Dr. Johnson's Harrison Notes February 1996

HARRISON NOTES February 1996

Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

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

Contents

FROM SHIRLEY WAGSTAFF of Bandon­by­the Sea, Oregon. We have been corresponding for awhile about Johnstons without making any connection. Once I mentioned Harrisons and there we made contact! She is descended from Thomas Harris/ Harrison of Rutherford County, NC. To refresh your memory, I wrote a paper dated January 21, 1993 entitled THOMAS HARRISON OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY CENSUS 1800. In it I reported about the three Thomas Harrisons of that area of Rutherford and York, SC and told about the information I had received from Betty Jo Hulse and Velvo Chaney. We were trying to pin down a Thomas Harrison who ended up as Thomas of 1800 Buncombe County. I will not go into all of this again but I will say some about Thomas Harris/Harrison.

Shirley Wagstaff has Bryant Bonner 1774­ 1834 m Ann Harris. They lived in upper SC and were in church records there. (Not in my SC Baptists by Townsend but that book ends at 1804 so I do not know which church). But Ann Harris turned out to be the daughter of Thomas Harrison She found that sometimes he was Harris and sometimes Harrison (and even Hearson perhaps). She and her sister hired a professional in Salt Lake City who searched NC and SC. After Thomas Harris/on died his widow signed her name as Harrison. Little information was found. Who she is seeking is one married to Jemima (Baylis?).

Shirley also has Salleys, Britains and Flournoys connected to this line. I do not know anything about Salleys or Flournoys but I am familiar with and have a big book on Britains of Buncombe and Burke County.

This Thomas is not to be confused with "our" Thomas of the 1800 census of Buncombe, nor the Thomas who m Nancy Pack and traveled a lot and probably came from the Burr Harrison family line. However, they all lived close together in this area of the disputed NC/SC border.

Thomas Harris/Harrison (from Betty Jo Hulse) died 1819 with a will in Spartanburg SC, married to Gemime. Sons Thomas Balus (Baylis. for his mother?), William and Martin. Daughters Anny Bonner, Sarey Miller (connected to David Miller? ­ later of Buncombe), Nancy Phillip, Rebeckah James. Wit: Thomas Clary, Briant Bonener and Joseph Camp.

There was a Suck Creek an the border of NC/SC about where Cherokee Co. SC is now and on the NC line. In 1783 Rutherford Court Thomas Harrison got permission to build a mill on Suck Creek of Broad River. (This is not necessarily Thomas Harris/Harrison but probably is). On the 1810 SC census for Spartanburg was Martin Harriss and a William Harriss living a couple of doors from Thomas Harriss, but the 1820 census lists Martin and William as Harrison. Thomas' will clearly says Harrisson. Someone joined DAR under Thomas Harris with wife Jemima.

A newspaper article of THE COURIER­SUN (where?) published in 1975 tells about this Thomas Harris/Harrison and says that the family believe him to be of Irish descent and probably came from VA. He was tall and slender with dark hair and eyes and a fair complexion. It refers to daughter Anne b c 1777 d 1834 m to Rev. Bryant Bonner 1774­1834. They are Shirley's ancestors.

To complicate the situation: (from Mrs. Hulse) the Thomas Harrison who m Nancy Pack has been linked to the Crowsons and some people have joined DAR on that story. The Crowsons are also linked to her Harrisons of Shelby Co. AL who came from Buncombe. However, that is wrong. She has a Bible record to straw this. Her Thomas Harrison of Shelby AL died 1823. He had a daughter Elizabeth who m William Crowson in Madison Co. AL.


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FROM GAIL SHLANTA. She sent a copy of a document she found 30 or so years ago. It was a yellowing "ditto" copy. It is 17 pages of Harrison research. It consists of many small items and involves numerous lines of Harrisons, but obviously many of them are Long Grey Trail Harrisons. No author's name is noted.

She also sent a list of Harrisons buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belleville, IL which is where her line of Rev. Thomas Harrison settled. These burials were between 1863 and 1973. She was unable to connect any of them to her line .. so, I presume this means that at least one other line was in the area. None of these names ring a bell with me.

She also sent a list of Harrisons in Kentucky in the 1800 list of taxpayers. Some of these I covered earlier when we made a trip to Kentucky and studied Harrisons, but I will not repeat them. A number were LGT variety. A number were of the Burr/Cuthbert Harrison line and others I do not know. I will mention a few of interest:

Garret Harrison in Harrison County, along with Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, Lawrence (Sr. and Jr.), Robert and William. I mention because a William Garrett of Buncombe married a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Hill Harrison.

In Woodford County there were Davis, Henry, Jeremiah, Luke and Robert Harrison. I mention because we already knew about Davis and Jeremiah being there but I do not recall about Henry, Luke and Robert, so they may be part of this same LGT family of Davis and Jeremiah from Mecklenburg NC to GA to KY.

