John Harris

John Harris had the 600a tract FRIENDS CHOICE surveyed for him in Somerset on Sep 10 1667 (using both Harris and Harrison as surname). This land is east and a bit south of Princess Anne, MD in the Perryhawkin area along Dividing Creek.

Somerset Court Feb 1672:
The Cort: Delivers the Papers to the Grand Jury of Enquest The Grand Jury appeares before the board & delivers in their vertict in writing which is read vizt ~ ~ ~ ~ wee of the Jury Doe finde that John Harris is finable for packing of Stalkes and pegges in a hhd: of tobacco and paying of it away for good tobacco ~ Elias Coleman fforeman The Inditement vizt John Harriss thou art indyted by the name of John Harris Labourer of Anamessicks Hundred in the County of Sommersett That thou not haveing the feare of God before thy eyes Dids ffraudulently on purpose to deceive falsly packe and putt up into A hogshead of tobacco Stalkes peggs and trash of tobacco and paid itt away for good tobacco Contrary to the peace of the Lord Proprietary rule and Dignity; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Cort: Demanded whether he was guilty or not guilty the said John Harrison made answer not guilty and Craves A Jury ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Cort: orders A Petty Jury to be Impanelled The The sherriffe returned his Pannell who are Sworne vizt William Jones fforeman . : John Townesend Daniell Quillane . . . . : Edward Davis Jury men Cornelius Johnson of Many: Henry Miles Jurymen Richard Tull . . . . . . : Robert Millnor Robert Hart . . . . . . .. : William flutcher John Painther . . . . . . : Stephen Hancock John Kibble Stephen Horsse John Horsse and William Planner appeares in the behalfe of the Lord Proprietary & made oath in Cort: the Jury all present . ~ The Jury haveing recd: their Charge goe forth The Jury returne and are Called over every man by his name and made answer vizt William Jones fforeman : Jno: Townesend Daniell Quillane . . . . .: Edward Davis Jury men Cornelius Johnson of Many : Henry Miles Richard Tull . . . . . . : Robert Millnor Jurymen Robert Hart . . . . . . . : William flutcher John Painther . . . . . . : Stephen Hancock The Cort: Demanded whether they were all agreed and they made answer they were and their fforeman delivered their verdict in writing wch: is read vizt The verdict of the Jury according to the evidence is That the said John Harris is guillty without the said Harris brings the man that packt the hogshead subscribed William Jones fforeman no party being pduced by the said John Harrison that packt the hhd: The said John Harrison Confest he packt the hhd: himselfe Whereupon the Cort: orders that the said John Harrison have twenty Lasshes well laid on upon the bare back; which was done Accordingly & dissmist from further tendance paying Charges ~ ~ ~ ~
(SoJ-1671/75:204)

John Harris had the 600a tract HARRISES ADVENTURE surveyed for him in Somerset on Jun 12 1679 (using both Harris and Harrison as surname) - a resurvey of the earlier FRIENDS CHOICE. This land is east and a bit south of Princess Anne, MD in the Perryhawkin area along Dividing Creek.

John Harris had the 200a tract HARRISES VENTURE surveyed for him in Somerset on Apr 5 1680 (using both Harris and Harrison as surname). This land is adjacent to the above tracts to the east.

John Harris and family are listed as Harrison in the old Somerset IKL records but by the time he died in 1701, it had morphed into just Harris as the surname.

There is a version of John Harris' will in recorded in the Somerset Land Records, Liber L1:630 entered on Oct 28 1701. But there is the probate in Somerset as follows: In his will John Harris of Parahawkin, written Mar 7 1711, gave to son John 200 acres out of tract Friend's Choice (containing 600 acres); to son-in-law Richard Knight, 50 acres of this tract; to son James, remaining 50 acres of tract plus adjacent 150 acres of tract Harrison's Venture; to son Caleb, 175 acres of tract Middle Town and remaining 50 acres of tract Harrison' Venture adjacent; if Caleb should die without issue, the land to be sold and money divided among his four sisters, Priscilla, Esther, Sarah, Patience. To Jeremiah Harris, Ambrose Riggin, Randall Smullin, Robert Harris, Hugh Gulligan and Thomas Pritchett they bequeathed "one silver sterling" each. Wife Judith Extr. Probate of the will was delayed 3 years, for, whereas the will was admitted to probate on 24 Mar 1715/16, son James on 5 Mar 1712/13 had sold land will to him by his father. (Miles Files)

John married Judith Godfrey on 18 Feb 1671 in Somerset Co., MD. (Judith Godfrey was born about 1650 and died between 1701 and 05 Mar 1713 in Somerset Co., MD.)

John Harrison and Judith Godfrey were maryed by Mr. George Johnson one of his Lopps Justices of the Peace for this County the 18th day of ffebruary Annoque Domini one thousand six hundred and seaventy