Dr. Johnson's Harrison Notes February 1997

HARRISON NOTES February 1997

Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

8514 Rockmoor San Antonio, Texas 78230
© 1997 Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

FROM INDIAN ARCHIVES. I believe that Helen Niewendorp received the identical papers I did, but just in case all of the information is not identical, I will go into detail as to just what I received, so that Helen can cross check.

The packing list says: 16 copies

Claim file No. 1229, Thomas Harrison, et al

Fourth Board of Cherokee Commissioners, RG75 Entry 250

Stack Location 11E2 29/17/3 Box 18

Actually there are 17 pages copied.

Testimony of Richard Fields. In the claim of the heirs of Thomas Harrison, a Reserve under treaty of 18171819, Richard Fields, a native Cherokee being called upon testifies as follows.

Question: Were you acquainted with the Reservee Thomas Harrison and his family before and after treaty of 1817? Where did they reside?

Ans: I did not become acquainted with them particularly until after that treaty. After that treaty I was frequently at Harrison's place where he had entered for a reservation. It was on the Tennessee River on main road leading from Gunter's landing to Bellefonte about six miles from Gunters. I often remained there overnight, and became well acquainted with the family.

Question: Of whom did his family consist?

Ans: He had one child of his awn by his wife, who was by then dead, and three daughters and one son of his wife's by a former husband named Lovett. He entered for the Reservation in the name and for the benefit of these children he being a White man. Their mother was a native Cherokee.

Question: Do you or do you not know whether Harrison ever sold or abandoned his reservation or how it got out of the possession of the children?

Ans: I do not believe he ever sold or abandoned the reservation. I also understood that he died upon and in possession of it and after his death I saw his children living there. Jenny, the only daughter of Harrison, died somewhere about the year 1823 or 24. She never sold or abandoned it and I know the step children who became scattered after the father's death (sane removing to Arkansas), never presented their claim for the value of it under the treaty of 1835. They never had an opportunity of doing so until the Commissioners opened court in their country in 1844 & 45. I was then present and saw John Brown, Eleanor Beavert & Nancy Shifley in the Commissioner's office. They are children of two of Reservee's stepdaughters as named in their declaration which I have read.

I know the witnesses, Campbell and McCoy. They are men of integrity and veracity Campbell is an citizen and is called one of the main pillars of the Nation. They have both been members of the National Councils.

Question: If you have any knowledge of the value of the land embraced in the Reservation?

Ans: I can answer positively that this land was the best kind of cotton land and that land sold in that vicinity no better in quality in the years 183637 at $25, 30 and as high as forty dollars an acre. A great portion of the Reservation was the richest bottom land.

Signed: Richard Fields
Sworn and subscribed to before Sam Stettinius, J.Peace (?)

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No date on the face of this document but on the back it says: 1229 Fourth Commission Thomas Harrison's heirs vs Reservation 253 The United States Filed July 22, 1847 W.D. Miller, Secy Decree rendered July 23, 1847, rejecting claim W.D. Miller, Secy S.G. Stambaugh, Atty.

I will not go into all this detail as I did above in the rest of this document. Archibald Campbell also appeared before the commissioners and testified. He (Thomas Harrison) lived on the place at the time of the treaty of 1817 and he had it run off for a reservation and lived on it. It was located on the north side of the Tennessee River in Alabama, about 6 miles NE of Gunter's Landing, up the river, lying immediately on the river and a valuable tract of land as most of it was tillable. He died and left one daughter Jenny and she remained on the reservation for some time after her father's death. She married Samuel Gunter and she died without issue. Her nearest relations was Susannah, Lucy and Lydia Lovett, her half sisters. They are all dead. Susannah had one child whose name is John Brown. Lucy died and left no issue. Lydia has two children, one now Eleanor Beavert, the other Nancy Shipley who is the sole heirs of the aforesaid Jenny Harrison. Jenny never sold the Reservation to my knowledge. It was good cotton land and valuable on account of being near to a little town called Claysvill, and suppose it was worth $15 to $20 an acre. Signed in Cherokee Witness: John T. Mason no date.

A paper signed by Jn Brown, Eleanor Beavert and Nancy Shipley, dated April 12, 1845 in presence of John T. Mason.... these are heirs of Thomas Harrison's children. Harrison received a 640 acre reservation. They appeared before the Commissioners adjudicating claims under the Treaty of 1835. Thomas Harrison was a white man. He died on his reservation... His daughter Jenny married Samuel Gunter and they had no children but Samuel Gunter had a son by a former marriage. After Harrison's death Jenny kept possession either by herself or by tenants until she died, and the white people took possession of it after her death. She never sold or otherwise disposed of the reservation. This was an excellent tract of land. It was excellent cotton land and near Claysville and convenient to Gunter's Landing made it more valuable, worth ten to twenty five dollars an acre.

Copy of a letter from: War Department, Office of Indian Affairs April 24, signed by C. A. Harris. The letter is requesting all information on Reservations for Cherokees re the treaty of 1835, to help in coming to conclusions on the subject of Reservations. This letter apparently for James Whitcomb of the General Land Office.

Another letter copy May 13, 1837. C. A. Harris of the War Department to Hon. Wilson Lumpkin and John Kennedy Esq. New Echota, GA. He is enclosing the original papers of the land office about these Reservations and requesting preservation of these records ad return of them. A note: Upon said memorandum,

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the names of "Thomas Harrison" and "Challenge" appear.

Copy of a letter (incidentally, copies are made by hand, beautifully copied), James Whitcomb, Commissioner, General Land Office May 10, 1837 to The Hon. C.A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He is enclosing a considerable stack of original papers regarding the alleged abandoned Reservations in Alabama, and he lists them: Charles Thompson, Sally Lowry, Isaac N. Wade, Daniel Thom, Alexander Thompson, William Key, John Thompson, Giles McNulty, Isaac Key, Catherine Stephens, William Jones, Catherine Cheeks, Polly Smith, JOHN GUNTER,.. Challenges; Andrew Lacy, THOMAS HARRISON and EDWARD GUNTER. Comment: Does this mean that someone is challenging the ownership of the property, or does it mean a protest by the heirs of it being called abandoned? Have the Whites taken over the land fraudulently with the help of crooked politicians? Even though Thomas Harrison was white but with half breed heirs? Were they forced out including the numerous very prominent people on this list? Or were they enticed to leave for a better deal in Arkansas/ Indian Territory? Even if abandoned or they wanted to move west, heirs were entitled to sell this very desirable and valuable land, but evidently they did not and somehow prevented from doing so.

