HARRISON NOTES
APRIL 1999

Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

5000 Fawn Meadow #222, San Antonio, TX 78240
210.558.0820

We are delighted that Dr. Johnson is able to continue his enlightening work on Harrisons primarily of Buncombe Co. NC and offer our deepest sympathy for the loss of his lovely wife. Dr. Johnson is a trooper adjusting to his move; fortunately, the computer age is helping him more than he ever imagined! His new printer has enabled us to more accurately OCR his publication so perhaps I can keep up with him now!

Perhaps I should call this "The New Harrison Notes" since this is the first one since last October which I had to finish prematurely, because of my failing eyesight. Since that time I have acquired some high tech equipment to enable me to again read and write. I am writing this on my new computer which enables me see and hear what I write. I can enlarge whatever is on the screen as I desire and there is a rather pleasant robot voice who repeats to me every number, letter, word and sentence I type and when I stop for awhile it reads the last paragraph to me. He becomes a bit obnoxious at times in telling me to do things his way or skiing me questions. Sometimes I talk back.

The first item in last October's Notes was about a "new branch" of the Rev. Nathan Harrison family; his daughter Margaret who married. Edward Floyd Farrington and that this family also contained another Harrison named Martha who was in Haywood County NC.

After the October Notes I received a phone call from Martha Harrison, the actress, also descended from Rev. Nathan and from Walton County Georgia Harrison branch. She had just discovered the Farringons too! Martha has moved from New Jersey too Charlotte, NC and she gave me her new address which I dutifully wrote down but I was unable to read it later and neither was anyone else. Martha did comment on the great opportunities for Harrison research in the Mecklenburg area. She is computer oriented and so will I be in a couple of days when I get on the Internet to do research. I made a number of errors about this new information last October and I would like to report some of this over again, and hopefully more correctly and completely. I have had rather extensive correspondence with my source, Barbara Farrington Thomas.

REV. JEREMIAH HARRISON became involved with the research for a time. He had a daughter Margaret too. Though it was Rev. Nathan's daughter Margaret who m E.F. Farrington, the research resulted in more information that was previously unknown about him or his family. Let me get into Rev. Jeremiah Harrison first, but remember that he represents a fortunate mistake and was not directly involved with Farringtonns as far as we know.

Barbara has some information from Rick Logan who is from Rev. Jeremiah Harrison and he names his children:

This list does not include a Lydia. This is of interest because it has been thought that he did have a daughter Lydia who m Rev. Joab Humphries of Murray Co. GA. Rev. Humphries founded Harrison Chapel there and named it that for his wife's Methodist preacher's father. Could it be that Lydia was the daughter of Rev. Nathan as was first assumed?... Also in the 18150 census of Murray County GA, elderly Rev. Jeremiah's first wife Sarah

Addington was apparently dead but in his household was a Lydia Harrison.. daughter? Second wife? Relative? In that same census was Lydia wife of Rev. Humphries in another part of the county.

Recall that Rev. Jeremiah Harrison spent some time in Macon Co. NC and with the Granthams and Logans and others from Buncombe founded Zion Methodist Church there. He left for Union Co. GA with his wife's family of Addingtons and then on to Murray Co. GA about 1835. His wife's mother was LYDIA Duckett (a source for the name Lydia?). Later Jeremiah PAGE Harrison returned to Macon County and founded the prominent Harrison family of thee county seat there. I had questioned that since Rev. Nathan's son Jeremiah had gone to Union Co. GA also, that made two young Jeremiah.s there and it could be that either family could be the Macon Co. Harrisons. But now, since the name PAGE has an explanation, it seems obvious that he was from Rev. Jeremiah Harrison. Page is an interesting name of a prominent VA family which had a marriage into the James River Presidential Harrisons.

The name Rick Logan as researcher and descendant of Rev. Jeremiah suggests that he is from the Logans who were founders of that Zion Methodist Church in Macon County. As I recall, those Logans were married into the Addingtons or Ducketts or both. Barbara, do you have an address for Rick Logan? Or E Mail address? (I will have E Mail before I finish this paper). Logan also says that Rev. Jeremiah had two brothers named John and Joseph. John could be the one previously mentioned with Lillards. Joseph could be the one in York SC to Buncombe married to Margaret Hill and son of Nathaniel, but that Joseph was an only son it appears and was considerably older Notably, Rev. Nathan and Rev. Samuel Harrison are not included as brothers as I would have suspected.

I wonder how accurate and complete Rick Logan is? I wonder about his sources.. a family Bible of Jeremiah would be nicer There is a marked scarcity of family Bibles among all these Methodist Ministers. Maybe they wore them out pounding on them at the pulpit.

In a later letter Barbara informs me that Rick Logan shows Rev. Joaab Humphries' wife was Mary the daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Harrison. I have her as Lydia, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah. So, perhaps she was both names.

Rev. Jeremiah's obituary says he was born in Rutherford Co. NC, whereas Rev. Nathan's birthplace is not named in his obituary. There are various statements as to place of birth such as GA, NC, or VA.

HARRISON NOTES, June 1998, p 10: last paragraph. The Murray County, GA Census showing E.F. Farrington, age 60; Margaret (Harrison, dau of Rev. Nathan) age 62 was the 1850 census, not the 1860.

