5

March Tree

 RICHARD HARRIS and ANN (9)

 

RICHARD HARRIS. Tracing the Harrises on the March family tree takes us back to the baptism of Mary, daughter of Richard and Ann Harris in the large Surrey village of Banstead in 1743.

We have been unable to find the baptisms of Richard and Ann.

There was a prominent family of Harrises in Banstead in the 17^th and early 18^th century. They include a Doctor of Law, a Doctor of Physick, and His Majestye’s Remembrancer in the Court of Exchequer at Westminster. A number of them are referred to as Mr or Mrs, title only given to the gentry at this time.

It is tempting to think that Richard is descended from these Harrises, but we have not been able to establish a line of descent. The mid-18^th-century family pf Harrises are not called Mr.

If they are related, it is probably through one of the sons of Richard Harris, Doctor of Physick, who died in 1676, though his grandson Thomas Harris, son of Thomas, died without male issue. The other sons did not bring up their families in Banstead..

We can only go back to a younger Richard Harris, who was born in Banstead in 1745, son of Richard and Ann Harris.

His older sister was born in 1743, giving the father Richard a likely birth date of around 1717. No baptism has been found for him, in or near Banstead. The nearest is in 1719 in Kingston upon Thames, 8 miles to the north-west. This is not an impossible distance, but it is too far for us to be confident that this is the right baptism,

This Richard was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris.

 

ANN. We have not found Richard’s marriage, so we do not know Ann’s surname, or where she came from.

We begin their story with the baptisms of their children.

Baptisms. All Saints, Banstead.
1743 Jun 12  Mary
1745 Jun 13  Richard
1747 Apr 26  William
1749 Jun 25  John
1752 Feb 9  Thomas
1754 Nov 10  Joseph
1756 Oct 31  Rachel
1761 Dec 27  Ann

There are more baptisms for Richard and Ann Harris from 1771, but these are for their son Richard, who also married a bride called Ann.

Banstead is on the edge of the North Downs. It is historically known for its sheep farming, and its links with the wool industry, as well as for its quality mutton.

The village is centred on its well at the east end of the High Street. In the 1700s, this street was only the width of a country lane with London clearly visible in the far distance when looking to the north. The village was surrounded by open fields, downland and woods with a number of large houses that had extensive grounds and parklands. Scattered amongst the open countryside were farmhouses and cottages.

In the 18^th century, Banstead Downs became notorious for highwaymen.

In May 1763, a Mary Harris gave birth to an illegitimate daughter Sarah. The baby was buried two months later. Since there were no other Harrises in Banstead at that time, this must be Richard and Ann’s eldest daughter.

There are two possibilities for Ann’s burial, one before Richard, and one after.

Burials. All Saints, Banstead.
1776 Nov 19  Anne Harris
1788 May 1  Richard Harris senr
1790 Aug 6  Ann Harris

We have many questions about this generation. We do not know Richard’s occupation or their social standing.

They would have seen the memorial to Thomas Harris, King’s Remembrancer, in All Saints church every Sunday.

 

NEXT ENERATION: 8. HARRIS-BONEY

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