© January 2005

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

22937 Long Branch Road, Rush, KY 41168

tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com

Thomas Harris, was born 25 April 1618 in Gloucester, England. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris. He came to America with his parents and siblings on the ship Lyon in 1630 at the age of twelve.

Thomas is listed as a proprietor of Rowley in 1644. Rowley was settled in 1639. It was laid out so that most of the early houses bordered the "Town Brook" Originally it extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Merrimac River. In 1640 forty armed men were sent out from Rowley, Ipswich and Newbury to disarm Passaconaway. Though we are not sure he was one of the forty he did give military service against the Indians.

Rowley was a thriving community. There was a fulling mill where local families took their clothe to be shrunken and dressed. Rowley became known as the birthplace of the American woolen industry. Because England wanted to be the sole supplier of wool to the colonists sanctions were placed against anyone who would buy Rowley made wools.

Thomas married Martha Lake 15 November 1647 in neighboring Ipswich, Essex County Massachusetts. Shipbuilding and fishing were dominant in Ipswich. Historically Ipswich also developed the first lacemaking industry and became known as "The Birthplace of American Hosiery". Tanning of Leather was also a dominant. In 1648 Thomas is shown being paid a small sum during a town meeting but no explanation to why these rates were paid but it does place him as a resident in Ipswich following his marriage.

Thomas and Martha had nine children all born in Ipswich. But we know nothing of the eldest son other than what Thomas described in his last will and testament.

Thomas lived out his life in Ipswich. He wrote his will the 16^th day of July 1687. He stated that he was weak in body but of perfect memory. He left his wife the dwelling house, a barn, orchard, garden and three marsh lots on Plumb Island. He gave her 2/3rd of a planting lot in town on the south side of the highway and ½ of Claypitt meadow. He provided her with cows, oxen, sheep and swine. He also gave Martha 2/3rds of a marsh lt "at the hundreds with my parte in the boate." He gave his son John a new house he had built in Ipswich, property at Plumb Island among other items. John was also to receive a third of the fruit from the orchard every year during his mother’s life. He requested that after Martha died that sons William and Ebenezer were to receive portions of the house lot, marsh lot and orchard as well as "the shop." His final bequest of the will reads as follows "As for my oldest sonn who dyed beyond sea, I gave him forty pounds to redeeme him out of Turkie which I account was his portion." Thomas died 2 August 1687.

Year’s after his death, in January 1696 his widow Martha pointed out to the court that her husband had not mentioned two other children still living - Elizabeth and Margaret and requested that the court settle personal property from the estate for them. Martha died 5 April 1700.

i. Male Harris died beyond the sea.

ii. Thomas Harris, born 08 August 1648 in Ipswich, Essex County MA.

iii. Martha Harris, born 08 January 1649/50 in Ipswich, Essex County MA.

iv. John Harris, born 07 January 1651/52 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; died 21 November 1732 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; married Grace SEarle 08 June 1685 in Ipswich, Essex County MA.

v. Elizabeth Harris, born 08 February 1653/54 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; married John Gallup; born 14 September 1646 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; died 14 April 1735 in Stonington, New London, Conneticut.

vi. Margaret Harris, born 06 August 1657 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; died 18 May 1750 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; married John Staniford.

vii. Mary Harris, born January 1658/59.

viii. Ebenezer Harris, born Abt. 1663 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; died 12 February 1750/51 in Plainfield, Windham County Conneticut; married Rebecca Clarke 15 September 1690 in Ipswich, Essex County Massachusetts.

ix. William Harris, born 12 December 1664 in Ipswich, Essex County MA; died 31 December 1751; married Sarah Newman.