Capt. Thomas Harris, Ancient Planter

Thomas Harris
Birthdate:	December 19, 1585
Birthplace:	Crixse, Essex, England (United Kingdom)
Death:	1658 (72-73) Henrico County, Virginia, Colonial America
Place of Burial:	Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Immediate Family:	Son of NN Harris and NN Harris Husband of Adria (Hoare) Harris, Ancient Planter and Joane Harris Father of Major William Harris and Mary Ligon
Occupation:	Farmer, Mariner, Immigrated on Prosperous left England 1611/03/10, Soldier, Ancient Planter
FtDNA Harris Group:	8. Capt. Thomas Harris (c1586-1658) of Jamestown and Henrico Co., VA & other lineages
Y DNA Haplogroup:	I-M253

Managed by:	Private User
Last Updated:	October 23, 2023

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Immediate Family

Adria (Hoare) Harris, Ancient Pl...

wife
Major William Harris

son
Mary Ligon

daughter
Joane Harris

wife
NN Harris

father
NN Harris

mother

About Capt. Thomas Harris, Ancient Planter

Parents unknown. Married 1) Adria Hoare, children Mary, William 2) Joan, widow of William Vincent. Relationships locked

Disproved below

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~molcgdrg/sur/1h/harris-notest1.htm (see #29)

Thomas Capt.6 Harris (William Sr.5, Arthur4, William3, Arthur2, William1) was born 1586 in Crixse,Essex, England, and died 1658 in Henrico, Virginia. He married (1) Adria Gurganey 1611 in Henrico, Virginia. She was born 1598 in Crixco, Essex, England, and died 1626 in Jamestown,Jamestown City,Virginia. He married (2) Joane Osborne 11 Sep 1626 in Woodham Ferrers Crixie,Essex,England. She was born 1601 in Crixco, Essex, England, and died 1633 in Jamestown,Virginia. He married (3) Joane Gurgany 1629 in England. She was born 1598 in Crixco, Essex, England.

More About Thomas Harris and Adria (Gurganey?):

- Marriage: 1611, Henrico, Virginia

More About Thomas Harris and Joane Osborne:

- Marriage: 11 Sep 1626, Woodham Ferrers Crixie,Essex,England

More About Thomas Harris and Joane Gurgany:

- Marriage: 1629, England

Children of Thomas Harris and Adria Gurganey are:

i. Edward7 Harris.

ii. Robert Maj. Harris, born 1615 in Wales, Crixco, Essex, England; died Abt. 1712 in Jamestown, Virginia.

iii. William Harris, born 1617 in Wales, Crixco, Essex, England.

Children of Thomas Harris and Joane Osborne are:

i. Mary Harris, born 1625 in Wales, Crixco, Essex, England.

ii. Thomas Harris, born 1629 in Henrico,Virginia.

iii. William Harris, born 1629 in Henrico,Virginia.

iv. Robert Harris, born 1630 in York, Virginia.

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An accepted member of the "Ancient Planter " Association. The term "Ancient Planter" is applied to those persons who arrived in Virginia before 1616, remained for a period of three years, and paid their passage. They received the first patents of land in the new world as authorized by Sir Thomas Dale in 1618 for their personal adventure.

Capt. Thomas Harris was among the early immigrants coming from Wales, seeking religious freedom. He came on the good ship, "PROSPEROUS" on which also sailed the famous pioneer, George Boon family.

Capt. Harris married Adria Osburn, who came on the good ship, "MARMADUKE". This pioneer couple settled on the shoresof the James River near Weynoke, VA. According to Virginia history, Thomas andAdria had 17 children.

More About THOMAS HARRIS, CAPT.: 1: 1616, Mentioned in father's will Deed: 11 November 1635, Land grant from Capt. John West, Governor of 750 Acres in Henrico County VA Immigrated: May 1611, The ship "Prosperous" (departed Land's End, County Cornwall on 10 Mar 1611 Lived location: 1623, Muster lists him at "Ye Neck O'Land" in Charles City County VA Moved: 1626, To Longfield, later Curles Occupation: Investor in Virginia Company; member House of Burgess

