Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Harris Family: A Bit of Confusion!

The Harris Family: A Bit of Confusion!
 
First Generation
 
1.  William Harris was born about 1536 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.1 He died on 8 Nov 1599 at the age of 63 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.1

William Harris and Agnes Mason were married on 30 Jun 1579 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.1 Agnes Mason, daughter of Henry Mason and Joan [Mason], was born about 1551 in Cheltonham, Gloucestershire, England.1 She died after 1586 at the age of 35 in England.1
 
William Harris and Agnes Mason had the following child:
 
              2              i.   Thomas Harris, born abt 1590, Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England; married Elizabeth Hills \ Williams, abt 1613, England; died bef 1634, Winnissimmett [Chelsea], Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.
 
Second Generation
 
2.  Thomas Harris12 (William-1) was born about 1590 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.12 He died before 1634 at the age of 44 in Winnissimmett [Chelsea], Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.12 Thomas Harris was the son of William Harris and Agnes Mason, born in or near Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England. He reportedly sailed to America around 1630 aboard the Lyon, but may have been with the Winthrop Fleet. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Harris also used the surname Williams. He was listed as "Williams alias Harris" in some early records; Williams in others.
There is also some disagreement over the ages of both Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, as well as her maiden name and the date of their marriage.

The Simmons Family site has Thomas born in 1580 and Elizabeth in 1577/8 with their marriage 31 July 1600 in Bluham, Bedfordshire, England. Her maiden name is given as Hills.

Robert Charles Anderson's article in
The Great Migration Begins offers an estimated birth of 1590 for Thomas and the marriage taking place by 1613. Her death date was 16 Feb 1669/70, aged 93, but Anderson believes "she was more likely a decade younger."
A site entitled
The Genealogy of Kristen Carole Hall, which relies heavily on the Anderson article, suggests that the marriage took place about 1605, when Thomas was 15. Elizabeth would have been between 18 and 28 and gives her maiden name as Williams. [http://kristinhall.org/fambly/Harris/ThomasHarris.html]
Anderson gives six children for William and Elizabeth: Anna [b. c 1613], John [b. c 1616], Thomas [b. c 1618], William [b. c 1620], Anthony [b. c 1622], and Daniel [b. c 1626].

The Simmons Family site lists twelve one children with several repetitions and at least one impossibility. There are four Johns [1601, 1606, 17 May 1607, 14 Feb 1694], two Anthonys [1610, 1620], two Thomases [1608, 25 April 1618], two Wiliams [1611-17, 1626], Daniel [1615-26] and Anna [1623].

The Hall site agrees with the six children presented by Anderson, with the same birth years, but all born in Massachusetts. The family arrived in 1630 after the children were born.

The best guess is that Thomas and Elizabeth had six children with the eldest, Anna, born about 1613. That would place the marriage around 1611/12. The 1590 birth for Thomas and 1587 for Elizabeth would be plausible with a marriage around this time. [see below]

Thomas Williams alias Harris requested to be admitted as a freeman in October 1630 in Winnissimmet and admitted 18 May 1631 as Thomas Williams. He served on a coroner's jury 18 September 1630. Thomas ran the first ferry in the colonies, between Winnissemmet and Charlestown and from Winnissimmet to Boston. After Thomas' death, Elizabeth married Deacon William Stitson, who took over operation of the ferry. A nephew of Harris, Richard Iles*, wrote his will in 1639 and named his cousins, Thomas, William, Anthony, John, Anne [Maverick], and Daniel Harris.

According to research done by T.W. Harris, Richard Iles or Eles was actually
Richard Hills. He was a cooper in Charlestown, admiitted as a freeman there in 1638. Joseph Hills, also of Charlestown, was probably his elder brother. Richard died 29 October 1639. In his will he made bequests to cousins Thomas, William, Anthony, John, David and Anne [Maverick] Harris. [
Notes on the Will of Richard Hills; NEHGS Register online, newenglandancestors.org; Vol. 2, April 1848, p. 218-221] If Hills was indeed a cousin of Thomas Harris, it may well have been through marriage. That would lend credence to Elizabeth being a Hills.

