January 16, 1916
Mrs. W.L. Hill
Scranton, PA.,
Dear Kinswoman:
Yours of recent date to hand as regards the Harris Family.
I am very glad to hear from you and to know you think enough
of this fmaily to enquire into its history. I assure you you
have a good family and one I am proud to say I came from.
I am a poor scribe and pooer penman, but will in a feeble
way try to set forth the facts you desire.
I posess two titles and grants from King George II and George
III(these dates I do no now give because they are among the
papers in a bank vault) to one Burr Calavert Harriss and his
heirs forever. Now Burr Calvert Harriss and his descendants
are as follows(dates of death and births we have lost of the
oldest).
Burr Calvert Harris came from Viriginia in early youth and
his name was Harrison, but not fully agreeing with his family,
changed his name to Harriss, severing all connections from
Virginia people and would speak very little of them; his wife
we are uncertain of so I will not try to say. His sons of whom
we have recoreds are, viz: Obed, George, Micajah I, and John.
Obed died in youth, George reached maturity and passed away,
John in middle life and Micajah married Srah Shepherd of Edgefield
County, South Carolina. Micajah I and Sarah Shepherd's children
were as follows:
James Hrris, Taplo Harriss, Micajah Harriss (Girls) Cynthia,
Mary, Lettie, and Jane.
Now my cousin, you come from first named James Harriss who
went to Clinton, Louisiana from South Carolina upon horse back.
He only made one trip home, married out there and Cousin Geo.,
Ann R. Knox and others are his children. That you can easily
trace to your own self as I can see from your letter and knowing
the family as I do.
Taplo Harris Married a Frazier an reared a large familly of boys.
All went into war at "61". Two only returning and at present
only one alive. Monroe Harriss aged 73 years, a fine fellow.
Micajah II married Mary Gallman of this county. Their children
are: Carolone, Catherine, Rebecca, James, Thomas, George, Mary,
Lavinia, Frances, Eliza, Oliver and Burr Calvert. (Note, it is
this Burr who returns to using the surname Calvert- DEB).
Caroline married a Price of this County, left one child who died
in infancy. Catherine first married a Schumput, who was killed in
an engine explosion. Later she married a Derrick and moved to
Houston, Texas(papers on file on this at Clayton Library-deb)
Finally returned to Newberry and died here at our home and buried
in Prosperity, S.C. They left no children.
Rebecca died in early years. James Harriss moved to Cowita County,
Ga. Went to war in '61, returned and married a Curston, and left
one guirl who has a daughter, a Mrs. Charles Park of McCollum, GA.
Thomas Harriss left at '61, Quitman rifles, 3rd, South Carolina
Volunteers, and died at Winchester, Va. George left for Clinton
Louisiana to visit his Uncle James and his family. War came on
and he left for service in some Louisiana troups and was killed
at Scheck from North Carolina, a Luthern Preacher's son. Of this
Union there is one child, a daughter, Lois, who lives upon the
Burr Calvert Harriss Grant and in the house he built, even like
he designed it, no changes at all, made of logs, the fire place
can easily accomodate a fourt (4) foot stick and not far from the
house most of those old people sleep their last sleep awaiting the
final ressurection.
Lavinia Frances was first married to a Sloan who died from wounds
received at Battle of Chicamauga. Later she married Jno. B.
Martin of this county. Of this union were born two children, a girl
who died in infancy and a boy, none other than your humble
scribe. Mother passed away at age 74 yrs. last May 6. Eliza died
an old maid 5 years ago. Burr Calvert died a boy of
16 years of age and Oliver died only two weeks from Mother. Oliver
married a Stillwell. They have no children. His widow survives him.
This is the history of each of my Grandfather's family. Now of
his sisters: Mary married a Gordon, somehat related to Gen. Jno. B.
Gordon,. I don't just know. Cinthia maried a Piester of Union
County, moved away to some place in Georgia and we finally lost
track of them. Lettie married a Culpepper and moved to Ala.
Of this union a son returns on a visit his name Joe B. Culpepper
of Culbpepper County Alabama. The boys(Harriss) who were in service
at the battle of Manassas, met their Culpepper Kin and since then
no word. Jane married Anderson and we lost track of them after
(their) leaving.
This is now the history of all the Harriss family, even down to
myself.
Cousin George wrote a letter of inquiry to some of us and we soon got
on trace of him. He then came out to Atlanta, Ga. to a reunion in 1856,
finally coming on here upon a visit and from that sprung correspondence
and finally a visit from Aunt Eliza & I and the following year mother
and I went down to see Cousin George and there we met Cousin Ann and
her son-in-law Williams of Giddings, Texas. We never seen her daughter
Alice.(hand written in pencil it looks like: Now. Mrs. W.E Williams of
Austin, Tex.)
I will now give you a story inh connection of or with the Revolutionary
War. Macajah Harriss and his brother-in-law, James Shepherd, were in
service of Washington and under Green, were returning home upon a
furlough and were ovetaken by some of Col. Tarleton's men and condemned
to be shot at sunrise. Finally it was decided to execute only one for
example and allow the other to go. To decide which one to be shot
was a question; finally they decided upon Micajah Harriss, when Shepherd
spoke up, "f we are both to be shot we will die gladly together,
but if only one, shoot me for Harriss is a married man and has a family
to support, while I have only myself." Their captain then said: "No,
we will not kill these brave men, you both can go free, but on foot
for your horses are ours."
This Harris posessed a Commission as Lieutenant in the Continental
Army and Shepherd in his Company. This Commission has been kept around
till destroyed by fire a few years ago when Monroe Harriss' home was
burned. This paper was on this man when held captive and failed to be
discovered. This is partially recorded at Judge O'Neil's annals of
Newberry County.
This family of SHepherds have produced a Governor for S.C. Hon. Jno.
D. Shepherd of Edgefield, S.C. and one past grand master of the Masons
for S.C., Orlando shepherd of same county.
COusin George is correct about cemetery but no headstone mark their
graves that is of incscriptions, etc. and I alone posess papers,
wills and deeds of these people to show for it. SOme day not far
distant, when not pressed for time, I hope to look pup these records
not only for my own self but for others, and you can rest assured
I will send you the information I find. I have heard Cousin George
speak of you good people and I have often longed to know you and from
some reason I cannot tell, we failed to get in touch with each other
till your letter came. I assure you I certainly do appreciate your
letter and the interest shown in us and I feel safe in saying it is
a famiily you will feel proud of in every way. I assure I do.
Cousin GEorge had two brothers, Jim and Tom Benton, who went to School
in S.C. University and spent their vacation at grandfather Micajah
Harriss'. Ask your mother if this is not true. I feel sure she will
say yes. Cousin George and mother were good chums, during earlier
years and was never forgotton by either.
From all I see and can tell you are descended from James Harriss
who rode his horse all the way and settled in CLinton, La. Are his
generations graves marked there?
Let us hear from each other often and some day we may meet. Who knows?
To see one personally one can get a clearer idea of what one wishes
to know.
Again, hoping this will answer at least some of the things you would
like to know and sorry I cannot at present give dates.
I cannot give very many for there is none.
Best regards to yourself and family.
Very Sincerly,
(Signed) C. B. Martin
Newberry S.C.
Box 204
P.S.
"B" in my name is for Burr Calvert Harriss. "C" Curtis--for my
father who did not use this--his name was J.C.B. Martin and he
dropped the "C".
transcribed 9/30/05 David Bell
From the archives of The DAR as found in the loose papers of
Micajah Harriss.