THE MUSTER OF THOMAS HARRIS Thomas Harris aged 38 yeares in the PROSPEROUS in May Adria his wife aged 23 yeares in the MARMADUKE in NOvember 1621 Ann Woodlase theire kinswoman aged 7 yeares

just recently was approved as a member of the Jamestowne Society. I had made application with Edward Gurganey as my qualifying ancestor. But the papers came back with notations that the there is doubt that Edward Gurganey had a daughter, Adria. I was instead approved under Capt Thomas Harris, Burgess. In fact the society's verifying genealogist, Lyndon Hart, had written an article dealing with the subject of Adia. [see Mag. of Virginia Gen., Vol 34 Winter 1996 No 1 P51ff].Essentially it argued that Adry, wife of Thomas Harris, was actually Audry Hoare, a maiden who came to Virginia aboard the ship Marmaduke in August 1621. She was born at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, bp 28 Aug 1604. Her parents were Thomas Hoare and Julyan Tripplett. My genealogist, Paul Reed, has researched this further and says, "This is the ONLY Audry among the list of women to be transported to Virginia on the Marmaduke bound for Virginia in August 1621 [it arrived in November 1621]. Her age matches the age of Adria, wife of Thomas Harris." He went on to conclude that Audry was actually one and the same as Adria. Therefore, there is no direct connection with Edward Gurganey. However, the land patent issued in feb 1638/39 to Thomas Harris still suggests that there was a connection between Gurganey and Harris or Hoare. Note, the key to this is that Gurganey and Hoare families were both in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. And so was the Woodliffe family! So it now is certain that Thomas Harris' wife was Adry aka Adria aka Audry Hoare. [not Gurganey as has long been believed]. We have several more leads to follow in Aylesbury. We might also find more about the Harris line. Jim Hancock <HANSER5@aol.com>

My mother was Hazel (Harris) Gohr. We have our line traced back to Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown, Virginia who immigrated from Wales on the ship "Prosperous" in 1611. Before that the Harrises tie into royalty in England (including another Neville line that I descend from also). I also am tracing Turners in Spartanburg County , South Carolinaand Virginia Thought you might be interested. Glenn Gohr ggohr01@mail.orion.org

MUSTER OF THE INHABITANTS OF NECK OF LAND (?) IN THE CORPORATION OF CHALES CITTIE, IN VIRGINIA, TAKEN THE 24TH FEBRUARY, 1624

THE MUSTER OF THOMAS HARRIS THOMAS HARRIS, AGE 38 YRS, IN THE "PROSPERDUS" IN MAY ADRIA, HIS WIFE,AGE 23 YRS., IN THE "MAMELIKE" NOV. 1621 ANN WOODLAST, THEIR KINSWOMAN, AGE 7 YRS ELIZABETH ---- (SERVANT) AGE 15 YRS. IN THE "MARGARET AND JOHN", 1620

Many Harris researchers have held the oft-printed view that Thomas Harris, who arrived in 1611 on the Prosperous, was the third son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris of Creeksea, Essex. Brice McAdoo Clagett, "The Will of Thomas Harris, of Creeksea, County Essex", in a recent issue of the Virginia Genealogist [whose precise citation I have stupidly misplaced at the moment], prints the will of Thomas Harris, third son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris of Creeksea, who died unmarried and without issue in 1617. Accordingly, Thomas Harris of Virginia cannot be the son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris. Best wishes,Scott Swanson <swanson@butler.edu>9/19/97

John A. BRAYTON, in The Five Thomas Harrises of Isle of Wight County, Virginia (Winston-Salem: 1995) has attempted to debunk earlier published accounts. I was misled by From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA: A HARRIS FAMILY JOURNEY (Atlanta: 1994), by Robert E. HARRIS, who had relied on John Bennett BODDIE's Virginia Historical Genealogies & Historical Southern Families, v. 4. The error was first published in William D. LIGON's The Ligon Family and Connections, I (n.p., 1947), pp. 839-44. One of the sources BRAYTON cites is from the Virginia Genealogist, v.38, #2, pp. 129-30, "The Will of Thomas Harris of Creeksea, County Essex", contributed by Brice McAdoo CLAGETT, of Friendship, Maryland. "Unfortunately, a search at the Essex County Records Office in Chelmsford quickly unearthed the will of Thomas Harris, made and proved in 1617, which shows that Sir William Harris' third son died unmarried and was not the man who came to Virginia. Thomas' legatees included six of the seven other children of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris, as well as his sister Mary's husband Giles Browne, so there is no doubt whatever of the identification. The original will is on file at Chelmsford, with the signature of the testator and witnesses, and is classified as Essex Archdeaconry Wills D/ABW20/299." An exact transcript follows CLAGETT's intro. Another citation from the Virginia Genealogist appears in v. 37, #1, which my library doesn't have- "Sergeant John Harris of Charles City County, VA: A Reappraisal", by Dr. Claiborn T. SMITH.

