This family page is an attempt to make sense of the confusing information that is on the internet and on census records for the 3 marriages of Isaiah Harrison of Greene Co. TN. I have access to online scans of the original census records, but do not have copies a this point in time of the Isaiah's probate documents, or the Tunis Hood book or Bible records so I have relied on reports from others concerning those documents. As I get copies of those documents I will scan and post them. If you have copies of original records concerning Isaiah and would like to share them, please email me at kari.northup@sbcglobal.net
Isaiah
Harrison was born on February 01, 1762 in Augusta Co., VA. He was the son of Jeremiah
Harrison & Catherine Adams
Mary Reagan was born about 1763 in Rockingham
Co., VA. She was the daughter of unknown parents
Elizabeth Whittenburg
was born on December 10, 1770. She was the daughter of Fredrick Whittenburg
& Margaret Benson.
Mary Jones was born about 1818. She was the daughter
of unknown parents.
THE FAMILIES OF ISAIAH HARRISON
First marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & MARY REAGAN
 | Isaiah Harrison & Mary Reagan | Isaiah Harrison
& Mary Reagan were married about 1782 in VA or TN and they had at least 7
children. In the early 1780's, Isaiah Harrison was one of the pioneer settlers
of the Harrison community, Nolichucky River, ten miles south of Greeneville, (Greene
County) Tennessee. Isaiah was a minister in the Quaker church, and later in the
Methodist church. He was founder of the Harrison Community Church and he was a
contemporary of Bishop Francis Asbury. The Bethesda United Methodist Church in
Greene Co., TN, built in 1884, has a marker stating that the original church was
called Harrison's Meeting House, and that it was established in 1792 and stood
300 feet to the west of the current building. Mary Reagan Harrison died sometime
between the birth of her last child in 1796 and 1800 when Isaiah was remarried
to Elizabeth Whittenburg. Isaiah Harrison is listed on Tax Rolls for Greene Co.,
TN in 1798. Notes for Isaiah Harrison Photos of Bethesda United Methodist Church (originally Harrison's Meeting House) Another photo of the Bethesda United Methodist Church |
Children of Isaiah Harrison & Mary Reagan
| Eleanor Harrison | Eleanor Harrison was born on March
10, 1783 in VA or TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known
daughter of Isaiah Harrison. Census records in 1850 & 1870 both list her birthplace
as Tennessee. Eleanor married John Kelley Jr on March 11, 1799 in Greene
Co., TN and they had at least 8 children. No census records exist for Tennessee
before 1830, but John Kelly Jr. is listed on 1812 tax records in Greene Co., TN
along with his father John Kelly Sr. John Kelley Jr. died in 1822 in Greene Co.,
TN. Isaiah Harrison (Eleanor's father) probated his will, and there is
a document dated July 22, 1822 that refers to Isaiah Harrison as administrator
for the estate of John Kelly, deceased. Eleanor is listed as head of household
on the 1830 &1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. Eleanor is listed at age 66
living with married daughter Cynthia (Mrs. Frederick) Dewitt on the 1850 census
of Greene Co,. TN. She is listed as age 73 and living with married daughter Eliza
Ann (Mrs. Wyley) Kelley on the 1860 census of Division 9, Greene Co., TN. She
is living with Frederick & Cynthia Dewitt at age 87 on the 1870 census of
22nd District, Greene Co., TN. Eleanor Harrison Kelley died November 12, 1871,
probably in Greene Co., There are varying spellings of Eleanor's name including
Elinor, Eloner, Ellender & Allinden, and I have found at least one source
that indicates that John's name also may have been Sean. Thanks to Neil Long of
Wichita, KS for the 1822 probate document for John. The Family of John Kelley Jr. & Eleanor (Ellender) Harrison Notes for John Kelley Jr. Notes for Eleanor (Ellender) Harrison Kelley 1822 Probate document for John Kelley Jr. |
| William "Billy" Harrison | William "Billy"
Harrison was born on January 20, 1784 in Rockingham Co., VA or TN. He is listed
in the Tunis Hood book as being a known son of Isaiah Harrison. Several trees
on the internet list his mother as Elizabeth Whittenberg, but as his father did
not marry Elizabeth until 1800 I think this is incorrect. The same trees also
list William as being born in Rockingham Co., VA, but the 1850 census lists his
birthplace as Tennessee. I do not know the exact year that his parents moved from
Virginia to Tennessee, so am not sure which one is correct. Also his mother Mary
