3. Thomas Harris1–3
(William-2, John-1) was born about 1590 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England.2–3 He died before Sep 1634 at the
age of 44 in Winnissimmett [Chelsea], Massachusetts Bay, British America.1–3 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 as a freeman on 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 in September 1634,, 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.
Speculation over Thomas' surname exists. He used Williams and Williams alias Harris. Possibilities offered: His mother married a Williams after his father's death and he was known by the step-father's name or he was apprenticed to a Williams and took his master's name. It might also be that he used the patronymic form of his name with Williams representing "son of William."
*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.
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 as a freeman on 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 in September 1634,, 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.
Speculation over Thomas' surname exists. He used Williams and Williams alias Harris. Possibilities offered: His mother married a Williams after his father's death and he was known by the step-father's name or he was apprenticed to a Williams and took his master's name. It might also be that he used the patronymic form of his name with Williams representing "son of William."
*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
\ Williams1 were married about 1613 in
England.1–3 Elizabeth Hills \ Williams1
was born about 1587 in England.2–3 She died on 16 Feb 1670 at the
age of 83 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America.1–3
Thomas Harris and Elizabeth Hills \ Williams had the
following child:
i do have them all in my family tree
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