Paper signed by John L. McCoy. In the case of the heirs of Thomas Harrison for a reservation under the treaty of 1817. He appeared before the commissioners 7 April 1845 and testified. He knew Thomas Harrison at the time of the treaty of 1817 and before. He lived on Thomas Harrison's place that he entered as a Reservation. At the time of the treaty he lived at John Gunter Senior's three or four miles distant. He knew it was entered for the Reservation and he was there when it was surveyed. It included Harrison's improvements Pea on one side by the Tennessee River about 6 miles NE of Gunter's Landing and up the River. Harrison lived on the Reservation and he died there. He lived on the place when Harrison died and for sometime afterwards. He recalls one child, Jenny who was married to Samuel Gunter. She died and left no issue. Nearest relatives, Susanna, Lucy and Lydia Lovett, her half sisters by the same mother.

Signed by John L. McCoy
Testified before John T. Mason
Apr 7, 1845

Comment: Where was all this testimony given. I am presuming that it was given in Indian Territory and presumably those giving testimony were living there. Though John McCoy is not labeled as an Indian, I presume that he was and in Indian Territory.

Claim submitted before Hon. B.H. Brewster & E. Hardin, Commissioner under Cherokee Treaty of 1835. John Brown, Eleanor Beavert, Nancy Shipley vs the United States. Claim for the value of a Reservation of 640 acres of land as the heirs of Thomas Harrison who registered for said reservation under provisions of the Treaty of 1817 in right of his children.

In this case the evidence satisfactorily established the fact of reservation under the terms of the treaty, #203. He occupied the reservation under the terms of the treaty by which he was granted and died and was buried upon it. At his death these children were entitled to a patent from the United States in fee simple for the land. Harrison being a white man, all the children of his wife, the Cherokee mother were entitled.

John Brown is the son of one of the stepdaughters and Eleanor Beavert

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and Nancy Shipley, daughters of another stepdaughter. The other stepdaughter is dead and left no issue. Jenny, caughter of reservee married Samuel Gunter. They are both dead leaving no issue. Gunter ha d a son by a former wife, now living, named G. W. Gunter. He did not file a claim to part of this estate but I think he ought in justice to be entitled to a share. If his father and stepmother had lived until the claim he would have been their heir.

The witnesses Archibald Campbell, John L. McCoy and Richard Fields, men of high standing and character in the nation and all native Cherokee, satisfactorily establish the facts. Certainly the facts warrant a price at least equal to fifteen dollars an acre, and the co missioners should also take in mind the length of time the heirs have lost the interest on this valuation which was due in 1836 at notification of the Treaty. Respectfully submitted, ?.M. Stanbaugh attorney dated July 1847.

Letter May 10, 1837 from General Land Office by James Whitcomb, Commissioner , to The Hon C.A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. (This is a duplicate of the one above naming the "abandoned " reservations.)

Letter C.A. Harris to Hon Wilson Lumpkin and John Kennedy Esq. New Echota, GA. This is a duplicate of one above.

Comment: This Thomas Harrison, white with an unnamed Cherokee wife who had previously been married to a Lovett, does not appear to be the one we are seeking Thomas Harrison of the 1800 Buncombe County Census... unless he had two families who did not know about each other. Possible but unlikely. His daughter Jenny, his only child, was well married into the Gunter family and it appears that Thomas Harrison was among the elite of the Cherokee in Alabama. John Brown, a stepgrandson shows connection to the very prominent Browns, among whom was nearby Catherine Brown about whom I earlier reported : the book MEMOIR OF CATHERINE BROWN, A CHRISTIAN INDIAN OF THE CHEROKEE NATION. Could this Thomas Harrison, though a different person than "ours" be related , or related to other LGT Harrisons who were in the Tennessee River area ? Perhaps he could be pursued further by studying his associated family connections in Arkansas/Oklahoma. Was he the Blacksmith and Indian Trader reported to Gov. John Sevier as a white living among the Cherokee or was that a different (Buncombe) Thomas Harrison ?

FROM ELIZABETH SANDERS of Warrensburg, MO. She got in touch with Helen Niewendorp who put her in touch with me. She is descended from Missouri Harrisons who had their earlier roots in Alabama. This quickly became very exciting since it all fits in with the Harrisons of Becky Bonner and Josephine Bass. Ms. Sanders knew a bit about Michael Harrison being an ancestor but she did not know from whence he came. Becky Bonner and Josephine Bass evidently did not have Ms. Sanders branch, but now the long lost cousins are put together and Ms. Sanders is overwhelmed with Harrison ancestry through SETTLERS BY THE LONG GREY TRAIL and beyond and into England ! Ah, if only we could luck onto our Harrison ancestry so plentifully!

Ms. Sanders had the advantage of some previous research by a Mr. James Aye of Collinsville, IL, now deceased, who traced this line back to Alabama and did Some research in Huntsville, AL on this line. Collinsville, IL is not far from where I was reared in Alton, IL and not far from Belleville, St. Clair County, IL where Rev. Thomas Harrison of Buncombe first settled.

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FROM BO SMITH. A lot of material but some about lines not relevant to Harrisons. Much of this is about Morgans of Onslow County NC who married into his wife's Harrisons, probably; then to South Carolina and then Georgia. (Recall that this is the ancestry of Zadoc Harrison which I have covered a number of times and used that label of Zadoc for identification).

Further work shows Solomon and Joseph Morgan of revolutionary times, had been in Chatham County, NC, then to SC for the Revolution and then Joseph to Screven Co. GA and there and SC was the intermarriage with Harrisons. Both served as soldiers and have such records in SC.

Solomon Morgan 1735=1803 was m to Jemima Webb. He was a gunsmith and maker of horsemen's swords, which was quite an art. In fact I recently saw an antiques program on PBS and one of the most valuable antiques was a horseman's sword of the Revolution. A horseman's sword was somewhat different from a foot soldier's sword. This particular one was very ornate and probably mainly for special occasions such as parades. The steel for the blades had to be imported.

These Morgans first went to SC from Chatham into the Darlington/Peedee area, but sold out there to go to GA.

Bo also sent me information on someone who has been bugging me for years: Jacob Martin Sr. of early Buncombe County. His descendants have been very involved in my wife's lines, including later Harrisons in Buncombe. I have often thought that if his ancestry could be found it would lead to information on a number of other lines. The information about Jacob Martin comes from his own statements. He was a Rev. War Vet of four tours of duty, but he did not apply for a pension when he was supposed to in 1832. He waited until April 1844 when he was 84 years old. He gave a detailed statement and had support from numerous well known people of BUNCOMBE, including Nathaniel Harrison, County Clerk, and such a statement of support by Commissioner's Court of Buncombe, but he said he knew no one who was still alive who could testify for him. Yet, he or someone, gathered all sorts of proof from various sources, produced a thick document and succeeded in obtaining the pension very late in life. In the process of all this, it is shown that he married Polly Plemmons. He had brothers George and John Martin who served with him and he had a sister Hannah Conrad who was still alive and living in Catawba County. He had other documents from Catawba County and from Burke County, but he came from Lincoln County, NC as did his family and lived there before the Revolution and during the Revolution when he was not in service. He acoomplished a lot of travel during his various tours of duty, such as to Charleston only to discover that the Americans lost before his outfit got there, Much of his service was in SC such as Ramsour's Mill and King's Mountain. One of his last tours of duty was a scouting outfit which was devoted to catching "outliers" crooks and bandits.