Reagan was from Rockingham Co., VA, so it is possible that she went home to her
family for the birth. William's mother died when he was age 12-16, and his father
remarried in 1800 when William was age 16. William married Catherine Lentz/Lintz
on December 28, 1807 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 7 children. The family
is listed on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed
on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN. William Harrison
died on December 22, 1856 in Greene Co., TN. Catherine Lentz Harrison died
on April 10, 1865 in Greene Co., TN, but I have not been able to find her on the
1860 census at this time. |
| Jeremiah Harrison | Jeremiah Harrison was born on April
23, 1785 in Greene Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis book as being a known
son of Isaiah Harrison, and many Greene Co., TN Court records also connect them
as father and son. Jeremiah's mother died when he was age 11-15, and his father
remarried in 1800 when Jeremiah was age 15. Jeremiah married Elizabeth Jones
on August 1, 1803 and they had at least 9 children. The family is listed on the
1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed on the 1850 census
of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN living near Isaiah Harrison and several
of his children & grandchildren. Jeremiah made a will dated Jan 19, 1857 that
was probated on July 21, 1868 in which he named his wife Elizabeth, and one son,
Benjamin W. Harrison. The son Benjamin W. was to have property adjacent to John
P. Harrison (This was written in German.). There is a Josiah & Elizabeth Harrison
that are the right age (75) who are listed on the 1860 census of 2nd District,
Greene Co., TN next to Benjamin W. Harrison & his wife Catherine. I think
this may actually be Jeremiah as I can not find a Josiah Harrison that age who
had wife Elizabeth and son Benjamin W. Harrison They are living near John K. Harrison,
who may be the John P. mentioned in Jeremiah's will. Another of Jeremiah's sons,
Alexander, is also living nearby. Jeremiah Harrison died in 1868 in Greene
Co., TN. Notes for Jeremiah Harrison |
| Benjamin Harrison | Benjamin Harrison was born on June 09, 1787. I have no other information about this son. He is not listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known son of Isaiah Harrison, and it is possible that he died young or is not a child of this family. |
| Sarah Harrison | Sarah Harrison was born on January 20, 1791 in
Greene Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known daughter
of Isaiah Harrison. Sarah's mother died when she was age 5-9, and her father remarried
in 1800 when Sarah was age 9. Sarah married Henry Brooks on January 9,
1834 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least one son named Thomas Newton Brooks.
(Thomas later married Elizabeth George, who was a granddaughter of Sarah's sister
Eleanor Harrison Kelley.) Info on www.familysearch.com indicates that both Henry
and Sarah Harrison Brooks died in or about 1866 in Greene Co., TN, but
I have not been able to find them on the 1850 or 1860 censuses at this time. There
is a family headed by Henry Brooks on the 1840 census of Greene Co., TN, on the
same page as households of Isaiah, Jeremiah & Caleb Harrison. There are 3
young males in the household, but the ages of the parents do not fit with the
ages I have for Henry & Sarah. More research is needed on this family. Notes for Sarah Harrison Brooks |
| Rachel Harrison | Rachel Harrison was born about 1793 in Greene
Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known daughter of
Isaiah Harrison. Rachel's mother died when she was age 3-7, and her father remarried
in 1800 when Rachel was age 7. Rachel married Zephaniah Woolsey on February
24, 1824 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 7 children. The family is listed
on the 1830 census of Greene Co., TN, although the wife in the household is listed
as age 20-30 (born 1800-1810). Based on birth places of their children, the family
moved from Tennessee to Missouri about 1837. There were at least 4 men named Zephaniah
Woolsey born about the same time, which has led to some confusion as to which
one married whom, and which was Rachel's husband. Zephaniah Woolsey was born about
1805 died on May 07, 1838 in Carroll Co., MO. His estate was probated in May 1838
in Carroll Co., MO, and it names Rachel as his wife and lists his children. Rachel
Harrison Woolsey died sometime after 1838, but I'm not sure when or where.
