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Harrison, Robert Bell
Sr. ...
Submitted by: James K. Harrison
E-mail: jkharrison2@comcast.net
Born in South Carolina: 1790
Died in Mississippi: 1853
September 14, 2004
Chapter 1- Col. Benjamin Cleveland
(1738 – 1806)
As an introduction to my most distant known ancestor, Thomas Harrison, Sr., I
give this sketch of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland who was a Revolutionary War hero
in North Carolina (Battle of Kings Mountain) and a contemporary of Thomas
Harrison, Sr. Colonel Benjamin Cleveland (1738 – 1806) was about the same age as
Thomas Harrison, Sr. (ca 1740 – 1810) and a neighbor (from about 1785 to 1806)
in the Pendleton District, South Carolina (present day Oconee County, South
Carolina).
They were probably acquainted even before that time during their sojourn (from
about 1770 to 1785) in the Yadkin Valley of Wilkes County, North Carolina. On 14
November 1782 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Absalom Cleveland, the son of
Benjamin Cleveland, married Patsy Harrison, the daughter of Thomas Harrison, Sr.
Later there were at least two other Cleveland-Harrison marriages. William
Cleveland (son of the Rev. John Cleveland who was the brother of Col. Benjamin
Cleveland) married Nancy Ann Harrison (daughter of Thomas Harrison, Sr.) in
Georgia or South Carolina on 20 September 1786. And Elizabeth Cleveland
(daughter of the same Rev. John Cleveland just mentioned) married Benjamin
Harrison (son of Thomas Harrison, Sr.) around 1790 probably in Pendleton
District, South Carolina.
It is likely that their migration patterns were similar and therefore some
knowledge about the movements of the Thomas Harrison, Sr. family can be inferred
from the Cleveland family.
A revealing sketch of Col. Cleveland’s life (including his Revolutionary War
exploits) has been handed down to us by no other than the famous nineteenth
century historian and archivist Lyman C. Draper.7
During the Revolutionary War Cleveland’s specialty was killing Tories and he
succeeding in slaying a dozen or more during his service in this great American
cause. He was born in Virginia in 1738 and married Mary Graves in 1760 in Orange
County, Virginia. Lyman Draper says--“marriage did not reform his idle and
reckless habits. He still loved gaming, horse-racing, and the wild frolicking
common on the frontier.”
Around 1769 Benjamin Cleveland moved with his father-in-law to the Yadkin Valley
in North Carolina (today’s Wilkes County) near the foot of the Blue Ridge, on
the waters of Roaring Creek, a northern affluent of the Yadkin River. Cleveland
later moved to a tract on the northern bank of the Yadkin River, fifteen miles
below Wilkesboro, North Carolina, known as the Round About—a name derived from
the horseshoe shape of the land nearly surrounded by the river. This part of
North Carolina seems to have been a favorite stopping-off place before the
Revolutionary War for settlers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia on
their way south and west to Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, etc.
Benjamin Cleveland seems to have been a man with traits similar to another local
fellow named Daniel Boone whom he quite likely knew. Draper says—“from Daniel
Boone, who was among the earliest of the pioneers of the Yadkin Valley,
Cleveland learned of the Kentucky country.” Perhaps Thomas Harrison, Sr. was
also familiar with the famous explorer. Like Daniel Boone, Cleveland made an
early trip to Kentucky (around 1772) but was soon turned back by an Indian
attack that almost ended his young life before it was well launched.
It was while living in North Carolina that Benjamin Cleveland came to fame for
his Revolutionary War exploits. To honor him for his gallant service a county in
North Carolina was named after him in 1841.
Col. Benjamin Cleveland had several brothers who played a role in the
Revolutionary War. They were Capt. Robert Cleveland, Rev. John Cleveland, and
Lt. Larkin Cleveland. Lt. Larkin Cleveland was severely wounded in the thigh by
Tories during the war and had a limp for the rest of his life. He was similar in
size and appearance to Col. Cleveland and probably the Tories thought they were
shooting at the Colonel. John Cleveland became a minister.
Wilkes County land deeds for Benjamin Cleveland from 1779 to 1789 are numerous.
He was granted an extensive amount of land by the state of North Carolina as
were his brothers. A 1779 grant of 348 acres to Col. Cleveland was located on
the north side of the Yadkin River and known as the Roundabout [Deed A1/1].
Around 1785 Col. Cleveland moved to Pendleton District, South Carolina. His land
there was situated in the forks of the Tugaloo River and Chauga Creek in present
day Oconee County, South Carolina. This land is near present day U. S. Highway
123 between Chauga Creek and the Tugaloo River.
He continued to serve as a prominent figure in the affairs of that region. He
was a justice of the district court, along with General Andrew Pickens and
others, for quite a number of years.
His name appears in the Pendleton District census for 1790 (he owned seventeen
slaves).
According to an 1801 Pendleton District deed8 Col. Benjamin Cleveland bought 58
acres from the heirs of Larkin Cleveland, deceased. However, this Larkin is
apparently not the brother of Col. Cleveland since, according to Lyman Draper,
Larkin Cleveland (the brother of Col. Benjamin Cleveland) moved to Lincoln
County, Tennessee, where he died in 1817 in his 67th year. Another source1
[http://www.tngenweb.org/giles/revwar/clevelandlarkin.html] says that Lt. Larkin
Cleveland (Col. Benjamin Cleveland’s brother) while residing in Franklin County,
Georgia, bought land from William Polk on Polk’s Creek in Giles County,
Tennessee, in 1810 and was deceased by September 1814 (died 9 July 1814) when
his will was proved (in Giles County). He is buried at Buford Station in Giles
County, Tennessee.
Rev. John Cleveland had a son Larkin (1748 - ?) and so did Capt. Robert
Cleveland (Larkin—1772 - ?). The heirs of this Larkin Cleveland, deceased
(whoever he was) as listed in Col. Benjamin Cleveland’s 1801 deed were:
William Cleveland
John Cleveland
Neil Cleveland
Jeremiah Cleveland
Mary Cleveland
John McDaniel
Benjamin Harrison
Col. Cleveland was a very large man, and it is said that some times, while on
the district court bench, he would go to sleep and snore so loudly as to disturb
the proceedings of the court. Governor Perry states that the Colonel in his
later life became very corpulent weighing four or five hundred pounds. It is
said that Perry's father visited Cleveland one bitter cold morning to find the
old warrior sitting on his porch with nothing on but a thin calico gown, his
legs purple with cold. Mr. Perry said to him, "This is a very cold morning Col.
Cleveland." The Colonel replied, "No, it is a very fine morning, and I have come
out to enjoy the fresh morning air."
Col. Benjamin Cleveland died 15 October 1806. He is buried in a family cemetery
on his farm. In 1887, his descendants erected to his memory a granite shaft near
the intersection of the Southern Railway and Oconee County Highway 34 that leads
to Madison, South Carolina.
A full genealogy of the Cleveland family was given by Mr. John Sam Verner in a
speech which he delivered at the unveiling of this monument. An interesting
account of the ceremonies of this occasion, together with Mr. Verner's speech,
were published in the Keowee, South Carolina, Courier of June 1932.
References
7. Lyman C. Draper
8. 1801 Pendleton District, S. C. Deed
1. Internet source [http://www.tngenweb.org/giles/revwar/clevelandlarkin.html]
Chapter 2 -Thomas Harrison, Sr.
(ca 1740 – ca 1810)
Thomas Harrison, Sr. (200 years and six generations before me) was born around
1740 maybe in Frederick County, Virginia2 or in Rowan County, North Carolina.3
According to some accounts he was the son of John Harrison (1679 – 1733).1 John
is a common given name among his descendants. Using the age of Thomas Harrison’s
eldest child (Mary) as a guide it appears that he was married around 1760 to
Catherine (Caty) Earle (ca 1735 - 1802).4 She was born in Virginia.5 Thomas was
living in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1761 so perhaps it was there that they
were married. The parents of both Thomas and Catherine are unknown. Catherine
died in 1802 and Thomas died ca 1809 (his name last appears on South Carolina
land records in 1809). Both died in Andersonville, South Carolina, where they
are buried.
The first record I have found for Thomas Harrison is a 1761 land deed in
Frederick County, Virginia. It says that John Leith sold to Thomas Harrison of
Frederick County, Virginia, 189 acres of land (for 112 pounds) on the North side
of Shenandoah River.12 This land is located in present day Warren County,
Virginia, about a mile south of Rockland on state highway 658 at the spot where
Willow Brook crosses the highway. It is also very near the north bank of the
Shenandoah River.
On 6 December 1773 this tract of land was sold by Thomas Harrison of Bedford
County, Virginia, and wife Catherine, (for 200 pounds) to Joseph Hains (or
Haynes) of West New Jersey.13 So far I have found no Bedford County records for
Thomas Harrison.
Another interesting name found in the Frederick County, Virginia, deeds is
Samuel Earle (Thomas Harrison’s wife, Catherine, was an Earle). Samuel and his
children (Baylis, Hannah, Lettice, Rachiel, and Samuel, Jr.) appear in the
records around 1761 and 1762. The fact that Thomas Harrison and Catherine Earle
were probably married around 1760 leads me to believe that these Earles are her
relatives and that they were married in Frederick County. However, I have found
no record of their marriage.
Is it possible that they just cohabitated? According to Parke Roose, Jr. along
the Appalachian frontier where men outnumbered women five to one, illegitimacy
was commonplace [The Great Wagon Road, p. 192]. The Frederick County grand jury
brought an indictment around 1761 against “a” Catherine Harrison for having a
child out of wedlock![14.1] Mary, their first known child, was born around this
time.
Serving on Frederick County juries from 1760 to 1763 were Samuel Harrison,
Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Harrison, Lawrence Harrison, Matthew Harrison, Burr
Harrison, and Baylis Earle. In one incident Thomas Harrison was fined for not
showing up for jury duty and in another case he was the plaintive in a case
where the judge ruled in his favor.14
The Frederick County grand jury was strict in their indictments. Matters such as
not keeping roads repaired, adultery, swearing, and having children out of
wedlock were typical topics.