HARRISON NOTES October 1998 p 2, paragraph 3. Lydia and Ranson Hall had 16 children instead of 15. Alao on p 2, paragraph 6, most of which is in error. Lydia Robards never remarried, and Jesse Robards never left NC. Let us do this over: The oral story is that Martha (Harrison) Robards, mother was Lydia. She was born in Ireland ca 1775. She and a sister came to America with their father (name unknown). Their father purchased land, presumably in VA, but died shortly thereafter. The daughters inherited the property. Lydia married a Harrison (first name unknown) . They have not verified this story. Comment: This story has resemblance to Isaiah Harrison coming from Ireland, son of Rev. Thomas Harrison, originally from Chester, England, but I suppose that was a common story for many families. Recall that Isaiah Harrison had a daughter Lydia and a sister Lydia (?) connected to Stewarts... but lots of Lydias in the Long Grey Trail Harrisons.

HARRISON NOTES October 1998 p 3, first paragraph. Rev. Jeremiah's daughter Margaret would have been age 24 in 1838 but she did not marry E.F. Farrington as originally thought. Rev. Nathan's daughter Margaret who did marry Farrington in 1838 had an age which is in question as noted on the various censuses.

HARRISON NOTES June 1998 p 10. The 1850 Census of Murray County, GA shows that E.F. Farrington was born in North Carolina. He was not in the 1860 census and presumed dead by then. In 2860 Margaret and two sons aged 19 and 17 migrated to Blount County, AL. Both boys entered the Civil War from Alabama. After the War Margaret and the youngest boy went to Texas where there still are relatives living.

The 1840 census of Murray County shows Edward F. Farrington age 50-60; female 40-50; 1 male 15-20; and one male 20-30 (probably sons from an earlier marriage preSumably Margaret had also had an earlier marriage).

Martha Harrison married Jesse Robards/Roberts. Stories that Barbara has heard include that Barbara's gg grandmother Hall was part Indian. She was an excellent horsewoman and very clever. She was the first born child of Jesse Robards and Martha Harrison, born Dec. 1819. Her name was Lydia, her grandmother Harrison's name, and her middle name was Emeline, and she married a Hall so she was Lydia Emeline (Robards/Roberts) Hall. The Indian relationship was reportedly from the Robards side. There was also the story that She had very close ties to the President William Henry Harrison. (We know that that Story was common among the Buncombe Harrisons.. l have also heard the story that the Buncombe Robards had Indian blood and also that they came from a school teacher). The story about relationship to William Henry Harrison did not apply do Margaret Harrison, daughter of Rev. Nathan (but I have heard that same story from descendants of Rev. Nathan including a statement that Rev. Nathan personally told this grandchild when a small child. This was later debied and said she was misunderstood and that Rev. Nathan died before she was born).

Barbara was reinforced in that belief by readin the book my wife wrote many years ago about her Harrisons of Buncombe, which also included the story about the Watauga Harrisons claiming to have a letter addressed "Dear Cousin.. from William Henry Harrison as President (At that time we did not know the linkage of the Watauga Harrisons to the Buncombe Harrisons). For this reason Barbara has Speculated that Martha Harrison was . the daughter of Joseph Harrison Sr. of Iredell/Watauga NC since he did have a daughter

Martha. If true this would make Martha the sister of Rev. Joseph Harrison Jr, the pioneer preacher of Historic Three Forks Baptist in Watauga and the Registrar of Deeds of Watauga County for many years. Comment: This Joseph Sr and Jr was used in that book before we knew there was an even earlier Joseph Harrison, father of "Sr.". This family also had a story about coming from England and that Joseph has a brother who moved to Indiana. But it now seems clear that the Watauga Harrisons are Long Grey Trail Harrisons, perhaps from Isaiah Harrison Jr and the Sterwarts.

Jesse Robards in 1833 and in 1837 two of the young boys were presented to the court as orphans. This was a suggestion that Martha had died, however some believe that she "went to Georgia" with her two daughters, Lydia and Matilda Violet.

In 1834 Lydia daughter of Lydia Harrison Robards, married Ransom Riley Hall, a preacher from Haywood County. Barbara's great grandmother, Mary Angelina Hall was born ion Buncombe in 1835. They, the Halls lived in Haywood until 1843 when they moved to Georgia with Lydia's sister Violet and husband Levi Hipp, Subsequently, they moved to Blount Co. Alabama. Eight children were born in NC, six in GA and two in AL. Barbara's Hall relatives have very detailed information beginning with Lydia'a family

She has searched for Martha (Harrison Robards) in the 1840 census in NC and GA but no sign of her can be found. Assuming that she went to Haywood County with her daughter Lydia (but was not living with her in 1840) she may have remarried. She may be the Martha Harrison who married a Kilpatrick. (She has speculated that Martha may have been the sister of Rev. Joseph Harrison of Watauga but if the same as the one who m Kilpatrick she could very well be the sister of another Joseph Harrison -the one who m Margaret Hill and buried in Newfound Baptist in Buncombe -son of Nathaniel of York SC/Rutherford NC.

More about Martha's mother or perhaps grandmother who was named Lydia. This Lydia is said to have migrated from Ireland with her father and his sister. Her father died shortly after arrival. He left his property to his daughters. Lydia married Harrison. Very little is known of Lydia but born ca 1780. (If true this would place her as a much later immigrant than the Long Grey Trail Harrisons or Stewarts or early connections of our Harrisons)

Another family connection of interest is Catletts. Jesse and Martha had a son with the middle name of Catlett and maybe two sons. Ransom and Lydia Hall also with the middle name of Catlett. Barbara has not been able to make a Catlett connection with Robards.

Barbara has been focusing on Martha and her lines but she has a son Dan who has been working on Farringtons/Harrisons.

