1665. In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas HARRIS of the Province of Carolina being Weak of Body, but of Perfect Memory & Sound of mind, for wch I Render & Give praise to Almighty god, Do Make & Ordain This Present Last Will & Testament in Manner & forme following (That is to say) First & Principally, I Commend my Soull unto ye hands allmighty God, Hoping Through ye Death of my Savior Jesus Christ, a full & free pardon & forgiveness of all my Sins, and To inhereitt Eternall Life & my Body I Commend to the Earth, to be Decently Buried, at the Dicresion of my Exor hereafter Named. And as touching the Disposing of Such Temporale Estate, as it hath Pleased almighty to Bestow upon me, I give & Dispose thereof as followeth; Item First I will that my Debts & Funerall Charges shall be descharged. I Give unto my Beloved wife Diana HARRISS all that wch when my Debts are paid, She being my Lawfull Exec:, Be it whatsoever Moveables or unmoveable, Whether it be in Lands, bills, notes? or other Debts. that doth in any wise belong to me; for Shee to Enjoy & Dispose of After The Day of my Death in Witness whereof I ye sd Thomas HARRIS, to this my Last will & Testamt: being Contained in one sheet of paper, sett my hand & seale the first day of august one Thousand Six hundred Sixty & five.

Thomas HARRIS
Sealed and Deliverd in Presence of us
Robert WEST Senr w his Mark
Robert WEST Junior R his mark
Vera Copia Pr Geo: LUMLEY Deputy Secrety.
File 187 Colonial Court Records - Estate Papers 1665-1775. Raleigh: State Archives.

1668. Hemnan SMEWIN, Arnold WHITE wit to deed of William VOSS to Thomas KENT 11 March 1668 overwritten 1688. Recorded 10 March 1668 P: Thomas HARRIS Cl. Cou. Perquimans DB A:24. Weynette Parks Haun, Perquimans County North Carolina Deed Abstracts 1681 thru 1729 Book I, (Durham, N.C.: Weynette Parks Haun, 1983), p. 5.

1669. 25-13 OLD WART. Alebmarle. (Sigillu). These are in ye. name of the Rt. honrble ye. Lords proprtos. to require (torn) Survey & lay out for Tho. HARRIS three hundred acres of Land wch. (torn) to him for ye. transportacon of five psons whose names are herundr. & ma-- returne of this Wart. wth. ye. Survey to ye. Secrts. Office fail not as you will answ-- contrary Given undr. our hands & ye. Seal of ye. Collony ye. 21st. day of Aprill 1669. Saml. STEPHENS, James BLOUNT, Francis GODREY, Jno. HARVY. To ye. Genll. Survr. or his depty. Tho. HARRIS, Diana HARRIS, Edw. REMINGTON, Saml. a Servt. bought of Mr. Sectary. & Wm. HOGPEN assigned by Jno. VINES. (Inrol. ye. 20th. of feb. 1693. W. GLOVER). [another 300a for 5 persons same date i.e. Jno. MOORE & his wife, Rich. FELTON, Alice his wife & Tho. SYMONS these were assigned by Jno. VINES. Inrol. ye 20the. of feb. 1693. W. GLOVER. A War. give to John HAIS? (or HARS.?) Weynette Parks Haun, Old Albemarle County North Carolina Book of!
 Land Warrants and Surveys 1681-1706, (Durham, N.C.: Weynette Parks Haun, 1984), p. 11.

1669. I William BASNET Senyer doe herby Assigne all my Right titill and Interest of the Administration upon the Estate of Robt. BRANSTON deceased together with all what tobacco is dew to me out of ye syd Estate untoe Peter MALBONE or his Assignes. witnes my hand this 14 of febuary 1669. the Marke WB of William BASENETT. Tests: Johnsor LEB-- , Robertt R SEMONS his mark. Recorded ye 6t May 1670 Pr Thomas HARIS Clk Cou. NCHGR, 3:1:87 (Jan. 1903). Parker: N. C. Higher Court Records, I:3.

1669/70. Will of Henry WHITE. 14 Nov. 1669/70. 16 May 1670. Wife: Elenor. Sons: Arnell, Henry. No executor appointed. Wit: George RICHARDS, Perrcs MANNERLY. Clerk of the Court: Thos: HARRIS. Justice: Peter CARTERET. Grimes: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, p. 401.

1670. Will of David MOORE. 25 Mar. 1670. All estate is bequeathed to one David [name illegible]. Wit: John BLOUNT, Robert BONEO. Clerk of the Court: Thomas HARRIS. Grimes: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, p. 251.

1671. Sept. 5. Lords Proprietors' letter to Peter CARTERET. By Mr NIXON we sent you severall Commissions & Instructions wch we hope come safe to yor hands, and yt you have also received those papers yt were sent the Lady Berkeley ye late wife of yor Govr STEPHENS ... Request haveing been unto us made by Mr. Robart HOLDEN that he may have Confirmed unto him 660 acres of Land bounding on the Land of the late Governor STEPHENS & Surveyed by Benjamin SWERIN ... Copia: Vera Thomas HARRIS Cl Cou. [note] 6 Thomas HARRIS apparently was clerk to the council. He was in the colony as early as 1665 when he was clerk of the court in Albemarle County, a position he also held in 1673 and 1675. One of this name died in September, 1679, in Berkeley (later Perquimans) Precinct. Powell, William S., editor. Ye Countie of Albemarle In Carolina (Raleigh, State Dept. of Archives and History, 1958) p. 41-43.