Matt HARRIS Zoobug64@aol.com

CAPTAIN THOMAS HARRIS; 1576-1658; came from Wales; was a member of the VBA Company, 1609; came to the Colony in 1611; was a member of the House of Burgesses, 1623, 1639 and 1646; (Brown, in this "Genesis", states that he may have been a son of Sir William Harris of Crixith, and Woodham-Moretmar, Essex, England); m. Adria Osborne; m. (2) Joane -----.

http://myrootsaredeep.blogspot.com/2010/04/capt-thomas-harris.html

Thomas Harris, aged 38, May, 1611, came to Virginia in the "Prosperous". His wife, Adria Osborne, came to Virginia Nov, 1621, in the "Marmaduke." Capt, Thomas was a member of the Virginis Company. He came to Virginiain the Prosperous in May 1611, during the time of Sir Thomas Dale. He was the patantee of lands in Henrico, "Neck of Land", as Curles was once called, or "Long Field". He was in the Indian War of 1622 (The massacre at Martin's Hundred is told quite well in the "National Geographic", some time in the 1970's. There is alot of archealogical sites there today. I'll come back later withe exact issue of the article.), Burgess for Henrico, 1623, '39, '47. He took his first patent 1635, later 1655-58. He married his second wife, Joane (Gurgarny) supposedly from the fact that Edward Gurgany owned land next to Joane in 1635, and his wife bequeathed land to Capt. Thomas Harris.

Captain Thomas Harris b 1585 England Subscribed to the 2nd Virginia County, issued 23 May 1609 He came to the Virginia colony on the ship "Prosperous " in May 1611. On the first Virginia muster dated 16 February 1623 as Thomas Harris 38 wife Adria Harris age 23 - PASSENGER LIST Thomas Harrris and wife #3283 pp 170 also #1272 pp38. PASSENGER LIST to Virginia #1524 Thomas Harris 38 Adria 23 list 3283 pp203 MUSTER OF 1624 Neck of Land ,Charles City County, Virginia Thomas Harris, wife Adria, kinswoman Anne Woodlase age 7 , (my note this Anne Woodlase was undoubtedly misread I believe she was Anne Woodliffe daughter of John Woodliffe an early settler and also supposedly related to Thomas Harris above) 11 Nov 1635 of record land originally in Diggs Hundred which became Bermuda Hundred 750 acres lying southward upon Edward Gurganey extending Northward upon Joane his second wife , 100 acres due him as ancient planter on order of the late Treasurer and County, 18 Nov 1615 and 650 acres due him for the transportation of 13 persons Capt Thomas Harris came into possession of the Gurganey land by 2 May 1636 and repatented the 700 acres . included in this tract in Henrico 12 July 1637 , called "Longfield" with swamp and marshes SE toward Bremos dividend,400 acres granted Edward Gurganey by order of the court 1 October 1617 and bequethed by him to Anne Gurganey his widow , and granted to Thomas Harris by her last will dated 11 November 1619

Captain Thomas Harris was a Burgess from Henrico. 1623-4,1639,1546,1652-3 and 1656-57 CAPTAIN THOMAS HARRIS DIED IN 1657 leaving a will which has since been destroyed or lost. However the will is referred to in his daughter Mary Harris Ligons will

Captain Thomas was COMMANDER OF HENRICO in 1640. His first wife ADRIA was born c 1601 and came to the Virginia colony on the ship "Marmaduke" in November of 1621 Their daughter Mary Harris was born in 1625 in Virginia She married c 1648 becoming the second wife of Col Thomas Ligon who had migrated to Virginia in 1641/2. He had become the surveyor for Henrico by the time of their marriage. The children of this marriage were: 1. William Ligon b c 1650 married 1679 Henrico County, Virginia Mary Tanner d of Joseph Tanner of Henrico and his wife Mary Browne Tanner (note connection to early Browne family of Virginia ) William Ligon was a Major in the Virginia Militia Major Wm and His wife had A Wm Ligon Jr 1682-by 176r md Elizabeth Batte d of henry Batte. Captain Wm Ligon Jr died by 1764 and his widow married Alexander Marshall. B.Thomas Ligon b c 1680 married 15 March 1697 Elizabeth Worsham d of John Worsham CMary Phoebe Ligon b c 1685 not traced D.Joseph Ligon c1687 -17 Nov 1751 Chesterfield County, Virginia married Judith--------- and E Lucretia Ligon known as Lucy who was born after her fathers w.p. l August 1689b I'm struggling with this family. John A. BRAYTON, in The Five Thomas Harrises of Isle of Wight County, Virginia (Winston-Salem: 1995) has attempted to debunk earlier published accounts. I was misled by From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA: A HARRIS FAMILY JOURNEY (Atlanta: 1994), by Robert E. HARRIS, who had relied on John Bennett BODDIE's Virginia Historical Genealogies & Historical Southern Families, v. 4. The error was first published in William D. LIGON's The Ligon Family and Connections, I (n.p., 1947), pp. 839-44. _____________________________________________________________

Many Harris researchers have held the oft-printed view that Thomas Harris, who arrived in 1611 on the Prosperous, was the third son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris of Creeksea, Essex.

