By Jared L. Olar
December 2018
The surname of "Harris" is a very common English patronymic name, signifying descent from a man named Harry (that is, Henry). Our Turney ancestors have a conjectural descent from a family of Buckinghamshire Harrises located in the villages of Southcott and Soulbury. This brief lineage consists of only two known generations, but some online family trees very implausibly extend the lineage for an additional generation -- namely, beginning the line of descent with a certain Arthur Harris, born circa 1517 in Prittlewell, Essex, England, died circa 1538 in Prittlewell, Essex, England, who married Joan Percy, born circa 1521 in Petworth, Sussex, England, died circa 22 Aug. 1572 in Suusex, England. Since Arthur and Joan lived in Essex and Sussex, it is difficult to see how they could be the parents of a man born in Buckinghamshire. Most online sources show just the following two generations of this Buckinghamshire Harris family.
1. HENRY HARRIS, ancestry unknown, born circa 1537 in Southcott, Linslade, Buckinghamshire, England, died 1623 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Henry married in 1563 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, to JUDITH JASPER, born circa 1545, daughter of (NN) Jasper and half-sister of LANCELOT JASPER, born 9 Aug. 1549 in Redgrave, Suffolk, England, died 22 Feb. 1615 in Redgrave, Suffolk, England. The identification of Thomas' wife as a daughter of Henry Harris and Judith Jasper is founded upon Larry Daniels' 1993 compilation Butts, Knowles & Hills; The Seeleys, Turneys, Sturges & Barlows. On the other hand, Permenter & Spradlin History shows Henry Harris' wife (and the mother of his daughters Judith and Alice) as ELIZABETH STONE, born 1538 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died before 1655 in England -- the same source says Henry and Elizabeth married circa 1560 and that their daughters were born in Southcott, Buckinghamshire, rather than Soulbury. Onomastics suggests that Daniels' identification of Henry Harris' wife as Judith Jasper is the correct one.
Henry Harris made his will at Soulbury on 10 Aug. 1623 and named his apparent son-in-law Thomas Turney of Hollingdon as the overseer of his will. Henry's will also names "Judith Turney of Hollingdon," very probably Thomas Turney's wife and Henry's daughter.
Henry and Judith Harris then probably had the following two daughters:
2. JUDITH [HARRIS?], born circa 1564 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
-- ALICE HARRIS, born circa 1578 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
2. JUDITH [HARRIS?], probably daughter of Henry and Judith Harris, born circa 1564 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1610 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Judith was very probably the wife of THOMAS TURNEY, born circa 1560 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1624 in Hollingdon, Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, son of Barnard and Elizabeth Turney. The identification of Thomas' wife as a daughter of Henry Harris and Judith Jasper is founded upon Larry Daniels' 1993 compilation Butts, Knowles & Hills; The Seeleys, Turneys, Sturges & Barlows. In her 1936 study, page 139, Helen Turney Sharps explained the basis for identifying Thomas' wife as Judith Harris:
"The will of Henry Harris of Soulbury, dated 10 Aug. 1623, made Thomas Turney an overseer of his will; and in a list of debts owing by the Harris estate appears, 'Imprimis to Judith Turney of Hollingdon, xl s.' Quite likely this Judith was the wife of Thomas Turney, Sr., for three of his sons gave the name Judith to a daughter, although the name had not previously been used by the Hollingdon Turneys. [Archdeaconry of Bucks, Register 1623-5, fol. 2b]"
Helen Turney Sharps' 1936 study, pages 139-141, shows this genealogical sketch of Thomas Turney's life:
"An important reference to Thomas Turney is found in the will of his half-cousin, Elizabeth widow of John Hickman. She was daughter of Henry Gurney, half-brother of Barnard Turney. Her will, dated 7 April, 1603, has this passage: 'Item, my will is that Thomas Torneye of Surcott shall have use & enjoye to his owne behoofe my parte & porcion of a certayne messuage or tenement with the appurtenances scituate in Abbots Broughton in the Com' aforesaid nowe in the tenure and occupation of the said Thomas Tormey for and during the full tearme of tenn yeares from the feaste of the annunciation of the blessed virgin Marye last paste before the date hereof, Keeping the same in good and sufficient repayre, having Tymber sufficient allowed by mye Executor for the repayringe thereof, uppon condicion that he the sayd Thomas shall paye or cause to be payd to my fower daughters Elizabeth, Jacquement, Margaret and Charetye, or to there assignes the summe of xx li of lawfull monye of Englond' etc., with further long directions as to the manner and time of payment."