FARRINGTONS AND HARRISONS. He made the fascinating detour into Rev. Jeremiah Harrison as the erroneous father of Margaret Harrison who m Edward Floyd Farrington only to learn that Rev. Nathan was her father as he announced in his will. Margaret daughter of Rev. Jeremiah was age 24 in 1838 when Rev. Nathan performed the marriage but Margaret daughter of Nathan's age is confused, and even more confused when we learn that this was a second marriage for both of them and with older children of Farrington in their after marriage household. Farrington was obviously middle aged at this marriage since he had grown or almost grown sons and his wife Margaret, though of variable age was apparently a couple of years older than her husband... but then on the other hand Margaret continued having children when she seemed too old to heave more.. confusing. In the 1840 census of Murray Co. GA she was shown as 40-50 and her husband 50-60. In the 1850 census he was 60 and she was 62 and with two young boys nine and eleven.

The 1860 census shows a widow 72 and boys aged 19 and 17. Barbara has the interesting comment that perhaps the reason for such inaccuracies could be the fact that females were not taught math and could not calculate age from subtracting year of birth from the current year.. of course Iying was another possibility, especially to census takers. Eventually Margaret (Harrison) Farrington moved to Blount County, AL and the two boys entered the Civil War for the South. Still later she moved to Texas with her younger son Samuel. Barbara is descended from Nathan Harrison Farrington, the other son who remained in Alabama. (recall above that the Halls also moved to Blount Co. AL)

Let me interrupt with a story of my own. After the Civil War had devastated Murray County GA, a wagon train of Murray County people headed to Texas and settled near present Waco Texas as poor dirt farmers. Included in this trek was the widow of Rev. Joab Humphries, Mary or Lydia or Mary Lydia daughter of Rev. Jeremiah. She died on the way to Texas. There was much correspondences between them and the folks back home and I have copies of some of those letters. Another little traveler on that trek was a little boy with no shoes named Tom Connally. Since he had no shoes people had to carry him over sharp rocks and stickers and such and he was somewhat a pain in the neck. Little Tom grew up to be the famous Texas Senator Tom Connally (no relationship to John) who was the epitome of a typical Texan Senator with a string tie and a big Stetson hat and a remarkable Texas drawl. I well remember him. He must have acquired his Texas personality in acting lessons from politicians since he was from Murray County, GA! I wonder if all these folks who went to Blount Co. AL and then Texas were in the same wagon train? Did they all go to the Waco area? Another bunch of Harrisons from Nathan's son Jeremiah went to Texas and one of these descendants is or was the elderly Boyd Nibling, M.D. of Eddy, TX near Waco. He did much of the early research on the Harrison descendants of Rev. Nathan in Georgia. He had obtained some clues which took him to Buncombe County and to the library in Asheville, but at that time, he told me, the library was on the second floor of a downtown building and he being crippled could no get up the stairs, and so he was unable to pursue his Buncombe County leads. I have not heard from him in years, and he was very disabled, but furnished me his records.

At one point in Murray County GA E.F. Farrington and wife Margaret acquired land from Samuel R. Harrison in 1850. Samuel Robert was a brother to Margaret and was a Methodist Minister who moved to Walton County, GA where many are descended from him and I understand that a small museum in a log cabin was in honor of him was kept by a descendant. He interests me because there was another Samuel R. Harrison, perhaps his uncle and namesake who lived in the Mecklenburg area close to the same age as Rev. Nathan and Rev. Jeremiah and also a Methodist minister who later moved to Kentucky with his prominent Methodist theologian son

Edward Floyd Farrington is somewhat of a mystery. He was born in NC, probably in the Raleigh area where there are two communities near Chapel Hill, one named Farrington and the other Fearington (both believed to have originally been the same family). Floyd as he was called in NC probably had a family in NC before going to Murray County Georgia. There is a gap in the censuses from 181 0 to 1840 when he appears as Edward in the Murray Co. GA census. Perhaps he did pass through Buncombe. Nothing is known of his ancestors. (I think I recall a Rev. Farrington mentioned briefly in Buncombe to do width a Church Camp Meeting in the Turkey Creek area)

Dan found the following reference (we knew about this earlier but worth repeating) Calvin Jones papers 1785-1929 Hardeman Co. TN and also NC subseries 1.1 (1785-1838)

1819 6 August letter from George Swain of Asheville to Jones requesting assistance for the Rev. Nathan Harrison and his blind son, Thomas. (Dr. Jones was a noted physician with special interest in eyes. George Swain became Governor of NC and President of the University of NC. Thomas Harrison was my wife's gg grandfather and blind since the age of 17, at least partially. He still farmed and was probably a blacksmith and reared a family. He lived on 200 acres on Turkey Creek area but apparently never owned it, but was probably owned by his father. Thomas and his family remained in Buncombe after all the rest of the Harrisons left for GA and elsewhere. Probably all Harrisons now in Buncombe and Madison are from blind Thomas.)

Information is included on the Watauga Harrisons. I will not go into all of this since we have done so before, but I would like to point out the Martha Harrison who is under suspicion as being Barbara's.

Martha daughter of Joseph Harrison Sr. of Iredell Co. NC. This shows Martha's mother as Drucilla Hinds but I think it is now considered to be Drucilla Bentley. Martha b 1807 in Alexander Co/ NC (came out of Iredell to the west). She was a sister to the rather famous Red String Baptist Preacher (pro-Union) Joseph Harrison born 1799. (Mormon Records), A comment is made that Martha and her sister Jeannie could have been born earlier between 1800 and 1803. No further information shown on Martha.