Another clue that this is “my” Thomas Harrison is the power of attorney deed
given in 1764 to John Bell by Thomas Harrison. In the deed Bell is referred to
as “my loving kinsman” by Thomas Harrison [Bk 9 p. 152, 22 March 1764]. Bell is
a Harrison family name. One of Thomas Harrison’s grandsons was Robert Bell
Harrison, Sr.
The Frederick County deeds do however raise questions. Who were these other
Harrison’s, i.e., Burr, Matthew, Lawrence, Samuel, and Benjamin? Burr was
married to Mary Anne (Barnes) and Matthew was married to Mary. Were these other
Harrison’s brothers of Thomas Harrison? Their land transactions occurred between
1760 and 1775 with Burr Harrison being the most active trader. And finally if
they were siblings, who was the father?
Also, there are land transactions beginning in 1739 in Frederick County,
Virginia, involving Thomas Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Jeremiah Harrison and
Robert Harrison. Is this an earlier generation of the same family? Are these
earlier Harrison’s related?
Thomas Harrison apparently moved to another county in Virginia or to another
state around 1773. But where did he go?
In 1776 at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War his age would have been about
36, not too old to participate yet no records have been found indicating that he
did. His eldest son, Thomas, was about 16 in 1776 so perhaps he (and some of his
brothers) participated before the conflict ended in 1781. However, no records
have been found for them either. If they served it would seem likely that they
were in the regiment commanded by their friend and later relative (by marriage)
Col. Benjamin Cleveland.
From about 1770 to 1785 their friends, the Cleveland’s, lived in what is today
Wilkes County, North Carolina.
In 1778 Wilkes County was created from Surry and Rowan counties. Surry County
was created from Rowan County in 1771 and Rowan was formed in 1754 from Anson
County which was formed in 1750 from Bladen County.
A tax list in 1778 for Rowan County (probably Yadkin-Wilkes County area) list
Joseph Harrison, Jeremiah Harrison, and William Harrison but no Thomas
Harrison.7 Ben Cleveland (I presume Col. Benjamin Cleveland) was listed. Another
name of interest is George Robinson (maybe an ancestor of Ritha A. Robinson who
married Robert Bell Harrison in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, in 1824 and also
maybe an ancestor of James “Horseshoe” Robinson). This was the tax list of
Gideon Wright. Another 1778 Rowan County tax list (Davidson County area)8 list
Samuel Harrison and Thomas Harrison (Thomas taxed on 500 acres). This was the
tax list of Capt. George Reed’s Company.
A Rowan County, North Carolina, deed shows that on 12 October 1757 John
Harrison’s land adjoined the property (on northeast bank of Yadkin River) sold
by John Waggoner to Anthony Funderburg. Joseph Harrison was a witness.9 Thomas
Harrison was a witness to three deeds on 17 March 1762 for land purchased by
Jacob Lash. The property was located on both sides of Town Fork Creek, on Mill
Creek of Gargales Creek, and on Stewards Branch of Gargales Creek.10 On 16 June
1772 William Harrison was a witness in a sale (lot No. 10 in Salisbury) by
Christopher Beekman of Salisbury (merchant) to John Lewis Beard (tavern
keeper).11 On 29 May 1772 John Harrison witnessed a transaction between William
Brown (alias Sawyers) to Lanier and Williams (merchants) involving land on
Hunting Creek. In this sale Brown (alias Sawyers) included two volumes of
Johnson’s Dictionary to pay the debt! The dictionary author was apparently the
famous eighteenth century sage and man of letters Samuel Johnson of London --
who is reputed to have once said “when you are tired of London you are tired of
life.” I have no proof that any of the foregoing Harrisons are my ancestors.
Oddly,
From records about Thomas Harrison’s children it appears that he was in Virginia
in 1766 (year and place his daughter, Nancy Ann, was born) and in York County,
North Carolina in 1771 (year and place his daughter, Patsy was born). He may
have been back in Virginia by 1778 (his daughter Mary was married that year to
Jacob Holland who was born in Virginia), however he was probably living in
Wilkes County, North Carolina, by 1782 (year and place his daughter Patsy was
married to Absalom Cleveland). Finally, in 1786 he was living in Georgia or
South Carolina (year and place daughter Nancy Ann married William Cleveland).
The Wilkes County, North Carolina, census for 1784 – 178715 list Robert
Cleveland, probably the brother of Col. Benjamin Cleveland, but no Harrison’s or
Cleveland’s (other than Robert). Also, Wilkes County land records beginning in
1779 show numerous transactions for Benjamin Cleveland and his relatives (from
1779 to 1815) but none at all for Thomas Harrison or his kin. Maybe by 1779 some
(and probably by 1784 all) of the Harrison clan had migrated to Pendleton
District, South Carolina.
To summarize the whereabouts of Thomas Harrison, Sr. it appears that he was in
Frederick County, Virginia, from 1760 to about 1773. He apparently lived in
Bedford County, Virginia, for a while around 1773. He moved to Wilkes County,
North Carolina, around 1775(?) and was there in 1782 when his daughter married
Absalom Cleveland. Around 1785 he moved to South Carolina.
Around 1785 (maybe as early as 1779) Thomas Harrison, Sr. moved to Pendleton
District, South Carolina. By 1785 he was nearly fifty years old. All of his
children were grown and married. His move to South Carolina maybe included the
entire Thomas Harrison, Sr. clan.
A Thomas Harrison is in the 1790 census for the Pendleton District, South
Carolina. This family was made up of five males, two females, and nine slaves.
Living close by was John Harison (probably a son of Thomas) with three males,
one female, and one slave. Other relatives in close proximity were: Thomas
Harrison (son of Thomas, Sr. just mentioned) and Burr Harrison (relationship
unknown). Near-by friends were: John Robertson, Thomas Robertson, and James
Robertson (this was either “Horseshoe” Robertson or his son—to be discussed
later). Also residing there were Benjamin Cleveland, Rev. John Cleveland, and
other Cleveland’s.
Oddly enough no South Carolina land records have been found for Thomas Harrison,
Sr. before 1791. Land records16 for Pendleton District, South Carolina, show
transactions for Thomas Harrison, Sr. from 1791 to 1809. His land was located in
present day Oconee County on the Tugaloo River, on Beaver Dam Creek of the
Tugaloo River and on Choestoea Creek. The precise location of his property is
not known.
Catherine (Earle) Harrison died in 1802 and Thomas Harrison, Sr. died around
1809 (his name last appears on land records in 1809). Both died in
Andersonville, South Carolina, where they are buried.19
From land records and Internet sources20 it appears that Thomas Harrison, Sr.
and Catherine Earle had the following children:
Mary (“Polly”) (ca 1760 - 1857) married Jacob Holland (1750 – 17 October 1815)
around 1778. Both Jacob and Mary died in Pendleton, South Carolina (Tugaloo
River). Jacob was born in Virginia.21
Thomas (ca 1760 – November 1840) married Nancy ??. The following melancholy
accident report22 is from the Pendleton (S.C.) Messenger: On Sunday (17 October
1813) Mr. Benjamin Harrison, the son and four young girls, the daughters of Mr.
Thomas Harrison, together with two young Negro fellows, one belonging to Mr.
Lewis Ralston, the other to Mr. Chearham of Georgia. Three girls aged 14, 11,
and 9 drowned and one Negro. My interpretation of this is that some sort of
calamity overtook these young people while they were crossing a river or creek
in a buggy throwing them into the icy cold water and causing three of the young
girls and one Negro boy to drown. The young girls were the children of Thomas
and Nancy Harrison. Benjamin (the son who apparently survived this melancholy
accident) was not mentioned in his father’s 1841 estate paper.
When Thomas died in 1840 in Pickens County, South Carolina, he owned 450 acres
on the Tugaloo River (where he lived) and 450 acres on Choestoea Creek (both
located in present day Oconee County). He also owned land in Georgia (perhaps
just across the Tugaloo River in Franklin County).
The estate record23 for Thomas Harrison is dated 24 November 1841. The
administrators were Martin Harrison (his son), Aaron Terrill (his son-in-law),
and N. J. F. Perry. The estate citation was published at Bethel Church (is that
maybe where they attended?).
The children of Thomas and Nancy Harrison in 1841 according to his estate paper
were:
Clara the wife of Aaron Terrell
L. D. Harrison
Lydia the wife of S. D. Dortch
Shadrack Harrison
Martin Harrison
Mary the wife of Josiah Stovall
Hepsey (Hessy) the wife of Elan Farmer
Catherine the widow of ???Blair
Elizabeth the late wife of John Legrand
Benjamin (1762 – August 1842) married Elizabeth Cleveland (1770 - ??), daughter
of Rev. John Cleveland and Mollie McCann. Benjamin died August 1842 in Franklin
County, Georgia (across the Tugaloo River from Oconee County, South Carolina).
Nancy Ann (ca 1766 - 1864) was born in Virginia.24 She married William Cleveland
(18 October 1761 – 18 October 1821) on 20 September 1786 in Georgia (or South
Carolina). William was the son of Rev. John Cleveland and Mollie McCann and was
born 18 October 1761 in Orange County, Virginia. He died in Pendleton District,
South Carolina in 1821. All eleven of their children were born between 1800 and
1812 in Cleveland’s Ferry, Pendleton District, South Carolina.25 There children
were:26
Martha (Patsy or Patty) who married Thomas Wright
Oliver F.
Frances (Fanny) who married James Wright
Catherine who married Larkin Wright
William Earl
Mary (Polly)
Nancy married George Alexander Columbus Cleveland (maybe a cousin).
George’s parents were Neal Cleveland and Jane Cornell.
Robert Harrison
Jane (Jean) married Balis Hix. She appears in the 1850 Federal census for
Fairfield County, South Carolina
Lucinda
Elizabeth Caroline married Thomas Calloway Cleveland (maybe a
cousin).