This does not give his parents, but at least we know they were in Lincoln County and that he was also involved with Davises in Lincoln County. I think this pretty well excludes Jacob Martin as from previously studied Martins of N and S Carolina.

Though I am interested in numerous connections of Martins with various Buncombe lines, perhaps the most important one is that Jacob Martin Jr. was married to Mary Hawkins, daughter of James Hawkins, and was involved in virtually every real estate transaction the Hawkins brothers had, and they were numerous. He was very much part of the Hawkins family and was gifted with land before any of the sons were, by James Hawkins. I have been interested in earlier connections of Martins with Hawkins as a lead to Hawkins ancestry. I still do not have that.

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FROM BETTY JO HULSE. She points out that on page 23 of my January 1997
Harrison Notes I have written about Madison Co. AL Orphans Court Book 4,
p 430, Nov 6, 1830. Thomas Harrison produced a certificate showing Seabourn
Ikard, and Nancy Ikard, infants of Anthony Ikard Decd, over 14 chose him
as their guardian and also Polly Ikard, Elijah Ikard and Anthony Ikard were
other infants under age 14 and he would like to be their guardian. Johnson
Harrison and Aaron Harrison were sureties. Mrs. Hulse knows about these
Harrisons. This Thomas Harrison was the one who married Nancy Pack. These
orphans were his grandchildren and Johnson and Aaron Harrison were his sons.
While we are on the subject, I will give some more details on the manes
Harrison who m Nancy Pack. This is work done long ago by Betty jo Hulse.
It also contains the Harrisons of Becky Bonner and Josephine Bass who were
also in Madison Co. AL, but I will not go into these Harrisons since that
has been done recently, but the two unrelated Harrison families shared the
County
Thomas Harrison and Nancy Pack were married fall of 1784 in Lincoln
Co, NC; she b in VA in 1764 and died in TN 10 March 1854. manes b in MD
c 1760 and he died 6 Nov 1839 Franklin Co. TN., now Grundy Co. He had a
brother Richard who lived in Allen Co. KY c 1832. manes moved a lot and
he describes those moves and his military service in his pension application.
First they moved from Lincoln Co. NC to Warren Co. TN, then Franklyn Co.
TN, then to Christian Co. KY, then Indiana, then back to KY, to MO and then
to AL and finally to Grundy Co. TN. They had 7 living children when he died
according to a newspaper obituary, which said he was b in England along with
his brother Richard and they were orphans when they came to America ... but
he says in his pension record that he was b in MD. Children:
William b 1786 m Loucinda d c 1850
Elizabeth b c 1787 d 1846 m Anthony Ikard in KY
Susannah b 1789 m Harrison Sartin
Elijah b 1794 m Edney Watson
Thomas Jr d 1843
Johnson b 1 797 Christian Co. KY, d AL 1874 m Ann Goode Cunningham, dau
of John Cunningham and Hannah Lewis. He was a J.P.
Aaron b c 1799 KY m Louisa.

There is much more about subsequent generations, family history, deeds, wills and biographies. Many of these were in Madison Co. AL and surrounding areas.

An interesting note: Married at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Perry L. Harrison, Thursdays evening April 14, 1881 by Rev. J.A.B. Lovett: Mr. John F. Lathram and Miss Hattie Harrison. Could this Rev. Lovett be of the same family as nearby manes Harrison's wife first married into. Recall that she was Cherokee and first married a Lovett by whom she had Lovett girls reared by Thomas Harrison on his Reservation

FROM HELEN NIEWENDORP. She too has received the papers from the Indian Archives about which I started this paper. I think that from my paper on this she can tell if we received identical material. She too doubts that the Thomas Harrison of the Cherokee Reservation is the same person as "our" Thomas of the 1800 Buncombe County Census. She is interested in the 1810 Buncombe County Census as far as the Harrisons. I have a printed version of that census but there is question whether it is complete. Her John Harrison is not shown on that census but according to deeds and such he should have been there until 1819.

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She enclosed a clipping from THE STATE, newspaper of Columbia SC 21697. It is an article and picture about State Representative Jim Harrison, apparently of Columbia, who is in his 5th term. He is also a Lt. Col. in the National Guard and a lawyer. He keeps getting tagged for active service in the military, like the Persian Gulf and Bosnia. He is a Republican and very good looking. Helen is going to try to find his ancestry.

FROM RUTH BOWERS. She comments about page 31 of my Jan 1997 Harrison Notes. about the middle of the page. This item is 9 March 1784, Thomas Brothers of Dist 96 SC to William Camp of Rutherford NC witnessed by THOMAS HERRISON and John Wilson and Joseph Camp. She points out that a John Wilson of NC is believed to be the son of Thomas and Jean Wilson of Abbott's Creek, Rowan Co., NC (now Davidson County but near the northeastern border and near Winston Salem). He married Ruth Wilburn d/o Samuel Welborn, a Rev. War soldier, and Mary (Isabel) Teague. Comment: I am very much into Welborns and Teagues and Abbott's Creek, largely to do with my own ancestry of Newberry County, SC. I knew Wilsons were somehow involved with these folks and at Abbott's Creek Baptist Church. These same Wilsons are apparently also the same family as the Wilsons on Newberry County and fellow church members of my ancestors at Bush River Baptist Church in Newberry. Also, the Librarian at Davidson County Library who has been so helpful to me on these matters, is also named Wilson and apparently of the same Wilson line!

Ruth also refers to page 17 (about center of the page) of Jan 1997 Harrison Notes in which I mention Sterling Hightower. She has his family chart for anyone who is interested. I did not think to tell her, but I will do so now. I would like to have Sterling Hightower's family chart and I can put it in Harrison Notes.

She points out that I also mentioned Jeremiah Osborn of Buncombe County. His son John Osborn married Elizabeth Claypool and her line is traced back to Adam and Eve! She is a descendant of Alfred the Great who was also mentioned. Ruth descends from Alfred the Great (so do I).

