House of Burgess several times; was a Major in the Colonial Militia of Hanover County; was Commissioner of the Peace in 1742 and Sheriff for Louisa County in 1751.

From the History of Albemarle County, Virginia by Rev. Edgar Woods, "One of the early settlers on Doyle's River was Robert Harris. He and his wife Mourning had ten children, Christopher, Robert, Tyree, James, William, Lucy (the wife of William Shelton), Mourning, (the wife of John Jouett), Sarah (the wife of John Rodes), Rachel (the wife of William Dalton), and Elizabeth (the wife of William Crawford).
 

According to "Related Families" by Carolyn Harris McDonough, 1976 pg 106, 107  Major Robert Harris and Mourning Glenn had the following children.  1. Anna Harris born March 31, 1724 married John Dabney, 2. Christopher Harris born February 5, 1725 married first Mary Dabney, married second Agnes McCord, December 21, 1740 in Colony of Virginia, 3. Tyree Harris born April 8, 1728 married first Miss Chapman, married second Mary Simpson, 4. Mary Harris born February 10, 1724, 5. James Harris, 6. Lucy Harris born April 12, 1734 married William Shelton, 7. Sarah Harris born May 24, 1736 married John Rodes, 8. Robert Harris born March 8, 1841 married Lucretia Brown, 9. Rachel Harris born June 24, 1744 married William Dalton, 10. Francis Harris born January 27, 1746 married Joel Crawford, born October 16, 1736, 11. William Harris born March 15, 1752 married first Miss Nichie, married second Miss Thompson, 12. son deceased, 13. daughter deceased.


Some genealogies list date of christening for Anna Harris as March 31, 1724. This may be the source that proves her parentage. Otherwise there is no evidence that Robert Harris was her father.  There is no mention of her or John Dabney in his will.  However it is of interest that her daughter Ann Dabney named a son Robert Harris Terrell and her daughter Rebecca named a son Robert Harris Warren.

 

 

 

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