Evidently there was an article in a recent issue of A LOT OF BUNKUM which I missed but Barbara picked up. We have wondered where Nathan and Jeremiah and others were in the 1810 census. They were expected in Buncombe area but not so shown. The article explains that some Buncombe County residents were listed in the Beaufort County Indexes in Buncombe Township ! There listed are a Jeremiah, a Nathaniel and Joseph Harrison. Joseph had two young sons a wife and an older over 18 male. Living nearby is John Hipps whose son Levi married a daughter of Jesse and Martha (Harrison) Robards . John Addington is also on that list (Rev. Jeremiah m Sarah Addington) and John Addington was next door to Jeremiah.

Barbara asks about where to look for the information to tell apart the early James River Harrisons (Surry County) from the isle of Wight Harrisons. I recommended Worth Ray's TENNESSEE COUSINS. Does anyone know a more recent study? She has heard that William Henry Harrison had 92 first cousins and/or siblings and would like to check them out!

Barbara spent the Christmas holidays visiting her relatives in Alabama where she grew up five miles from the famous battle of Horseshoe bend, and she picked up a little genealogy there on some of her Buncombe ancestors though not Harrisons.

WILLIAM m. Rhodes b 1822 in Buncombe m Margaret Ann Parker in Burke Co. in 1845. William was the son of Jacob Rhodes b in England c 1790 Jacob m Christina Carren dau of John Carren and Hannah Fouts. William and Margaret Ann migrated to Alabama where William entered the Civil War in 1863. Their daughter Mary Ann m NATHAN HARRISON FARRINGTON, son of E.F. and Margaret and grandson of Rev. Nathan in 1865.

Barbara wonders how many of these northern Alabama residents came from Buncombe... an interesting question! We know about some very interesting Harrisons there and the Gunters with Cherokee ancestry. Also people who had gone to GA and then AL. And then some to Texas after the Civil War.

SOME INTERESTING FIRST AND MIDDLE NAMES AMONG FARRINGTONS AND HALLS These appear to be surnames previously, thus suggesting connections: Fletcher,, James, Jackson, Newton, McAnnally, Anderson, Page, Presley, Catlett, and Napoleon.

HALL RESEARCHERS are numerous and much is available in computer archives and Haywood County History. Of interest is a researcher named Israel and another named Worley. Both of these surnames were common in the Leicester area of Buncombe, a suburb of Asheville where our Harrisons were. My wife had Worley Ancestors in the Sandy Mush area and she knew Israels there and somehow related. One is named Bette Sue (Israel) Gable and Gable is the name of a contributor to Harrison information regarding the vanished Bible record which states that Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of Thomas Harrison who m Rev. John Grantham was born in Buncombe in 1776 before there ever was a Buncombe County. They had a grandchild named Nathan Harrison Grantham.

The Hall information begins with George Hall I. but nothing is known about him. His son: George Hall II was one of three brothers who came to America from England (by tradition). He settled in Chester County, PA. He served in the Revolutionary War and moved to Haywood County NC where he is listed on a Rev. War plaque at the Courthouse.. His will was dated 1835. In 2830 he was listed as a Senator but this could be his son George lilt George Hall II m Elizabeth (Betsy) Cowan. (so did some later Harrisons from Rev. Nathan in Asheville). Children:

Ransom Riley Hall son of Enoch Joseph Hall b 2-19-1814 died 1899 buried in Brooksville, Blount Co. AL m Lydia Emeline Robart (sp?) daughter of Jesse Robards and Martha Harrison who was the first school teacher in Buncombe County. It has been reported that Martha was a sister of William Henry Harrison (the President? It does not say so and here were other William Henrys named for him and one in Watauga County.. or neice or cousin. The writer of this says that "my Aunt Zola Hall Chisholm has Martha Harrison's Bible" but never checked out.

Ransom Riley Hall and Lydia Robards were married at the residence of Mary Robart or Robards in Buncombe Co. 8-17-1834 Ransom Riley Hall was a Methodist Minister and they had 16 children which may include two adopted daughters of relatives. Six were born in Haywood NC, . They left in a covered wagon from Canton along with Lydia's sister and her husband Matilda and Levi Hipp. They settle in GA for awhile where the family Bible states there were 8 more children born but before 1860 they moved to Blount Co. AL. At Brooksville where the last two children were born, and where all the children lived and died.

In Alabama there was a descendant who m a Johnstone and had lots of little Johnstones. I do not know them but this is the aristocratic spelling of the Johnsons/Johnstons from Scotland. Some Johnstons changed their name to Johnstone, quite properly but with a motive in the early 1800's to exert a claim on the Johnstone Castle in Scotland and the royal titles. The heir of all this came to America before the Revolution, Gilbert Johnstone Jr. Marquise of Annandale who was an outlaw from the King following trying to overthrow the King and he had his property and titles confiscated as he hid out in North

HALL RESEARCHERS are numerous and much is available in computer archives and Haywood County History. Of interest is a researcher named lsrael and another named Worley. Both of these surnames were common in the Leicester area of Buncombe, a suburb of Asheville where our Harrisons were. My wife had Worley Ancestors in the Sandy Mush area and she knew lsraels there and somehow related. One is named Bette Sue (Israel) Gable and Gable is the name of a contributor to Harrison information regarding the vanished Bible record which states that Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of Thomas Harrison who m Rev. John Grantham was born in Buncombe in 1776 before there ever was a Buncombe County. They had a grandchild named Nathan Harrison Grantham.

