Andrew HARRIS

Andrew married Jane BAGLEY on 2 Feb 1603/4 in Northbourne. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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At age 18, William was apprenticed as a needle-maker to Thomas Wilson of the Drapers' Company in Eastcheap, London, for seven years beginning 22 Oct. 1628; his future father-in-law John Hyde was a member of that company. William emigrated to New England and was in Providence, R.I., by the spring of 1636. He may have known Roger Williams in Salem, Mass., as he was among the small group who accompanied Roger Williams to the Providence area by that spring. Through the remaining years in R.I., William Harris and roger Williams had an antagonistic relationship. John Garrett calls him "the quarrelsome William Harris" and adds, "When the Quakers came to Rhode Island in the mid-1650's Harris took up with their cause." As an old man, Roger Williams actually wrote, "W. harris, who, being an impudent morris-dancer in Kent...under a cloak of separation, got in with myself, till his self-ends and restless strife, and at last his atheistical denying of heaven and hell, made honest souls to fly from him. Now he courts the Baptists; then he kicks them off and flatters the Foxians; then the drunkards (which he calls all that are not of the former two amongst us); then knowing the prejudices of the other Colonies against us, he dares to abuse his Majesty and Council, to bring New England upon us."

William married Susan HYDE about 1634. Susan was christened on 20 Mar 1609/10 in St. Mary Aldermanbury, london; died after 6 Dec 1681. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Many have erroneously said that this Thomas Harris arrived in New England with his brother William and Roger Williams aboard the ship "Lyon" arriving in Nantasket 5 February 1630/1. However, the first record of this Thomas Harris in New England is when he was in a group of "second comers" to the new settlement, who "was received a purchaser of Providence previous to " 20 August 1637. These were thirteen men "desirous to inhabit in the towne of Providence" who subscribed to a "ciuill" compact.

On 2 September 1650, Thomas harris was taxes L1. he served in many positions in the growing plantation of Providence. From 1652 to 1657 and 1661 to 1663 he was commissioner, in 1654 Lieutenant. In 1655 he was listed as a freeman. He also served as a juryman in 1656, deputy in 1664, 1666-67, 1670, 1672-7. In 1664-66 and 1669 he was a member of the town council, and was surveyor of highways in 1667. Thomas was granted sometime before 1660 six acres of land on "Mooshausick River."

Thomas was a patentee in the charter from Charles II to Rhode Island in 1663. In 1650 Thomas' homestead of approximately five acres is listed among 52 other home lots "extending from the 'Towne Streete,' now North and South Main Streets, to 'The highway at the head of the lotts,' now Hoe street." Additionally, on 19 February 1665 he drew lot 7 in a division of lands. From 1666 to 1669 and 1671 to 1675 he was an assistant, that is, in the uppermost echelons of the provincial government. On 14 August 1676, he was "on a committee that recommended certain conditions under which the Indian captives should be disposed of by the town. They were to be in servitude for terms of years." On 1 July 1679, he was taxed 5s., 71/2 d. On 27 april 1683, he said that about 1661 he laid out a three-score acre lot for his son Thomas at Paugachauge Hill and a twenty-five acre lot on the south side.

Thomas married Elizabeth ? about 1636 in England. Elizabeth was buried in Poss. 8 Mar 1690 in Rehoboth, Massachsetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]