She enclosed some Harrisons of the 1900 Census of Fayette Co. IL. I will note some of special interest:

Andrew Harrison b March 1832 TN. His parents both b NC, a large family

William Harrison (next door to Andrew) b Dec 1833. He too b in TN with parents both b NC probably Andrew and William are brothers.

Also households of Henry, Jasper, Michel, Benjamin, John F. and William H. Harrison. These probably represent two or three generations and more than that if we count their families. Michel, b 1829 in IL is the eldest. His parents were both born in KY.

FROM KATRINA ABERDEEN. She is mainly a Treadway researcher, but Treadways and Harrisons got mixed together when Frances' grandmother, Rebecca Treadway, married John F. Harrison, her grandfather. Treadways and Harrisons lived together in Sandy Bottom, where Doe Branch runs into the French Broad from the west side about 5 miles upstream from Hot Springs, NC. Mrs. Aberdeen with the help of someone with a four wheel vehicle made a trip to this area and found the TreadwayHarrison Cemetery... something we have never quite accomplished in this moutainous, frightening and beautiful area. She sent photographs. This is the area where John and Rebecca (Treadway) Harrison developed their Barytes Mining and mills in the very early 1900's. This is also where Rebecca's Treadway cousins lived with a number of other relatives. One of the graves is Aaron Treadway's and his wife, Priscilla Davis.

Also in the cemetery are:

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Sallie Harrison Treadway 3/15/1855 1/23/1928. She was the wife of Adolphus Treadway and the sister of my wife's grandfather John F. Harrison.

She also sent a copy of an extensive letter dated Nov. 11, 1968 to Kenneth Plemmons from TSgt Kenneth C. Wilde, stationed in Nevada. This is extensive genealogy of mostly Davises of BUNCOMBE. I will not attempt to record all of this. Much of it is later generations an excellent piece of work. But I will give a few points which attract my attention.

1880 Census Madison Co. NC. HARRISON Davis age 21, farmer, wife Elizabeth 21 and a child James age 2.... a note is appended: He was son of Minzy Davis. He also went by the name of Joseph Davis and his full name Joseph HARRISON Davis.

1880. Hardy Roberts 22 Farmer, wife Violet. Baby 10 mos Dellia. Note: This is ancestor of Kenneth Plemmons. He was son of Jesse Roberts. "My Roberts and Buckners both came from the Forks of the Yadkin River in then Rowan County NC."

1880. HARRISON Davis (another one) 38 Farmer, wife Lydia Margaret 28, Children: Loucrecy 12, Jane 10, Sophina 7, James 5, Swan (Benjamin Swan, grandfather of the writer and of the addressee).

1880. David Plemmons 19 Farmer, wife Nancy 22, Mary M. 7 months old. note from writer to addressee: You mentioned that your ancestor Fate Plemmons was 3/4 the Indian. I am fascinated by Indian blood and I am sorry I have not concentrated more on Plemmons On my mother's side I am descended from Old Duck Shelton whom you must have heard about in connection with a lost "silver mine" and in molding his own coins. Duck's mother was an Indian woman named Glumdalclitch. She had Duck (William Duckworth) by Rodeerick Shelton, first settler on Shelton Laurel. She had George "Rock" Franklin by Solomon Stanton. She is said to have been the mother of Solomon Chandley. She was sometimes called a Shelton but most generally went by the name of Franklin which she picked up from a Franklin man she married I think William Franklin. (Interesting .. Duckworths they come from SC but before that at Abbott's Creek Baptist... Fate is a nickname used in these parts to stand for Lafayette. Shelton Laurel is the site of a big massacre of Sheltons in the mountains and remote during the Civil War. They were Yankees and killed by Confederates.

1870. Daniel Davis 45 Farm Laborer, wife Rutha 33, sons Daniel C. 17 and HARRISON 15 (Daniel son of "Nat" Davis.

1870. Creasy Davis 60 a female, Hariet 16, Jane 15, HARRISON 11, Hannah 10. (This is Lucrecia Davis widow of Minzy or Mingy Davis. Harrison is the one who later married Eliza Jane McDaris Wild.

1870. Charley Davis 29 Farmer wife Milly, children: HARRISON 7, Sarah 8, Daniel 1. (Charley probably son of Lucrecia/Creasy Harrison was probably John L. Harrison Davis).

1870 HARRISON DAVIS 28 Farm Laborer wife Margaret 17, son John 1 and Creasy 2.

1870 HARRISON Davis 27 Farm Laborer, wife Lydia M 17, Lucreasy 2, John 1. This is probably a repeat of the one above and if it is it means that his wife was Lydia Margaret Davis, daughter of Minzy

1850. Elnathan Davis 54 Farmer, wife Lucretia 49, Francis M. 18 male, Andrew J. 16, Newton 12, Margaret E. 14, Thomas J. 10, Jesse W. 6, Nancy E. Poor 1. (He comments that the name Elnathan Davis is a common one in eastern NC. He found two in the 1790 census. Buckners came from Chatham Co. NC and connected to an Elnathan Davis.).. my comment: I am familiar with a Rev. Elnathan Davis or perhaps several of them. One was one of the early

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founders of the Separatist Baptist Church end came from the Welsh Baptist community of Pencader Hundred, Delaware and into NC

1850. J.J. Buckner Sr. 55 a miller. One of his sons was William H.H. Buckner and note says this is WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON BUCKNER.

FROM TRESSIE NEALY. Let me introduce this a bit. Recall that Galbreaths/ Gilbreaths, Galbraiths from Mecklenburg Co. NC were in Buncombe County associated with the Harrisons and Ezekiel John. Margaret Gilbreath was the wife of Rev. Thomas Harrison and they moved to St. Clair County, IL across the river from St. Louis early enough to be there to welcome Lewis and Clark and their expedition. Buncombe Galbreaths also moved with them and associated with these Harrisons in IL and MO. Tressie sent the following about more Gilbreaths, this time in the neighborhood of Thomas Harrison of the Cherokee Reservation in Alabama.

From, GILBREATH, GALBREATH, GALBRAITH, Tentative Compilation of Genealogical Material Concerning the Family in the U.S.A. by Elmer C. Gilbreath 1958, presented by the Clan Galbraith Association of North America, 1994.

p 61. Descendants of THOMAS GALBREATH, son of Alexander Galbreath m Elizabeth Hays.

