Harris Lineage 1 (Lawson Lineage) Ancestors of Lydia Harris 1770-1811

For the Ancestors of Abigail Harris 1730-1790, please see Harris Lineage 2

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Harris Surname Origin

Harris Lineage

William Harris 1440-1504, father of John Arthur Harris 1460-1520, father of William Harris I 1505-1556, father of William Harris II 1516-1559, father of William Harris III 1545-1605, father of William Harris 1596-1656, father of Robert Harris 1630-1700, father of William Claiborne Harris 1669-1765, father of Robert Overton Harris 1696-1765, father of Tyre Harris Sr 1728-1796, father of Lydia Harris.

Lydia Harris married Robert Kimbrough Brown, parents of Jeremiah Harris Brown 1799-1880, father of William Hiram Brown 1829-1905, father of James Henry Brown 1855-1939, father of Harris Brown Brown 1887-1954, father of Thelma Irene Brown 1912-1991, father of William Harris Lawson Sr 1931-2020.  

Cheryl's Shared Lineage 
Through this shared lineage, Cheryl and Bill are 8th cousins 1x removed.

William Claiborne Harris 1669-1730, was the father of Temperance Overton Harris 1715-1807 sister of Bill's shared ancestor Robert Overton Harris 1696-1765 and the mother of Henrietta Baker 1728-1804, who married William Harris Jr 1724-1792.

William Harris Jr 1724-1792 and Henrietta Baker 1728-1804 were 1st cousins 1x removed, and they were the parents of John Harris 1760-1816, father of Mary Ann Harris 1789-1843.

Mary Ann Harris was the mother of Waymen C Whitney 1826-1864, father of Missouria L Whitney 1850-1923, mother of Eddie Morris Robertson 1872-1952, father of James Clifton Robertson.

Harris Migration 
Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England > Southminster, Maldon District, Essex, England > Willingale, Epping Forest District, Essex, England > Jamestown, James City County, Virginia > York, Virginia > New Kent County, Virginia > St Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia > Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia > St Pauls Parish, Hanover, Virginia > Caswell County, North Carolina > Macon, Tennessee 

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Lydia Harris, Bill's 5th Great-Grandmother
1770-1811
b. Caswell County, North Carolina
d. Macon, Tennessee

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Parents:
Tyree Harris 1728-1786
Mary Ann Simpson 1741-1786

Maternal Lineage:
Ruth Williams 1673-1750, mother of Elizabeth Canterbury, mother of Mary Kinchelce, mother of Mary Ann Simpson, mother of Lydia Harris

Spouse:   Robert Kimbrough Brown 1774-1849
Married:   19 Dec 1795
Children:  6

1. Jacob Cantral Brown 1797-1884
2. Jeremiah Harris Brown 1799-1880
3. Mildred Brown 1801-1885
4. Tyre Harris Brown 1801-1872
5. William Brown 1804-1853
6. Sarah Brown 1810-1871

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Tyre Harris Sr, Bill's 6th Great-Grandfather
8 April 1728 - 1786
b. St Paul's Parish, Hanover, Virginia

d. Caswell County, North Carolina

Ancestry |  Find a Grave (no record)

Parents:

Robert Overton Harris 1696-1765

Mourning Gleason Glenn 1702-1775

Maternal Lineage:
Mourning Winn 1668-1750, mother of Mourning Gleason Glenn 1702-1775, mother of Tyre Harris Sr

Spouse 1:  Elizabeth Chapman 1731-1748

Married: 18 Apr 1745

Children: 1

1. Tyre Harris Jr 1748-1801

Spouse 2:   Mary Ann Simpson 1741-1786

Married:   1757

Children:  8

1. Frances Harris 1758-1818
2. Simpson Harris 1768-1833
3. Lydia Harris 1770-1811
4. Robert Harris 1770-1842
5. Christopher Harris 1772-1834
6. Susannah Harris 1774-1827
7. Edith Harris 1775-1816
8. Nancy Harris 1778-1855

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Robert Overton Harris, Cheryl's 6th & Bill's 7th Great-Grandfather
30 January 1696 - 8 August 1765
b. St Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia
d. Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia

Cemetery TBD

Ancestry | Find a Grave 

Parents:

William Claiborne Harris 1669-1765

Temperance Overton 1679-1710

Maternal Lineage:
Katherine Cooke 1541-1598, mother of Joan Clarke, Anne Peake, mother of Mary Elizabeth Waters, mother of Temperance Overton, mother of Robert Overton Harris