But let me get back to the 30 year old manuscript. I will select items of interest.

p 1. Richard Harrison came to West Augusta Co. VA ( now Monongalia Co. West VA) about 1769 and built "Harrisons's Fort", located in what is now Cass Dist. Among his children were: 1. Jesse, 2. Jehu, 3. John, 4. Joseph, 5. Richard Jr., 6. and Elizabeth wife of Thos. Pindell who was killed by the Indians almost in sight of Harrison's Fort. Richard Harrison Jr. married Nancy Ann Martin, daughter of Col. Charles Martin, builder of Fort Martin on Cooked Run in Monongalia Co. near the present state line of PA. I tried looking this up in LGT but did not find them. However, there were some Harrisons of LGT who did go to West VA.

p 1. Robert S. Harrison, b 1810 Shelby Co. KY m 1832 in Jefferson Co. (Louisville), Ellen Kirk. Robert was son of Reuben Thomas Harrison who was in the War of 1812 and died 1831 in Harrison Co. IN. Reuben Thomas' father was Greenberry Harrison and Greenberry was son of Josias b in VA. Josias was b in VA and died 1803 in Montgomery Co., MD with a will there. I cannot find this scenario in LGT though maybe I missed it. This could be LGT Harrisons but I find it interesting that Josias would move east to die in MD.

p 1. Samuel Harrison m Elizabeth Brown 1805 and lived in Fleming, KY. In 1850 she was a widow and moved to IL after 1853 and died there. Three of her sons were, John Rawlings Harrison, William Vance Harrison, and Samuel Kemper Harrison. Samuel Kemper Harrison's widow was Margaret and she appointed her son Samuel as her attorney for conveying land. I have no good clues about this, but Old

Isaiah's youngest son was Samuel who left Augusta and we know little about him. Another Samuel was Rev. Samuel of Harrison's Methodist Church in Mecklenburg, NC and he did move to KY but wrong wife and Rev. Samuel was too young to have been Samuel, son of old Isaiah. He was LGT but at the moment I do not recall his father.

p 2. Northumberland Co. VA records of St. Stephens Parish:

Jesse Harrison b ca 1756 m Betty Blincoe

George Harrison m Winifred _ . Their six ch b from 1754­1765

Samuel Harrison m Elizabeth_. Their 2 ch b 1765 and 1770

Willoughby Harrison m Susannah. Their 2 ch b 1794 & 1796

Elisha Harrison m Salley. Their 2 ch b 1797 and 1800


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There are more details about these Northumberland Harrisons if anyone wants the information.

p. 3. Thomas Harrison 1741­1815 came to America 1763 from Cumberland Co. England. He settled first in Chester Co. PA and there m Sarah Richards 1764. She 1741­1812. They then moved to AUGUSTA CO. VA (!). Children: Joseph, John, Thomas, Samuel, Samuel (apparently the first baby Samuel died and the next child also named Samuel), John (again.. apparently the same happened), Robert, Sarah and another Thomas, all b from 1765­1778.

A grant was made to Thomas Harrison, Sullivan Co. NC 1782 and another to Joseph Harrison in Iredell Co in 1792 and to Robert Harrison in Cumberland Co. NC in 1807. The records do not show that Thomas Harrison, the father, ever left Augusta Co. VA. The records do show that one Thomas Harrison was given a land grant and he may or may not have been this father. (Family records of Grady Keith of Marietta, GA).

WOW! I wonder how much of this is true! If true, this is not only the ancestry of the Watauga NC Harrisons (through son Joseph) but also the ancestry of Thomas of Sullivan Co. NC (later IN) who could very well be the the same man who in 1800 was on the census of Buncombe County with a household of 14 and the big stumbling block of many of us! I doubt that much of this is true, but could some of it be true?

On p 314 of LGT is Jesse Harrison, 3rd son of Capt. Daniel Harrison. It says that there were numerous relatives who m Sarah: Jesse m Sarah as did his father Daniel, his brother Daniel Jr, his son Jesse Jr, his uncle THOMAS, and Thomas' son THOMAS. Robert Harrison was a brother to Jesse and he died in KY.

On p 311. Will of Reuben Harrison. He had 8 sons: Nathaniel, John, Josiah, Joseph, Reuben, David, Samuel and Abner. (Abner by a 2nd wife).

On p 327 about Thomas Harrison, son of Thomas, founder of Harrisonburg, he died 1800 and was m to Sarah Oliver. He also discusses another Thomas Harrison, a Captain of the Rockbridge Militia and evidently of a Maryland family and settled in Botetourt Co. VA... We are familiar with this family which ended up in SC and no sign of being related. It seems to me that Thomas Harrison, the subject of this item is neither one of these LGT or the MD Harrisons.

Since the origin of the Watauga NC Harrisons is cloudy, perhaps they are so descended. Their story goes that Joseph, their ancestor, was son of John and John from England and he had a brother Benjamin who went to Indiana. They have another story that John was descended from the James River Harrisons.

Not much of this story seems to be accurate, in my opinion, but if some of it is, as is likely, what part?

p 3. Thomas Harrison m Sally Ollever in 1790 in Rockingham Co. VA. On p 249 of LGT I find a Thomas Harrison who m Sarah (Sally) Oliver 1790. This was Thomas son of Thomas, the founder of Harrisonburg. He died 1800 and she remarried 1802 Richard Kyle. On p 327 as above paragraphs. This Thomas was the father of Wesley Harrison who moved to Cocke Co. TN and a Methodist minister and later moved to Indiana, and a book written about him and his family. He also had: Wesley, Robert, Rebecca, Sarah and Edith.