Brice McAdoo Clagett, "The Will of Thomas Harris, of Creeksea, County Essex", in a recent issue of the Virginia Genealogist [whose precise citation I have stupidly misplaced at the moment], prints the will of Thomas Harris, third son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris of Creeksea, who died unmarried and without issue in 1617. Accordingly, Thomas Harris of Virginia cannot be the son of Sir William and Alice (Smith) Harris. Best wishes,Scott Swanson <swanson@butler.edu>9/19/97

Recognizing that there has been some controversy as to the parentage of Captain Thomas Harris of Virginia, I took the opportunity to visit the Essex County Records Office at Chelmsford, Essex, England on October 15, 1998. I viewed the original will of Thomas Herris of Crixsea, Essex, dated 10 March 1616. It was apparent that this will named these siblings, Arthur Herris Knight, Brethren Mr William Herris and Mr John Herris, three sisters Mhs Marie Browne Mhs Francis Herris and Mhs Elizabeth (Herris). This accords with the names of the children listed in the will of Sir William Herris Als Harris of Crixsey in the County of Essex dated 21 December 1615 and probated in 1616.

At the lower left hand corner of the will of Thomas Herris appeared the notation "prob. 8 July 1617" I showed this notation to the attendant at the Records Office and asked if this indeed showed that the person named in the will had died prior to that date. She assured me that such was the case. It thus appears that Captain Thomas Harris of Virginia, who lived far past 1617, was not the Thomas Herris named as a child in the will of Sir William Herris. Therefore it appears to me that at this point we do not know the parentage of Captain Thomas Harris of Virginia. Probably the best one could hope for is that he might be a nephew or similar relationship. Ken Schwarzburg <kschwarz@alltel.net>

I agree wholeheartedly with what Phil Harris has said. Capt. Thomas Harris was NOT the son of Sir William Harris of Creeksea, Essex, England. Also, Capt. Thomas only had 2 wives, Adria Gurgany, and Joan (possibly Osborne). Also, Robert Harris of the Forks who married Mary Claiborne Rice is NOT a son of Capt. Thomas Harris by any wife. I am very interested now in knowing who the parents of Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown were. One note said he was a cousin of John Harris of Charles City County , Virginia that married Dorothy (Calcott). Do we know FOR SURE that John of Charles City County , Virginia is a son of Sir William Harris of Creeksea, Essex, England? Also, if Capt. Thomas Harris and this John Harris are cousins, has anyone worked out the relationship? In one enumeration at Jamestown, living with Capt. Thomas Harris and his 1st wife, Adria, is a kinsman, Ann Woodlast or Ann Woodliff. John Bennett Boddie in Historic Southern Families shows how this Ann is related to the Harrises of Creeksea, Essex. This should be a clue to finding the true parents of Capt. Thomas Harris of Jamestown.

Glenn Gohr ggohr01@mail.orion.org

It appears that the Ship's Captain Thomas Osborne had 2 daughters by his wife Anne. One was Adria Osborne and the other was Joane Osborne (they had a brother named Edward). Anne the widow married 2nd to Edward GURGANEY that owned land next to Thomas HARRIS.

Later Thomas HARRIS claimed an inheritance from Edward GURGANEY's estate in the name of his wife Joan or Adria.

THIS WOULD EXPLAIN THE CONFUSION AS THE 3 OSBORNE CHILDREN WOULD BE STEP-CHILDREN OF EDWARD's and would appear to be his own children to researchers. Paul & Dorothy Tobler <tobler@omniglobal.net>
Till Later, Paul =================== From: The book, "Harris - A genealogical Family History by J. Ralph Dickey and Elizabeth (Dickey) Trower (1980)

Thomas Captain Thomas HARRIS, was not child of Sir William HARRIS of Crixie, Essex, was the 1st of the Harris family to come to America. The whole family of Sir William HARRIS were not only "adventurers", ie: investors of risk capital, in the London Company, later called the Virginia Company, but also were active in promoting and operating the Company. Thomas' maternal uncle, whose name he bore, Thomas SMYTHE, served the Company in the office of Treasurer and helped in the procurement of ships, men and supplies.