According to William Cleveland’s 1820 will27 his land was on the Tugaloo River
and Beaver Dam Creek (Beaver Dam Creek land to remain in hands of his three
son-in-laws—which three?--- he had five). His sons-in-law were: George Cleveland
(married to Nancy), Thomas Wright (married to Martha), Larkin Wright (married to
Catherine), and James Wright (married to Fanny). In William’s will he gave away
21 slaves to members of his family. Executors were: wife Nancy, son Robert H.
Cleveland, son-in-law Thomas Wright, and Benjamin Harrison (William’s
brother-in-law—his wife’s brother and also married to William’s sister,
Elizabeth). Witnesses were: Samuel Earle, Jeremiah Cleveland (brother of William
Cleveland) and Osburn Cleveland (maybe a nephew of William Cleveland—in 1850
Osburn was living next door to Nancy Ann Cleveland according to the South
Carolina census for Fairfield County).
The surviving children in 1851 were:28
Fanny (wife of James Wright who died 28 April 1848)
William E. Cleveland
Jane or Jean (wife of Balis Hix)
Martha (widow of Thomas Wright)
Nancy (wife of George Cleveland)
Mary (wife of Benjamin Laughridge)
Elizabeth (wife of Thomas Calloway Cleveland)
A number of the heirs had moved to Georgia by 1851.
In the 1850 South Carolina census Nancy Ann was living with her daughter Jane
(married to Baylis Hix) in Fair Play, (Fairfield County) South Carolina. Nancy
Ann’s age was given as 72 (if she was born in 1766 she would have been 84) and
her birthplace was listed as Virginia. She died in 1864 at age 98 and is buried
in the Cleveland Family Cemetery in Oconee County, South Carolina. This cemetery
is located on a hill behind the Interstate Highway 85 Welcome Center at Lake
Hartwell. There are no markers remaining at the site.29
John (ca 1770 - 1836) married Naomi. See Chapter 4 for more about John.
Patsy (1771 - ???) married Absalom Cleveland on 14 November 1782 in Wilkes
County, North Carolina.30 Patsy was born in York County, North Carolina. Absalom
was born in Culpepper County, Virginia in 1767. His father was Col. Benjamin
Cleveland of Revolutionary war fame. Absalom was granted 300 acres in Wilkes
County, North Carolina in 1782 which he sold in 1806 while living in Franklin
County, Georgia.
William (?? - ??), the unfortunate son, married Elizabeth. William was left none
of his father’s property in an 1809 deed in Pendleton District, South
Carolina.31 According to the deed, William was guilty of folly, following paths
of dissipation and thoughtless dealing that to me appears folly for me to give
him the property for which I have labored hard----which would be squandered to
the certain reduction of his helpless family. However, if William reformed
himself in ten years, his brother Benjamin was granted the right to “make right
to property”---otherwise to heirs of William. His heirs evidently were his wife,
Elizabeth, and his infant children on reaching 21 years of age.
Robert (???? - ????), married Nancy Wright the daughter of Obadiah Wright and
Hannah Ro???. Robert “for love and good will”, was given one Negro woman (Lucy)
and her children (David, Sollomon, Jenny and Jude) by Thomas Harrison, Sr. in a
Pendleton District deed dated 14 Jan 1802.31 Another Pendleton District deed32
dated 11 Feb 1802 says that Robert paid $400 to Thomas Shockley of Abbeville
Dist. for 200 acres on Choestoea Creek. This land had been granted to Shanklin
(not Shockley) on 9 June 1784 by Wm. Moultrie. Choestoea Creek is located in
Oconee County.
If the birth and death dates are reasonably accurate some of the children of
Thomas Harrison, Sr. and Catherine Earle certainly had long lives for
individuals living in the 18th and 19th century. Both Mary and Nancy Ann lived
to be 98 and Thomas, Jr. and Benjamin both lived to be 80. However John (my
direct ancestor) only made it to age 66.
Chapter 2 Notes and References
1. Genealogy.com. The dates are estimates.
2. Ancestry.com – Hill–McCree Family Tree, contact: Vicki Hill at
vlhill@airmail.net
3. Ancestry.com – Southern/Brown Union County, Georgia, contact: Lisa Turner
Akins at LLA702@yahoo.com
4. Genealogy.com; also Ancestry.com, Buchanan Family Data, Tom Buchanan,
Setaonrock@bellsouth.net
5. Ancestry.com, Holland/Web Gwinnett County, GA, contact: James T. Bell at
Bell95@aol.com or was it Genealogy.com?
6. Rowan County, North Carolina Tax Lists 1757 – 1800, Annotated Transcriptions,
Jo White Linn, p. 49 NOTE: The remark in the text for this reference was deleted
on 9-18-03.
7. Ibid, p. 104
8. Ibid, p. 158
9. Abstracts of the Deeds of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753 – 1785, Vols. 1
–
10, Mrs. Stahle Linn, Jr., p. 8
10. Ibid, p. 45
11. Ibid, p. 118
12. Frederick County, Virginia, Deed Abstracts, Deed Books 5,6,7,8 (1757- 1763),
vol 2, p. 56, Amelia C. Gilreath, 1990
13. Frederick County, Virginia, Deed Abstracts, Deed Books 15 and 16 (1771-
1775),
vol 5, p. 125, Amelia C. Gilreath, 1990
14. Frederick County, Virginia Order Book 9 (1760 – 1762), p. 17, p. 102, 156,
p. 392
14.1 Ibid, p. 199
15.Wilkes County, N. C. Internet Web Site:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncwilkes/pg175.gif
16. Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds, 1790 - 1806, Compiled by Betty Willie
17. King’s Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King’s Mountain
(Oct 7,
1780) and the Events Which Led to It, Lyman C. Draper, 1881, p. 425
18. Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds, 1790 - 1806, Compiled by Betty Willie, p.
258
19. Ancestry.com
20.Ancestry.com, Buchanan Family Database, Tom Buchanan at
setonarock@bellsouth.net
21. Ancestry.com, Hill–McCree Family Tree, contact: Vicki Hill at
vlhill@airmail.net and Holland/Web Gwinnett County, GA, contact: James T.
Bell at Bell95@aol.com
22. Marriages and Death Notices from Pendleton (S. C.) Messenger, 1807 – 1851,
Brent H. Holcomb, p.6
23. A Collection of Upper South Carolina Genealogical and Family Records, Volume
I, Editor: James E. Wooley, p. 175
24. Ancestra.com, Catherine Earle, Beaman -- Parker Family Genealogy, contact:
Brenda Beaman Parker at brenda@dphospitality.com
25. Ancestry.com
26. Pendleton District and Anderson County, S.C. Wills -- Estates, Inventories,
Tax
Returns and Census Records, Compiled by: Virginia Alexander, Colleen Morse
Elliott, and Betty Willie, p.56
27. Ibid
28. 1800 Census of Pendleton District South Carolina, Special Publication of the
National Genealogical Society, Number 26, p. 42
29. Ancestra.com, Catherine Earle, Beaman -- Parker Family Genealogy, contact:
Brenda Beaman Parker at brenda@dphospitality.com
30. Ancestry.com
31. Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds, 1790 - 1806, Compiled by Betty Willie, p.
280
32. Ibid, p. 282
MORE NOTES:
Before 1768 all South Carolina records were kept in Charleston (the only county
in South Carolina)
In 1768 the 96th District was established that covered the present day counties
of Oconee, Anderson, Pickens, Greenville, and others.
After the Revolutionary War (around 1784) the Indians left and white settlers
began to move into the new counties of Pendleton and Greenville
In 1790 the Pendleton County Courthouse was built in Pendleton (Commissioners
were Andrew Pickens, Benjamin Cleveland, et al)
In 1791 the Courthouse was built for the Washington District (later called
Pendleton and Greenville Counties) in Pickensville, near Easley, South Carolina
(James Harrison was one of those appointed to buy land and build the courthouse)
Starting in 1798 Counties were called Districts
In 1826 the Pendleton District became Pickens and Anderson Counties
In 1868 Oconee County was formed from Pickens County
Per Betty Cooper in an 1998 E-Mail:
Prior to 1785 all records were kept in Charleston
In 1795 the Washington District was created
In 1798 Pendleton district was created from the Washington District
In 1826 Pendleton District became Pickens and Anderson Counties
Chapter 3 - James “Horseshoe” Robertson
(1759 – 1838)
To introduce my next ancestor (John Harrison, Sr.) a brief account of another
famous Revolutionary War hero is helpful. He is James Galbraith (“Horseshoe”)
Robertson (spelled both ways—Robinson and Robertson).
Ritha A. Robinson (or Robertson), the daughter-in-law of John Harrison, Sr.
(Chapter 4) and the wife of Robert Bell Harrison, Sr. (Chapter 5) was surely
related (maybe his daughter) to this famous Revolutionary War hero and Tory
fighter. John Harrison, Sr. and “Horseshoe” Robertson were friends and neighbors
in Pendleton District, South Carolina, and perhaps before that in North
Carolina.
Robinson’s exploits were the subject of a novel originally published in 1835 by
John Pendleton Kennedy entitled “Horse-shoe Robinson: a tale of the Tory
Ascendancy.” Several later printings of this book have taken place.
“Horseshoe” Robertson’s parents were David Robertson (1730 - ??) and Jane Howes.