1672. Thomas KENT to Ralph FLETCHER deed for land recorded above in 1668. Wit: Samuel PRICKLOVE, Peter DURDANE. Recorded 10 March 1672 Pr Thomas HARRIS Cler Cout. Haun, Perquimans County Deeds 1681-1729, p. 6.

1672. [April-July?] Governor Peter CARTERET Warrant to John JENKINS to be Deputy Governor. "This is A true Copia: of the Originall. Test Thomas HARRIS Cle Con." Powell, Ye Countie of Albemarle, p. 53-54.

1672/3. Will of John HAKONY. 25 Feb. 1672/3, 1 Oct. 1673. Son: John. Wife and other children mentioned, but not named. Wit: Abell ROBETSON?, Francis MALLARD. Proven before John JENKINS. Clerk of the Court: Thomas HARRIS. Grimes: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, p. 142.

1673. Will of Henman SMEWIN. 17 July 1673. 3 Nov. 1673. Friend and Executor: Thomas EASTCHURCH, who is appointed guardian for John, Margaret and Elizabeth WHITE, children of Henry WHITE, Dec'd. Wit: George WALKER, Tho. HASSOLD. Clerk of the Court: Thomas HARRIS. Grimes: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, p. 344.

1673. Indictment of Tho. MILLER Nov. 1679. Depositions of George DURANT, Jno. CULLPEPER, Lawrence GONSALES, William COCKEIN, Thomas WILLIS, Diana HARRIS, John DAVIS July 1675 - Nov. 1679 that in Nov. 1673 that at the house of Thomas HARRIS they heard Thomas MILLER speak against the King. "Diana HARRIS aged 32 years or thereabouts: saith that Thomas MILLER being in hir House ... [March 1676] Cain: Records of the Executive Council 1664-1734, VII:355-356.

1675. Will of Francis GODFREY dated 20 Oct 1675, proved 5 Nov 1675 as attest Thomas HARRIS Regr Pub. Recorded the 5th day of Novembr 1675 Thomas HARRIS Regr Pub. "Secretary of State Records, North Carolina Wills, 1663-1789," Vol. XI (Fre-Gor), p. 65, Raleigh: State Archives.

1675. William FOSTER & Dianah HARRIS (torn) Maried by Mr: TAYLOR (blank) 1675. Haun, Old Albermarle County North Carolina, Perquimans Precinct, Births, ... 1659-1820, p. 2.

1675/6. 20 March. Inventory of the Estate of Mr. Franciss GODFREY presented by Mr. William THERILL. Signed George DURANT, Jno. HUNT, Tho FINCKLEY, Timothy MEADES. Leist of Bills Thomas HARRIS bill for --1160" Presented In Court 7 June 1680. [pp. 15, 17 and 19]

1679? The Regestry of Burialls Thomas HARRIS Late of this County Departed this Life in Septem-- 16-- (+1679+) Haun, Old Albermarle County North Carolina, Perquimans Precinct, Births, ... 1659-1820, p. 21.

1677. Inv. of Thomas HARRIS, Oct. 1677, "and Since found amongst the old Bundle Records and here Entered on the Records," 3 April 1680. Pr Ralph COATES Clerke of ye Counsell. "Albermarle Precinct and River of Berkeley" - order of Court for appraisement of the estate of Thomas HARRIS Deceased ... 10 May 1680 ... "1 Bed a part whereof beeing given the boy in his fathers Life time if the Court think Fitt to bee Left wholy to him" [p. 11]

1679. Nov. General Court. William FOSTER of this county, having married the relict of Thomas HARRIS of this county, deceased, & proved a nuncupative will, has obtained orders for admin. Wits.: Wm THERRILL & Timothy BIGGS. John LACY prved will of Wm CHARLES of this county, the sd LACY married the relict of sd CHARELS. wits.: Ralp FLETCHER, John LAWES, Sam. PRICKLOVE. [p.5]

1680. Nuncupative will of Thomas HARRIS - "Thomas HARRIS desired Mr. THERILL and my Selfe If god Should take him away that then wee Should declare his desire is, that one halfe of all his Reall Estate after all his debts paid, Should bee devided betwixt his two Sonnes, that is if his Sonne Thomas Came in five yeare, and his personall Estate to his wife for her disposall for her Life, and then to his Sonne John." Signed: Timothy BIGGS. Proved 26 March 1680, Robart HOLDEN. Sworn to in Court by Will. THERILL.

(Rest of Inv. of Thomas HARRIS, continued from page 11. Signed: William CRAFORD, George DURANT, Thomas HARVEY, Tho: FINCKLEY. Total 31706) [p. 13]

Secretary of State Records, Council Minutes, Wills and Inventories, 1677-1701," shelf number SS 874.2, Raleigh: State Archives.