Alexander Galbreath of Northampton Co. PA m Agnes Miller, dau of Thomas Miller of same county. Among their children was:

Thomas Galbreath b c 1751 m Elizabeth Hays. He served in the Revolution. The marriage was in Bedford Co. VA 1779. He changed the spelling to Gilbreath. They settled in Jefferson Co. TN and he died there 1829. (Jefferson County, TN just across the NC border of Buncombe and originally included what is now Cocke County, so very close to the branch of the family in Buncombe, though I do not know how closely related. Among their children were:

Nicholas Gilbreath b c 1780. Not a lot known about him but a Nicholas Gilbreath was in Madison Co. AL. "In 1812 James and John White and Alexander Gilbreath, under name of White and Gilbreath obtained an attachment against William J. Johnston sheriff's deputy, Nicholas Gilbreath". It is also stated that Nicholas m Carrie Tipton. (Tipton a prominent pioneer of TN)

Alexander Hays Gilbreath b c 1782 in VA was in the 1850 census of Marshall County, AL. Married only by Indian law; no children; slave owner, lived in Marshall Co. AL (where Thomas Harrison, Gunters and Browns were) and his will on file there; large and very fat man; died about 1859 and left an estate of about $20,000. Before the estate was settled, the Civil War started and it was not until June 5, 1869 that the petition for final settlement of his estate filed in Marshall County, AL. He m POLLY BROWN, a wealthy Indian girl; when the government moved the Indians to the west, she went with her people, left her husband wealthy.

Isabella Gilbreath. Remained in Jefferson Co. TN. m James Hoskins. They had a son George Carrington Hoskins m Charlotte Moody and they had a son William Patton Hoskins m Mary Olivia Rawles and they had a son
James Dickason Hoskins who was long time President of the University of Tennessee including 1945 when I graduated from U of T Medical School! Perhaps he handed me my diploma. I remember the name but not the face.

Does this imply that there was a connection of this Gilbreath family of TN and AL with Thomas Harrison of Buncombe/?? AL with the Cherokee reservation and related to Browns, and Browns related to Harrisons and Gunters. like these Gilbreaths? Quite a few coincidences here when we think of Rev. Thomas Harrison m Margaret Guilbreath of Buncombe/ St. Clair CO. IL, accompanied

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by Gilbreaths. Interesting to speculate
Another item of interest:
INDIANS AND INTRUDERS. Compiled by Sharron Standifer Ashton, 1996.

"1860 Indian Territory Slave Schedules" Choctaw nation, County of Towson, 20 August. Widow William Harrison Total slaves 5, No of Black 5, No of slave houses 1.

Choctaw Nation, County of Kiamitia (Kiamichi) 18 September. Z. Harrison guardian for Eden Ward. Total slaves 12, 11 Black, 1 mulatto, 2 slave houses

Choctaw Nation, Co. of Kiamichi, 18 Sept Henry Harrison 5 slaves, 2 black 3 mulatto, 1 slave house.

Choctaw Nation, Co. of Kiamichi 20 Sept Zadoc Harrison 16 slaves, 12 black, 4 mulatto, 3 slave houses.

Well! this all appears to be family of the prominent Zadoc Harrison, the Choctaw still no known relationship to Zadoc Harrison and family of Bo Smith's wife.

Tressie also sent a flier for the book CHEROKEE PLANTERS IN GEORGIA 18321838 by Don L. Shadburn, Vol 2. This is part of a three volume series. Tressie comments that it has no Harrisons but an excellent book.

FROM BETTY JO HULSE. In this month's DAR Magazine is a list of "First Families of Tennessee", Chicasaw District, listing the ancestor and the "daughter" who descended. I am familiar with another "First Families of Tennessee" of the East TN Historical Society. Perhaps this is the same but with descendants of western TN. At any rate, this is based in Memphis. One of these is Ancestor JEREMIAH HARRISON and the daughter is Ann Pope Freeman whom Betty Jo is contacting. If the rules are the same as E. TN, this would have to be an ancestor there by time of statehood. If this is the case this should be "our" Jeremiah Harrison of Greene Co. TN, and son of Isaiah Sr.

MIDDLETON (MILTON) HARRISON. This is a family of interest which was sent to Mrs. Hulse. There are some notes written on this paper by someone other than Mrs. Hulse, which I will repeat.

He was b SC c 1803, first marriage unknown, 2nd marriage Elizabeth Holyfield 13 Jan 1844 Perry Co. AL; third marriage to Martha Humphries 22 Mar 1849 Perry Co. AL.

Children by first wife:

1. Robert b c 1820/5 m Malinda Caroline Horn 1840 Perry Co. AL

2. Lewis b 1826 m Pelenia Horn 1843, Perry Co. AL. Descendants of this family well known because whoever prepared this had him for gg grandfather.

3. Eliza Jane b 1828 m John Jenkins 1856, Perry Co.AL
4. son b 183035
5. daughter b 183035

6. Benjamin b 1833 m Eliza J. Humphreys 1856, Perry Co.

7. Cyrus b 1837

8. Emiline "Emma" b 1839 m George Houston 1888 in Houston Co.AL.

9. Milton Jr. b 1839

10. John D. b 1843 m Millie Allie Brooks 1864 Newton Co. MS. Descendants well known as well as the Brooks family. Milly was the daughter of John Brooks who was the writer's gg grandfather.

By Elizabeth Holyfield but not sure about this.

11. James G.G. b 1849 (are these

12. Thomas Harrison b 1849 twins?

By Martha Humphries

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13. Mary b 1850 m W.W. Walker 1887, Newton Co. MS
14. Columbus b 1852

15. Martha b 1855 m Marion J. Taylor 1872 Newton Co. MS Comments: Several things of interest. First: lived in Alabama and so perhaps related to other Alabama Harrisons. Second: Humphreys/Humphries. There is such a connection in GA with Lydia Harrison, daughter probably of Rev. Jeremiah Harrison of Murray County, GA m Rev. Joab Humphries, Methodist, who named his church "Harrison Chapel" in honor of his wife's father, a Methodist Minister. Third: Brooks married Harrisons of Greene Co. TN. Brooks from a prominent Methodist pioneer preacher there and the Harrisons were descendants of Old Jeremiah Harrison, son of Isaiah Sr. and especially from Jeremiah's son Isaiah. These Brooks and Harrisons formed a "nest" of Methodist Preachers of several generations, maybe including John D. Harrison. Milly and Allie were names of Greene Co. TN Harrisons and Brooks and Allie also of Harrisons there. Fourth: Many of the names of these Harrisons were common in LGT Harrisons but also in other lines of Harrisons.... Perry Co. AL is west of Montgomery.

Mrs. Hulse [coked up Middleton Harrison but did not find much, though on the censuses of 185060 in MS and 1830 in Perry Co. AL. He was in Itawamba Co. MS in 185060. The family listed in the census is not the same as the above list, but the same wife.