Anybody want to draw some conclusions?

p 3. Tennessee Pension list of 1832 for the War of 1812 lists:

Nathaniel Harrison age 76 in 1832, NC line living in Blount Co. TN

Thomas Harrison, age 74 in 1832, NC line living in Franklin Co. TN. Any conclusions to draw from this?


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p 4. (This whole page devoted to Thomas Harrisons). Franklin Co. GA 1850 Census. Thomas Harrison b 1802 in SC and wife Martha b 1805 SC. Ch: Nancy b GA, John b GA, Naomi b GA, Jane GA, Thomas b GA. Also in household were Naomi Harrison b 1763 NC (probably mother) and Matilda b 1798 SC (probable sister)I believe I know this family. This should be Thomas, son of Thomas Harrison who was an early settler of Franklin Co. GA. In the same county was another Thomas Harrison who disappeared, only to turn up in SC. Actually he did not move but the border moved and he lived and died in the same place and his family, which contains a genealogist still lives on the old farm. I do not know the origin of either Thomas Harrison, but not ours since both remained in those locations.

p 4. Thomas and Elizabeth Harrison lived in Washington Co. (formerly Tyrell) NC. (became Washington Co TN). Their son Aaron b 1778. (This could be the same as Thomas Jr of the first item on p 3 who got a grant 1782 Horse Creek, Sullivan Co. TN).

p 5. Robert Henry Harrison, MD. This from Goodspeed's HISTORY OF TEXAS. He was b 1826 in either Gainesville GA or Greenville SC, son of Jesse Harrison and Margaret Hulsey. Jesse b in Fairfax VA and was son of Robert Henry Harrison who was a Rev. soldier and 2nd cousin of General Harrison of VA. Jesse was originally a planter in SC but moved to Gainesville, GA where he gave his attention to gold mining for same time. Then he went to Columbus, Ohio to study medicine there and in Philadelphia He practiced in Obion Co. TN and died there in 1860. Margaret died after having Isaac and Mary and he remarried Miss Wilson (?) and had more children including Robert Henry Harrison, MD, and several other physicians, many of whom moved to Texas. Robert Henry became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in Memphis, TN (probably in my Alma Mater, the U of TN but then probably known as Memphis Medical College. At the beginning of the Civil War he organized an heavy artillery company for duty at Fort Pillow, which he commanded. I am familiar with this family from TENNESSEE COUSINS by Worth Ray, but Ray did not know his origins in Fairfax VA. me claim that he was a second cousin to General Harrison of VA perhaps means he was of the James River bunch and not necessarily valid but could be.

p 7. Lauderdale, AL. Willis Tillman Harrison m Mary Ham who was b 1842. Willis was the son of Luke Harrison b NC c 1789 who had other sons: Martin, Marion, and John Tyler Harrison. Luke m Mary (Patty) . One of his brothers m Mary HARRIS of VA. John Tyler Harrison b SC c 1811 m his first cousin Mary HARRISON b c 1811. She was the daughter of Mary HARRIS above and sister of Luke . .. Here we are again! Harris and Harrison as on p 1.!

p 7. Hall Co. GA. Reuben Harrison with a family of four found here in 1820 census 25-45, wife under 26 and a son and daughter under 10. The question is asked whether this is the grandson of Robert Henry Harrison, Rev. Sol (above) who was on the Donelson Expedition with his son Reuben as told in the Annals of TN I am familiar with the story about the expedition and how Reuben, a boy, was lost on this Tennessee River Trip and thought captured by Indians, but the next day he was waiting for the boats down river. However, I think this story is fouled up a bit. I think it was the son Reuben, not grandson, who was on the expedition and his father's name not given in Annals of TN. I believe the boy Reuben remained in Sumner Co. TN and so did some other Harrisons who got a grant on Bledsoe Creek as one of the Donelson grants. On p 8 of this paper it gives the 1820 census of Sumner Co. TN with two Harrison families: Richard and James, and a will of George W. Harrison 1839. I have tried before to connect them to LGT but I have been unable to do so. This expedition left from Long Island of the Holston in LGT territory but people did travel rather long distances to leave from Long Island, so could be the line of Harrisons as this story suggests.


