HARRIS Research

Ebenezer was my 4th great-grandfather, born 1803 in NC. It appears that he and his siblings came to Georgia
as children. We do not know their parents, but they probably were the ones who brought them to Georgia. I
found information concerning an Ebenezer Harris leaving a will in 1806 in Hyde County, NC. He could possibly be a relative. Since these Harris' intermarried so much with the David Hickox family, I feel they may have travelled together. David Hickox had come to Georgia from Connecticut. Guess where I have found a lot of Ebenezer Harris' of the 1600s and 1700s? Yep, Connecticut. In fact, this is the only place I've found Ebenzer Harris' before 1803. I think my Harris'may have been in Connecticut before North Carolina. Now I just need to prove/disprove it. Please HELP if you can.

Some information found at the Latter Day Saints Research Center shows a Francis Harris as their father. Below is my attempt at proving/disproving this relationship.

Ebenezer, Jimpsey and Louisa would have come to Wayne County, Georgia before 1820 as children. The 1820 Georgia shows only two Harris' in Wayne County. One was a male, head of household named Francis and the other was Eley Harris, a female head of household (probably a widow). I think her name was really Elsey as that is how it appeared in the 1830 Georgia census.

Francis Harris's household lists two 0-10 year old males, one 10-16 year old male, 1 26-45 year old male, three 0-10 year old females and one 16-26 year old females. Ebenezer, Jimpsey and Louisa easily fit into this household due to their ages and sex. Ebenezer would have been the 10-16 male, Jimpsey would have been a 0-10 male and Louisa would have been a 0-10 female. In addition to them, there is one other 0-10 male and two other 0-10 females in Francis' household.

I believe the Francis that was in Wayne County in 1820 is the same one found in Liberty County census in 1830. Right next door to him is a John W. Harris (same name as Ebenezer's oldest son).
Francis Harris        0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
   (one male 30-40, one female 30-40, one male 5-10, one female 0-5)

I believe Jimpsey could be the male 5-10 years old. Although his birthdate is said to be 1818, it may be 1819 or 20. The remaining female daughter is one of the unknowns in the 1820 household. Ebenezer and Louisa had just gotten married two years prior to this census). The fact that Louisa's children were born in McIntosh County makes me think this move of Francis from Wayne to Liberty might be a clue.

John W. Harris 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(one male 20-30, one female 20-30)
John could have been Francis' brother.

An interesting thing is that Ebenezer does not appear until the 1840 census (when he would have been 37 years old). Where was he in the 1830 census where he would have been 27 years old?

I think we will ultimately tie these Harris' into the Harris family of Pitt County, NC.

I believe that there is an excellent chance that the LDS is right and Francis is their father. I need to continue
following this until I can prove it. Please let me know if you can help.

Ebenezer Harris was born in 1803 in NC.

Louisa Harris was born in 1810 probably in NC.

Jimpsey Harris was born in 1818 probably in NC/SC.

They came to Georgia at an early age, probably before they were grown. This means they probably came with their parents.

Ebenezer married Martha Purdom in Wayne County, GA August 8, 1827. Martha was daughter of Thomas Purdom.
They had nine children:
1. John W. b. 1829 married Lucinda Lewis, daughter of Jesse, Dec 13, 1849.
2. Elizabeth b. 1830 married William H. Lewis, Dec 22, 1847. Died 1848.
3. Cinderella b. 1831 married Ephriam Morgan.
4. Candacy b. 1835 married Joseph Wainrigh, May 14, 1857.
5. Stephen b. 1838 married ??.
6. Martha b. 1841 married Wiley K. Bennett, December 19, 1860.
7. Thomas b. 1843 married Satilla Lewis, daughter of William H. Lewis, March 26, 1874
8. Samuel b. 1845 married ??.
9. Alfred b. 1848 married Marianna ___.

Ebenezer was commissioned November 11, 1825, as Militia Captain, 335th district. He was granted 356 acres of land in Wayne County by the state of Georgia in 1837 and 550 acres in 1856. Ebenezer and Martha spent their final years with John W. Harris (my ancestor).