Another Harrison bunch of SUMNER COUNTY, TN. From Deed abstracts and cemeteries. This sent by a relative of Mrs. Hulse. Sumner County NE of Nashville. As I recall, it was a huge county early on and was first settled by those who were on the founding expeditions of Robertson and Donelson of Nashville which included some Harrisons, probably LGT., Later, Sumner County was used for extensive land grants to NC Veterans of the Revolution.

Indenture 21 Nov. 1796. Medy White, Sevier Co. TN to Josiah Howell for $500 silver dollars both sides E. Fork Station Camp Creek bd on Hugh McCarey, on NE corner. Wit: NATHANIEL HARRISON, CYNTHIA HARRISON.

Indenture 13 May 1798 Joseph Neely to William Hall (notice Halls on previous item) for $100, 19 acres & 20 poles. Wit: John Alcorn, NAT HARRISON, John Hall.

Deed 18 Mar 1800 HENRY HARRISON to James Williams for $100 43 acres Wit: NATHANIEL HARRISON, HENRY HARRISON. (2 Henry Harrisons?)

Indenture 23 Oct 1 798 George G. Boswell & DENNIS CARROLL, Scott Co. KY to John Stan $630 both sides of Dry Fork of Bledsoes Cr. Known by John Wilson, pre emp being 640 acres. Wit: John Buntin, Joseph Buntin, Joseph Bowman... Mrs. Hulse comments that her Dennis Carroll was never in Scott Co. KY that she knows of. There was another Dennis Carroll in SC about that same time. CEMETERIES SUMNER CO. TN. Old Fountain Head Cemetery

Hall Harrison 1 8691931
Mary Harrison Ragland 18851965
Emily S. Harrison dau of NB & Elizabeth May 22 1861Aug 30 1917
Allen Harrison Oct 11, 1859 June 15, 1918
Alva A. Harrison wife Nov 15, 1864 Dec 2 1890
NATHANIEL B. HARRISON Father Dec 18, 1819. Died Oct 29, 1905
Elizabeth M. Harrison, mother Nov 27, 1835 May 16, 1887
R. L. Garrett husband and father Nov. 27 1835 May 16, 1887
Mary E. Harrison June 22, 1839 May 28, 1916

Dr. J. M. Harrison July 26, 1830July 29, 1889.

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Comments: None of those listed above were old enough to be the original Harrison members of the Robertson Donelson expedition. Moreover, those originals were, as I recall, on Bledsoe's Creek. I note that the property Dennis Carroll sold was on Bledsoes Creek, but not Harrisons. Also on Bledsoe's Creek were some Hawkins who came from Buncombe, especially John Hawkins, elder brother of my wife's James Hawkins. His brother Borden Hawkins of Sumner County died and left the property to brother John of Buncombe who moved there. Also involved were Lauderdales who were from Botetourt Co. VA on property originally owned by John Harrison Jr. of LGT (murdered by a slave). Bledsoes also from the same area and Old Jeremiah Harrison was there for a time after leaving Augusta Co. VA and before settling in Greene Co. TN.

FROM HELEN NIEWENDORP. She is interested in pursuing the 1810 census of Buncombe and is doing so. I sent her a printed copy which was published in A LOT OF BUNKUM in a serialized fashion over a period of a number of months in 19867. In the process there was a note saying that some pages were missing but would be published later. There is a gap between 267275. When the series was ended, I contacted them asking for the missing pages and I was told that they really were not missing but never done blank pages. I am not toe, sure of that. One thing noticeable about the 1810 census is the terrible spelling. I have also viewed the microfilm version which confirms the bad spelling, but when I did the microfilm version, i was not paying much attention to Harrisons. Helen is planning to do the microfilm of 1810. She has checked the 1810 census index for Harrisons and she finds some discrepancies with the printed version I sent her. A bunch of people named Harris are in the index but not on my printed census (or on the missing pages?). These include: Jesse, John, John Glen, and Paten Harris. So, we may have current misinformation if I am the source!.. And a better version coming! Comment: I know of at least a couple of Patton Harrisons... maybe more. One was a student at Dorland Bell in Hot Springs when it was coed in the 1920's or so. Another was a U.S. Senator from MS, which could perhaps be the same person. Also a couple in KY, much earlier and probably LOT).

Helen wrote to the National Archives about Thomas Harrison, the Indian Trader. In response they sent some information about various records and what is on microfilm but they also were somewhat discouraging in that much in the way of records before 1800 was destroyed by fire. She sent me a copy of the statement of available records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the Records of the Office of the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs. (Indian Affairs early on was under the War Department). Much of this is correspondence and registers of correspondence were kept. It was a fire in the War Department in 1800 which destroyed so many of the records. Licenses were issued to traders and later records available. Passports were issued to travelers to the Indian territories. In 1795 the US Government got in the business of trading with the Indians and this was supposed to be "Non profit". This was for cost plus expenses but I can imagine how corrupt this could become, but private trade was still permitted under a licensing system established by congress in 1786 and later modified.

In several volumes of the COLLECTIONS OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN, groups of documents relating to the fur trade have been published. A list of such publications was enclosed, and also publications other than Wisconsin. Helen brings up the subject of the DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS as a possible source for information on the subject, which is also from Wisconsin. I have often heard of the Draper Manuscripts and I have seen a

13. Harrisons

few reports from them but I get the impression that this is all very extensive stuff and not all of it actually published. Helen points out that in an index she notes Nathaniel Harrison and Harrison genealogy in reference to the Tecumseh papers. Interesting. Tecumseh was supposedly killed by Colonel Richard Johnson of Kentucky in the War of 1812. Apparently he killed someone else but Tecumseh was killed about the same time. This made Richard Johnson a big hero of the War of 1812 bigger than General William Henry Harrison. The two were political enemies. Congress issued special medals to them. Johnson's was gold and Harrison's was silver. Johnson was elected vicepresident and later on Harrison was elected President only to die a month after his inauguration... could this Nathaniel Harrison be part of William Henry's family? There were a few Nathaniel's in that family. But this needs to be looked up, somehow.

HISTORICAL RECORDS OF OLD FREDERICK AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES, VIRGINIA by Wilmer L. Kerns, PhD, 1988, revised 1992. This is not deeds, wills, censuses and such but an excellent introductory history of the area followed by biographies and brief genealogies of a rather huge number of people. Hampshire County is in West VA adjacent to present Frederick County, VA. Frederick was originally a huge county when it was created in 1738 from Orange Co. VA. It encompassed what are now 12 counties in W. VA and VA. However the book pretty well limits itself to the present area of Frederick and Hampshire, which is where most of the early civilization was, and it concentrates on early people. The author, from this area, has a genealogical orientation and his Kern family is covered more extensively than most others.