They were born in Virginia. “Horseshoe” was born in North Carolina in October
1759. He moved to Pendleton District, South Carolina, (as a young child
according to some accounts) where he was married on 4 June 1782 to Sarah Morris
Headen (17 July 1763 – 7 January 1838). Sarah was born in Virginia. All seven of
their children were born in the Pendleton District. He lived on a farm called
Horse Shoe (probably the source of his nickname although some say he was a
blacksmith and was nicknamed “Horseshoe” for that reason) and on a creek called
Changee. [Historical Collections, Huntsville Library, p. 60]
“Horseshoe” and his family were probably in Alabama by 1821 since his grandson,
Jesse (son of David Robertson, Sr.) was born there in 1821 according to the 1850
Federal Census for Tuscaloosa County. Certainly by 1828 “Horseshoe” Robertson
had moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, since he was one of the founding
members on 3 February 1828 of the first Sunday School in the state of Alabama at
the Grants Creek Baptist Church. [Pioneers of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, prior to
1830]. Today the following historical marker (but, no mention of “Horseshoe”,
unfortunately) can be seen at the church:
Grant's Creek Baptist Church
Fosters, Alabama
Grant's Creek Baptist Church was constituted April 5, 1828, with Rev. Medey
White and Robert Marsh (the first pastor) as presbytery. Lewis Stovall was first
Church clerk, and James Foster was ordained as the first deacon. The Grant's
Creek Sunday School Union was organized Dec. 1827, as the oldest Sunday school
in Alabama. In 1832, a building was constructed by member John W. Bealle for
$500 which served the Church until 1968, when the present building replaced it.
In August 1833, the Baptist State Convention met here and took action leading to
the founding of Howard (now Samford) and Judson Colleges.
Four sons of Col. John and Elizabeth Savidge Foster-James, Hardy, Robert S., and
John L.S.-settled here beginning in 1818, with their mother and sisters Martha
and Elizabeth following. Their families formed the nucleus of a model community
in the new state, nurtured and influenced primarily by this church. John Collier
Foster was pastor from 1845 to his 1892 death. Martha Foster Crawford
(1830-1909) was a missionary to China for 50 years.
The author of the novel about “Horseshoe’s” Revolutionary War deeds (John
Pendleton Kennedy) described him thusly: “What a man I saw! tall, broad, brawny
and erect. His homely dress, his free stride, his face radiant with kindness,
the natural gracefulness of his motions, all afforded a ready index to his
character. It was evident he was a man to confide in.”[Pioneers of Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama Prior to 1830, Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society, Tuscaloosa,
Alabama, 1981, p. 209]
“Horseshoe” Robertson died in Tuscaloosa County on 26 April 1838. He is buried
in the Robertson cemetery in the Romulus Community (about 3 miles from his home
place).” [Pioneers of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Prior to 1830]
According to Pioneers of Tuscaloosa and Ancestry.com Internet information
[http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jrroy&id=I1059 and http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rob4993&id=I02583]
“Horseshoe” had seven children but only one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth (she
married William Dunlap who died in 1842).
Ritha A. Robertson (who married my gg-grandfather, Robert Bell Harrison, Sr. in
1824) was born in 1802 and was the “right” age to be one of his younger
children, however she is not mentioned in “Horseshoe’s” post-death property deed
on 7 July 1838—Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Deed Book O. According to a tribute
written after the death of “Horseshoe” Robertson–they (Horseshoe and his wife)
left several children, one daughter was living in Mississippi a few years ago
[Revolutionary Soldiers in Alabama, p. 102—Tuscaloosa Public Library].
In 1811 “Horseshoe’s” son John married Celia Harrison (1794 – 1873). Celia was
the sister of my gg grandfather Robert Bell Harrison, Sr.
Chapter 4-John Harrison, Sr.
(ca 1770 – 1836)
John Harrison, Sr. was the son of Thomas Harrison and Catherine Earle. He was
probably too young to serve in the Revolutionary War.
He arrived in Pendleton District, South Carolina, with his parents around 1785.
He was very likely married there around 1788 to Naomi. I do not know who her
parents were. She was probably born around 1770 and died after 1836.
In 1793 and 1794 John Harrison’s name appears as a witness on deeds in the
Pendleton District of South Carolina. [6.1, 3 DEEDS—Chapter 2]
His estate paper [10, p. 174] is reproduced below and reveals quite a lot about
him. He died in 1836 in Pickens County, South Carolina.
Estate of John Harrison, Sr. Box 6 #80. Probate Judge Office. Pickens, S.C.
Estate administered 2 Feb. 1836 by Thomas (son) and John Harrison, Jr.(son--same
as John T.), William Jolly, Thomas W. Harbin who are bound unto James H. Dendy,
ord in the sum of $6000.00. James R. Smith a preacher of the Gospel states that
the citation was published at the Block Meeting House on 31 Jan 1836. He owned
two tracts of land in Pickens District. One of 300 acres where he lived at time
of death and where the widow now lives this tract on Tugaloo River being a
Soldiers Bounty originally granted to Edward Lowry. Another tract of 300 acres
on waters of Choestoe Creek adjoining land of John Messer, J. F. Perry and John
Jolly. He left a widow Naomi and eleven children. Hugh and Robert Harrison,
Nancy the wife of Solomon O’Kelly, Mary (Polly) the wife of W. W. Short, Celia
the wife of John Robertson, Stacy the mother of James H. Robertson (Husband not
given) the only heir, she died before her father, Matilda Harrison, Elizabeth
the wife of Squire Hughes, Thomas Harrison, Sinah (Lenah) Maddox heirs, she
departed this life before her father, her heirs are: Thomas, John, and Martha,
all minors. John T. Harrison, Mary Brookshire. Note that there is also a Mary
Short. On the 24 Jan 1837 John T. Harrison being sworn that, Hugh and Robert
Harrison, Short and wife Polly, John and Celia Robertson, John Maddox all reside
out of the state.
So, to recap, John’s wife was Naomi. John died in late 1835 or early 1836. When
he died his eleven living plus two deceased children were:
1.Hugh (1789 – 1855) married Judith Kilpatrick in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on
15 December 1818. He lived in Pickens County, Alabama, before moving in 1836 to
Neshoba County, Mississippi. More about him in Chapter 7.
2.Robert Bell (1790 - 1853) was my great great grandfather. He moved from
Pickens County, Alabama, to Neshoba County, Mississippi, in 1836. More on him
in Chapter 6.
3.Nancy was married to Solomon O’Kelly
4.Polly married W. W. Short and lived in another state
5.Celia (Selah) (1794 – 1873) was married in 1811 to John Robertson (son of
“Horseshoe”) and lived out of state. On 28 December 1835 her father gave
her one Negro girl (Rhody) [12, p. 74].
6.Stacy was deceased and formerly married to ?? Robertson (Robinson?)
7.Matilda was not married
8. Elizabeth was married to Squire Hughes
9. Thomas was deeded two Negro boys (Sam and Green) on 12 March 1830
[12, p. 39].
10.Sinah, deceased, was married to John Maddox who lived out of
state
11.John T. (John, Jr.) was maybe the John Harrison in 1850 Federal census for
South Carolina (Fairfield County) with wife Lucy W.
12.Mary was married to a Brookshire
13.Mary Short (??)
Chapter 5 - Other Harrison’s in Pendleton District, South Carolina Around1800
There were quite a large number of Harrison’s living in the Pendleton District
of South Carolina around 1800. Most arrived around 1785 to 1800 from Virginia
although Maryland contributed some. Linking these families is difficult to say
the least. Others before me have made great efforts at this and have met with
only a modest amount of success. Surely many of these Harrison’s had common
ancestors.
Two Harrison’s of particular interest to me are James T. Harrison (1811 – 1879)
and his father Thomas Harrison (25 December 1790 – July 1839). Thomas lived in
the Greenville District, South Carolina. [Genealogy and Local History, Betty
Wood Thomas ---- Director – Lowndes County [Mississippi] Dept of Archives and
History, Harrison Genealogy File, Mississippi Archives, Jackson] Like “my”
Thomas Harrison (who was married around 1760 to Catherine Earle) this Thomas
Harrison also married an Earle (Hannah Earle), but much later, like around 1810.
This “other” Thomas Harrison had a brother (James) who married Sarah Earle!
Earlier members of both families (Harrison and Earle) were participants in the
Revolutionary War. Thomas was a banker and a planter in the Columbia and
Pendleton Districts, South Carolina. He was a captain in the War of 1812 and was
later the South Carolina Comptroller General.
Thomas Harrison’s son (James Thomas Harrison) was born in 1811 and later (1834)
moved with his uncle (Isham Harrison) to Noxubee County, Mississippi. [Harrison
Genealogy File, Mississippi Archives, Jackson, Mississippi]. Two years later
James T. moved to Columbus, Mississippi, where he was married in 1840 to Regina
Blewett. In Columbus he became quite famous as a lawyer. It was said of him “he
remained a student as long as he lived. He usually arose at four o’clock in the
morning and went to his office. In the winters he built his own fires and
seating himself at his desk, where his books, paper and stationary were all
convenient and kept in perfect order. He had usually finished his days work by
nine o’clock when the other lawyers were just beginning their day’s work.”
[Harrison Genealogy File, Mississippi Archives, Jackson, Mississippi]. In 1865
his eldest daughter (Regina Harrison) married the Confederate General Stephen D.
Lee (later, the first president of Mississippi State University).
So far, I have not established any relationship between these Harrison’s and my
Harrison ancestors.
Chapter 6 - Robert Bell Harrison, Sr.
(1790 – 1853)
Pendelton District, South Carolina -- Early Years
Robert Bell Harrison, Sr., my great-great grandfather, was born in the Pendleton
District of South Carolina (now Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson Counties) in 1790.
His father was John Harrison, Sr. (ca 1770 – 1836). Robert grew to manhood in
this northwestern corner of South Carolina and it was at the Pendleton District
Courthouse that he enlisted in the Army on 16 September 1812 when he was 22
years old. His company commander was Captain William Taylor. This company was a
part of the 18th Regiment that was commanded by Colonel William Drayton (1776 –
1846). William Drayton was a member of a prominent South Carolina family. His
father was chief justice of the province of East Florida. After the War of 1812
Colonel Drayton served in the United States congress (succeeding Joel R.
Poinsett who discovered and introduced the beautiful Poinsettia plant to
America). Even later Colonel Drayton succeeded Nicholas Biddle as president of
the United States bank (the infamous bank that was nearly demolished by
President Andrew Jackson).
Hugh Harrison, the brother of Robert Bell, was a Lt. Colonel in the 18th South
Carolina Regiment. As an officer of high rank he surely must have been well
acquainted with Colonel Drayton.
Robert Bell Harrison served as a private in the same regiment as his brother.