"Thomas Turney was undoubtedly an influential man in Buckinghamshire as he was named as executor, overseer or guardian in a number of wills. His name appears in several Bierton rentals until the year 1627. It also appears in several lawsuits relating to this property and other lands and houses in Broughton Abbots. Upon the death of his father, Barnard Turney, at Hollingdon (buried there 12 July 1612), it becomes clear that Thomas abandoned his land and farm at Surcott to his sons Robert and Barnard, the latter presently moving away to Cublington and leaving the house to Robert, who was evidently the eldest son. Thomas himself moved to his father's house at Hollingdon in Soulbury, and he was churchwarden at Soulbury in the following year (1613), whereas in 1612 his son Robert was church warden at Linslade. The latter could not well have happened if Thomas had still been at Surcott. From the year 1610 his name in fact entirely vanishes from Surcott and Linslade, but it may be suspected that in the year 1624 (missing in the Transcripts) his burial may have been recorded. The last positive mention of him as living is that, already mentioned, in the will of Henry Harris of Soulbury in 1623, and it was the estate of this Harris which was indebted to Judith Turney of Hollingdon, whom we place as probably the wife or widow of Thomas. The Subsidy list for 15 Mar. 1624/5 reveals the brothers Robert and Barnard Turney still at Surcott (Linslade), and Robert was again taxed at Hollingdon (Soulbury). No Thomas Turney was named at either place, and he was apparently dead and succeeded by his son Robert at both places. No other adult Robert Turney was living at this date in either village. Thomas Turney was therefore probably still alive on 10 Aug. 1623, and dead by 15 Mar. 1624/5."
Sharps' sketch of Thomas' life concludes with this list of his children:
Robert, of Southcott in Linslade, b. abt. 1594; will in 1661, proved 2 Mar. 1661/2 [Arch. Bucks.]; m. (1) 11 July 1614, Agnes Ligo of Bencott in Wing; m. (2) Joan -----.
Thomas, of Southcott in Linslade, will 1671, proved 1676 [Arch. Bucks.]; m. Philippa, widow of John Tokefield of Southcott.
Barnard, of Cublington, will 7 Feb. 1648, proved 19 Apr. 1654 [P. C. C., 286 Alchin]; m. Katharine -----.
Benjamin, b. probably before 1600.
A daughter, name unknown, but possibly Judith.
Edward, bapt. 28 Feb. 1600/1.
Agnes, bapt. 1 May 1604.
Jane, bapt. 6 Oct. 1606.
Elizabeth, bapt. 24 Mar. 1608/9; d. in 1609.
Elizabeth, bapt. 1 Apr. 1610.
According to Sharps, then, the five sons and five daughters of Thomas Turney, presumably all by Judith Harris, were as follows:
-- ROBERT TURNEY, born circa 1591 in Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1661 in Buckinghamshire, England, married twice.
-- THOMAS TURNEY, born circa 1593 in Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1676 in Buckinghamshire, England, married Philippa Tokefield.
-- BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1595 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, England, died 1654 in Cublington, Buckinghamshire, England, married Katherine (NN).
-- BENJAMIN TURNEY, born circa 1597 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, died before 1683 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Thomas Sherwood Jr.
-- [JUDITH?] TURNEY, born circa 1599 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
-- EDWARD TURNEY, baptised 28 Feb. 1600/1 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
-- AGNES TURNEY, baptised 1 May 1604 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
-- JANE TURNEY, baptised 6 Oct. 1606 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
-- ELIZABETH TURNEY, baptised 24 March 1608/9 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England, died 1609 in Linslade, Buckinghamshire, England.
-- ELIZABETH TURNEY, baptised 1 April 1610 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
Harris Genealogy Resources:
New York Beginnings, with information on Henry Harris and Judith Harris. We Relate: Judith 'Unknown' Parishes: Linslade, British History Online. Parishes: Soulbury, British History Online.