Martha Harris, [Thomas, Ebenezer, Thomas, Thomas] was born 01 March 1718/19 in Plainfield Township, Windham County Connecticut. She was the daughter of . Thomas Harris and Elizabeth Church. Martha had five sisters and one brother. When Martha was ten years old, in 1728, an unknown illness swept through the town leaving 20 dead as well as an unknown number of Indians. Her family managed to avoid any deaths.

She married Joseph Geer 23 December 1741 in Preston, New London County, Connecticut. Preston is in southeast Connecticut. The primary occupation was farming. Martha and Joseph’s first child, Susannah was born in Preston 14 February 1742/3.

The family moved to Stonington, New London County, before September 1747 when their second child Joseph was born. Joseph is our ancestor. Mystic Seaport is at Stonington with a vast history concerning the whaling industry. The town had three harbors, at the Point and in the Pawcatuck and Mystic River. Shipowners engaged in West India trade, exporting livestock and importing spices, rum and other commodities.

Martha had five more children all born at Stonington. According to the American Genealogist they also had a son Reuben born circa 1744. Her last child Comfort was born 18 February 1761.

In April 1770 Joseph purchased property from the Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut selectmen. The property had been sold the selectmen by Martha and her sisters just a few months earlier. The land was inherited from their father Thomas Harris. Cornwall, established in 1740 was surrounded by a small valley with heavy pine groves. It was not very accessible and most of the proprietors were non-residents. There was some agriculture and sawmills. Today the town contains Mohawk Mountain State Park and parts of the Mohawk and Housatonic State Forests. There is no indication that the Geers moved out of Stonington. Instead in November he gave the property to Reuben Geer. Since mortgage books were not utilized in early years we can assume that when he bought back the property in 1774 only to turn around the next day and sell 18 acres back to Reuben it was to help out financially. Reuben in turn sold it to the Cornwall selectmen three months later.

Martha’s husband Joseph Geer is believed to have lived until after 1790 in Stonington having lived through the American Revolution. Martha is believed to have died in Stonington as well.