After serving for 18 months he mustered out on 15 March 1814 at Fort Johnson
near Charleston, South Carolina. According to a description given in 1878 by his
widow in a pension application he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed about 160
pounds, and had black hair and gray eyes. He could neither read nor write!
I find it curious that Hugh who was (if the 1850 Federal census is correct) only
a year older than Robert was so much more advanced. Hugh as a high ranking
officer apparently could read and write (Robert could not). I believe that Hugh
was perhaps as much as ten years older than Robert and certainly much more
ambitious.
After serving in the War of 1812 Robert apparently decided to stay in the
eastern part of South Carolina. In the1820 Federal census a Robert Harrison is
listed as a resident of Beaufort District (now Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton
counties) of South Carolina. The census indicates that he owned seven slaves and
was unmarried. An account given by his second wife in 1878 says that he was
married sometime during this time period, his first wife maybe living for only a
short while.
ca 1820 -- Move to Alabama
Robert’s brother (Hugh) married Judith Kilpatrick (see chapter 7) in Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama in 1818. So probably Hugh arrived in Tuscaloosa County ahead of
his younger brother by several years. More than likely he influenced Robert to
remove himself from South Carolina to Alabama.
It is interesting to speculate what route Hugh and Robert might have taken from
western South Carolina to eastern Alabama, a distance of about 500 miles, which
perhaps took a month to travel. If they followed the route commonly used by many
early settlers they traveled overland on foot going west across north Georgia
into Tennessee until they reached a point near Chattanooga on the Tennessee
River. From there they may have traveled down the Tennessee River to Ditto’s
Landing (Huntsville, Alabama), followed the Huntsville Road (also known as the
Bear Meat Cabin Road) south to Mud Town (Birmingham) and from there traveled in
a southwest direction on through Jones Valley into Tuscaloosa County.
In Tuscaloosa County on 23 March 1824 Robert Bell was married by Justice of the
Peace John E. Sanders to his second wife Ritha A. Robinson (1802 – 3 September
1881) [2]. She was from South Carolina and 22 years old according to her
statements in 1878 in her pension application (shown later). I do not know who
her parents were. She may have been related (by marriage) to her husband. Two of
his sisters married Robertson’s. His sister Celia (Selah) married John Robertson
and his sister Stacy (who died before 1836) also married a Robertson (they had a
son—James H. Robertson).
No land records in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, have been found for Robert
Harrison or his brother Hugh. Around 1820 they were both living about 30 miles
west of the town of Tuscaloosa (about 12 miles east of the Alabama-Mississippi
line) in what is now Pickens County, Alabama. This was perhaps their only
location in Tuscaloosa County since that part of the county became Pickens
County in 1820 when Pickens County was formed. This may explain why no land
records exist in Tuscaloosa County—they would be in the Pickens County records.
Unfortunately the Pickens County records for that time period were destroyed in
a courthouse fire in 1876.
In Pickens County Robert and Ritha Harrison’s first child, Hiram Perry, was born
on 1 July 1827. The origin of this somewhat distinctive name is unknown. Robert
Bell’s father was John and his mother was Naomi, his grandfather was Thomas and
his grandmother was Catherine. The next child was Elizabeth (born in 1830),
maybe named after Ritha’s mother. In the 1830 census Robert and Ritha Harrison
had three children (two daughters and a son, all under five years old).
Apparently one of these daughters died young. Then Robert Bell, Jr. was born in
1836 followed by James George in 1838. This last name also is likely from
Ritha’s family -- maybe her father.
In 1829 in Tuscaloosa County [20 July 1829, Deed Book G, p. 540] David Robertson
was security for Robert Harrison and assumed a note (payment due in five months)
owed by Robert Harrison to J. W. and A. W. Sommerville of Tuscaloosa County.
Robert put up as collateral eleven head of cattle, one yoke of oxen and one
feather bed. I believe this is my gg grandfather Robert Bell Harrison, Sr. who
in 1829 was living in nearby Pickens County, Alabama, and that David Robertson
is the son of “Horseshoe” Robertson. I think that Robert’s wife, Ritha, was
David’s sister!
In 1876 the Pickens County Courthouse burned destroying most of the records
about Robert Harrison’s life in that county.
1836 -- Move to Mississippi
After eleven years in Alabama Robert and Ritha and their two children moved (in
1836) to the eastern part of Neshoba County, Mississippi, near the Ham Stockton
place where Robert used a military warrant to purchase land [1, p.28 and p. 33].
He first appears on the Neshoba County tax rolls in 1836 [1,p. 31].
Another significant event in 1836 was the death in Pickens County, South
Carolina, of Robert’s sixty-six year old father, John Harrison.
Twelve years later and just five short years before he died Robert Bell moved
again in 1848 to land near the Good Hope Baptist Church in Neshoba County,
Mississippi.
Government Land Application
An application by Robert Bell Harrison in 1851 for government land based on his
service in the War of 1812 is reproduced below.
The State of Mississippi
County of Neshoba
On this fifteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one
personally appeared before me a justice of the peace within and for the county
and state aforesaid Robert B. Harrison aged sixty years a resident of the said
county of Neshoba in the state of Mississippi who being duly sworn according to
law claims that he is the identical Robert B. Harrison who was a private in the
company commanded by Captain William Taylor in the regiment of infantry command
by Colonel William Drayton in the war with Great Britain declared by the United
States on the 18th day of June 1812.
Death of Robert Bell Harrison, Sr.
Robert Bell Harrison, Sr. died 6 December 1853 and he is buried in the city
cemetery in Philadelphia, Mississippi. (his grave site lost its identity during
the Civil War so said his grandson Hiram P. Harrison in a brief historical
account written in 1927).
Ritha (Robinson) Harrison died 3 September 1881 and she is buried in the Good
Hope Cemetery in Neshoba County. Many Harrison’s are buried in this cemetery. It
was begun around 1869, according to R. L. Breland [9], who said that Jackson F.
Harrison who died in 1869 was the first person buried there.
Veterans Pension Application
In 1878 Robert Harrison’s widow applied for a federal pension of $8.00 a month
to which she was entitled based on his service in the War of 1812. Her
application was rejected on February 2, 1881, on grounds of presumptive
abandonment, i.e., applicant presumably abandoned application since letters
asking for further evidence in 1879 and 1880 were unanswered. She died on 3
September 1881 at the age of 79. Her application is copied below:
PENSION APPLICATION ON APRIL 16, 1878, BY RITHA A. HARRISON FOR SERVICES
RENDERED BY ROBERT B. HARRISON IN THE WAR OF 1812
Claim of Widow for Service Pension
State of Mississippi, County of Neshoba; On this 22nd day of June, A. D., 1878,
personally appeared before me, J. C. Gully, Clerk of said County of Circuit
Court, the same being a Court of Record within and for the County and State
aforesaid, Ritha A. Harrison, aged 76 years, a resident of Neshoba County in the
State of Mississippi, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she
is the widow of Robert B. Harrison deceased, who was the identical Robert B.
Harrison, who served under the name Robert B. Harrison as a Private in the
Company commanded by Captain Sam Taylor in the 18th Regiment of the U. S.
Infantry commanded by Colonel William Drayton in the war of 1812; that her said
husband volunteered at Pendleton District, South Carolina, on or about September
16, 1812, for the term of 18 months, and continued in actual service in said war
for the term of 18 months and whose service terminated, by reason of an
honorable discharge at Charleston, South Carolina, on March 14, 1814. She
further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at
the time of this enlistment, viz.: height was 5 feet 10 inches, weight was 160
pounds, hair was black, eyes were gray. She further states that she was married
to the said Robert B. Harrison in the County of Tuscaloosa and in the State of
Alabama on the 19th day of March, A. D., 1822, (23 March 1824 according to Ref
2) by one John E. Sanders who was a Justice of the Peace and that her name
before her said marriage was Ritha A. Robinson; and she further states that her
said husband had been formerly married to a lady whose name is forgotten, date
and place of birth of first wife is forgotten and that her said husband, Robert
B. Harrison, died in Neshoba County in the State of Mississippi on the 6th day
of December, A. D., 1853, and she further declares that the following have been
the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of his
discharge from the Army, viz.: Robert B. Harrison lived in Pendleton District,
South Carolina, in Tuscaloosa and Pickens County, Alabama, and Neshoba County,
Mississippi (time at each place could be stated from memory in as much as she
has lived in Tuscaloosa and Pickens County, Alabama, and in Neshoba County,
Mississippi). She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the
pension to which she may be entitled under Section 4736 to 4740, inclusive,
Revised Statutes, and the Act of March 9, 1878, and hereby appoints Bryan Tyson
of Washington, D. C., her true and lawful attorney, to prosecute her claim.
And she further declares that she has heretofore made no application for bounty
land or pension and that her residence is Neshoba County, Mississippi, and that
her post office address is Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Mississippi, in care of
Huddleston and Wilcox.
Witnessed by and personally appearing were O. T. Trapp, aged 75 years, of
Neshoba County, Mississippi, and J. E. Johnson, of Neshoba County, Mississippi,
persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being
by me duly sworn, say that they have known the said Ritha A. Harrison for 25
years and for 25 years respectively; that they were present and saw her sign her
name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have reason to
believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her,
that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they further
say that they are able to identify her as the person who was the wife of the
identical Robert B. Harrison, who rendered the service alleged in the above
application (in the company of Captain Sam Taylor in the 18th Regiment of the U.
S. Infantry in the War of 1812) by the following named facts and circumstances,
viz.: that they have lived in the same neighborhood for said time and enjoyed
social intercourse and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this
claim.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of June, A.D., 1878, etc.