I also don't know if she remarried - it is possible, because at the time of Zephaniah's
death she had 7 children ranging in age from 5 months to 12 years old. Several
trees on the internet list Rachel as being the spouse of Nehemiah Woolsey, so
possibly Zephaniah's name was Nehemiah (his father's name was Nehemiah), or she
was remarried to him after Zephaniah's death. Notes for Rachel Harrison Woolsey |
| John K. Harrison | John K. Harrison was born on April 27, 1796
in Greene Co., TN. There is a John C. Harrison, born 1796, who is listed on
some sites as being a child of Isaiah Harrison, but I believe that John K and
John C are the same person. He is listed as John C. in the Tunis Hood book as
being a known son of Isaiah Harrison, but listed as John K. on all census records.
John's mother died when he was age infant-4, and his father remarried in 1800
when John was age 4. John married Mary "Polly" Brooks on August
24, 1819 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 6 children. The family is listed
on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. In 1830 they are living next
door to the households of Isaiah Harrison & Josiah (Jeremiah?) Harrison, and
in 1840 they are living near the household of William Harrison. The family is
listed on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN, living near
Isaiah Harrison and several of his children and grandchildren. They are listed
on the 1860 census of District 2, Greene Co., TN, with John & Mary both listed
as age 64. John K. Harrison died on September 27, 1863, probably in Greene
Co., TN. Notes for John K. Harrison |
Second marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & ELIZABETH WHITTENBURG
 | Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg | Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg
were married on January 6, 1800 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 9 children.
In 1808, Isaiah deeded land for the Quaker meetinghouse in Greene Co., TN
to George Wells, Stephen Brooks, John Kelly Sr., John Kelly Jr., and John Whittenberg
as trustees in trust. Isaiah is mentioned as representing the Maryville Branch
of Quakers and the Hickory Valley Branch at an 1822 convention. The Quaker movement
was large but of short life, and stronger around Greeneville. This convention
had to do with abolition of slavery. James Jones was president. Isaiah Harrison
is listed as a head of household on the 1830 census of Greene Co., TN. Some websites
have stated that Isaiah had 2 slaves on this census, but I did not find this to
be true. Elizabeth died in 1838 in Greene Co., TN . She is buried in the
Harrison Cemetery, Greene Co., TN. After her death Isaiah remarried Mary Jones
in 1839. Tombstone of Elizabeth Whittenburg Harrison |
Children of Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg
| Wesley Harrison | Wesley Harrison was born about
1800 in Greene Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known
son of Isaiah Harrison. Wesley married Polly Carter on May 22, 1815 in
Greene Co., TN and they had 5 children. According to birth places of their children,
they lived in Cocke Co., TN where Polly was born. The family moved to Indiana
about 1822, and according to the IGI on www.familysearch.com Wesley died that
same year. Wesley Harrison died about 1822 in Carlisle, Sullivan Co., Indiana.
I have not found Polly on any census records after that time. She may have remarried
as she had 5 children ranging in age from newborn to age 5 at the time of Wesley's
death. Polly died on August 10, 1845 in Honey Creek, Vigo Co., IN. In 1850 their
son Fenelon (various spellings) is married and living with his family in Honey
Creek, Vigo Co., IN. |
| Josiah Harrison | Josiah Harrison was born on November
10, 1802 in Greene Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a
known son of Isaiah Harrison. Josiah married Nancy Henshaw on December
20, 1827 and they had at least 5 children. The family is listed on the 1830 &
1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed on the 1850 census of 9th
Division E District, Greene Co., TN. Nancy died or they divorced, and Josiah remarried
Sarah. who was probably married first to Woolsey and had a daughter Melissa
from her first marriage. Josiah & Sarah had at least two sons. They are listed
on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of District 22, Greene Co., TN. Josiah Harrison
died in 1872, probably in Greene Co., TN. |
| Polly Harrison | Mary "Polly" Harrison was born about
1804 in Greene Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known
daughter of Isaiah Harrison. Polly married William Woolsey on July 28,
1825 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 4 children. Based on birthplaces
of their children, William & Polly moved from Tennessee to Missouri about
1834. The family is listed on the 1840 census of Green, Livingston Co., MO. Mary
"Polly" Harrison Woolsey died sometime between 1840 to 1845 in Livingston