In Alabama there was a descendant who m a Johnstone and had lots of little Johnstones. I do not know them but this is the aristocratic spelling of the Johnsons/Johnstons from Scotland. Some Johnstons changed their name to Johnstone, quite properly but with a motive in the early 1800's to exert a claim on the Johnstone Castle in Scotland and the royal titles. The heir of all this came to America before the Revolution, Gilbert Johnstone Jr. Marquise of Annandale who was an outlaw from the King following trying to overthrow the king and he had his property and titles confiscated as he hid out in North

Carolina under the protection of his uncle, Gabriel Johnston, Royal Governor of NC. Gilbert fought in the Revolution with his buddy General Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, and after peace was signed he was looking foward to the restoration of his property and Titles, so when he died it appeared that his children or relatives would inherit all of that. It never happened but an American with the name of Johnstone was the logical heir if anything was left.

There is a wealth of more genealogy of this Hall family, especially of those who went to Blount Co. AL but I will stop here before they multiply more!

A LOT OF BUNKUM, November 1998, p 151. A query by the research team of the society: I suspect from Barbara originally. (problem succinctly stated):

Jesse Roberts b 1790-1780 died Buncombe c 1833 m Martha Harrison. Prob. Children:

Lydia Emerline Roberts (1819), Violet Matilda Roberts (1826), Stephen S Roberts (1829) and Thomas Catlett Roberts (1831-1899). Need parents and siblings. What is relationship of David Roberts to Stephen and Thomas Catlett Roberts who were bound to him in 1837?

Roberts database I am trying information on people with the surnames Roberts, Robards, Roberds listed in the Buncombe Co. NC census from 1800—1840. I have info on Robert Roberts family (except Shellton) and early info on William Roberts family from Burke Co. Need info on families that moved from Buncombe.

p. 136. Article, ARE YOU A DESCENDANT OF POCAHONTAS ? This lists numerous surnames which could be such descendants, The list includes Harrison but others which mean something to me including: Allen, Baskerville, Bentley,, Berkeley,, Berry, Bland, Branch, Cabell, CATLETT, Fleming, Garrett, Goode, Gregg, Lewis, Logam, PAGE,, Pleasants, Powell, Randolph,, Williams, Winston,

(shortened). Thomas Terry came from En9land in 17790 and settled near Fk. Shoals, Greenville County. His wife was Rebecca Harrison, sister of John Harrison who was the organizer of a Methodist Church with Terry, known as Terry's Chapel. A new church was built in 1843 and again in 1904

Same publication, Sept 1966. Fairfield District. P. 124. Though it does not say, I believe that this is the 1830 census.. maybe 1840.

Jonathan Harrison (nine doors away) 1 m 10-16, 1 m over 45, 1f under 10, 1 10-16, 1 20-45, 1 over 45

HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO. P 106. Chapter entitled, A YEAR OF VICTORIES. This is a lengthy chapter about William Henry Harrison, primarily to do with his role as General in the War of 1812. I will attempt to glean from this any interesting genealogy. I do not know at this point the particular year that was so goof but not the first year of the war which was full of failures for which he was not there. .. Aha! I see that the good year was 1813. Some of this is official reports written by him or at least signed by him. This is very well written and with no nonsense, describing his plans for the campaign against Tecumseh and his British supported Indians. His headquarters was at Fort Meigs, designed and built by him and apparently named by him. (Meigs was Indian Agent for Eastern Tennessee and then Governor.)

I am judging that this is all pro-William Henry. It describes a Kentucky force which was reckless and irresponsible and was ambushed. I suspect that this was the Cavalry under Col. Richard Johnson who was a competing hero for the favor of the press. General Harrison was elected President, but before that Col. Johnson was elected Vice President.

Congress authorized a gold medal for Johnsson and a bronze medal for Harrison. Johnson was credited with personally slaying Tecumseh and he probably thought he did but later it turned out that there was probably a case of mistaken identity.

George Croghan is described as a Kentucky youth who had barely passed his majority ranks high among the achievements of the brave northwestern Army. He was in charge of Fort Stephenson. He was under seige and ordered to destroy the fort and march to Ft. Meigs. Croghan replied that it was too late to retreat and that he would defend the fort. His defiance of orders angered General Harrison but Croghan was successful in protecting the fort and hiss men and later talked his way out of the anger of Harrison and he was returned to Fort Stephenson to destroy it. Again he was under sedge by the Indians and protected the fort. Croghan again defeated the thousands of attackers and the hundreds of British Redcoats, At a parley when threatened with massacre should he not surrender he said that a massacre by the Indians would not occur since they would all be dead before the enemy could get in. Harrison was again not happy with his defiance of orders but Croghan was greatly honored by the President and the Congress could Harrison do!

I knew a little about George Croghan but did not picture him this way. I thought that he was a smart and tough and experienced middle aged man and an expert as an Indian trader and sort of ambassador to the Indians but in an unofficial capacity while he was making a living trading with them. Perhaps both impressions are true but at different times. No rank is mentioned for this brash young commander. Perhaps he had no rank and was not in the Army but a private citizen who was a great commander. Croghan and his officers were awarded a gold medal and a sword by joint resolution of congress many years later.

Well... no genealogy here, but a detailed article of the part of the War of 1812 under the Command of an effective General William Henry Harrison. He was born in the lap of luxury at the family plantation on the James River, campaigned for President as growing up in a log cabin and became very ill at his inauguration in terrible weather and refusing to put on a coat. He died within a few weeks and probably never had the opportunity to write a letter to anyone that he could sign as President of the United States.

