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| Benjamin Harrison I m. Mary Stringer 2nd Mary Sidway Children: Benjamin II 1645 - 1712/13 Peter - died childless |
| Some time before 1635 Benjamin he was settled in Jamestown. Nothing is known of his life before coming to Virginia but we know he was an educated man of high standing because he was clerk of Council by 15 March 1633/4 when he signed a document in that capacity, and later was elected to the House of Burgesses.[The General Assembly of Virginia (Leonard)] The governor granted him 200 acres in Warrosquyoake (later Isle of Wight) County 7 July 1635 in addition to the 50 acres of a freeman which he later sold to Thomas Davis. [Patent Book 2, p. 71], 600 acres in James City County 18 May 1637, and 500 acres in James City 21 March 1643/4. [Patent Book 1, pp. 207, 420, 949] In 1642 he was elected to the House of Burgesses and he purchased 500 acres on the south side of the James River in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. where his children were born. One of Benjamin's neighbors was Richard Bennett Esqr. After the death of Benjamin I, Bennett sold the land to Francis Jordan. After Benjamin's death his widow married Benjamin Sidway. Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin and Mary Harrison, as “Peter Harrison, orphan of Benjamin Harrison, deceased,” received from his stepfather Benjamin Sidway a tract of land in 1652. A patent of 1655 describes Capt. Sidway as “father-in-law to Peter Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison dec’d & heir …” [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 18] His mother’s will of 1688 omits him. Mary Harrison Sidway made her will in Surry County leaving granddaughter Hannah Harrison a colt and John Kersey, a heifer. The rest of her estate she left to her two sons Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Sidway will dated 1 Mar. 1687/8 recorded 29 May 1688. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 4, 1687-94, p. 41]. Benjamin Harrison [II] witnessed the 1694-will of his half-brother Thomas Sidway. [Surry Co. Wills, Deeds, Etc. 5, 1694-1709, p. 79] |
| Col. Benjamin II m. Hannah _______ Children: 1. Sarah Harrison (1656-1743) m. Dr. James Blair 2. Benjamin III b. (1673) 3. Nathaniel Harrison (1677-1727)[Tombstone at 'Wakefield'] 4. Henry Harrison [HA.2.4] (- 1732) [Tombstone at 'Brandon'] 5. Hannah Harrison (1678-1731) m. a Ludwell 6. Elizabeth Harrison |
| Benjamin II was born on his father's Plantation in Southwark Parrish, Surry, Co. Had a river wharf and store where he built ships and traded in tobacco. He bought the plantation “Berkley Hundred” in Chas City Co. from Giles Bland [est.in 1619] and made it his home. “Berkley Hundred” was located on the north side of the James River. Col. Benjamin Harrison II (1645-1712) re-patented the 500 acres his father held in James City County 9 October 1649. [Patent Book 2, p. 189] His name appeared in remaining Surry County tithable lists from 1686 through 1703 when surviving tithable lists end. Harrison was a Surry justice as early as 1671 and sheriff in 1679. He represented Surry County in the Virginia House of Burgesses and served as a member of the Colonial Council of State. Harrison paid quit rents on 2,750 acres in Surry County in 1704. Benjamin left a will in Surry County naming children Nathaniel, Henry, Sarah, and Sarah Harrison, and grandson Benjamin Harrison III (will dated 6 April 1711, His epitaph at Cabin Point Church reveals that he was born 20 September 1645 and died 30 January 1712/13. Likewise, his wife was born 13 February 1761/2 and died 16 February 1698/9. |
| Benjamin Harrison III m. Elizabeth Burwell. Children: 1. Benjamin Harrison IV born 1700 m. Anne Carter – 1722 |
| Benjamin Harrison III (c.1673- 10 April 1710) was born and appeared in his father’s household in Surry County first in 1691. He married Elizabeth Burwell (- 30 Dec. 1734 [Tombstone at 'Westover'] ) He died on April 10 1710 at the very young age of 37 years. His son, Benjamin, inherited the Plantation "Berkley Hundred." [Tombstone at 'Westover'] Harrison was a burgess (1703-6), speaker of the house (1705-6), and treasurer of the colony (1705-10). He was also a charter trustee of the College of William and Mary (1692-3). |
| Benjamin Harrison IV - of Berkley, Charles City Co., Va. m. Anne Carter - 1722 Children: 1. Anna - William Randolph 2. Elizabeth – a Randolph 3. Benjamin Harrison V - Elizabeth Bassitt 4. Henry [d. young] 5. Nathaniel – Anne Gilliam 6. Henry - 7. Robert – a Collier 8. Carter Henry –Susannah Randolph 9. Lucy - [d. young] 10. Hannah - [d. young] |
| Benjamin Harrison IV of Berkley, Charles City Co., Va. (c.1700-1745) married Ann Carter, daughter of Robert “King” Carter. Harrison represented Charles City County in the Virginia House of Burgesses until his death (1736-45). Lightning killed Benjamin Harrison and two daughters, Lucy and Hannah, so reported the Maryland Gazette of 16 August 1745. The will (dated 17 Oct. 1743) of Benjamin Harrison named six sons. |