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p 7. Green County, GA marriages:

James Harrison m Mary Harrison 31 July 1801

Benjamin Harrison m Jane Mathews 11 Dec 1814

Robert Harrison m Isabel Pattilo 6 Apr 1821

James W. Harrison m Elender T. Evans 10 Feb 1831

LGT was of no help to me here, but likely some of these are LGT Harrisons from Mecklenburg to Green Co. GA. LGT Harrisons of VA m Mathews, Evans and other Harrisons, but I could not find any of these. Robert Harrison who m a Pattilo reminds me of Harrisons of another line of THE VENTURERS HAMPTON, HARRISON AND EARLE (Andrew Harrison line) who m a Pattilo in SC, daughter of Rev. Henry Pattilo.

p 9. Pickens Co. NC (There is no Pickens Co. NC; must be Pickens Co. SC). John Harrison, Rev. soldier died 1798, married Malone. Issue: Thomas Harrison 1766­1840, lived in MO. John, Benjamin, Samuel, Daniel and James Harrison. Note: Lucy French m Sam P. Harrison of Callaway, MO .. could be Samuel Harrison above. .. Yes, this is likely. This sounds like the Harrisons of THE KINGDOM OF CALLAWAY who came from MD to Botetourt Co. VA and were in SC. On p 218 of LGT, it tells about them to point out that they are NOT LGT Harrisons. John and his brother Thomas, and other siblings were children of a Thomas Harrison born in England 1695, m there Hannah Morrison. After their parent's death they came to Maryland. Capt John Harrison m Miss Malone of MD and moved to Botetourt VA and had the above noted children. His brother manes was a Col. and never married but he became very wealthy. When he died he left his property to Thomas, son of Capt. John; his nephew. This Thomas m Margaret Billups of VA and moved with his parents to SC and eventually to Callaway Co. MO. (see A HISTORY OF THE PIONEER FAMILIES OF MISSOURI, by Bryan and Row, p 341) ... p 218­9 of LOT discusses other Harrisons of MD.... I suppose that the reason for these being in LGT is that these Harrisons, living rather close to LGT Harrisons could be confused. Both were prominent families. Also these Harrisons in MO could be confused with LGT Harrisons there such as Rev. Thomas Harrison Jr. from Buncombe and just across the Mississippi River in IL.

p 10. Richmond Co. VA marriages before 1800
Thomas m Susanna Lewis bond date 31 Dec. 1795, Jeremiah Lewis
William m Ann Moore bond date 16 Feb. 1790 by Thomas Moore
Jeremiah m Jane Moore the same day also by Thomas Moore ... know little about Richmond County VA but nearby in Culpeper was a Lewis family and a Harrison family and the Harrisons were of the Andrew Harrison line and the Lewises were of the Zachariah Lewis line. A Jeremiah Lewis was from Zachariah who was a very prominent developer of the Shenandoah Valley. Moores also married into the LGT Harrisons. There was also (p. 10) Elizabeth Harrison m Capt. Thomas Fletcher before 1793 in Culpeper VA and I am pretty sure she was of the same Andrew Harrison line.

p 11. A whole page of Rockingham Co. VA Harrison marriages. Many I recognize as LGT marriages, but a few of special interest:

1784 Gideon m Mary Bryan. ISAIAH HARRISON bondsman... which Isaiah Harrison? Much too late to be Isaiah Sr and too late to be Isaiah Jr, unless he returned to VA, but even then he would have been very old if alive being born in 1689. Perhaps another Isaiah Jr. descendant who returned or other.

1784 Nathaniel m Mary Woodley. Captain Jacob (probably this should read Captain Jacob Woodley.. there is no surname Jacob in LGT but a Jacob Woodley.

1784 Michael m Margaret Ragan with Benjamin Harrison bond. Could this be Michael who moved to E. TN? Ragans also moved there.

1792 John m Elizabeth Stewart. .. Stewarts intermarried with the Isaiah Jr. branch.

1804. Reuben m Partheney Harrison with Jesse Harrison bond. On p 14 it shows Parthenia Harrison as a daughter of Benjamin Harrison 1741­1819 and Mary McClure


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Benjamin was son of Capt. Daniel and Margaret (Craven) Harrison. This Reuben Harrison was the son of Ezekiel... I went into this in my November 1995 Harrison Notes on p 1 where I mentioned that this Reuben m 2nd (unknown) and that a child was in SC and maybe Reuben was too.

p 11. 1809 Ezekiel Jr m Ann Bell with Ezekiel Harrison bond. .. This is Ezekiel Sr and Jr who both moved to Sangamon Co. IL. In IL Jr married again to Elizabeth Stuart. I wonder if the Stuarts/Stewarts who were connected to Isaiah Jr. are also the same as those in IL who also came from Augusta VA?

p 12. Items from CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH­IRISH SETTLEMENT IN VIRGINIA by Chalkley p 1793. Robert Harrison of Bourbon Co. KY, p 340.... So, evidently a Robert Harrison of Augusta VA was in Bourbon Co. KY with connections back home. I do not think I have looked into Bourbon Co. Harrisons.

Note at the bottom of the page, "For early Harrison sources see VA Mag of Hist. Vol 53 and 32 and Tyler's Quarterly Vols 8, 21, 22 .. sounds like a good idea to look these up!

p 14. Marry Harrison, daughter of Captain Daniel and Margaret (Craven) Harrison m 1st Henry Bowyers, d 1760 at sea. m 2nd William Kavanaugh.. I know a bit about the Bowyers. They are also involved with my wife's Hawkins ancestry. A relative of Henry Bowyers was guardian of Martha Borden, the heiress of the Benjamin Borden empire and all its problems. Bowyers ran it for her. When she married Benjamin Hawkins, he took over the empire in the Shenandoah Valley. Their son James Hawkins was my wife's ggg grandfather and lived in Buncombe Co. NC. Bowyers were very important in the Shenandoah Valley. Marry was the sister of Benjamin Harrison who m Mary McClure and therefore the aunt of Parthenia Harrison who m Reuben Harrison, son of Ezekiel, mentioned on the previous page. Presumably most of the children of Ezekiel moved with him to Christian Co. KY and then to Sangamon Co. IL.