Co., MO, and William remarried Elizabeth Tomlin on Feb. 18, 1845 in Livingston
Co., MO. William & Elizabeth Wolsey are listed on the 1850 census of District
3, Atchison Co., MO. William died in 1858 in Atchison Co., MO. Notes for Mary "Polly" Harrison Woolsey |
| Caleb Harrison | Caleb Harrison was born in February
12, 1805 in Greene Co., TN. This birth date is taken from his tombstone, and
also is consistent with his age on all census records found for him. Caleb is
possibly the twin of Joshua Harrison, whose birthdate is also listed as Feb. 12,
1805. Caleb is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known son of Isaiah Harrison
but Joshua is not. Caleb married Eliza Henshaw on March 15, 1832 in Greene
Co., TN. I do not have any children listed for Caleb & Eliza. Caleb remarried
second to Mary Broyles Bird on March 20, 1834 in Greene Co., TN and they
had 6 children. The family is listed on the 1850 census 9th Division E District,
Greene Co., TN, living near Caleb's parents Isaiah & Elizabeth Harrison. Mary
Bird Harrison died on March 18, 1859 in Greene Co., TN. Caleb remarried third
to Mary Farnsworth on May 29, 1860. They are listed on the 1860, 1870 &
1880 censuses of 2nd District, Greene Co., TN. Caleb Harrison died on March
03, 1884 in Greene Co., TN. He is buried in the Green County Harrison Cemetery,
Greene Co., TN, and his tombstone, erected by Mary Farnsworth Harrison, states
that he was 79 years and 19 days old at the time of his death. Notes for Caleb Harrison |
| Joshua Harrison | Joshua Harrison was born on February 12, 1805
in Greene Co., TN. He possibly was the twin of Caleb Harrison, who was also
born in February 12, 1805. Joshua is not listed in the Tunis Hood book as being
a known son of Isaiah Harrison, so it is also possible that he belongs to another
family. I believe Joshua married Elizabeth about 1834 in Tennessee and
they had at least 8 children. There is a family headed by Joshua Harrison who
is the right age and who was born in Tennessee on the 1840 & 1850 censuses
of District 13, Henderson Co., TN. This family moved from Tennessee to Illinois
about 1852, and they are listed on the 1860 census of Town 9 Range, 4 East, Post
office Grants Valley, Williamson Co., Illinois. I have not been able to find them
on the 1870 or any later census at this time. Joshua Harrison possibly died
sometime after 1860, but I don't know when or where. There is also a Joshua Harrison
who died in Livingston Co., MO in September 1849 who may be him instead. Joshua's
sister Mary "Polly" Harrison Woolsey also emigrated to Livingston Co.,
MO about 1834, but she died there before 1845. Notes for Joshua Harrison |
| James Harrison | James Harrison was born on September 26, 1808.
There are some trees on the internet that list him as a son of William Harrison
& Catherine Lentz, but he is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known
son of Isaiah Harrison. James married Rebecca Brooks on January 13, 1834
in Greene Co., TN. Rebecca was the daughter of Rev. Stephan & Margaret (Whittenberg)
Brooks, and her younger brother William had married James' sister Grace in 1832.
Margaret Whittenburg Brooks was sister of James' mother Elizabeth Whittenburg
Harrison. James & Rebecca had at least 7 children, who were born between 1835
to 1855. The family is listed on the 1840 census of 7th District, Greene Co.,
TN. The family is listed on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene
Co., TN. They are listed on the 1860 census of District 24, Greene Co., TN, living
near several Brooks families. James & Rebecca are listed on the 1870 census
of District No. 2nd, PO Gourley's Bridge, Greene Co., TN at age 61 & 55, living
next door to Martin Harrison who is a son of William Harrison & Catherine
Lentz. James Harrison died January 15, 1872, in Greene Co., TN. He was
beheaded in his sawmill in an accident. Rebecca is listed on the 1880 census of
Greene Co., TN in the household of her son James. Rebecca died on February 7,
1882. Both are buried in Greene Co., TN. Notes for James Harrison |
| George Harrison | George Harrison was born about 1809 in Greene
Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known son of Isaiah
Harrison. George married Elizabeth Martin on August 14, 1832 in Greene
Co., TN. There is some confusion because Jeremiah Harrison also had a son named
George that was born on November 19, 1809. (Some sites list that birthdate for
the George who was son of Isaiah, but Isaiah had a son James born in September
1808 so if that is the correct date for George than either he or James belongs
to another family). There is a George & Mary "Polly" Harrison listed
on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of District 22, Greene Co., TN, and I'm not sure
which George it is. There is a tree on the internet that lists George Harrison's
death date as November 19, 1886, but I have not been able to find anyone named
George Harrison who was born 1807-1810 on the 1880 census indexes at this time.