Thomas Harris and Elizabeth Hills \ Williams were married about 1613 in England.12 Elizabeth Hills \ Williams was born about 1587 in England.12 She died on 16 Feb 1670 at the age of 83 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.12
 
Thomas Harris and Elizabeth Hills \ Williams had the following child:
 
              3              i.   Anna Harris, born abt 1613, probably Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England; married Elias Maverick Sr., ca 1634, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died 7 Sep 1697, Reading, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
 
 
Third Generation
 
3.  Anna Harris (Thomas-2, William-1) was born about 1613 in probably Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.2 She died on 7 Sep 1697 at the age of 84 in Reading, Essex Co., Massachusetts.2

Anna Harris and Elias Maverick Sr. were married circa 1634 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.12 Elias Maverick Sr.34, son of John Maverick and Mary Gye, was born about 1604 in Devonshire, England.1 He died on 8 Sep 1684 at the age of 80 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.1 Elias was about 26 when he accompanied his family to New England. He first lived at Winnissimet [Chelsea] near his brother Samuel. Elias was admitted to the church at Charlestown on 9 February 1632/3 and was made freeman 11 June 1633. He married Anna Harris about 1634. Anna was admitted to the Charlestown church on 7 October 1639.   Elias was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1654.
He made his will on 13 October 1681 and it was proved 6 November 1684. Elias died at Charlestown on 8 September 1684. Anna died on 7 September 1697 at Reading, where her daughters Sarah Walton and Ruth Smith lived.
Elias Maverick and Anna Harris had the following children:
 
                              i.   John Maverick was born on 3 Feb 1635 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 He was baptized on 27 Feb 1635 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 He died before 27 Apr 1680 at the age of 45 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5
                             ii.   Abigail Maverick was born on 10 Aug 1637 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 She was baptized on 14 Aug 1637 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 She died on 1 Jan 1690 at the age of 52 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.5
                            iii.   Elizabeth Maverick was born on 2 Jun 1639 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 She died on 22 Mar 1673/4 at the age of 34 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts.3,5
                            iv.   Sarah Maverick was born on 20 Feb 1640/1 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 She died on 10 Jun 1714 at the age of 73 in Reading, Essex Co., Massachusetts.3,5
                             v.   Elias Maverick Jr. was born on 17 Mar 1643/4 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5 He died in Jul 1696 at the age of 52 in Barbados.3 He was buried on 4 Jul 1696 in Barbados.6
                            vi.   Peter Maverick was born circa 1645 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3
                           vii.   James Maverick was born circa 1646 in Winnissimmett [Chelsea], Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3 He died circa 1700 at the age of 54 in Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3
                          viii.   Mary Maverick was born circa 1647 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts?.3 She died in South Carolina?.3,5
                            ix.   Ruth Maverick was born circa 1654 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts?.3,5 She died on 27 Nov 1717 at the age of 63 in Reading, Essex Co., Massachusetts.3,5
                             x.   Paul Maverick was born on 10 Jun 1657 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.3,5
              4            xi.   Rebecca Maverick, born 1 Jan 1659, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; married George Thomas, abt 1677, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; died aft 3 Nov 1696, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts?.
 
Sources:

        1. Simmons Family, Roy W. Simmons online [http://www.storycapsule.com/simmons/familytree/pedigree.php], accessed 29 Oct 2009.
        2. Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. I-III , NEHGS online [http://www,newenglandancestors.org/database_search], accessed 23 November 2009.
        3. "The Reverend John Maverick, Sr.", database, Kristin Carole Hall, Genealogy of Kristin Carole Hall (http://kristinhall.org/fambly/Maverick/JohnMaverick.html : accessed 4 August 2011), "The Reverend John Maverick, Sr.," Maverick family; submitted 1992–2004 by Kristin Carole Hall, [contact information for private use].
        4. Elizabeth French, "Genealogical Research in England: Maverick," article, NEHGS, Americanancestors.org (http://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 5 August 2011), Elias Maverick [p. 154]; citing prior publication in NEHGS Register (April 1915).
        5. William Prescott Greenlaw, "John Maverick & Some of His Descendants," article, NEHGS, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 5 August 2011), Elias Maverick family [p. 239-241]; citing prior publication in NEHGS Register (July 1942).
        6. "The Reverend John Maverick, Sr.," database, Genealogy of Kristin Carole Hall."

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