J. C. Gully
Circuit Clerk Said County
Children of Robert Bell Harrison and Ritha A. Robertson
Hiram Perry (1 July 1827 – 2 November 1907) was born in Pickens County, Alabama,
and he died in Neshoba County, Mississippi, at home on 2 November 1907 according
to his third wife, Susana, in her Civil War pension application. He is buried in
the Good Hope Cemetery. He first married Nancy Lucinda Johnson in 1858. She was
born in 1840 and died in 1870 and is buried in ? ? Cemetery. Their children
were: a son who died at the age of four, Ann E. (her age in 1880 Federal census
is 9), Amanda and Eurana. His second wife was Sarah Ann (or Jane) Lewis who he
married in 1872. Their children were: Lyda, Hiram Pierce (or Price), James Bell,
Charlie L., and Hugh M. Sarah died in 1883 and on 3 January 1884 Hiram Perry
married his third wife, Susana Powell. They had no children. Susana filed a
Civil War pension application on 7 August 1911 when she was 69 years old. In it
she claims to be indigent and the owner of no property. She is living with her
son and has lived in Mississippi for about 50 years, she says. Her post office
was Scity, Mississippi. Perry, or Uncle Perry as he was called in later life,
fought in Civil War battles in Virginia and at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where
he was wounded and captured. He spent eighteen months in Federal and Confederate
hospitals in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Mississippi. While there he
was converted to Christianity and when he came home he joined the Mt. Sinai
Baptist Church. Later he helped organize the Good Hope Baptist Church where he
became a deacon on 10 November 1866. He remained a faithful member and Christian
until he died. In 1888 Perry was on the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors[1,
p. 84]. He was a Mason and several times Master of his lodge. He is buried in
the Good Hope Cemetery in Neshoba County.
Daughter (Before 1830 - ??) apparently died young.
Elizabeth (1830 - ??) was born in Pickens County, Alabama. She died on her way
to Arkansas and was buried beside the Neva River. One of her sons married “Shug”
Lewis.
Robert Bell, Jr. (14 April 1836 – 21 September 1894) was born in Neshoba County,
Mississippi, and he died on 21 September 1894 (according to his tombstone) and
is buried in the Good Hope Cemetery in Neshoba County. He married Louisa Cannon
in 1858 (her grandfather, William Cannon, married a Choctaw Indian named Selah
in 1839 [8]). Louisa Cannon was born in 1842 and died in 1880 according to
descendant, Julie Russell [8]. Their children according to Julie Russell were:
Rathia (or maybe Ritha after her grandmother), Ann (1858 -?), Perry Columbus
(October 1865 -?), John E. (1867 -?), Jackson Alexander (15 March 1868 - 1925),
Amanda Elizabeth (20 December 1869 - 24 March 1934), James Cannon (September
1870 -?), Irene Belle (ca 1878 - 20 April 1920), and Charlie (1880 -?).
According to the 1860 Federal census Rathia Ann was born in Arkansas in 1858 so
apparently her parents lived there for a period of time.
Robert Bell was a member of the Good Hope Baptist Church, one of the founders of
the Neshoba County Fair donating land to get it started, and he twice served as
the treasure of Neshoba County. His son James Cannon or “Bud” was deputy sheriff
of Neshoba County. Another son, Perry Columbus, was one of the organizers of the
Neshoba County Fair. Robert Bell owned a water mill with his brother James
George that was just west of the Neshoba County Fair. Robert was a Mason and
lost an arm on 10 May 1864 in the Civil War while fighting in Virginia.
James George (15 April 1838 – 17 March 1892), my great grandfather, was born and
died in Neshoba County. He married Georgia Ann Johnson in 1864. She was born 27
March 1843 and died 26 January 1889. Their children were: Emma R. who was born
in 1867, William R. who was born in 1870, Elizabeth P. who was born in 1873 and
John Bardow (1877 – 1963) (my grandfather), Dink who was born in ???, and James
C. who was born 1 August 1880 (WWI Registration record).
James George’s wife died in 1889 and he married Maria Trapp in September 1890.
Their only child was Neva. Maria Trapp was born 10 September 1856. On the
occasion of her death on 3 April 1919 a brief memorial message [3] was written
about her by members of the Neshoba Baptist Church where she was “a faithful
member always ready and willing to do her part in everything”, so says the
message.
James George was in the Civil War fighting at Vicksburg where he was captured on
4 July 1863. He was a member of the Dixon Masonic Lodge and of the Good Hope
Baptist Church. He and his brother, Robert, were in the mill business together.
He was one of the founders of the Neshoba County Fair and donated land to get it
started. In 1870 he was a road overseer [1, p. 76] and served on the grand jury
in 1875 [1, p. 82]. He and his first wife are buried in the Good Hope Cemetery
in Neshoba County.
Wayne Crockett (1842 – 1863) was born in Neshoba County, Mississippi, in 1842.
He was in the Civil war and was killed at Gettysburg in 1863. I do not know
where he is buried. Crockett is a family name that has been well researched by
Allen Crockett Harrison and reported on in his wonderful book (The Allen’s and
Harrison’s of Callaway County, 1985).
John Armstrong (6 February 1843 – 4 December 1886) was born in Neshoba County,
Mississippi.
John F. (29 September 1850 – after 1888) was probably born in Neshoba County,
Mississippi, and died (or disappeared) after 1888.[11] He married Isabella C.
Lewis around 1871. She was born in Georgia on 23 November 1850 [11] and
apparently died (probably in Leake County, Mississippi) between 1910 and 1920.
In the 1880 census their children were: William G. W. (October 1872 - ??),
Thomas R. (January 1874 - ??), Martha E. (1874 - ??), and Sarah Ritha (6 April
1879 - 10 June 1963). After 1880 at least two more children were born: Columbus
(1882 - ??) and Louisa (1888 - ??). In the 1900 census Isabella states that she
has given birth to ten children with seven still living. That makes four
children unidentified. In 1880 John F. Harrison and his family were living next
to his mother and older brothers Robert and Hiram in Neshoba County.
No trace of John F. Harrison after the 1880 census has been found. According to
a family rumor he deserted his family [11], perhaps after 1888 since that is the
birth year of his youngest known child (Louisa). His wife Isabella shows up in
the 1900 census in Leake County, Mississippi (her only family member is her
eleven year old daughter Louisa). Interestingly the census taker records “NA”
(which I think means not applicable or no answer) to the census question:
whether Isabella is single, married, widowed, or divorced! This leads me to
believe that the rumor may be true about her husband deserting her.
In the 1910 census Isabella Harrison is in Leake County, Mississippi, where she
is living with her son Tom R. Her name does not appear in the 1920 census so
apparently she died between 1910 and 1920, probably in Leake County.
According to a family descendant [11] Columbus Harrison lived with his sister
Sarah Ritha Daniel toward the end of his life and died around 1925. The validity
of this story is borne out by the 1910 census for Neshoba County since Columbus
Harrison is listed in the census as a part of the family of Will (William Allen)
and Sarah Ritha Daniel and his relationship is given as a “hired man” and a
“farm laborer”. His age was 28 years old.
Sarah Ritha was Will Daniel’s second wife (his first wife was Nellie Barrier
[11]). The 1910 census indicates that the two oldest children in the family were
born before their marriage on 20 March 1902. Will Daniel was born 9 April 1859
and died 13 February 1958. He had four children by his first wife, Nellie
Barrier, and eight by his second wife, Sarah Ritha [11].
Columbus Harrison had only one arm and was still living in 1922 [11]. He died
around 1925 according to descendant Morris Daniel.
Jackson F. (1851 – 1869) was born in Neshoba County, Mississippi, and died in
1869. He was the first person buried in the Good Hope Cemetery in Neshoba County
according to R.L. Breland [9].
Eustacia married Thomas Martin and moved to Texas where she died. Their children
were Amanda and George. No other information is known about her.
Chapter 7 - Hugh Harrison
(1789 – 1855)
Hugh Harrison was Robert Bell Harrison’s older brother by at least one year
(maybe as much as ten years). Hugh was born in 1789, probably in the Pendelton
District of South Carolina. He was a Lt. Colonel in the 18th South Carolina
militia in the War of 1812. As an officer of that rank he certainly was well
acquainted with the commander of the regiment, Colonel William Drayton, who,
after the war, became a United States congressman from South Carolina. He later
succeeded Nicholas Biddle as president of the United States bank (the infamous
bank that was nearly demolished by President Andrew Jackson).
Hugh and Robert (perhaps together) moved from South Carolina to Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama, before 1818. They were married there (Hugh in 1818 and Robert
in 1822 or 1824) to South Carolina women.
Hugh married Judith Kilpatrick (1790 - ) in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on 15
December 1818. [Marriages and Death Notices from the Pendleton (S.C.) Messenger,
1807 – 1851, Holcomb, Huntsville Library]. She was from the Pendleton District,
South Carolina.
Later Hugh and Judith moved to Pickens County, Alabama. According to the Bureau
of Land Management document number 2403, Hugh Harrison bought 80 acres of land
in Pickens County, Alabama, on 26 April 1824 (West-Southeast of Section 20,
Township 19-S, Range 15-W). And on 1 September 1825 he made another 80 acre land
purchase in Pickens County according to document number 4399 (East-Southwest of
Section 20,Township 19-S, Range 15-W).
In 1824 Hugh was a member of the Pickens County, Alabama, Commissioners Court
[4, p. 10].
In 1836 Hugh and Judith (and their five children) moved to Neshoba County,
Mississippi, near the Ham Stockton Place. He purchased 80 acres of land in
Neshoba County, Mississippi, on 27 February 1841 (East-Northwest of Section 15,
Township 10-N, Range 13-E), according to the Bureau of Land Management document
number 20918.
After Hugh moved to Mississippi in 1836 he was a representative in the
Mississippi state legislature from Neshoba County [1, p. 24]. He also was a
probate judge for the county in the early years [1, p.44]. His nephew, Hiram P.
Harrison, Jr. in a written account in 1927 stated that “Hugh, unlike his
brother, Robert, was one of the many slave owners and he belonged to the
aristocracy of his time”.
Living with Hugh and Judith in Neshoba County, Mississippi, in 1850, according
to the census, was a 23 year old farmer named W. C. Johnson. Perhaps he was
Hugh’s helper since Hugh apparently had only one son.