I am impressed with the above document sent by Gail Shlanta, especially in regards to the impression it gives about so many unexplained Harrisons. They were everywhere!

I wonder who did this work?

In checking LGT in regards to the above I found a few other items of interest: p 118/9. This is in a discussion of possibly related Harrisons of New Jersey. This is just across the river from Delaware. Isaiah Harrison Jr appears to have located there because of a will of John Brick, Esq. in 1737, to which Isaiah Harrison was a witness (presumably Jr.). This was not proved until 1753 and Isaiah Jr was not there to prove the will. He was by then in Augusta Co. VA. Isaiah Sr, at the time of the will was past 70. There was also an Israel Harrison there He married there in 1685, Hester White, daughter of Christopher White. White's widow, Hester left a will in 1698 mentioning her daughter Hester and Hester's children Joseph and Sarah Harrison. They were Quakers.

The indications are that it was through Isaiah Harrison Jr, that his brothers of Sussex Delaware received their first information in regards to the Shenandoah Valley of VA. Isaiah Jr likely received his information directly from Isaac Van Meter of Old Salem. Van Meter had explored the lower Shenandoah Valley prior to 1730.

p 120. The Harrisons (not including Isaiah Jr because he left last of all of them) probably came to VA by way of Alexandria, VA and crossed the Blue Ridge at Thornton's Gap... I am somewhat familiar with Thornton's Gap since I have been involved with Johns(t)on research in Culpeper Co. VA, where Thornton's Gap is located (Culpeper before it was whittled down in size). Culpeper was very


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important, not just as an entry across the Blue Ridge to the Valley, but also it was a last outpost of civilization. At the time, it was Spotsylvania Co, then Orange County and Orange Courthouse was and is 1/4 mile from Culpeper on the south side of Rapidan River. There was a road across the river to Thornton's Gap. This area was a peaceful refuge as far as Indians were concerned. They did not cross the Blue Ridge. There were a few Indians who lived in the area but they were a very friendly tribe and quickly adopted white ways. Close by was an active seaport on the Rappahannock River and this was a prosperous place. The early deeds of the Harrisons in the Shenandoah Valley were made at Orange Courthouse before Augusta County was formed. Many of the close associates of the Harrisons in Augusta County were from the Culpeper area and when the French and Indian War came upon the Shenandoah Valley and many left for their own safety, quite a few of them came back to Culpeper. Culpeper was famous for its "Minute Men", a military outfit probably still in existence to some extent today. They had impressive uniforms and weapons and the flag with a rattlesnake coiled and about to strike with the words, "Liberty or Death" and "Dons Tread On Me". During the French and Indian War they were very active and their rather permanent station was at Frederick County, VA where Lord Fairfax held forth with his land sales for the Valley, and their commander was George Washington. From there they became quite familiar with North and South Carolina and what was to become East Tennessee, because they went to those places a number of times, including Fort Loudon. This was perhaps the main gateway to the Valley from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, though not the main gateway for the Scots Irish we hear so much about from Pennsylvania which went through Frederick Co. VA, not far away. Thornton's Gap was the pass through which the famous "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe" expedition went to explore the Valley a bit about 1713.

p 331. In 1783, after peace was declared, Ezekiel Harrison and his brother Reuben and ISAIAH Harrison, evidently his cousin, appear to have made a {trip to Georgia, seemingly with the intention of settling ... but they soon returned. This Isaiah could hardly have been Isaiah Jr who, if still alive, would have been very old. Isaiah Jr had left much earlier than 1783. This could have been a descendant of Isaiah Jr however, who had returned to VA.

p 233. Of Thomas, the founder of Harrisonburg's family, Ezekiel his son, later became a member of Smith's and Linville's Creek Church. Ezekiel was married during the stirring days of 1775. His wife was Sarah Bryan. The Bryans are said to have come to Augusta from Culpeper County, and according to tradition, were near kinfolks of Thomas Bryan Martin, the nephew of Lord Fairfax. Sarah's brothers were John, Morgan and William Bryan. The last named became one of the first Methodist ministers of Rockingham ... have become involved with the Bryans in several respects to do with Johnston genealogy. This is a very important family. Sarah's mother was a Morgan of considerable importance. Morgan Bryan was the founder of the Bryan family that was intermarried with Daniel Boone. The Bryans and Boones moved to Rowan County, NC but returned to Culpeper to live with his wife's relatives during the French and Indian War, before returning to Rowan and then on to KY with the Bryans. William Jenning Bryan, the famous lawyer and politician mostly based in KY, also came from Culpeper and made a number of trips back to visit relatives there

p 154. Isaiah Harrison Jr born Oyster Bay, Long Island Sept 27, 1689, appears to have been living in the southern part of West Jersey, across the river from Delaware in 1737 ... In 1748 Isaiah qualified as Administrator of Joseph Harrison, in Augusta with Jeremiah Harrison and William White as his sureties. On Sept 1 of that year a sale of the goods of Joseph Harrison was held at the house of Samuel Stewart by Jeremiah Harrison ... 23 May 1750 is recorded, "Isaiah Harrison, adm of Joseph