The Polly Harrison who was wife of the George in the 1860 & 1870 censuses
above is listed as widowed on the 1880 census District 2, Greene Co., TN. George
Harrison died sometime after 1832, but I'm not sure when or where. Notes for George Harrison |
| Grace Harrison | Grace Harrison was born on November 11, 1811 in
Greene Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known daughter
of Isaiah Harrison. Grace married William Brooks on March 8, 1832 in Greene
Co., TN and they had at least 7 children. William was the son of Rev. Stephan
& Margaret (Whittenberg) Brooks, and William's sister Rebecca married Grace's
brother James in 1834. Margaret Whittenburg Brooks was sister of Grace's mother
Elizabeth Whittenburg Harrison. William Brooks is listed as a head of household
on the 1840 census of 7tah District Greene Co., TN living next door to the household
of Stephen Brooks and on the same page as the household of James Harrison. Grace
Harrison Brooks died sometime between the birth of her last child in 1848 and
1850 in Greene Co., TN. William & the children are listed on the 1850
census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN living next door to Stephan
& Margaret Brooks. There is an Elizabeth Brooks, age 49, listed in the household
after the children who may be William's sister. William is listed with the children
on the 1860 census of District 24, Greene Co., TN, living near James & Rebecca
(Brooks) Harrison and several Brooks families. William & Grace's daughter
Elizabeth later married Benjamin F. Harrison, who was a son of John K. & Polly
(Brooks) Harrison. Notes for Grace Harrison Brooks |
| William W. Harrison | William W. Harrison was born about 1816 in
Greene Co., TN. He is not listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a known son
of Isaiah Harrison. William married Mary about 1840, probably in Greene
Co., TN, and they had at least 10 children. The family is listed on the 1850 census
of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN living near Isaiah Harrison and several
of his children and grandchildren. They moved from Tennessee to Missouri about
1859, and they are listed on the 1860 census of Sugar Tree Bottom, Carroll Co.,
MO living near several Woolsey families from Tennessee. Zephaniah & Rachel
(Harrison) Woolsey (see above) had also lived in Carroll Co., MO in the 1830's.
Mary died sometime between 1864 to 1870, and William is listed as a farm laborer
with his 5 youngest children on the 1870 census of Deerfield, Vernon Co., MO.
He is listed at age 64 widowed, occupation Gardener on the 1880 census of Deerfield
Vernon Co., MO with his daughter Elizabeth, age 16. I have not found him on the
1900 census at this time. William W. Harrison died sometime after 1880 and
possibly before 1900 in Vernon Co., MO. Notes for William W. Harrison |
| Margaret "Peggy" Harrison | Margaret "Peggy" Harrison was possibly born between 1815 - 1820 in Greene Co., TN. She is listed as a child of Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg in the Tunis Hood book. There is an unidentifed girl age 10-15 in Isaiah Harrison's household on the 1830 census of Greene Co., TN that may be Peggy as I do not have any other daughters listed for Isaiah that were born between 1815 to 1820. I do not have any additional information about her. |
Third marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & MARY JONES
 | Isaiah Harrison & Mary Jones | Isaiah Harrison & Mary
Jones were married on February 26, 1839 in Greene Co, TN. Isaiah & Mary
are listed at age 88 & 66 on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene
Co., TN with Isaiah's occupation listed as Preacher. Isaiah Harrison died on
October 1, 1851 in Greene Co., TN. He is buried in the Green County Harrison
Cemetery, Greeneville, Greene Co., TN. His tombstone, erected by Caleb Harrison,
lists his age at death as 86, which would indicate a death date of 1848, but as
Isaiah is age 88 and alive on the 1850 census that must be an error. Tombstone of Isaiah Harrison |