Hugh died around 1855 and Judith died in ????. Hugh and Judith’s children were:
Mary, b. 1826
Nancy, b. 1828
Martha, b.1830 married John T. Lancaster in 1861 and moved to Texas around 1868
John Alexander, b. 1831 married Priscilla and after the Civil War moved to Texas
Emma, b. 1833
All of Hugh and Judith Harrison’s children were born in Alabama. Their daughter
Martha (Mattie) married John T. Lancaster in 1861. After the
Civil War they moved to Texas. Dudley, one of John T. Lancaster's three
brothers, was killed in the Civil War. In 1870(?) two of Dudley's children were
found living with Priscilla and John A. Harrison (Hugh's only son) in Texas.
Personal Correspondence on 12 February 2001 from Janet Lancaster of Modesto,
California—lanjanet@aol.com].
Chapter 8 - Harrison’s in the Civil War
Hiram Perry Harrison was 34 years old when he enlisted for a one year tour of
duty on 8 September 1861 at Camp Jones, Virginia, as a Private in Company D,
11th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. The enlistment officer was Captain
Alexander H. Franklin and his payment officer was Major G. W. Jones (from New
Market, Alabama). A later commander was Captain J. R. Prince.
The 11th was organized on 4 May 1861 and reorganized on 21 April 1862. The first
commander was Col William H. Moore [5, p. 90].
Hiram probably spent his first winter with his Regiment in camp along the lower
Potomac River near Dumfries, Virginia. His tour of duty was extended in April
1862 for the duration of the war at Yorktown, Virginia, where his Regiment, as
part of General Johnston’s Confederate Army, found itself under the command of
the popular Colonel Philip Liddell. Hiram’s first big battle probably occurred
on May 31, 1862, in the battle of Seven Pines where General Johnston’s
Confederate Army took on General McClellan’s Union Army. He remained in the 11th
Regiment and two years later on 3 July 1863 he was wounded and captured at
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On 14 July 1863 he was listed as a prisoner of war and
transferred to Pro. Mar. (??), then on 17 July to the U. S. A. General Hospital
in Chester, Pennsylvania. From there, on 4 October 1863, he was transferred to
Hammond, U. S. A. General Hospital, at Point Lookout, Maryland. While there he
was paroled and transferred to Major J. E. Mulford, the Assistant Agent for
Exchange, on 17 March 1864. On 20 March 1864 he was admitted to Chimborazo
Hospital No. 5 in Richmond, Virginia, and five days later on 25 March he was
given a 60 day furlough. On 31 August 1864 the company muster roll shows that he
was in the Forrest Hospital in Lauderdale, Mississippi. His wound was to his
right leg. On the muster roll at the Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond his disease
was listed as G. S. W. of right leg (G.S.W. is gunshot wound). On a company
muster roll for November and December 1864 he was listed as missing and as being
permanently disabled from his wound. He was discharged at Appomattox Court
House, Virginia, in 1865. Hiram Perry obviously recovered from his Civil War
medical problems since he lived to be 80 years old.
Robert Bell Harrison, Jr. served with his older brother, Hiram Perry, in the
11th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers, Company D. They were enlisted together on
8 September 1861 at Camp Jones, Virginia, by Captain Alexander H. Franklin for
one year. Robert was 25 years old.
He was reported to be on sick leave at Richmond, Virginia, during May and June
1862. He was wounded at Spotsylvania, Virginia, on 10 May 1864 and was on
furlough in Mississippi after July 1864. His arm was amputated, presumable from
this wound. He signed his papers with his mark in Richmond, Virginia, on 15
September 1862 certifying that he had received $44.00 for four months service
and $25.00 for clothing and again in Richmond on 10 June 1864 he signed with his
mark certifying the receipt of $22.00 for two months service. He was paid by
Major G. W. Jones (George Washington Jones of New Market, Alabama, and an
ancestor of the present day prominent Jones family of Huntsville, Alabama)
during his early service years and by Captain Owens later on. His military
retirement date is given as 13 October 1864. He lived to be 58 years old.
James George Harrison, my great grandfather, was in the 40th Regiment,
Mississippi Volunteers, Company E, enlisting on 3 May 1862 in Neshoba County for
a period of three years. He was 23 years old. He was enlisted by Captain William
McDuff Gibbons.
James George was a private and was listed as absent without leave from 23 August
1863 to the end of the year. He fought at Iuka (19 Sept 1862), at Corinth (3-4
Oct 1862), and at Vicksburg where he was taken prisoner on 4 July 1863. He was
paroled five days later on 9 July after taking an oath saying that he would not
again take up arms against the United States. This presumably ended his Civil
War service and accounts for his absence on the company muster roll from August
1863 to the end of the year. The Captain of Company E appears to have been R. A.
Harris until early in 1863, then A. S. Jones. Colonel W. Bruce Colbert was the
Regimental Commander. James George signed his papers indicating that he could
write his name. He lived to be 53 years old.
Wayne Crockett Harrison was enlisted at Grenada, Mississippi, on 8 December 1861
by Captain B. L. Rozell for 60 days. He was a Private in Company A, 3rd
Regiment, Alcorn’s Brigade, Army of 10000. The Company commander was T. J.
Rogers and the Brigade commander was Brig General J. L. Alcorn. A company muster
roll for February 1862 shows that he was paid the usual amount for privates in
the Confederate Infantry, namely $11.00 per month. He was killed at Gettysburg
in 1863 when he was twenty-one years old. I do not know where he is buried.
John Armstrong Harrison served in several Confederate Units. The 18th
Mississippi Cavalry, Company I, Ham’s Regulars, and the 2nd Mississippi
Infantry, Company E. He also served in the 40th Mississippi, Company E.
Chapter 9-The Harrison Reunion - The
Story of Neshoba by R. L. Breland [9]
(From The Neshoba Democrat ca 1927)
NOTE: This is an abbreviated transcription
At Good Hope Church, five miles southwest of Philadelphia, Mississsippi, on July
the 1st, 1927, was celebrated the Harrison Reunion. This day was the 100th
anniversary of the birth of Hiram Perry Harrison Sr., usually known as “Uncle
Perry”. The reunion for Perry, Robert and George, three of the Harrison
brothers, was participated in by their heirs but was held for all and their
friends.
By ten o’clock on the day appointed a large crowd has gathered at the old church
and they were called into the house by singing the old songs from Dosey’s Choice
hymn book led by T. C. Tullos. Only the older voices joined in the singing as
the younger generation do not know these good old songs. R. L. Breland was asked
to be master of ceremonies, and after prayer and some brief remarks as to the
purpose of the meeting W. K. Hitt made a very appropriate talk giving his
recollection of the three brother and adding his testimony to their worth of
character as citizens and Christian men. Judge G. E. Wilson was introduced and
spoke very interestingly of their lives of usefulness and general characters of
the Harrison Brothers. His talk was short but greatly enjoyed by those present.
James L. Dearing, friend of the families who has known the older men for many
years, spoke feelingly of them. Memories of the past came to the speakers to
such an extent that it was difficult for them to speak oft-times. I. P. Mason,
another good citizen who was well acquainted with the brothers, told some of the
happening in their lives as he came in contact with his “Uncle” Harrison R.
Parker, now 85 years old, who had known them since early life and had always
found them true men and useful. Robert F. Barrier, another of the older
citizens, spoke briefly telling of their custom of being together so often and
the jolly nature they possessed.
At the noon hour a bountiful dinner was spread under the shade of the black jack
trees and was heartily partaken of by all present. It was indeed a pleasant
social hour as we ate and talked of the many people and happenings of the long
ago. Sad yet sweet memories of the distant past were brought back to mind. It
was a joy to be there.
After a prayer by Brock Tullos and a song or two the exercises were continued in
the afternoon. Short talks of these three men were made by T. C. Tullos, B. A.
Strum, Brock Tullos, and R. L. Breland, all of whom spoke in terms of love and
reverence for the memory of these three good men who have come and gone to a
better land leaving a goodly heritage behind in their offspring, their good
names and a life well lived, Then the Honorable Brown Williams delivered and
eloquent eulogy to their memory.
Only six of the immediate heirs of these three men were present. Children of
Uncle Perry were Mrs. Amanda Dewease, Mrs. Eurana Webb, and H. P. Harrison,
Junior. Children of Uncle Robert was Mrs. Amanda Webb. Uncle George’s children
were Mrs. Everett and Mrs. Dink Smith. (Author’s Note: Where was Uncle George’s
second oldest son and my Grandfather John B. Harrison, I wonder?) There were 29
grand-children present, 30 great-grand-children, and 30 other persons in some
way related making a total of 100 relatives which made up half of the
congregation present.
Chapter 10 -The Harrison Reunion - This
Account Written in 1927 by Hiram P.
Harrison (1873 - 1928)
OBJECT: To honor and commemorate the life and memory of the three brothers,
Hiram Perry Harrison, Robert Bell Harrison, Jr., and James George Harrison
Hiram Perry was born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on 1 July 1827 and died 2
November 1907. Robert Bell, Jr. was born in Neshoba County, Mississippi, on 14
April 1836 and died 21 September 1894. James George Harrison was born in Neshoba
County, Mississippi, on 15 April 1838 and he died 17 March 1892.
The father of the three brothers was born in South Carolina and was an American
soldier and sailor in the War of 1812. He was later married to Miss Ritha
Robinson in Sumter County, Alabama (Authors Note: According to her 1878 pension
application for his service in the War of 1812 she was his second wife and they
were married in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama). To this union there were born five
sons and two daughters as the family moved from Sumter County, Alabama, to
Neshoba County, Mississippi, in 1835. All of their descendants, save the eldest
son Perry, were natives of Neshoba County.
The original Robert Bell Harrison and his brother Hugh Harrison settled in the
eastern part of Neshoba County on what is now known as the Stockton Place and
Edka Place, respectively. Hugh Harrison built the residence in which Mrs. Sidney
Edka now resides, perhaps the oldest building now standing in the county. Its
extreme age being attested to by the marks on the framework showing that it was
cut out of logs by the use of a broad ax and whipsaw, one side of the post being
hewed and the other side sawed.