Spouse:   Mourning Gleason Glenn 1702-1775

Married:   13 Jan 1719

Children:  11

1. Anna Harris 1724-1775
2. Christopher Harris 1725–1794
3. Tyre Harris 1728-1786
4. Mary Harris 1730–1819
5. Mourning Glenn Harris 1732–1805
6. Lucy Harris 1734–1802
7. Sarah Harris  1735–1803
8. Robert Overton Harris Jr 1741–1796
9. Rachael Harris 1744-1819
10. Elizabeth Frances Harris  1746–1788
11. William Thomas Harris 1752-1788
    Cheryl's Ancestor

Cheryl's descendancy:

Robert Overton Harris > William Thomas Harris > John Harris > Mary Ann Harris > Wyman C Whitney > Missouri L Whitney > Eddie Morris Robertston > Clifton James Robertson > Cheryl Robertson

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William Claiborne Harris, Cheryl's 7th & 8th Great-Grandfather
5 December 1669 - 8 March 1730

Some sources have birth year as 1670

b. New Kent, New Kent, Virginia
d. Doswell, Hanover, Virginia

Cedar Hill Cemetery
Hanover County, Virginia

Ancestry  | Find a Grave | Geneanet

Parents: 
Robert Harris 1635-1701
Mary Elizabeth Claiborne 1630-1709

Maternal Lineage:
Jane Elliott, mother of Jane Elizabeth Butler, mother of Mary Claiborne, mother of William Claiborne Harris

Spouse:   Temperance Overton 1679-1716

Married:   1695

Children:  3

1. Robert Overton Harris 1696-1765
2. Christopher Harris 1697-1757
3. Overton Harris 1698-1758
4. Patience Harris 1714-1802
5. Temperance Overton Harris 1715-1807

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Robert Harris, Cheryl's 8th & Bill's 9th  Great-Grandfather

1635-1701
b. Henrico County, Virginia

Some sources have Henrico County and others have York County as the birth location.

d. New Kent County, Virginia

Ancestry | Find a Grave |  Geneanet 

Parents:

William Harris  1596-1656
Ellen Burrows 1601-1670

Maternal Lineage:

Ellen Burrows 1601-1670

Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Claiborne 1630-1709

Married: 1650
Children: 12

1. Mary Harris 1650-1753
2. Judith Harris 1655-1739
3. John Harris 1657-1733
4. Elizabeth Ann Harris 1661-1727
5. Matthew Harris 1661-1727
6. Matilda Harris 1663-1698
7. Robert Harris 1664-1722
8. Richard Harris 1669-1733
9. William Claiborne Harris 1669-1765
10. Thomas Harris 1670-1725
11. Claiborne Harris 1672-1715
12. Love Harris 1677-1732

Alternate Ancestral Lineage & Migration for Robert Harris 1630-1700

Some sources show this, but it appears to be for a different Harris line.

Parents:

Thomas Harris 1586-1682
Adria Gurganey 1598-1626

Maternal Lineage:

Adria Gurganey 1598-1626

William John Harris 1445-1480, father of John Arthur Harris 1460-1520, father of William Harris 1505-1556, father of Arthur Harris 1530-1597, father of William Harris 1556-1616, father of Thomas Harris 1586-1682, father of Robert Harris 1630-1700

Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England > Southminster, Essex, England > Woodham, Mortimer, Essex, England > Crixe, Kent, England > Henrico,Virginia > York, Virginia

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William Harris IV, Cheryl's 9th & Bill's 10th Great-Grandfather

1596-1656
b. Willingale, Epping Forest District, Essex, England
d. Jamestown, James City County, Virginia

Ancestry |  Find a Grave

Noteworthy

Tags: Immigrated_to_USA

Parents:

William Harris 1545-1601
Joan Hardings 1550-1615

Maternal Lineage:

Joan Hardings 1550-1615

Spouse: Ellen Burrows 1601-1661
Married: 1624

Children: 2

1. James Harris 1625-1675
2. Robert Harris 1635-1701

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William Harris III, Cheryl's 10th and Bill's 11th Great-Grandfather
1545-1605
b. Willingale, Epping Forest District, Essex, England
d. Jamestown, James City County, Virginia

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Geneanet 

Noteworthy

Tags: Immigrated_to_USA 

Parents:
William Harris II 1516-1559
Jane Semer 1519-1600

Maternal Lineage:
Jane Semer 1519-1600

Spouse: Joan Hardings 1550-1615
Married: 1576
Children: 