1680? Ordered yt letters of administration be granted Will FOSTER, on the estate of Thomas HARRIS, deceased, Mr. DURANT, Mr. HINKLEY, Capt. CRAWFORD and Mr. THOMAS HARVEY, appointed appraisers. Parker: N. C. Higher Court Records, I:9. Hathaway: NCHGR 1:137 (Jan. 1900).

1681. June 10. John CHESSON, Berkley, in sd Co. to William WILKENSON, (blank) hundred acres on ye Sound bounded on the (blank) & on lands of Thomas HARRIS on the East ... Haun, Perquimans County Deeds 1681-1729, p. 1.

1697. General Court April-June 1697. Mr. Francis FOSTER Executor of the Last will and testament of William FOSTER administrator of the Goods and Chattells of Jno [sic] HARRIS Deceased Exhibbitts an Account of the Estate of the said Thomas HARRISS. Ordered that Capt. Thomas RELFE and Mr. Richard PLATER Auditt the said Account and make Report thereof to this Court And the Auditors make report that the said Administrator hath paid over and above the value of the said Estate the sum of 25,349 pounds of tobacco. Ordered that the said Francis FOSTER have a quietus Est and that the Inventory Exhibetted and Account be Recorded. Parker: N. C. Higher Court Records, II:23.

1703/4. Thomas MERCER was married to Diana WHITE the 17th Day of February Anno Dm. 1703/4 By Mr. Christopher GALE. Haun, Old Albermarle County North Carolina, Perquimans Precinct, Births, ... 1659-1820, p. 40.

1704, 8m. [marriage of] Nathanell NICOLESON son of Christopher of Paquiman, and Sarah HARIS dau of John of ye same place ... Perquimans MM, p. 22/2. [microfilm]

1704/5. Feb 26. Thomas MERCER and Dianah his wife ... accused of Entering on a tract of land the rightfull Inheritance of Saml. SWANN Esqr. ... Tho. HARRIS and your Orator Dianah his wife 30 years ago purchased of George CATCHMAIDE the aforesaid tract of Land ... in peaceable possession and paid the quittrents ... surveyed by George DURANT ... SWANN somehow obtained a patent for the same ... Subpoena to Saml. Swann to appear at court in March at the house of Capt. John HECKLEFIELD in Little River ... [CCR 187]

1705. March 29. Thomas MERCER and Dianah his Wife Come to prosecute their Bill in Chancery Exhibited against the Honorable Samll. SWANN Esqr. SWANN said they had no title, escheated to the Lords Proprietors and SWANN obtained a Pattent. Suit was dismissed and Complainants ordered to pay. [CCR 191]
[CCR 181] Price: N. C. Higher Court Records, IV:434-435.

1708? The Petition of Nathl. NICHOLSON Humbly Sheweth That whereas Thomas HARRIS late of This Province of North Carolina Deceased Dyed posessed of An Estate of Land And Allso personall Which will appear by his Last will, and Testament And Inventory thereto Annexed (on which will) he left his Relect or widdow Named Diana FOSTER his Sole Executrix who had by The Deceased Husband one Son by Name John HARRIS who had Severall Children now but one alive whome yor Humble Petitioner Maried and has Now Issue by her, being The Grand Child of the Afforesaid Thomas HARRIS Deceased, And Lives Now upon a Plantation formerly Lawfull possessed by The Afforesaid Thomas HARRIS ... Your Humble Petitioner being daily Threatened to be dispossed by Henry and Thomas SWANN pretending a Right by way of Escheat ... There being An Apparent Heiris att The time of That Pretended Escheating Tho In her Minority And without friend, to prevent such proceedings ... the aforesaid Henry and Thomas pretending t!
o a Decree in Chancery That gives them title to The Said Land or Plantation Which I humbly pray may be Inspected into and The Great hardship That attends yor Petitioner if so Illeagally Prosecuted and Debard from his Just Right And yor Humble petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray ets. ... [CCR 181]

1708. Nov. 27. Richard DEVENPORTE summoned to appear at the house of James THICKPENS as An Evidence for Nathl. NICKHOLSON And being aged about 66 years and very unable and Incapable of Travelling Do begg leave to give my Deposition ... I never did know That Thomas HARRIS of this Province Deceased was ever a Tennant so far as I Know but Enjoyed his Land That Nathl. NICKHOLSON now Lives upon peaceably and quietly dureing his life, ... [CCR 148] Endorsed by Fran. FOSTER.

1708. Nov. 25. The deposition of Wm. GODFREY aged about 50 years or thereabouts ... saith That Thomas HARRIS the first settler on the land where now Nathaniell NICHOLLSON liveth near Muddy Creek, did never know any person laying claim to the said land and so with out molestation did possesse the same dureing his life ... Wit: William BARCLIFT, Thomas BLITCHENDEN, John HECKLEFIELD. The above deposition Elizabeth HECKLEFIELD doth swear to and knoweth no more as by her oath she doth affirme the date abovesaid ... [same wits.] [CCR 148] Price: N. C. Higher Court Records, IV:476-477.
 

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