Hugh Harrison was one of many slave owners and he belonged to the aristocracy of
his time. He was the first representative to the State legislature from our
county. But his brother, whose descendants we are celebrating today, was not so
fortunate. He was very poor, yes, a renter, and his children keenly felt the
full range of poverty and were raised in obscurity and without the opportunity
of an education. The family lived at several different places in the eastern
part of the county up until the year 1848. Then they moved to a place two miles
south of Good Hope Church (the place where we will hold the reunion) and seven
miles south of Philadelphia. The Southern Federal Highway now passes through
Philadelphia.
Here Robert and George grew into manhood, the older brother, Perry, being of age
already, and here the father of the boys died in 1853 and was buried in the
Philadelphia Cemetery, but his grave site lost its identity during the Civil
War.
Perry Harrison, oldest of the three, married Lucinda Johnson in 1855. To them
were born one son, who died at the age of four, and two daughters, Amanda and
Eurana, who are still living.
When the Civil War broke out their father volunteered his services to the
Confederacy as did his brothers, Robert and George. They were in many fierce
conflicts such as the second battle of Manassas (Bull Run), Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg in far away Pennsylvania. At Gettysburg Uncle
Perry was wounded and taken prisoner being unable to retreat with his command
after a mini ball broke his leg. So, he remained in the Yankee Prison for 18
long months before being exchanged. It was while there in prison on the cold and
bleak shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland that he received the sad news of
the death of his dear wife leaving his two little darling girls as orphans. And
it was there in that prison, grief stricken over the loss of his dear companion
and the utter hopeless mess of the cause for which he had fought that God
appeared unto him and revealed to him that his soul was precious in His sight
and that Jesus died for him.
The two girls were cared for by the grandmothers Johnson and Harrison until
their father returned.
In 1870 (or 1872?) Uncle Perry married Miss Sarah Ann Lewis. To this union were
born one daughter and four sons. All are now dead except H. P. Harrison, Jr.
NOTE: The “P” in Hiram P. Harrison, Jr.’s name does not stand for Perry but
instead for either Pierce according to Bible records in the possession of a
direct descendant or for Price if his WWI draft registration is correct. After
Uncle Perry’s conversion he joined the Baptist Church at Mt. Sinai and later was
in the constitution of the Good Hope Church (which we expect to have read at the
reunion).
In 1883 he lost his second wife and in 1884 he was married to Miss Sou San
Powell. No children were born to them.
He was ordained a deacon of his church and was twenty-five times the moderator
of conferences. He was twice or three times master of the Masonic Lodge at
Dixon, Mississippi. He was master of the Grange Patrons of Husbandry. He was
elected and served one term as a member of the Neshoba County Board of
Supervisors. He died at the ripe old age of 80 loved and trusted by all who knew
him and he was buried in the Good Hope Cemetery with Masonic Honors.
Robert Bell Harrison, Jr. was born on 14 April 1836. He married Louisa Cannon in
1858. They had four sons and two daughters namely James Cannon (who once was a
rural mail carrier and a magistrate at Philadelphia, Mississippi), Perry
Columbus, Jack Alexander, and Charlie. Also, Amanda who is now the wife of J.A.
Webb, Jr., and Irene Bell who married Mr. Tom Ben Beal who was later killed in
the cyclone at Deemer Camp. All the boys are still living except Jack who died
in Orange, Texas, two years ago, i.e., in 1925. Uncle Robert was also a member
of the church at Good Hope and a member of the Grange. He was a successful
farmer and a mill and gin man, as well. Although he lost his right arm in the
service to the Confederacy under General Lee he came home to his little farm
where his wife and baby (James or ”Bud”) had struggled through the four year
conflict. He saw his last horse lay down and die. He began again the battle of
life with a courage that knew no defeat and he accomplished a lot with one hand
and [he accomplished] what many with two hands would have deemed impossible. He
was twice called upon by his fellow countryman to serve them as Neshoba County
treasurer and while his life was broken off suddenly by ???? failure at the age
of 58 he is still remembered by the older people of the Fair Ground Community as
the one arm man who, though unaided save by his industrious companions and
robust children, did the impossible. Added Note: Robert Bell Harrison, Jr. died
21 September 1894.
James George Harrison was born 15 April 1838. He married Miss Georgia Ann
Johnson in 1864. While Uncle George also saw service in the Confederacy in the
Southern Army in the Georgia-Kentucky Campaign and was scarred several times by
enemy lead he was most fortunate that he received no serious wounds. He had
three sons and three daughters. They were: W. R., John Bardow, James, Emma
“Dink” and Edna. All are still living except W. R. who died in 1919. After the
death of his first wife he was married to Miss Maria Trapp whose only daughter,
Neva, now resides at Neshoba Station. James George was for several years the
partner of his brother, Robert, in the mill and gin business at the Fair Ground
and he was a successful farmer, one to whom the poor and needy looked for aid in
time of need. Many were the unfortunate or unthrifty who carried their empty
sack to his mill or crib and had it filled with the staff of life by Uncle
George who, knowing the range of poverty, could never say nay. He was also a
member of Good Hope Church and the Dixon Masonic Lodge. He is buried in Good
Hope Cemetery and for whom was later he led a lodge of sorrow (last part is
unclear ???). Added Note: James George died 17 March 1892 at the age of 53.
References
1. Red Clay Hills of Neshoba, Compiled by Jenelle B. Yates and Theresa T.
Ridout, The Neshoba County Historical Society , 1992
2. Marriage Records of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, 1823 - 1860, page 13,
Huntsville, Alabama, Library (H976.184) also Marriage Records, Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama, p. 31
3. E-mail from Neshoba County RootsWeb.com [Carol Shader at cshrader@exis.net]
on 19 Jan 2000, Subject: Neshoba Baptist Church Records, Neshoba Community,
Neshoba County, MS
4. Records of Pickens County, AL, vol 1, Mrs. C.P. McGuire, Sr.
5. Compendium of the Confederate Armies (Mississippi), Stewart Sifakis, 1992
6. Pendleton District and Anderson County, S.C. Wills -- Estates, Inventories,
Tax Returns and Census Records, Compiled by: Virginia Alexander, Colleen Morse
Elliott, and Betty Willie
6.1. 3 DEEDS—Chapt 2--John Harrison was a witness on 10 Feb. 1794 on a deed for
Andrew Kelly to John Reno, both of Washington Dist., S. C., for 15 pounds
sterling for 267 acres above old boundary line on S side of Saluda River one
mile above Richard Parris’s wagon ford bound by Nathan Durham. This land was
granted to Kelly by Charles Pinckney on 7 Nov. 1791.
John Harrison was a witness on 24 Feb. 1794 for Thomas Towers of Greenville
County, Washington Dist., S. C., to David Wade of Pendleton County, Washington
Dist., for 15 pounds sterling for 140 acres on S side of Saluda River above
Richard Parris’s wagon ford bound by Kelly, Swillivant. Land granted Thomas
Townes by Wm. Moultrie on 4 Feb. 1793.
John Harrison witnessed and made oath to J.P. (Wm. Edmondson) on 10 Nov. 1793
for William Todd of Edgefield County, S. C., to Robert Easley of Pendleton
County, S. C., 100 ac. for 25 pounds sterling. This part of 156 acres granted to
William Todd by Thomas Pinckney on 10 Feb. 1786. Land on S side of Saluda River.
7. Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds, 1790 - 1806, Compiled by Betty Willie
8. Julie Russell Correspondence in June 2000, E-mail: jr21t@earthlink.net
9. Newspaper Articles by R.L. Breland under the byline -- The Story of Neshoba
-- appearing in the Neshoba Democrat (Philadelphia, MS) on 30 Nov 1934, 6 Sept
1935, and one article with an unknown date (ca 1927)
10. A Collection of Upper South Carolina Genealogical and Family Records, Vol I,
edited by James E. Wooley, 1979
11. Letter dated 13 November 2000 from William M. Daniel, St. Charles, MO, a
descendant of John F. Harrison and Isabell Lewis. Several Email messages from
Morris Daniel in late November 2000. (Email address: wmorrisdaniel@cs.com)
12.Pickens District, S. C., Abstracts of Deed Book C-1, 3rd Deed Book, 1834 –
1838, Linda G. Cheek (e-mail: LGCheek@aol.com)
INDEX on 1 APRIL 2003
Absalom, 1, 3, 1
Beaver Dam Creek, 1, 3, 1
Benjamin Harrison, 1, 2, 3, 1
Regina Blewett, 7
Catherine Earle, 1, 3, 5, 6
Choestoea Creek, 1, 2, 1
Earle, 1, 5, 6
Elizabeth, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 1
Frederick County, Virginia, 1
Hiram Perry Harrison, 15, 18
Hugh Harrison, 14, 18
James George Harrison, 16, 18, 19
James T. Harrison, 6
James Thomas Harrison, 7
Jeremiah, 1, 3, 1
John, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 1
John B. Harrison, 17
John Harrison, 1, 5, 6, 7, 20
John Harrison, Jr., 5
John T., 5, 6, 14
Larkin Cleveland, 1, 2
Mary, 1, 3, 5, 6, 15, 1
Nancy Ann Harrison, 1
Naomi, 2, 5
Nell (or Neil), 1
Neshoba County, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20
Noxubee County, 7
Orange County, Virginia, 1, 3, 1
Patsy Harrison, 1
Pendleton District, South Carolina, 1, 2, 3, 10, 14, 1
Pickens County, South Carolina, 2, 5, 9, 1
Ritha A. Harrison, 10, 11
Robert Bell Harrison, 0, 7, 14, 15, 18, 19
Robert Bell Harrison, Jr., 15, 18, 19
Robert Bell Harrison, Sr., 0, 2, 5, 7
Thomas Harrison, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
Thomas Harrison, Sr., 1, 2
Tugaloo River, 1, 2, 3, 5, 1
William, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21
William Cleveland, 3
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