FROM JOYCE HARRISON of Liberty, NC. Her husband is descended from Abel Harrison but evidently not the one who was the son of Joseph and Margaret (Hill) Harrison of Buncombe and Villa Rica, GA. I say that because he apparently had no children and no descendants. She had read my Harrison Notes on Becky Bonner's Harrison Repository via the Internet. She noted with interest an item by Betty Jo Hulse about "our" Abel, and wrote me some while ago. She comments that she has She comments that she has never run into any other Harrison named Abel except "ours". She sent me a Decendancy Chart and other material which is quote complete for her Abel's descendants. What she needs is Abel's parents.

1. Harrison, Abel b Oct.19, 1809 in North Carolina, d Oct 15, 1887 in Taylor Co, KY.

Wife, Aseneth (Seana) b May 5,, 1809 m about 1831, d Mar 1, 1884. Children: note the correction

These children have familiar names, except for Leiah [note there is no Leiah in the corrected list of children bbb]. Does anyone know of other Abel Harrisons? Any recollection about this one?

I asked her for computer genealogy advice and she sent me just what I needed for research over the Internet; a long list of sites to contact. She claims little computer knowledge. Well maybe so but since I know much less her information does not assume

thee I speak computerese and such, so I understand her better that the so called experts. I have had ten hours of lessons by a blind teacher, which has been helpful but he teaches in a language rather foreign to me and I had to slow him down to understand. l know of one lady who is taking a computer course at a University but the instructor does not give any lectures. He just answers questions and maybe that is the best way for experts to teeth. She is also helping Barbara Thomas with her Farringtons and Martha Harrison who can be so easily confused with the Martha Harrison who m Kirkpatrick/Kilpatrick who also was of Haywood County.

She has sent some South Carolina Harrison information, including some from the same source as did Juanita Dalrymple above; The South Carolina Genealogical Register, but also other sources.

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, James McCall Auditor General, an index, republished by Janr Revill 1969. Harrison

There are also Haristanes. l expect thee should read Hairston, as far as I know unrelated to Harrisons, but the other day on TV a program was promoted about a very large family reunion of one of the wealthiest families of the old south: Hairstons. They owned many plantations and over 10,000 slaves. They have reunions which includes many blacks who are descended from those slaves and one of their great plantations was shown. I know of a Hairston family in Abbeville SC connected with Johnsons.

A hand written note says: SC. Robert Tives m Ann Perry Harrison dau of Wm. Harrison, son of Reuben. - -Greenville, George Harrison's wife's name was Elizabeth Book 8.

Wills of Upper SC by Wooley p 60-61 Will of Benjamin Coleveland 21 Oct 1806. Among other bequests he willed to Chaarles R. Welborn, one negro woman named Charlotte with her children, a featherbed and furniture... l mention because I have Welaborns and a Welborn book. Welborns were intermaried with Teagues and a bunch of my relatives in SC and Baptist leaders from Abbott's Creek in NC to Anderson County area of SC. Ruth Bowers also has Welborns with her Granthams. General Cleveland was in the area close to York County Harrisons and friends and King's Mountain, so some relationship to him is suggested though I do not believe that this is the will of General Cleveland but likely the same family. On the same page is the will of Jacob Cleveland of Wilkes County but now the county of Elbert in GA, for some reason also in SC.

Will of William Cleveland of Pickens Dist SC. This is a very complex will which I will not cover completely but it involves Wrights and Harrisons.. Fanny Wright the daughter of Cleveland. She was the widow of James Wwright. Nancy Harrison deed was a sister of James Wright and the wife of Robert Harrison. Heirs of Nancy Harrison were: were E W Harrison, Thomas Harrison, Larkin Harrison, James Harrison, Benjamin Holland and wife Lucinda, Jackson Lowry and wife Catherine, James W. Pickens and wife Elizabeth and Harriet B. Harrison. . Dated 1842 but many of the events involved may have been much earlier. l note that a party to this equity action is John B. O'Nreal, the same name as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of SC.

John Harrison b 14 Aug 1768, Yorkshire, England, died 3 July 1818, Presbyterian.

Mrs. Susanna Harrison died 7 May 1847 age 78 native of Ireland.. Who is she;; his wife?

28 Feb 1815 Petition of Benjamin Harrison showed that his two children, James BURR and Ann Rebecca Harrison were minors and were entitled to a considerable sum of real and personal estate, and that they did not have any legal guardian. He (Benjamin) asked to be appointed guardian of his children ... l guess that it means that they had inherited from someone else and he wanted to supervise their inheritance. With the name of Burr Harrison and wealth this is probably the well known Burr Harrison Family line. There was another Burr Harrison in Fairfield County.

SC GEN. REG. March 1967 p p ? 27 Feb 1815 Petition showed that Green Rivers deed at his death owned valuable real and personal property and that his widow Mary and four children: Green Rivers, Lucy Rivers now m to JOHN HARRISON, Mary Rivers, now m to Frederick Myers and Robert Rivers, under age. Guardian appointed for Robert.

1830 or 1840 census of Fairfield reveals: Willoughby Haarrison, also located elsewhere in the county as neighbors were William, Reuben, John and James Harrison AS I recall we knew that the Willoughby Harrison family was represented here but did not know that anyone actually named Willoughby - involved with Hammond research.

P 34. Spartanburg District Armstrong Martin to Richard Harrison 1785 96th Dist. 200 a . This land adj land in dispute between Thomas Dugan and John Golightly.... l am somewhat confused about Richard Harrison/s connection but he was a JP as I recall. Know Thomas Dugan. A hero of the Revolution and his family intermarried with a Johnston family of Newberry, not mine.

I note that Nell Motes Goggans was Editor - No doubt a relative, but have not heard of her... Article: Daybook From A.M. McBech's Store 1794, Greenville Co. SC, This is just a list of names involved with sales and purchases.

