Thomas HARRIS

1580 - 1634  (54 years)

• Name	Thomas HARRIS
  Born	1580	Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Thomas WILLIAMS
  Migration	1630  [1]
  Occupation	Ferryman
  Immigrant?	Y
  Died	11 Apr 1634	Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  Buried	Phipps Street Burying Ground, Charlestown, Massachusetts   [2]
  Person ID	I22761	Main
  Last Modified	23 Jul 2017

  
  

  Father	William HARRIS,   b. 1536, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 8 Nov 1599, Gloucestershire, England  (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Agnes MASON,   b. 1551, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 1586, Gloucestershire, England  (Age 35 years)
  Married	30 Jan 1579
  Family ID	F11247	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth HILLS,   b. Abt 1577, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 16 Feb 1671, Charlestown [Boston], Suffolk, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 94 years)
  Married	Bef 1613
  Children	1. Thomas HARRIS,   b. 25 Apr 1618, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 2 Aug 1687, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts  (Age 69 years)   2. Anna HARRIS,   b. Abt 1613, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 7 Sep 1697  (Age ~ 84 years)   3. Daniel HARRIS,   b. 1615, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 1701  (Age 86 years)   4. John HARRIS,   b. 1616, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 15 Feb 1695  (Age 79 years)   5. William HARRIS,   b. 1619, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 17 May 1714, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut  (Age 95 years)   6. Anthony HARRIS,   b. 1620, Hatherop, Gloucestershire, England ,   d. 1651  (Age 31 years)
  Last Modified	17 Dec 2023
  Family ID	F7680	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Died before land records were maintained and left no will. —— Thomas is the son William Harris and Agnes Mas/o Gloucestershire, England. In 1630 he brought his wife, Elizabeth Hills, and his six children to Salem, Ma. on the "LYON", an early part of the WINTHROP FLEET. He is listed among the passengers of the ship "Lyon" as Thomas Williams alias Harris and continued to use the name "Thomas Williams alias Harris" in later records. It is not known why he used an alias but there is the possibility that for some personal reason affecting his proposed immigration it was advisable to assume a new name. His children, however, appear to have immediately dropped the "Williams" name that Thomas used and did not stay long in the Boston area. On October 19, 1630, as Thomas Williams ALIAS Harris, he applied to the court to be made a freeman of the colony. On that same day the court recorded that Thomas Williams "hath undertaken to set up a ferry betwixt Winnettsem & Charlestown". Thomas and Elizabeth brought 5 sons and a daughter with them on their voyage from England. John (1606-1694), Anthony(1610-1651), William(1611-1714), Anne(1613-1697), Thomas(1618-1687) and Daniel(1618-1701). Thomas Harris passed away shortly after starting his ferry(on or before 1634) and before land and wills were filed. William Stitson married his widow Elizabeth and continued the operation of the ferry. Elizabeth Hills (Williams alias Harris) Stilson died in Charlestown* February 16, 1670 at the age of ninety-three, which would place her date of birth at 1578 or 1579. [2]

  
  

• Sources

  [S41] The Great Migration Study Project, Anderson, Robert Charles. [S96] Find a Grave, database and images, 51148945.