The First Expedition, consisting of 3 ships, the "Susan Constant", the "Godspeed" and the "Discovery", with 120 men, sailed for the New World the 20th of Dec 1606. The Captain of the expedition was one Christopher NEWPORT (the present day city of Newport News, VA, bears his name) and the man chosen to be the 1st gov. of the Colony was Captain John SMITH. The expedition landed on the northern bank of the James River at a place they called "Jamestowne", for the new King, James I, crowned only 3 yrs before the expedition sailed.

The 2nd Expedition sailed in 1608 and was barely able to pump the breath of life back into the hopeless situation they found in Jamestown. 3 Yrs after its founding, The VIRGINIA COMPANY had not earned a penny. The adventurers had expected to reap quick profits, for they had heard about investments in the older East India Company which had paid as much as 3,000 % on it's stock. No doubt there were meetings of the adventurers where they voiced their opinions and made suggestions. Thomas HARRIS had contended that men would never remain happy and efficient without women. Since no gold had been found, he thought they should produce something to sell, if they were to expand and prosper. He also held that a quarantine camp should be established to acclimate and condition newly arrived persons in Virginia. He recommended a study of crops they might grow to produce a staple, salable product.

Finally, a number of healthy, young maidens should be sent over to be wives for the settlers already there. In May of 1609, the 3rd Expediton, consisting of 9 ships, commanded by Capt. Christopher NEWPORT and Sir George SOMMERS sailed from Plymouth, in Devonshire, bound for the Virginia Colony. His was by far the most elaborate expedition so far sent. In addition to the customary supplies, it carried 500 male immigrants and 90 husky English maidens to be wives for the men already there. It carried as passengers, Sir Thomas GATES and Thomas HARRIS. GATES was going to replace Capt John SMITH as Governor of the Colony. SMITH had been seriously injured in a gunpowder explosion. Thomas HARRIS was making a round trip to Virginia as a representative of the "Company" no doubt arranged by his Uncle, Thomas SMYTHE. One of the ships, "Discovery" , was a floating managerie, having aboard about every kind of domestic animal known to man, including 2 peafowls. The flagship also carried the charter of the VIRGINIA COMPANY which was to be kept in Jamestown.

On the way to America the fleet met up with the 1st West Indies tropical hurricane ever seen and reported on by Englishmen. The flagship with Governor GATES and, no doubt, Thomas HARRIS aboard was cast up on the Island of Bermuda and did not reach Virginia until the Spring of 1610. The storm was, no doubt, discussed at length at the meetings of the VIRGINIA COMPANY in London with Thomas HARRIS taking a large part. William SHAKESPEARE listened in wide-eyed amazement and was so impressed that he used the incident in writing "The Tempest" with Bermuda as the locale.

Among those on board for the return voyage were Mr. & Mrs. John ROLFE. It will be remembered that Mrs. ROLFE, re-named "Rebecca", was actually POCAHONTAS who would make a big splash in English high society before succumbing to tuberculosis. The 4th Expedition came and went in 1610 and still the Colony barely held on.

The 5th Expedition sailed from Landsend, Cornwall, 10 March 1611, and arriving in Virginia 10 May 1611. One of the ships, the "Prosperous", had Thomas HARRIS and Sir Thomas DALE aboard. DALE was sent to replace GATES as Governor of the Colony and HARRIS, then aged 25 yrs, was going to make Virginia his home. As the new Governor, Tomas DALE seems to have started Virginia on the road to permanence and prosperity. In 1612, John ROLFE, who was studying the raising of tobacco as a staple crop, purloined the seed of a strain of sweet tobacco from the Spanish West Indies and this was the real beginning of the tobacco industry that made Virginia. It literally became the medium of exchange as planters shipped tobacco to England with orders for goods and supplies in return. There was little currency in circulation in the Colony. In 1613, Governor DALE instituted the concept of private ownership of land in the Colony and began the system of "head rights" where each settler was given 50 acres of land plus 50 more for each person he brought over with him. In 1619 the first negro slaves were brought over.

The 1st meeting of the House of BURGESSES convened 9 Aug 1619. In Nov. 1619 Thomas OSBORNE arrived in the Colony on the "Bona Nova". We do not know whether OSBORNE and HARRIS were acquainted in England or not, but their lives were to be closely entwined in Virginia. Then, in Nov 1621, Adria OSBORNE arrived in Virginia on the ship, "Marmaduke". It is believed that she was a relation of Thomas OSBORNE, but again, we do not know. At any rate, Thomas HARRIS and Adria OSBORNE were married. Thomas was a good catch. Aged 35, he had not arrived in Virginia empty handed. In addition to his own 25 lbs investment in the Virginia Company, his father had advanced him 1500 lbs and his brother William, the lawyer of Lincoln's Inn, Essex, had come up with another 400 lbs. In Virginia he received "100 acres due him as being an 'Ancient Planter' on the order of the late Treasurer & Co." (Thomas SMYTHE, his Uncle)