A FEW HARRISONS.

p 68. The Jonathan Hiett Graveyard. Jonathan Hiett, son of Evan and Sarah (Smith) Hiett, was b 1781 d 1861 age 80.'His wife was HANNAH HARRISON b 1789, d 1866... p 196201 This goes into the Hiett family extensively. Though one of the first families to settle in the area, there is no indication that they are part of the Hite family of Jost Hite, the primary developer of this area. The author does not attempt to go into the Hite family. A few of this family spelled it Hiatt. Apparently the oldest Hiett was John, son of John and Mary (Smith) Hiett Sr born c 1696 and died in Frederick. I see no indication as to whom Hannah Harrison belonged.

p 188. CHARLES HARRISON died 1857 at Capon Bridge. His father ordered a coffin for him 5' 8" long. (A "coffin" book was kept by a coffin maker)

ELVIRA HARRISON. of Cold Stream, Hampshire County d 1860 and her father handled the funeral arrangements. Her coffin was adult sized and parents thought to be ROBERT AND MARY (STRAYNTON) HARRISON, immigrants from England in the 1820's to Hampshire Co. She was 26 and died of consumption, b in VA

p 189. ROBERT HARRISON, son of Hammon and Ann (Clarkson) Harrison was b 1780 Barmby Moor, York Co. England. His wife, Elizabeth Brigham, d 1815 at Barmby Moor. He d 1864 Hampshire Co. VA

WILLIAM HARRISON of Hampshire died 1881 Cass Co. MO.

I find no Hoods in the book but they were there as early settlers along with the Harrisons with both settling in Augusta County but Hoods moving to Frederick Co, at least for a generation or two. Tunis Hood who was the one married to a Harrison, moved to this area with his father John but then to Mecklenburg NC/Lancaster SC. I believe I would have to say that this book does not intend to be all inclusive.

14. Harrisons

PASSPORTS ISSUED BY GOVERNORS OF GEORGIA, 17851809 by Mary G. Bryan. This is perhaps first of a series which originally was intended to cover until the year 1820. I think I recall other publications about these passports.

p 56. Ordered that a passport be prepared for JOHN HARRISTON of Barnwell District, SC to travel through the Creek Nation which was presented and signed. Comment: I think I have seen this elsewhere and that it was spelled HARRISON and I believe I recall another Harrison passport about the same time and place which involved a family... this one dated 21 Oct 1809.

In this little book this is the only one who resembles a Harrison. I did better with this on Johnstons, Hills and Hawkins. There are few of these many passports which represent people I know of. Some of these people were travelers going to Louisiana. Quite a few were going to the Tombigbee area. I presume the name Tombigbee is Indian in origin, but in these records it was often Tom Bigby or Dom Bigby or in one case, Dom branch of Tom Bigby or "Tom or Dom Bigby". The Tombigbee runs from North MS, near AL, down through MS and AL to Mobile Bay and includes my ancestral home of Aberdeen, Monroe Co. MS. .. I do not know the purpose of these passports through Creek and Cherokee country. Apparently the Indians had no great interest in these passports or any authority over them. On the other hand, Georgia had interest in who went in there and stirred up trouble with Indians. If the Creeks or Cherokees did not appreciate these people, I doubt that the existence of a passport did anything to protect obnoxious intruders. And did many people bother with getting a passport?

CALDWELL COUNTY NC MARRIAGES 18411872 by Elizabeth P. Keller. I happened to acquire this and since this is adjacent to Watauga County with the Watauga Harrisons, and Caldwell the stronghold of the Bradshaws, I have looked such people up.

Joseph Harrison m D.M. Loudermilk 1865 by J.P. Shell, J.P. (son of Rev. Joseph? m by a J.P.? Of course in 1865 Rev. Joseph was out of office as Registrar of Deeds because of his pro Union views.

Joseph E. Harrison m Martha Story 1866 Wit: Wilson BRADSHAW, John Chandler .

Nathan Harrison m Caroline Hamblet 1863 Wit: W. Bradshaw and Joseph Harrison.

Isaac Green m Rachel Harrison 1858 by R.B. Harrison, J.P. A number of Bradshaw marriages; a few of interest:

Jones I. Bradshaw m Caroline Curtis 1864 by John W. Coffey J.P. and wit: Joseph Harrison

Wilson Bradshaw m Drucilla Harrison 1856 by R. B. Harrison, M.G. (who was this Rev. Harrison? or an error? Above R. B. Harrison was a J.P. ! )

BRYANS, HORTONS AND ALLIED FAMILIES by Elizabeth Cate Manly 1 978, This is about the famous Morgan Bryan family from PA to Opeckon Frederick Co. VA to Linville Cr. in Augusta Co. as neighbors of LGT Harrisons, to Rowan County NC and then to KY with their close relatives, Daniel Boone and family.

p 11. The author tells about a trip she and her husband made in 1977 to Rockingham County, VA "a dream come true for me".. We found Harrisonburg a busy growing city. They spent a bit of time in the courthouse and also in the library of Eastern Mennonite College, where Miss Grace Showalter gave gracious assistance (That name sure is familiar! ) ... The High point of the trip was the drive out to the Linville Creek Community, through the little village of Edom... Various mills have been built on the creek, one by the Hites before 1 742. .. Among the neighbors of the Bryans were the Harrisons

15 . Harrisons

and the Lincolns. We stopped at the Lincoln place, where the house was in excellent condition and occupied... She took a picture which is in the book and later found that it was of the Bryan property and they wondered why the Bryans would have left such a beautiful place... George Washington mentioned "the old Bryan Place on Linville Creek".

p 12. Peter Bryan who lived at the above place as neighbor to Harrisons

and Lincolns is the author's ancestor and this book is primarily about the
descendants of Peter Bryan. Peter Bryan moved to Jefferson Co. TN when it
was Greene County and had a grant of 300 acres on the French Broad in 1793
but was there considerably earlier than that. He was a Captain under John
Sevier, also a boyhood neighbor on Linville Creek. He was in the area by
the time of the Treaty of Dumplin Creek in 1785. He was later a Major and
when Jefferson Co. divided, a Justice of the court of Sevier County
(Dollywood). He was in the legislature of TN and a signer of the TN
Constitution. He was m to Betty Hubbard back home on Linville Creek.
In 1791 Peter Bryan, Col. Hubbard, ZACHARIAH COX , John Riddle and 13 v
others embarked at the mouth of Dumplin Creek to take possession of the
Tennessee Grant near Muscle Shoals. In a small boat with two canoes, and
with so few men, the enterprise was hazardous in the extreme. They survived
the dangers of the Tennessee Canyon and "The Suck" and Indian attacks. They

built a block house and erected other works of defense on an island at Muscle
Shoals. Later the project was abandoned and the Indians burned their
buildings. A bill of indictment was sent twice, but was not sustained as
a true bill. (Carter, Territorial Papers of the U.S., Vol IV; Ramsey's Annals:
Armstrong, Notable Southern Families). Peter Bryan also participated in
John Sevier's Etowah Campaign of 1793... Peter Bryan may have died 1810 in
a boating accident on the French Broad, where there was a Bryan(t) 's Ferry.
However he may have died later. A DAR monument to Peter Bryan was placed
1977 in a Methodist Cemetery in Sevier Co. TN but it is not known that he
is actually buried there.