1. William Harris IV 1596-1656
2. Others TBD

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William Harris II, Cheryl's 11th and Bill's 12th Great-Grandfather
24 October 1516 - 1559
b. Willingale, Epping Forest District, Essex, England
d. Maldon, Essex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Geneanet

Parents:
William Harris I 1516-1556
Joanna Cooke 1500-1527

Maternal Lineage:
Joanna Cooke 1500-1527

Spouse: Jane Semer 1519-1600
Married: 1540
Children:

1. Jane Harris 1540-1600
2. William Harris III 1545-1605

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William Harris I, Cheryl's 12th and Bill's 13th Great-Grandfather
1505 - 16 September 1556
b. Southminster, Maldon District, Essex, England
d. Southminster, Maldon District, Essex, England

St Leonard Churchyard
Southminster, Maldon District, Essex, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Geneanet

Parents:
John Arthur Harris 1460-1520
Joanna Percy 1478-1547

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John Arthur Harris, Cheryl's 13th and Bill's 14th Great-Grandfather
24 June 1460 - 18 November 1520
b. Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England
d. Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Geneanet

Parents: 
William Harris 1440-1504
Anne Jernegan 1448-1480

Spouse: Joanna Percy 1478-1547

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William Harris, Cheryl's 14th and Bill's 15th Great-Grandfather
1440-1504
Some sources have 1445 as the birth year.
b. Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England
d. Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Geneanet

Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD

Spouse: Anne Jernegan 1448-1480

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Bibliography 

Ancestry ®. "Public Member Trees Database.” © 1997-2025 Ancestry®.  Ancestry.  ancestry.com/ Lawson-Robertson Family Tree. www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/10075800/family  User profile for William Harris Lawson, Jr., user Livingweb. Accessed 14 October 2025.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82424013/john_arthur-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for Sir John Arthur Harris (24 Jun 1460–19 Nov 1520), Find a Grave Memorial ID 82424013, citing St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea Unitary Authority, Essex, England; Maintained by 55Chevy (contributor 48081247).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239762829/john-harriss: accessed October 18, 2025), memorial page for John Harriss (unknown–18 Aug 1816), Find a Grave Memorial ID 239762829; Maintained by Ann Harris Humble (contributor 47942841).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141262976/robert-harris: accessed October 25, 2025), memorial page for MAJ Robert Harris (1635–1701), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141262976, citing Harris Family Cemetery, Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Garland Hill (contributor 46773120).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94933846/robert_overton-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for Maj Robert Overton Harris (10 Nov 1696–8 Aug 1765), Find a Grave Memorial ID 94933846; Maintained by George (contributor 47041248).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18511594/temperance-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for Temperance Overton Harris (2 Mar 1679–19 Feb 1716), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18511594, citing Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Gary Violette (contributor 46810461).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78323069/william-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for William Harris (1440–1504), Find a Grave Memorial ID 78323069; Maintained by 55Chevy (contributor 48081247).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161794771/william-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for William Harris IV (1596–1656), Find a Grave Memorial ID 161794771; Maintained by 55Chevy (contributor 48081247).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161794195/william-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for William Harris III (1545–unknown), Find a Grave Memorial ID 161794195; Maintained by 55Chevy (contributor 48081247).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161787334/william-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for William Harris Jr. (24 Oct 1516–1559), Find a Grave Memorial ID 161787334; Maintained by 55Chevy (contributor 48081247).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65153994/william-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for William Harris I (1505–16 Sep 1556), Find a Grave Memorial ID 65153994, citing St Leonard Churchyard, Southminster, Maldon District, Essex, England; Maintained by SearchingForFamily (contributor 51866506).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93941470/william_claiborne-harris: accessed October 28, 2025), memorial page for Col William Claiborne Harris (1669–8 Mar 1730), Find a Grave Memorial ID 93941470, citing Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by George (contributor 47041248).

Geneanet. "Public Member Database." © 1996. Geneanet. en.geneanet.org Accessed 15 October 2025.

Google. "AI Overview." Search term, "Harris Surname Origin." Google. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Harris+Surname+Origin  Accessed 3 December 2025.

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Miscellanea

Talking Kin™: Harris (Lawson Lineage)
https://www.talkingkin.com/2025/09/harris.html
© 2025 William H Lawson Jr

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