He also received 650 acres for transporting 13 persons to the Colony. He eventually owned 3520 acres. After the affair involving Powhatan and Pocahontas with Capt. John SMITH in Dec 1607, there existed a detente' of sorts. Relations with the Indians became so cordial that the Indians came freely into the houses of settlers and even sat down at the table with them. It was on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, that all the local Indians, under Warrier Chief OPECHANCANOUGH, rose against the white intruders and nearly wiped out the Virginia settlements.

Thomas HARRIS and his good friend, Thomas OSBORNE, played key roles in the defense of their new home. As a result, OSBORNE was made Major of the Militia and HARRIS was made Captain. It is all but impossible for people of our time to imagine how hard life was in Virginia in the 1620's. Not only were there Indians, they had to contend with flies, mosquitos, chiggers, ticks, malaria, typhoid and more. According to contemporary estimates, between 1619 and 1621 some 3,560 persons were brought to Virginia and 300 died there in the same period.

At a muster held 24 Jan 1624 Thomas HARRIS stated that he was then aged 38 yrs., that he came to Virginia on the "Prosperous" in May 1611, and that his wife, Adria, was aged 23 yrs., and came over on the "Marmaduke" in Nov 1621. While other registrants at the 1624 Muster listed children, Thomas and Adria HARRIS did not. At the muster, other families listed children by ages; as well as domestic animals, household items, food, gunpowder, lead and suits of armor. Thus, we are justified in the conclusion that Thomas and Adria had no children at the time of the muster. During the time of Thomas HARRIS' engagement to Adria OSBORNE, a Mrs. Joan WRIGHT told him that he would "bury his wife at the birth of their child." This came to pass. There were other strange events relating to Mrs. WRIGHT, and she was brought to trial for witchcraft in Sep 1626. Mrs. Rebecca GRAY testified against her in the Adria HARRIS matter, she was found guilty and fined 100 lbs of tobacco. This trial established the fact that Adria HARRIS died prior to Sep 1626. Thus, the first child, Robert HARRIS, was born between 24 Jan 1624 & Sep 1626, probably late in 1625.

In Feb., 1625, Thomas HARRIS was living at the Neck-of-land, Charles City County, aged 38, with his wife, aged 23. Thomas HARRIS remarried, Joan GURGANEY, in 1626 or 1628, which placed Robert in the uneasy position of step-son. There were (3) THREE more children by t he 2nd wife. Thomas HARRIS made his home on a plantation, 1st called "Longfield," later "Curles." It was situated in the Bermuda HUNDRED near Charles City on a narrow peninsula which juts out from the north bank of the James River about 60 miles above Jamestowne. It was in what is now Henrico County.

He was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1623, 1639 and 1647. He served as Commissioner for Upper Henrico County in 1626. n 1640 he was made commander of the Henrico County militia. In 1644-45 3 forts were ordered erected; (1) ONE at Pamunkey, to be called Fort Royal; (1) ONE at the Falls of the James River, called Fort Charles; and (1) ONE on the Ridge of the Chickahominy, to be called Fort James. In October 1646, the General Assembly gave these forts, with adjoining tracts of land, to various prominent settlers on the condition of maintenance, at their expense, of proper forces. Of the (3) THREE, Fort Charles was given to Captain Thomas HARRIS.

Thomas HARRIS made his will in 1649 in which he named William HARRIS, a child by his 2nd marriage, as his "only son" and Mary as his only daughter. He died in 1650. It is most likely that he was buried on his plantation as was the custom in those days."

Parents of the 2nd wife Joan GURGNEY were Edward (Step father?) & Anne GURGNEY. =================================== Also it is found that the 1st wife of Thomas HARRIS was Adria GURGANEY born about 1598 d/o Edward and Anne GURGANEY

married 2nd Joane OSBORNE after 1626, d/o Capt. Thomas OSBORNE who was born in England about 1580 coming to colony of Virginia in 1619 on the Bona Nova.

According to Robert B. MOSELEY, author of the "MOSELEY Line" Capt. HARRIS' 2nd wife is listed as Joane, no maiden name given.

The will of Anne GURGANCY dated 1619, widow of Edward GURGANEY, bequeathed land to Thomas HARRIS.