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Harrison (has) removed to Carolina."... Only a fleeting glimpse is thus given of Isaiah Jr. Later his brother Samuel also removed to Carolina, settling in Craven County, where he remained for a short time before he returned to Augusta.. hence it is presumed that Isaiah Jr had located there (Old Craven County SC). Nothing is known of his family, or the date of his death. Joseph Harrison was probably his son.

p 160. John Harrison (son of Old Isaiah). He settled at Great Spring on the old Indian Trail, today known as Lacy Spring, in Rockingham County... In this section too settled for a short time, Isaiah Jr before his removal to Carolina. Isaiah Jr was the eldest of the family and the only full brother to John Harrison then living.

p 299. An Isaiah Harrison, thought to have been Zebulon's son, is named in 1783 as having been a Revolutionary soldier.

p 304. This is about the children of Zebulon Harrison and his wife Margaret.. Baptists at Linville Creek, son of Old John Harrison, a founder of this church. Only six children are listed with follow up information on their descendants but there were more children apparently... "And several others, including likely; Gideon m Mary Brian 1784, and Isaiah living 1784.

p 371. Isaiah Harrison testified at a trial of a tory named Hinton, as one of a group of Robert Harrison (son of Thomas) and other patriots August 1777.

I thought that this review of LGT in regards to Isaiah Harrison Jr and later Isaiah Harrisons was a good idea since we may be so descended. There are really few references to Isaiahs and not all of these are definite as to whom they belonged. So, Isaiahs that we run across later in Mecklenburg NC, Polk Co. TN and a few other places are not well explained since they left few records in Augusta Co. VA. I guess it is time to read LGT again for about the fourth time, for little clues.

FROM SHIRLEY WAGSTAFF AGAIN. She has collected more on Thomas Harris/Harrison of page 1 of these notes.

His wife Jemima Baylis b c 1755, died either 19 Jan 1829 or 29 Jan 1829, then living in Rutherford, NC. Their daughter Anny/Anne/Ann b 1 777 96 Dist. SC m 1796, d 1850. She m Briant/Bryan/Bryant Bonner. Bonners were founders of Grassy Pond Baptist Church near Cowpens National Battleground in upper SC (not far from King's Mountain and Clark's Fork of Bullock's Creek), on the NC border. Her sister Mary m a Phillips as did her sister Nancy. Her brother Balus/Bayles/Baylis, Jr (Jr?) m a Jones as did her brother William. Her sister Rebecca also m a Jones.

Thomas, the father, was a large landholder and owned many slaves. He was either Irish or Welsh. Jemima Baylis is thought to be from the Baylis family which migrated to SC from VA. Thomas likely was also b in VA or the "old country". Part of his plantation was in NC and part in SC, on Surratt's Creek.

On p 1. I told about the Courier Sun article in 1975. It turns out that three weeks later there was another article about him in the same paper and she sent me a copy. It is mostly documents such as wills and deeds and establishes what she has said above.

EARLY CHURCHES OF CULPEPER COUNTY, VA: COLONIAL AND ANTE­BELLUM CONGREGATIONS, Edited by Thomas and Greene. This is an excellent book, but as it says in the introduction, some articles are better than others. This is more relevant to my Johnston ancestry than Harrisons, but some of the Methodist history is relevant to Harrisons. This county includes Thornton Gap and is adjacent to Orange Courthouse and therefore an area with which LOT Harrisons were quite familiar, and not far away.


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p 111. Culpeper Methodist Church dates back to 1777, but Methodist preaching dates before that. The "First Great Awakening" began 1740, especially with John Wesley (also Whitfield as I recall). This was within the Anglican Church of which John Wesley was always a member. It also affected Baptist and Presbyterian churches. It was a revival movement to convert stodgy Anglican worship into an impassioned, active devotion. Wesley established "societies" within the Anglican churches of spiritually committed people, and these societies were divided into small "bands" for deepened personal encounters, and into larger classes for general fellowship.

Methodism first came to the colonies through two local preachers, Robert Strawbridge and Phillip Embury who came of their own accord and not official missionaries of John Wesley. Robert Williams requested appointment as a Methodist Missionary to America. Wesley agreed but he was to be under the supervision of others. Williams arrived before his supervisors and had an immediate impact in VA.

Methodist meetings were held in Culpeper in other churches. That was not always agreeable to the Baptists (who were illegal but functioning anyway). A wealthy man in Culpeper; Henry Fry, had somewhat of a drinking problem. He was also into partying, dancing and such. He built a large mansion which included a large ballroom. However, before he ever had a ball there, he became a devout Methodist, stopped his dissolute ways, became a Methodist preacher, and made the ballroom into a Methodist church. Fry became a mover of the Virginia emancipation bill in 1785, to free the slaves. Emancipation was high on the list of Virginia Methodists, and therefore not too popular with the general population. Methodists were not persecuted however, because they were part of the official Anglican faith. Baptists and Quakers were persecuted and Presbyterians were tolerated.

