Harrison Genealogy Repository

Notes

There is a lot of conflicting information surrounding Robert P. Harrison. One surrounds the number of children he had and by whom; another is the "maiden name" of Robert's second wife Catherine. Based on a number of sources including various descendent family notes, personal research in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas documents, as well as the following U.S. Census records, this is what we come to learn.

Robert P. Harrison was born Dec. 29, 1810 in Tennessee. Sometime later he moved with his family to Alabama. Robert's parents, so far, are not known, but there is a strong Harrison heritage in early Alabama history. One family "legend" that has turned up in many descendent lines is that Robert P. Harrison was a relative of President William H. Harrison and President Benjamin Harrison. The connection has not been able to made at this point, but due to the story coming down so many lines, it appears there could be some truth to the story. Blount County land grant records of the United States General Land Office, certificate numbers 9768 and 9769 dated Sept. 10, 1838 identify Robert as Robert Peree Harrison.

On Jan. 4, 1832 Robert married Polly Wilson in Jefferson County, Alabama. Together they produced two sons, William J., born about 1832, and Benjamin S., born about 1834, both in Alabama. What happened to Polly is not known, but on Nov. 16, 1836 Robert married Catherine Barton in St. Clair County, Alabama. As best as can be determined, together Robert and Catherine produced 12 children, the last two being a set of twins.

Catherine in many, many sources is identified as the sister to Samuel Johnson who married Robert's sister Hannah Douglas Harrison on Feb. 27, 1827 in Blount County, Alabama. Catherine is identified in the marriage records of St. Clair County, AL with the Barton surname. Also she is identified in the records of the General Land Office of the United States, certificate # 5492 for Blount County dated Sept. 4, 1835, as Catherine Barton. Finally, Catherine's obituary published in the Texas Christian Advocate dated Aug. 1859 (Vol. VI No. 3) identifies her parents as H. C. and Rebecca Barton. This leads to the conclusion that Catherine's mother Rebecca may have been Samuel's mother and therby making Catherine either Samuel's half-sister or step-sister.

Sometime during the mid to late 1840's, Robert moved his family to Tippah County, Mississippi. His family appears in the 1850 census for Tippah County listed below. Catherine's obituary indicates that the family moved to Texas in 1845. I can only assume that due to Robert's "wanderlust" nature that he was dividing his time between the two states. Even one of their children is listed as being born in Texas between two children born in Alabama. It is certain that by the mid 1850's the family had become permanent residents in Texas, albeit "in various places" as Catherine's obituary states.

Catherine died in Brazoria County, Texas July 30, 1859. On Oct. 18, 1860, Robert married Anna E. Howe nee Hubbard, the widow of Edward Percy Howe. These two families had apparently been acquainted a good time dating back to Mississippi days. The 1870 U.S. Census for Blanco County lists a son age 9 years named William. Nothing of this boy has showed after this record. It is assumed that William was a son produced by Robert and Anna, however, it is very possible that William is a grandson of R. P. by one of his oldest sons by his marriage to Polly Wilson.

Shortly after their marriage, Robert moved his remaining children and new wife to Blanco County where he already had some interests and holdings. Robert was a large land and real estate owner and apparently had business interests "all over". He was a farmer in much of his later years. Robert died Oct. 27, 1880 in Hays County and is buried there.

1850 U.S. Census Tippah Co., MS

2 1183 R.P. Harrison 39 M Farmer AL.

Catharine 31 F AL.

Rachael R. 13 F AL.

Susan M. 10 F AL.

Margaret A. 8 F AL.

Sarah J. 5 F AL.

Ann E. 2 F MS.

Robert 4/12 M MS.

William 18 M AL.

Benjamin 16 M AL.

1860 U.S. Census Brazoria Co., TX

Page 72 dwelling / family 311 / 297

R.P. Harrison 51 M TN

W. J. 27 M AL

Carolin 19 F TX

Jane 15 F AL

Ann E. 13 F MS

Thos. J. 12 M MS

Kate 9 F MS

Joseph 7 M TX

Robert P. 2 M TX

Mary 2 F TX

From Todd Rocke The Tax Roll stated that R.P. Harrison had in his possession property and horses and cattle and a wagon.

Starting in:

1857 - 650 acres (Tate Grant) No. Fork Blanco Rv. (North Fork of the Blanco River). $775, 2 Horses $60, 40 Cattle $294, and 1 Wagon $50.

1868 - R.P. Harrison $711 He was a farmer.

1869 - R.P. Harrison $100

1869 - J.F. Harrison lots 2 + 5 in town Blanco. He was a stonemason.

1880 - J.F. Harrison 1 lot in town Blanco.

The 1870 census for Blanco Co. Tx is...

#36. Harrison, Robert P. 60 yrs, farmer, Real $1500, Personal Property $258, born in Tennessee.- wife - Anna, 50 yrs born Mississippi.

children - Annie, 21 yrs b. Miss.

Joseph, 15 yrs b. Tx.

Robert, 12 yrs b. Tx.

William, 9 yrs b. Tx.

Robert P. Harrison's parents hailed from Virginia. There has been a story passed down that we are related to the Pres. line but I haven't found that link

May be the same person in the Civil War Muster Rolls: Harrison Robert P. C 13 Texas Volunteers. Induction Rank: Captain Discharge: Captain Box# 000227 EXCT# 0016 Rec# 00000850. There was also a Robert P was from AL with a note Reuben P. Harrison ... wonder if they are related ^{[S1343] [S1343] [S51]}