---------------------------------------------- The fact of Thomas wife coming in the Marmaduke in Nov 1621 is verified in the "Complete Book of Emigrants" 1607-1776 and that her name was "Adria" and age 23. Therefore his first wife was named this not his later wife. ------------------------ Came to Virginia before 1616, believed to have arrived in 1611 aboard the "Prosperous." Subscriber to the second charter 23 May1609. His Muster in 1624 listed him as age 38. His first wife Adria aged 23 came to America on the "Marmaduke" Nov. 1621. They settled with his wife at Neck of Land, Charles City. Biography in book (M. Mexer & John F. Dorman, "Adventurers of Purse and Person, 1607-1624", Virginia Ref. 929.3755 ADVE). ============ om the book Harris-a Genealogical Family History by J. Ralph Dickey and Elizabeth (Dickey) Trower, (1980):

Robert HARRIS was the FIRST child of Thomas HARRIS and his first wife, Adria OSBORNE.

One might question that a motherless infant survived in the extremely hostile environment of the Virginia of 1625. We would venture to suggest an obliging neighbor woman, who was nursing her own infant, shared time at her breast with the little orphan. Or, perhaps, he had a "Black Mammy", a practice widely used in the Old South. Slavery had been introduced in Virginia in 1619. Thomas HARRIS remarried around 1627, giving little Robert a stepmother at tender age. He had a reputation in later life of being opinionated and head-strong and these traits must have developed early. Anyway, he never got along well with his step-mother, nor with his father, for that matter. He ran away from home at the earliest opportunity and became a seaman. This caused his father to disinherit him (see Malcolm H. HARRIS, M.D., History of Louisa County. Richmond, Virginia the Dietz Press, 1936, p. 331-A.) About 1650 Robert HARRIS left his seafaring life and settled in Virginia and establish his own plantation which he called "The Forks". It was at the junction where the North Anna and the South Anna Rivers meet to form the Pamunkey River in that part of New Kent County that became Hanover County in 1720. He had mad his grub-stake without his father's blessing and without his legacy! He could truthfully say, "I did it my way."

We can feel sure that Robert HARRIS wa no Welsh coal miner (as claimed by some authorities) nor was he a penniless, broken down seaman when, about 1660, at the age of 37 he married the widow RICE who was born Mary CLAIBORN, daughter of Col. William CLAIBORN of King William County, Virginia, and his wife, Elizabeth Butler/BOTELER of London. The CLAIBORN pedigree goes back over 20 generation, from Mary CLAIBORN (Rice/HARRIS) to King Malcolm of Scotland and Rollow, The Norseman, who established the Duchy of Normandy in 886. Considering the social prestige of the CLAIBORN family we can be pretty sure that they know of Robert HARRIS' blood lines and also, Robert had enough good English pounds in his possession to back up his social standing, else they would not have allowed a CLAIBORN girl to marry him. Court and Colonial records show that Major Robert HARRIS was noted for his high sense of honor, his veracity and his high temper. Many of his descendants have inherited these traits of his strong character. The descendants of this strong-minded-minded, hard headed old man and his elegant gentle wife, have given the State (of Virginia) many valuable and useful citizens. Married about 1650 at Hanover, VA, Mary CLAIBORNE born at Elizabeth City, Virginia died 9 Feb 1710 at Glen Cairn, Doswell, Hanover, VA, daughter of William CLAIBORNE and Elizabeth BOTELER.

SOME SOURCES SAY ROBERT HARRIS IS THE SON OF THOMAS HARRIS AND ADRIA GURGANEY. (think this is same person as Adria OSBORNE)

