Brief Life History of James
When James Harris was born on 13 December 1740, in Salem, New London, Connecticut, United States, his father, Jonathan Harris, was 35 and his mother, Rachel Otis, was 27. He married Anna Rathbone in 1762, in Colchester, New London, Connecticut, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 22 July 1838, in Horton Township, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the age of 97, and was buried in Lower Horton Cemetery, Horton Township, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Family Time Line
Sources (15)
- Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
- John Harris, "Find A Grave Index"
- James Harris in entry for Nancy Harris, "Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959"
Spouse and Children
Children (7)
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Parents and Siblings
Siblings (13)
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World Events (6)
1776
Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
1781 · British Forces Capture Fort Griswold
The capture of Fort Griswold was the final act of treason that Benedict Arnold committed. This would be a British victory. On the American side 85 were killed, 35 wounded and paroled, 28 taken prisoner, 13 escaped, and 1 twelve year old was captured and released.
1791
Bill of Rights guarantees individual freedom.
Name Meaning
English (southern England and south Wales): from the personal name Harry + genitival -s. This surname is also established in Ireland, taken there principally during the Plantation of Ulster. However, in some cases, particularly in families coming from County Mayo, Harris can be an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hEarchadha. This surname is also very common among African Americans.
American shortened and altered form of Greek surnames begining with Cha(r)-, such as Chasandrinos (variant of Kassandrinos, a habitational name from the Kassandra peninsula of Chalkidiki), and various patronymics from the personal name Charalampos (see Charos ). In North America, the surname Harris may possibly also originate from a transferred use of the Greek personal (given) name Charis or Harris (shortened forms of Charalampos) as a surname (i.e. as a replacement of the original surname).
Americanized form of various like-sounding Jewish surnames.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related Names
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