© January 2005

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

22937 Long Branch Road, Rush, KY 41168

tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com

Thomas Harris alias Williams, was born about 1581 in Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England. Hatherop is pronounced "Etherope." It lays within Cotswold District. It is the home of Hatherop Castle acquired by 1552 by John Blomer whose son, William, built an elegant country house which would have been standing at the time of Thomas’ birth. The facade remains today and the castle is now a school. Blomer’s heir Mary married Sir John Webb. Both families were Catholic who continued their faith even though the Crown made attempts to have them adopt the protestant faith. At the castle are remains of a tunnel constructed as an escape route for the Roman Catholic priests.

Thomas married Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown, on 31 July 1600 in Hatherup, Gloucestershire, England. Her maiden name by some researchers has been suggested as Hills yet another Wade and a history of the Wainwright family suggests that her maiden name was Williams.

Thomas, his wife and six children appear on the roster of the ship Lyon which was part of Winthrop’s fleet. Thomas is listed as Thomas Williams alias Harris. The Lyon left from Bristol, England and landed in Salem, Massachusetts in May 1630. And the following year he undertook to set up a ferry between Winnissimet [now Chelsea] and Charlestown, Massachusetts under the name of Thomas Harris.

Charlestown was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It lays northeast of Boston on a peninsula extending southeast between the Charles and Mystic River. It would later become famous for the Battle of Bunker Hill. Thomas died shortly after establishing the ferry. His death is recorded as 11 April 1631. His widow, Elizabeth remarried William Stitson who took over the ferry operation. Elizabeth died 16 February 1669/70 at the age of 93.

i. Thomas Harris, born 25 April 1618 in Gloucester, England; died 02 August 1687 in Ipswich, Essex County Massachusetts; married Martha Lake 15 November 1647 in Ipswich, Essex County Massachusetts.

ii. John Harris, born in Hatherup, Gloucester, Eng; died 27 March 1695.

iii. Ann Harris, died 09 July 1697 in Reading, Essex County MA.

iv. Daniel Harris, born Abt. 1628; died November 1701 in New Haven, New Haven County CT.

v. William Harris, born Abt. 1620 in Hatherup, Gloucester, Eng; died 17 May 1714 in Middletown, Middlesex County CT.

vi. Anthony Harris, born Abt. 1622 in Gloucester, England; died 30 December 1651 in MA.