following information in "Southside Virginia Familes, Volume II by Boddie. The chapter title is "Descendants of Edward Gurgany, Member of First General Assembly, 1619". To set the scene, Edward died before his wife Anne. In her will dated Feb. 11, 1619-20, she bequeathed their land to Thomas Harris, who had evidently married their daughter Adrai. This is shown in a grant to Capt. Thomas Harris July 12, 1637 of 400 acres of land, "Due as followeth 400 acres being granted to Edward Gurgany by order of Court, being date Oct. 1, 1617 from the late Treasurer and Company and bequeathed by Ann Gurgany widow and relict of said Edward Gurgany to the said Thomas Harris by her last will bearing date Feb.11, AD 1619-20 (C.p.60). "Captain Thomas Harris was married twice. His fist wife was ADRAI an ancient PLANTER, proven by the following land grant to "Capt. Thomas Harris, 820 acres known by the name of "Longfield" Henrico County , 26 Feb. 1638---100 acres for his own personal adventure, 100 acres for his first wife ADRY HARRIS, as being ancient Planters & 620 acres for the transportation of 13 persons. (C.P. 101). At a witchcraft trial held in Jamestown, Sept. 11, 1626, "Rebecca Gray was a witness against goodwife "Wright" the suspected witch. She swore that "goodwife Wright did tell her that she told Thomas Harris he should bury his first wife, being then betrothed unto him, which came to pass" (ColSurry-77i). To indulge in such a prophecy in those days seems to have been very detrimental. Anyway Adrai Harris died sometime before September 1626. Adrai was an ancient Planter. This meant that she came to Virginia before November 1616, the time of the going away of Sir Thomas Dale. Now Edward Gurgany came over in 1608. Adrai, if his daughter, was married to Thomas Harris before the date of her mother's will, Feb. 11, 1619-20. At a minimum she would be probably 16 years of age at that date. She was married before that date, how long before is not known. Her birth was about 1604 or earlier. She would therefore be about four years of age at the time he came over in 1608 and Gurganey probably brought over his wife and daughter much later but at least before 1616 for her to be an Ancient Planter. Who else among the ancient Planters but Edward Gurgany and his wife could have been the father and mother of " ancient Planter" Adrai Harris? Captain THOMAS HARRIS, an ancient Planter having come over in 1611, was a member of the House of Burgesses from Charles City in 1623/24 and from Henrico in 1639-47. Adrai Harris died about 1626, and Thomas Harris married apparently in 1626 a second wife whose first name was "Joan". There is no clue to her family name and it is positively unknown. (See V.H.G.-199)

Adria, his wife, age 23, came in the Marmaduke in November 1621, and Ann Woodlase, their kinswoman, aged 7." William & Mary Quarterly: "Henrico County, Virginia, Beginnings of its Families," by William Clayton Torrence.

It is certain that one was named Adria, and a later one Joane, e.g. from the 1623/24 census, and a 1635 land grant, respectively. It seems that Adria might be a GURGANEY, because of a substantial bequest made to HARRIS by Ann GURGANEY, widow of Edward GURGANEY, in her will of 1619. In 1635, a grant mentions HARRIS' then wife Joane, and his land from the estate of Edward "VIRGANY." I have seen a reasoned argument based on the first document that claims Adria was a GURGANEY (prob). I have seen an argument based on the second, that concludes that Joane was a GURGANEY (prob). Combined, it would seem to me more likely that, IF either one was a GURGANEY, it is more likely Adria. Yet, be careful, there are thorns here. Edward GURGANEY arrived in Virginia 1608. But that Charles City muster says, regarding Thomas HARRIS, "...Adria his wife, aged 23 yeares in the Marmaduke in Nov. 1621." I suppose it's possible that Edward and Ann GURGANEY laft a 7 yr old daughter behind in England for 13 years?? Frankly, I'm skeptical that either was a GURGANEY.

More About ADRIA OSBORNE: Aka (Facts Pg): Adria Osborne or Gurganey Cause of Death: Apparently complications of childbirth Immigrated: 1621, On Marmaduke (father Capt Thomas OSBORNE

I got the following yesterday from J. Phillip Harris [jpharris@juno.com] "The Thomas Harris I am referring to is the Thomas Harris that: 1. Came to Virginia (Jamestown) in May 1610 on the Prosperous at about age 24. 2. Sailed up the James in September 1611 with Sir Thomas Dale and a group of colonists to establish the settlement at Henricus. 3. Begins appearing in various Henrico records as early as 1617 showing that he settled on the James River at "Longfields" (Curles Neck today). 4. Married (1)Audrey Hoare and (2)Joan Vincent as shown in various Henrico records and had two children by Audrey Hoare, daughter Mary and son William. 5. Became a representative in the House of Burgesses from Henrico and died around 1649 at about age 63.

We have no way of knowing who his parents were. Most likely he was from the Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire area because the group of settlers along the James with which we find him living amongst and associated with can be shown to be mostly from the Aylesbury area. Audrey Hoare, his first wife, and Edward Gurgayney, who had land adjacent to Thomas Harris which he acquired by inheritance were both from the Aylesbury as clearly shown through numerous records.

The Thomas Harris and Margaret Middleton that you mention were from Essex. While they may have had a son named Thomas (conjecture which cannot be proven by any known record), even if they did there is absolutely nothing to associate that Thomas Harris in Essex with the Thomas Harris in Virginia. There were hundreds of Thomas Harrises in England of the right age to possibly be the Thomas Harris in Virginia. The late Paul Tobler was the person that came up with a possible son of Thomas Harris and Margaret Middleton but he never produced any evidence, and when confronted with that, he backed off. Before he died, he also came to the conclusion that Thomas Harris of Henricus was more likely to be from the Aylesbury area than anywhere else."