At this point, I am diverting from the book, making some comments. Virginia officially was opposed to any religion other than Anglican. Yet, this persecution had a degree of tolerance. Not far from Culpeper; over the Blue Ridge, the Scots­Irish were pouring in and they were Presbyterian. Other nationalities and other religions were invading the area. Linville Creek Baptist, also known as Alderson's and Smith's Creek, where many of the LGT Harrisons were members, came from "Newlights" schismed off of the Congregational Church of New England. As "Newlights", a term used by many new movements from old churches, they were still in a sense, Congregationalists and a branch of the Anglican Church ­ until they called themselves Baptists. I am not familiar with this church being persecuted, yet east of the Blue Ridge they would have been so treated by officialdom.

Presbyterians were in a sense, also a part of the Anglican Church, though their identification with Scots and Scots­Irish who were frequently at war with England, did not endear them to England. In Culpeper, Orange and Spotsylvania VA from which Culpeper came, there were at least two very prominent Anglican Rectors of the perishes who were Scot and highly educated and eminent Presbyterian theologians: Rev. Robert Rose and Rev. John Thompson. Rev. Rose was a business man also. He owned numerous plantations and he was financial advisor to Gov. Spotswood and supervised his enterprises. After Gov. Spotswood died he managed his affairs and those of his heirs and was very close to the family. Rev. Thompson, before he came to Culpeper, was a Presbyterian theologian in PA where he frequently taught Presbyterian ministers in training and was important in the starting of the Presbyterian churches among the Scots­Irish. He was a protege of Gov. Spotswood and very wealthy. When Gov. Spotswood died Rev. Thompson married his widow, a sister of the Duke of Orleans. Certainly the area of Orange, Spotsylvania and Culpeper, though nominally Anglican, had Presbyterian theology preached to them. Rev. Thompson at one point wrote a theological paper pointing out that Presbyterian and Anglican theology was very similar. Rev. Thompson died 1770 and was not


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involved with Baptist persecution, since there were no Baptists there before he died. They appeared in force shortly after he died and were then persecuted. Freedom of religion had a strong following however and Jefferson and Madison as well as other political figures of the area were advocates of freedom of religion.

In the Shenandoah Valley, I am aware of very little presence of Anglican churches. Presbyterians had a large presence, especially among the Scots­Irish. Presbyterians had a problem with having enough ministers. Their ministers were highly educated not only in theology but in classical education and were very active in higher education, but limited in number. Originally they were all educated in Scotland, but movements were started to educate them in America; a role in which Rev. Thompson was active.

Come the Revolution, the Anglican church essentially dissolved and ceased their official function. They became the Episcopal Church and picked up the pieces. Methodists, originally Anglican, prospered as an independent but different church, though retaining the name Methodist EPISCOPAL Church.

Foreign language churches such as the German Reformed and Lutheran had support from English Colonial officials. They were exempt from taxes of the Anglican Church in VA. If they were not toeing the line in Anglican principles, who would know? They preached in foreign languages.

Quakers were mainly English and frequently educated and prosperous. Though many considered them Papist and therefore an enemy equivalent to the Catholic Church, they were rather hard to persecute since they were non violent and friendly to everyone. They were artful in the use of passive resistance. Now, back to the book:

p 112. By 1772 Williams commenced pioneering work in NorfoLk, VA working for Devereaux Jarratt, an Anglican Priest of evangelical persuasion Williams had an extensive revival in Petersburg. In 1774 he moved to Orange, VA. Nearby in Culpeper was Henry Fry, son of Col. Joshua Fry a professor at William and Mary and senior in command to George Washington in the French and Indian War. Henry Fry was married to Sukey Walker, the daughter of the wealthy landowner, soldier and explorer, Dr. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill in Albemarle County. He became a Methodist minister. He is the one mentioned earlier with the ballroom that served as a church. He had brought Robert Williams to preach there as the first Methodist preacher in Culpeper. (This was near Thornton's Gap). The estate and original mansion is still going strong as a plantation and is pictured, as is the ballroom.

p 115. Bishop Asbury was there as early as 1780 and preached at Fry's. In his journal he wrote, "The people thought I must speak like thunder to be a great preacher. I shall not throw myself into an unnatural heat or overstrained exertions." This was before Asbury was a Bishop. Asbury was 1745­1816 and became a Bishop in 1784. (It was more like 1801 that he made his first trip to Buncombe).

