Harris (Robertson Lineage)

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 IV 1596-1656, father of Robert Harris 1635-1701, father of Robert Harris 1669-1730 and also the father of William Claiborne Harris 1669-1730. 

Robert Harris 1630-1701 father of Robert Harris 1669-1730, father of William Harris Sr 1700-1792,  father of William Harris Jr 1724-1792 who married his 2nd cousin Henrietta Baker 1728-1804.  

William Claiborne Harris 1669-1730, father of Temperance Overton Harris 1715-1807 was the mother of Henrietta Baker 1728-1804, who married William Harris Jr 1724-1792, her 1st cousin 1x removed and was was the father 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.

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

William Claiborne Harris 1669-1765, was the father of Robert Overton Harris 1696-1765 brother of Cheryl's ancestor Temperance Overton Harris 1715-1807 and 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.  

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 > Cedar Hill, Hanover, Virginia > Hanover, Virginia > Louisa, Louisa, Virginia > Granville County, North Carolina > Mercer County, Kentucky > Warren County, Kentucky > Garrard, Kentucky > Trigg, Kentucky

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Mary Ann Harris, 3rd Great-Grandmother
2 March 1789 - 13 December 1843
b. Garrard, Kentucky

Some sources have her birthplace as Washington County, Virginia.

d. Trigg, Kentucky

Find a Grave (no record) | Ancestry | Geneanet

Parents: 
John Harris 1760-1816
Martha Thomas 1764-1856

Maternal Lineage:
Martha Thomas 1764-1856

Spouse: Hiram Whitney 1785-1842
Married: 22 August 1805

Children: 11

1. Ishem Whitney 1805-1858
2. Nancy Whitney 1808-1842
3. Eliza Whitney 1809-1848
4. Silas Whitney 1810-1881
5. Pryor Whitney 1813-1877
6. Elijah Whitney 1814-1873
7. Hiram Whitney 1820-1848
8. Marilda Whitney 1825-1870
9. Wayman C Whitney 1826-1864
10. Jesse C Whitney 1830-1864
11. Emily Whitney 1832-1855

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John Harris, 4th Great-Grandfather
1760 - 18 August 1816
b. Granville County, North Carolina
d. Warren, Kentucky

Find a Grave  | Ancestry | Geneanet

Find a Grave memorial uses alternate spelling of Harriss

Parents:
William Harris Jr 1724-1792
Henrietta Baker 1728-1804

Spouse: Martha Thomas 1764-1856
Married: 31 October 1781
Children: 7

1. Enoch Harris 1783-1854
2. Elijah Harris 1787-1847
3. Mary Ann Harris 1789-1843
4. Thomas H Harris 1793-1865
5. Martha Harris 1795-1888
6. John Harris 1799-1851
7. Abijah Harris 1803-1877

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William Harris Jr, 5th Great-Grandfather
1724 - 6 December 1792
b. St Pauls Parish, Hanover, Virginia
d. Mercer County, Kentucky (on the Ohio River en route from Louisa Virginia)

Find a Grave (no record)  | Ancestry | Geneanet | Anderson p. 84

Parents:
William Harris 1700-1760
Elizabeth Burnett 1710-1804

Maternal Lineage:
Elizabeth Burnett 1710-1804

Spouse: Henrietta Baker 1728-1804
Married: 1748
Children: 8

Anderson identifies 2 daughters, Ann and Bradbourn, named in the will of William Harris, along with "all my children." The author goes on to cite an article in The Richmond Dispatch dated 1 August 1929 listing some additional children of William Jr and Henrietta Harris.

These birth dates seem late in the life of their mother so additional information is needed for reconciliation. 