Aha! so Peter Bryan and the Hubbards were along with Sheriff Michael Harrison of Washington Co. TN, and Zachariah Cox in their attempt to take over a lot of land in the Tennessee River in Alabama, near "our" Thomas Harrison's reservation for his Cherokee children! We are familiar with this sane story with Michael holed up with a bunch of men, perhaps to defend the property from the government and from Chief Glass. This is the same story as we learned in more detail from Becky Bonner and Josephine Bass. I suspect that John Sevier was also mixed up in this, since he was an avid developer of land in Indian Territory.

This is very interesting information about the Tennessee Land Company, not only for Harrison genealogy but for history. I have read a number of history books and historical novels about this time and era and it is fascinating. John Sevier and Gov. Blount before him (of Territory S of the Ohio) were heavily involved with land deals and acquiring Indian land. In fact, they and Jackson and others were intriguing to create a new country based on Spanish lands. TN and KY area was known as the Miro District, named for the Spanish Governor of New Orleans; Miro. The Americans of the original colonies were not particularly opposed to getting rid of the Americans on the other side of the divide between the eastern river drainage into the Atlantic and the "Western Waters" which drained through the Mississippi River system. These areas were so divided economically and tradewise by the eastern mountains that the "westerners" felt that the future resided with New Orleans and to a lesser extent, Mobile, under Spanish hands (later French). They were

16 . Harrisons

interested in the Caribbean and expansion there. Aaron Burr was involved in this not so secret conspiracy. Jefferson did not take sides end was wishywashy about the whole thing, but then solved the huge problem with a huge coup the Louisiana Purchase. The Miro District vanished and so did the idea of a new western nation, at least until the Civil War... Recall that Buncombe County is a sort of Maverick. It is approached from the east but the French Broad penetrates the mountain barrier and ends up in the Mississippi River.

ROWAN COUNTY REGISTER, February 1997, p 2699. "1802 Petition of Isaac Cowan for Divorce". No doubt this is irrelevant but a Cowan married a Harrison and there was an illegitimate child not Isaac. This is a case of Sarah Steward (Stewart?) who m Isaac Cowan and she had two illegitimate black children after having Isaac's six white children. This reminds me of Nathaniel Harrison who also married a Stewart but they had to elope to do so because her Stewart family from Isaiah Harrison Sr. and Samuel Stewart did not approve of Nathaniel because of his possible "mixed" blood.

Divorce was rare and required a law by the State Legislator for each one in those days. He petitioned the Court that he did tolerate the first black child but not two of them and he wanted a divorce. This lengthy and well written petition by Isaac Cowan describes the situation as he saw it and he was backed up by numerous witnesses of prominence who stated that these were black babies. There was no testimony by his wife Sarah nor anyone in her favor, so her side was not heard. When this went before the legislature, it was debated and the vote was 21 for divorce and 19 against, so a rare divorce was granted. One of those voting for divorce was HARRISON. The only Harrison in the State legislature in 1802 was Senator Richard Harrison of Edgecombe County (from HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF NC by Wheeler). I do not know which Harrison family was his.

p 2675. Will of John Jarrett 1816 Rowan County. In this will which is otherwise irrelevant, the spelling is also Garrett and Jo White Linn, the editor, comments that Garrett and Jarrett are the same name, just spelled variously. This is interesting because Buncombe had Jarretts and Garretts both and a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Hill) Harrison, married a William Garrett, but there is some confusion as to how many William Garretts there were. If the same name, we have both spellings in Buncombe.

p 2657. 1782 Remonstrance & Petition from Inhabitants of Salisbury District. Sent to the NC General Assembly. This is a well written lengthy protest against abuse by Militia officers and others of the American patriots of the Revolution. This was signed by about 126 people of the counties which made up Salisbury District; Anson, Burke, Guilford, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Sullivan, Surry, Washington and Wilkes. They list all sorts of abuses and some in considerable detail, involving confiscation of crops and livestock with the claim that it was for troops but such rarely got to the troops but stolen by these Charlatans posing as patriots. Many good citizens were labeled as Tories and were tortured, murdered and had all property confiscated that could be moved and then the house and buildings burned. Many of those so abused were poor and ignorant and of a foreign language group, such as Germans. Those signing were people of good standing and not particularly subject to such abuse but were standing up for the helpless.

No doubt there is much exaggeration but also no doubt, it is generally true. Then as now "War was Hell" and violence and cruelty was practiced by both sides. One tale was about when Cornwallis came to Salisbury. They knew he was on the way and messengers came, ostensibly from Cornwallis himself,

17 . Harrisons

laying down all sorts of punishment, confiscation and death to all who expressed patriot sympathies. A fairly large group from surrounding areas went to Salisbury to meet Cornwallis and assure him that they were harmless and friendly... and please do not terrorize them, take milk from their babies, abuse the women and torture the people. Cornwallis was astounded. He had sent no such messages and he assured them of safety and violence only towards soldiers of the Americans. Apparently, this foiled a scheme of crooks who were planning to steal everybody blind and blame it on the British.

The long list of signers contains no Harrisons but quite a few Davises and lots of Roberts and Robards. Quite a few German names.

p 2711. A book review of GUIDE TO CHEROKEE INDIAN RECORDS, MICROFILM COLLECTION, ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPT DIVISION, OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 133 pages $22.50. Order from Ashton Books, 3812 Northwest Sterling, Norman OK 730721240. Bear in mind that this contains no information but devotes 133 pages to listing the microfilm reels available and summaries of what they contain. There are 129 such reels filmed from the records of the Oklahoma Historical Society, in the 1970's, just of Cherokee records. This represents 28 file drawers and 700 bound volumes. Much of this large volume of material is for the period 18581906 but essentially begins with the Removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory.... I mention because of the enormity of volume of such records we would like to search to look for Harrisons!

Harrison Notes Table of Contents

Brought to you by the Harrison Genealogy Repository
Last Updated: 15 Apr 1997; format revised 19 Feb 2000
Becky Bonner E-Mail Address: [email protected]

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