The Earles are closely associated with the Harrisons of THE VENTURERS, HAMPTONS, HARRISONS AND EARLES, OF Greenville County, but I do not recognize Carter or Reuben Harrison being of this family. Neither Carter or Reuben are listed in he index of THE VENTURERS, so probably of a different family line. Reuben suggests the Long Grey Trail line but not necessarily. Carter suggests the James River Harrisons but not necessarily. Recall the story of a rather peculiar carpenter in Indiana or Ohio named Carter Harrison, ancestry not knownl note in the index many references to various Richard Harrisons, so perhaps the Richard of nearby early Spartanburg, mentioned earlier might be of THE VENTURERS line.

SC GEN REG., Vol III # 14 p 41 Spartanburg Co. Wills. Will of John Walker 1813. Gideon Harrelson a witness with a hand written comment that this must be Harrison. (nor is a Gideon Harrison in THE VENTURERS index). This is not a common Harrison name, though I do have an extensive paper of a Gideon Harrison from NC or VA to GA with unknown ancestral line. p 132. Will of Thompson Harrison. (Note from Mrs. Hulse that she has a copy of this will and it is not Thompson but plain Thomas Harrison), wife Genime, son Thomas, exec Balus Harrison and Thomas Harrison 23 April 1819. Wit: Thomas Clark, Briant Bonner and Joseph Camp.... l have more on this family but somewhere not readily available but not our line.

P 110.1820 Census Lancaster Dist Lists Verry and Luke Harrison. l knew about them but did not know in Lancaster, which is getting very close to the LGT Harrisons of Mecklenburg almost on the border with Lancaster SC. It would be reasonable for some of these Harrisons to move a short distance to Lancaster SC as did the Hoods with their Harrison ancestry.

P 113, Lancaster 1820 census. James Harrison, next door to HOOD Humphrey. 9 doors away are Archibald Hood and next to him is Archibald A. Hood.... l would like to point out that there is a confused area here, populated early on winch was debatable as to

which state it was. Andrew Jackson as a boy lived here and the story is that his playmates included Hoods and Harrisons. This is also the area of the Catawba Indians who liked white men and were great admirers of getting paid with money for work, such as hunting down Cherokees or manual labor. Though the tribe has long been reported as extinct, they fairly recently cropped up again as a tribe to get gambling casinos and such.

P 184 (I presume Colleton ) also lists Stephen Harrison, perhaps a duplicate of above since both listings show a neighbor Jacob Crosby.

P 289 Colleton shows H.J. Harrison Comment: Colletom is now a small county near Charleston but early on it was so huge and the borders so poorly known that many records called present central and western SC as Colleton. l do not know how big it was in 1820 but much smaller.

SC GEN REG. Vol 6 p 154. Abbeville Land Records 1784. JAMES HARRISON as a citizen 60 acres of land below the Ancient Boundary line on the waters of Coffeytown Creek bounding NW on land of Andrew Crozier, E on land of said James Harrison, the other sides on vacant land. Surveyed 20 Sept rec. 17 Dec 1784.. The other deeds in this list are similar and refer to the Ancient Boundary and probably awarded to current citizens of the area. Often when they referred to an Ancient Boundary they were referring to a recent previous border with Indian lands which had teen "renegotiated" by a new treaty, bit in this case perhaps it refers to a change in the border between SC and GA. I know of one such border change a bit up river from here which put a Thomas Harrison in SC instead of GA, and his family is still on that land. Coffetown Creek was well known as a prime fertile area and was promoted in Europe as an inducement to migrate to SC in the colonial times, particularly in 1764-1768. (This area is part of my ancestral stomping grounds for many generations)

SC GEN REG. March-June 1964, Article, ABSTRACTS OF WILLS Davis and other families.

Census supplied by Alvira Duckett to Mrs. L.C. Updyke: Franklin Co. GA 1850 census: Van Davis b sc 1818, wife Susanna Davis b in GA and 1830 (date may be wrong) children: Franklin, Ellen, Rhoda all b in GA This is a later Van Daavis than the one with whom I am familiar.

Savannah... I will not continue the details of this collection of Wills, though they are very interesting, These wills are of names of Davises with who I am familiar as neighbors and friends and relatives of my numerous ancestors of Newberry, SC and also of Buncombe County NC.. but these are not the same folks. They have the right names but they are in the wrong places, too late and have the wrong wives and children! No doubt that they are the same family but later generations with the same old names. Much of this is in Pickens County, SC or Franklin Co., GA and this is the area where the border changed to make South Carolinians out of Georgians. Others were actually in new Georgia. One item of interest to me is that a latter day Rezin Davis with an 1831 will had a son named Joseph Goggans among other children most of whom are given the last name of Davis, but not all, So I do not know if Goggans is a middle or last name. Also a comment by the Abstractor "Rezin Davis had first married Eleanor Morgan. By her he had eight children. By his second wife he had two children, namely: Eustacia Davis and Joseph Goggans... also in Garrett; a little hint of Smith; DuggansPa. & Union Co.? Belton, to be noted. Stoddard ... l know this is a confused and not very meaningful sentence, but a direct quote. Did he have illeitimate childfen? Was his second wife a Goggans that he married after having Joseph Goggans? At any rate I am a Gogans and this is a relative. The earlier Goggans and Davis families were members of Bush River Baptist Church in Newberry, SC with my Johns(t)ons.