1. Mary Harris 1749-1819
2. Robert Harris 1750-1810
3. William Harris 1753-1802
4. Bradbourn Harris 1755-1815
5. Ann Harris 1757-1843
6. Jemima Harris 1759-1772
7. John Harris 1760-1816
8. Benjamin Harris 1776-1836

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William Harris Sr, 6th Great-Grandfather
1700 - 1760

b. Cedar Hill, Hanover, Virginia
d. Hanover, Virginia

Find a Grave (no record)  | Ancestry | Geneanet 

Parents:
Robert Harris 1664-1722
Elizabeth Turner 1679-1710

Maternal Lineage:
Elizabeth Turner 1679-1710

Spouse: Elizabeth Burnett 1710-1804
Married: 1723

Children: 

1. William Harris Jr 1724-1792
2. Others TBD

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Temperance Overton Harris, 6th Great-Grandmother

5 August 1715 - 9 August 1807
b. Albemarle, Virginia
d. Albemarle, Virginia

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet

Parents:
William Claiborne Harris 1669-1730
Temperance Overton 1679-1716

Maternal Lineage:
Temperance Overton 1579-1716

Spouse: Martin Baker 1710-1789
Married: 1735

Sources vary as to marriage date, but this marriage date is 7 years after the birth of Henrietta, and most variations place the marriage date even later.

Children: 

1. Henrietta Baker 1728-1804
   
2. Others TBD

These dates would make Temperance 13 when she gave birth to Henrietta, and would be 7 years before her marriage.

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William Claiborne Harris, 7th Great-Grandfather
Also Bill's 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

Find a Grave  | Ancestry | 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: 

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, 7th Great-Grandfather
7 June 1664 - 10 January 1722
b. Albemarle, King William, Virginia
d. St Martin's, Hanover, Virginia

Find a Grave (no record)  | Ancestry | Geneanet

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

Maternal Lineage:
Jane Elliott 1576-1667, mother of Jane Elizabeth Butler 1610-1676, mother of Mary Elizabeth Claiborne 1630-1709, mother of Robert Harris 1664-1722.

Spouse: Elizabeth Turner 1679-1738
Married: 1699
Children: 

1. William Harris Sr 1700-1760
2. Richard Harris 1709-1787
3. Robert Harris 1710-1785
4. Mercy Harris 1710-1710

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Robert Harris, 8th Great-Grandfather
Cheryl's 8th and Bill's 9th Great-Grandfather
1635-1701

Some sources have 1630 as the birth year. 

b. Henrico County, Virginia

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

d. New Kent County, Virginia

Harris Family Cemetery
Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet 

Parents:

William Harris  1596-1656
Ellen Burrows 1601-1670

Maternal Lineage:

Ellen Burrows 1601-1670

Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Claiborne 1630-1709

His Find a Grave bio notes a possible 2nd spouse as Elizabeth Jane Clairborne 1635-1710 but that is the only mention I have found so far. 

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

Tags: Military

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William Harris IV, 9th Great-Grandfather
Cheryl's 9th and Bill's 10th Great-Grandfather
1596-1656
b. Willingale, Epping Forest District, Essex, England
d. Jamestown, James City County, Virginia

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet 

Parents:

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

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet 

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

Maternal Lineage:
Jane Semer 1519-1600

Spouse: Joan Hardings 1550-1615
Married: 6 May 1576
Children: 

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

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William Harris II, 11th Great-Grandfather
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

Find a Grave | Ancestry | 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, 12th Great-Grandfather
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

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet

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

Spouse: Joanna Smythe 1500-1527

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John Arthur Harris, 13th Great-Grandfather
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

Find a Grave | Ancestry | Geneanet

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

Spouse: Joanna Percy 1478-1547

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William Harris, 14th Great-Grandfather
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

Find a Grave | Ancestry | 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 3 November 2025.

Anderson, William Pope. "The Overtons." The early descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia and allied families", p. 84. Cincinnati, Ohio, 1938. Reproduced for electronic publication by Internet Archive, 2005. archive.org/details/earlydescendants00ande Accessed 20 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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).

Find a Grave, 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.

Robertson, Marielle. "Robertson," "Whitney." Family Research Book. ca. 2010. Marielle Robertson, daughter of Clifton James Robertson and Anna Louise Cooper. Print, limited copies reproduced.

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Miscellanea

Talking Kin™: Harris (Robertson Lineage)
https://www.talkingkin.com/2025/10/harris-robertson-lineage.html
© 2025 William H Lawson Jr

Most recently updated:

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