Louisa married Elijah Townshend August 10, 1827 in Wayne County, Georgia.
They had 2 children:
1. James E. b. January 1830 in McIntosh County, married Martha Middleton. Died April 03, 1902.
2. Josiah Elford b. January 16, 1838 in McIntosh County, married Susan Darby Rich.

Louisa and Elijah divorced in 1842.

Louisa had a daughter Georgia Mae, b. abt 1848. The father is unknown.

Jimpsey married Civility Robinson, daughter of James Robinson, Jr. The had 13 children:
1. Sydney b. 1844
2. Elizabeth b. 1845 married Hampton Michnah Crews.
3. Owen b. abt 1850 married Julie Ann Crews.
4. Joseph Ebenezer b. January 15, 1853 married Julia Ann Wainright, daughter of James Wainright, Jr.
5. Catherine b. abt 1853
6. Leonard b. 1847 married Mary Crews
7. Eliza b. abt 1855
8. James D. b. 1856 married Mary Eliza Wainright, daughter of Elias Knight Wainright. Died June 15, 1931.
9. Thomas b. 1857
10. John b. abt 1864
11. Hansford b. abt 1865 married Maria C. Lowther. Died November 15, 1942.
12. Civility b. abt 1867
13. Jackson b. abt 1869

Ebenezer died abt 1883.

Louisa died sometime between 1860 and 1870.

Jimpsey died December 10, 1888. The 1860 GA Census say he was 43 years old. That would make him b. 1817. The 1870 Census says he was 55 years old. That would make him b. in 1815. NOTE: son James' Death Certificate says born South Carolina.

1860 Census, 1181st Militia District, Pierce County, Georgia; Compiled
beginning June 1st, 1860, Finished June 27th, 1860.

#120 Townsend, Joseph 21 Ga Farmer (son of Elijah)

" Emma 19 " H.K. (once ? Howard)

" Jane 2 "

" Elizabeth 2mo "
(dead in 1870)
" Luisa 50 N.C. (Mother of Joseph - once Harris)

Text in parenthesis was handwritten, the dead in 1870 appeared to refer to
Louisa.

1860 Charlton County, GA Census
Harris, Jimpsey 43 Farmer
Harris, Civility 37
Harris, Sidney 16
Harris, Elizabeth 15
Harris, Leonard 13
Harris, Owen 11
Harris, Ebenezer 7
Harris, Catherine 7
Harris, Eliza 6
Harris, James 5
Harris, Thomas 3

1840 GA Census - HARRIS'
Name County Page District

Ebenezer Wayn 242 335
Aaron S. Wayn 237 333
Hampton Ware 140 451
Moses S. Wayn 237 333
Thompson Appl 020 None
Timothy Camd 006 St. Mary's
William Appl 020 None
Simpsey Wayn 242 338 Note: This is reallyJimpsey

Could this Ebenezer be related?
NC Wills
North Carolina Wills -ATestator Index 1665-1900
Thornton W. Mitchell- corrected & revised edition

Name Co Date Recorded Copy Original
HARRIS,Ebenezer 053 1806 RW-1/390 AR

053 = Hyde County

Who are the parents of Thompson(b. 1784), Francis (b. 1800) and Hampton (b. 1800) Harris
of Georgia? They were all born in NC. Is there a connection to Ebenezer, Louisa and Jimpsey?It appears that all Harris' of Southeast Georgia descend from one of these four Harris men.

There was an Ebenezer Harris with sons Edward, Emer(Emor), James and Ebenezer, Jr. known to be living in Luzerne CTY, PA - early 1800's

An Ebenezer Harris lived in Connecticut late 1700's brother of Ely and Champlin,son of Asa and Anne. Sold land(1789) in Colchester.

Ebenezer Harris, died 4/161751. He was the son of Thomas Harris and Martha Lake. Ebenezer married (1st) Rebecca Clarke 15 Sep 1690 in Ipswich, MA. Rebecca Clarke, died 16 Jun 1699 in Plainfield, CT. Click Ebenezer for a web site with this information. It appears that much of this Harris' source is from "The Ancestry of Bethia Harris 1748-1833" by Walter Goodwin Davis (1934).