Asbury was back in Culpeper in 1782 and again preached at Fry's. WILLIAM McKENDREE, a contemporary of Asbury and Fry, described the benefits of "entire satisfaction" in his own life".. "I obtained deliverance from unholy passions, and found myself possessed of ability to resist temptation, to take up the cross... and the graces of the Spirit in a manner before unknown."... On April 17, 1784 Asbury was again at Fry's for a special quarterly meeting and about 700 people were there. Comment about William McKendree: As I recall, he too became a bishop and Rev. Thomas Harrison Jr of Buncombe to Belleville, IL to Minneapolis, MN highly respected McKendree to the extent of naming a son for him and his children attended McKendree College nearby, named for Bishop William McKendree. The book has nothing more to say about McKendree and I do not know how active he was in Culpeper or in nearby Augusta County, VA, but there seem to be religious roots involving Rev. McKendree and at least one Rev. Harrison whose origins were probably of the LGT


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Harrisons. Perhaps we should learn more about the possible connections of LGT Harrisons and Bishop McKendree, and the numerous Methodist ministers from Buncombe named Harrison or married to Harrisons. We already know about Bishop Asbury's frequent involvement with LGT Harrisons.

p 117. A portrait of Bishop Asbury. He was a very good looking man. He looks a lot like Rev. Billy Graham but with longer curly hair. Impressive.

Back to Rev. William McKendree: me possibility exists that he was involved with the Buncombe County Harrisons of the 1800 census, either there or in VA or in IL. We know a lot about Bishop Asbury because he wrote his famous journal and told about visiting Harrisons in a number of places, and they became Methodists. However, it is questionable whether the Buncombe County Harrisons and Granthams ever met him in Buncombe because, as I recall, his first trip there was 1801 and about that time Rev. Thomas Harrison headed for IL and so did Rev. John Grantham. Perhaps they had more contact with Rev. McKendree and that could be a clue if we were to find when and where he traveled. NC? TN? GA? IL? Christian Co. KY? I find nothing about him in my old Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Back to Shirley Wagstaff as discussed on p 1 and 8: The Baylis name struck me as familiar and I found them in THE VENTURERS. The Baylis family from Stafford County, VA with a bunch of Generals and Colonels there. They were married into the Earles, resulting in Baylis Earle of Pendleton SC and also further north where he was a member of Reedy River and Concord Baptist at the head of Tyger River near the border of NC/SC. I did not find any of these Harrisons with the first name of Baylis but I did find a number with the middle initial B. There were numerous Harris connections too with this Harrison/Hampton/Earle family. me Harrison family that comes to mind in Stafford County VA where the Earles and Baylis families came from, is the Burr/Cuthbert Harrison line. Interestingly, the Thomas Harrison who m Nancy Pack probably came from the Burr/Cuthbert line.

TENNESSEE ANCESTORS, December 1995, p 179, an article, TRUE LOVE WON: ISAAC WRIGHT AND LOVELY WIFE FAILED TO RESIST LIFE'S ADVENTURE, by Lula Vance Scott. This was originally published in the KNOXVILLE JOURNAL, 15 Oct 1933. I will not take the time to go into this fascinating story, but I am excerpting genealogy. The point is that this Wright family is not to be confused with the Wrights who were involved with LGT Harrison genealogy.

In 1737 a ship was going to GA as part of the Oglethorpe colony and was shipwrecked on the shore of GA. A survivor was Isaac Wright, a boy now orphaned. His family was immigrating from Wales. He was rescued by Indians and reared by them. When he reached young manhood he took for his wife the daughter of the Indian family. His white father was apparently a physician and he took up the same profession but as an Indian doctor using Indian remedies. Their son, also named Isaac Wright took up the same profession and married a white girl of the Oglethorpe Colony. They in turn had a son also named Isaac Wright, also a physician using Indian remedies but practicing in white communities. He was educated and successful and moved to NC near Raleigh. He fell in love with Mary (folly) Rush, the daughter of Lt. Benjamin Rush, a prominent man. (I do not know if related to Dr. Benjamin Rush of the Revolution.

Lt. Rush was very much against this marriage and forbade it and forbade his daughter from seeing this ­breed Cherokee Indian who had no significant property. They eloped and moved to Tennessee, near Knoxville. They became very successful and prospered in his profession and other enterprises. They had seven children: Wiley Blounte also a physician; William a planter; Iral who took over his fathter's plantations and never married; Moody, Mary, Matilda and Malvina.


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Later, old Lt. Benjamin Rush's heart softened and he came to visit and gave them more property and slaves. They did not accept the slaves. There are few dates to this story but Isaac Wright III was 1758-1843 and Mary (Rush) Wright was 1 765-1845.

p 191. This is a listing of ancestors, proved, who were residents of Tennessee when it became a state in 1796. One is Col. David Tate, Jr who was married to Comfort Knox and lived in Greene Co. TN.. mention because I have frequently mentioned Tates in connection with the Davises.

p 229. This is a review of a book, THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF JUDGE JOHN ALEXANDER KELLY AND MARTHA MATILDA PECK KELLY AND RELATED FAMILIES 1515-1959. collected by Dr. John A. Kelly... am not particularly interested in Kellys but this also goes into Pecks and Bordens which lines are traced back to the early 1500's. My wife is descended from the Bordens and the Peck family was in the neighborhood of Madison County, NC and well known to my wife. Maybe some of you are so descended. We have not yet ordered this massive book of 897 pages but perhaps we will.


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Last Updated: 19 Apr 1997; format revised 18 Feb 2000
Becky Bonner E-Mail Address: [email protected]

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