SC MAGAZINE OF ANCESTRAL RESEARCH, no date but must be earlier than when I first subscribed some years ago because in a typewriter format instead of printing. An interesting article, "SOME MIGRATIONS FROM VIRGINIA TO SOUTH CAROLINA". There are a number of deeds of sales of land in Brunswick Co, VA from people who have moved to SC and that includes some Harrisons.

A deed of 1796 an Edwards sold land in Brunswick VA adjacent to Daniel Harrison and Edwards had moved to Darlington Co. SC.

In 1797 Thomas Walpole of Edgefield SC sold his Brunswick CA land and Benjamin Harrison was a witness.

In 18045 David Thomas of Edgefield sold his land in Brunswick VA under a sees of Trust to Willie Harrison. Witness CARTER HARRISON APPARENTLY IN Edgefield SC. Another Thomas deed of 1805 was witnessed by both Williw and Carter Harrison, but I do not see where it was so witnessed.

A letter from Betty Jo Hulse of last September tells me about Richard Harrison of Spartanburg, mentioned earlier in this paper. Richard was not the son of the lawyer and Inn Keeper William Harrison of Salisbury, NC as I had thought. William did have a son Robert. Richard of Spartanburg was the son of John Harrison and Sarah Daniel of Halifax Co. VA and thereby a brother of James Harrison who m Elizabeth Hampton and so the hero and heroine of the book, THE VENTURERS. Richard was married to Ann Patillo, daughter of the famous Rev. Henry Patillo. I am happy to get that straightened out.

FROM HELEN NIEWENDORP, some months ago. She made an effort to rule in or out of our Harrison family, the Thomas Harrison who got the Memorial of 250 acres near where she lives (West Columbia, SC) on Richland Creek (now just east of Saluda), being our ancestor (The Thomas Harrison of the 1800 Census of Buncombe NC). Saluda County from Edgefield County and Edgefield County from District 96. That Thomas Harrison got the Memorial January 1775, was surveyed 29 Feb. 1775, granted 26 July 1774. This was 10 years before Edgefield became a county! Very slight chance that there would be anything at Edgefield and Saluda unless land records had been carried through on deeds. It would take a lot of time examining such.. She checked at the New SC Archives building and learned that these records were destroyed. Comment: I am very sorry to hear that. l wonder if such records could be pieced together from Charleston and British records. l have a great book, " Laurens and Newberry Counties, SC: Saluda and Little River Settlements 1749-1775" by Jesse Hogan Motes III and Margaret Peckham Motes, 1994. They were able to do very complete records and subsequent transfers of property titles for an area very close to but not including this area of Richland Creek. These data were accomplished in spite of most creeks and rivers having different names from what they were then. They were able to accomplish this by sophisticated computer analysis and previous almost meaningless records. The book covered a very limited area and not the south side of the Saluda River where Richland Creek is. Maybe they are working on that!

Helen did run into James Harrison of Edgefield but the dates on him were since 1789, but nothing on the James Harrison property on the Edisto River about 30 miles SE of the first site on Richland Creek. A James Harrison had land on Cuffeetown Creek too. l think that is a different James Harrison). She has hecked Edgefield Deeds for the same property location but those do not start until 1785 when the county was created. I understand that District 96 records were kept at Abbeville but many lost in a fire.

Helen recently bought the book "South Carolina Memorials 1774-1776" by Jesse and Margaret Mnotes 1996, the great authors mentioned above. The book does have the memorials for Thomas on Richland and both James Harrisons She recommends this book as containing a great eel of information of value but it does not solve the Harrison problem. I too have this book though I have not been able to use it a lot. This is labeled Vol. 1, implying that there is more to follow. This book should be useful for many of my ancestral lines.

FROM RANDALL G. BROWN of Dalton, GA. (I think from him, some while ago). Some photographs . I may have discussed these in the past, but worth doing again in light of material in this issue. Gravestone in Old Summerour Cemetery, Summerour Church Rd., Murray Co. GA

JANE M. BELL wife of Nathan Harrison died Oct 11, 1895 (This is Nathan Jr. son of Rev. Nathan Harrison)

Gravestone of REV. JOAB R. HUMPHREYS BORN July 25, 1825, died Dec 30, 1878. Sumach Cumberland Presbyterian, Chatsworth, GA

Gravestone of MARY HARRISON, wife of Rev. Joab Humphreys born July 8, 1822 died Dec 25,1891 (in same cemetery as Rev. Humphreys)

The latter two pose problems! My story has been that his wife was Lydia and that she died on the trip to Texas, as a widow shortly after the Civil War, and I have letters of the trip saying so. But she was not a widow until Rev. Humphreys died in 1878, some years after she died on the way to Texas, in which case she would not be buried in Murray County. Part of an explanation was that his first wife Lydia Harrison died but not as a widow and that Rev. Humphreys, if he started for Texas, returned to Murray County and remarried Mary Harrison who outlived him by 13 years. If so, who is MARY HARRISON ? Sister of Lydia? Niece? Cousin?

HARRISON NOTES
APRIL 1999

Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

Harrison Notes Table of Contents

Brought to you by the Harrison Genealogy Repository
Last Updated: 26 Apr 1999
Becky Bonner E-Mail Address: [email protected]

HARRISON NOTES APRIL 1999

Charles W. Johnson, M.D.

Harrison Notes Table of Contents

Brought to you by the Harrison Genealogy Repository Last Updated: 26 Apr 1999Becky Bonner E-Mail Address: [email protected]

HARRISON NOTES
APRIL 1999

Brought to you by the Harrison Genealogy Repository
Last Updated: 26 Apr 1999
Becky Bonner E-Mail Address: [email protected]