Richard Harris
Richard Harris was born 14 Oct 1668, in Providence, Providence Co., Rhode Island. the second son of Thomas and Elnathan Tew. He died 18 Aug 1750 12 in Smithfield, Providence Co., Rhode Island.
He married Elizabeth Lydia King by 1694 in Providence, Providence Co., RI. 1 She was the daughter of Clement King, progenitor of the prominent King family of Rhode Island.
Lydia King was born 1670 in Marshfield, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts and died 28 Mar 1736 in Smithfield, Providence Co., Rhode Island. 2
He later married Susannah Burton Gorton 06 Sep 1736 in Rhode Island. She was born 1665 and died June 25, 1737 and they lived in Smithfield, R.I.
He had nine children all born in Providence, Providence Co., Rhode Island
Amity was born 10 Oct 1697 and died 5 May 1769.
Uriah was born about 1699 and died 14 Apr 1729 in Rhode Island. 3
Amaziah was born 13 Apr 1705 and died 17 Nov 1784 in Burrillville, Providence Co., RI. Married Martha Browne, 29 Dec 1729, Providence, Providence Co., RI
Dinah was born 1702. Married Jacob Smith, 08 Jun 1727, Providence, Providence Co., RI, d. 1745
Richard was born 4 Oct 1708 and died May 1784, Smithfield, Providence Co., RI. Married Lydia Sprague, 15 Dec 1723, Providence, Providence Co., RI, m. 2nd Dorothy Brown 6 Mar 1737, m. 3rd Sarah Phillips 12 Oct 1762.
Jonathan was born 12 Jun 1710 and died 24 Sep 1785 Smithfield, Providence Co., RI .9 Married Mary Brown, bef. 1737, Smithfield, Providence Co., RI. Later married Ann Whipple Mowry, aft 1744 Smithfield, Providence Co., RI., 9
David was born 07 Jan 1714 and died 31 Mar 1797 Smithfield, Providence Co., RI . 8
Preserved was born 15 Jun 1715 and died 06 May 1797 Smithfield, Providence Co., RI .
Elnathan was born 1716 and died 1754 Lincoln, Providence Co., RI
24 Feb 1734/5 Conveyed land (about 150 acres) to son, David.
21 Aug 1735 Sold purchase rights to land to Jacob Smith of Smithfield for 6 pounds one shilling.
1 Feb 1737/8 Conveyed land to son Preserved Harris
27 Jan 1738/9 Received land (some 200 acres) from father, Thomas Harris.
Richard owned a significant portion of the Harris Lime Quarries near Limerock, R.I. His son David Harris became the chief business manager of the quarries and turned the Harris Lime 11
Quarries into a major producer for the colonial and later American Atlantic seaboard lime market.10
Abstract of Will:
HARRIS, Richard, of Sm, yeoman, grown old. Will dated 6 Mar 1738/9, proved 15 Sep 1750, pgs 34-36. Mentions: Sons Richard Harris, Amaziah Harris, David Harris, & Preserved Harris. Daughters Amity Smith, Dinah Smith (wife of Son[in-law] Jacob Smith). 5, & EInathan Gile.
Richard's will was probated 15 Sep 1750 in Providence. 4
Full Text of Will:
In the name of God amen. Richard Harris of Smithfield in the County of Providence & Colony of Rhode Island and providence plantations in New England yeoman being grown old, but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefor, but calling unto mind the mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for man once to dye. Do construe make and ordain this my last will and testament: that is say principaly and first of all I give and recomend my soule into the hands of God that gave it and I recomend my body to the earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of & expense of my Executor herein after named, and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life.
I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner.
Impremis: I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Harris his heirs and assigns forever a tract of land containing by estimation seven acres bounded on the south with Daniel Willbor and the north with land formerly belonging to Nathaniel Brown.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Amaziah Harris five shillings in current money to be raised and paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named
Item: I give and bequeathe unto my son David Harris five shillings in current money to be raised and paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named
Item: I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Ammity Smith one shilling current money to be raised and paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named
Item: I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Dinah Smith one cow to be paid and delivered to her by my Executor herein after named
Item: I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Elnathan Gile the sum of one shilling current money to be raised and paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named, I I do hereby constitute order and appoint my two sons namely Amaziah Harris and Jacob Smith Trustees for the taking care and looking after my above named daughter Elnathan Gile after my death as her necessities may or shall require and for the enabling them my said sons to help her in her necessitiesas aforesaid. I give and order that my executor herein after named within one whole year next after my death that he pay the sum of one hundred pounds current money or bills of public credit into the hands of the said Amaziah Harris and jacob Smith to and for the use of my said daughter Elnathan as she shall have need of the same and my will is that the above said Trustees take good care to pay out to my said daughter Elnathan as she hath need thereof and that the said Trustees keep the said hundred pounds at interest or so much as she hath not emediate need of and my will further is and hereby forbid theTrustees acting anything as abovesaid respecting the said Elnathan needs and wants of said money without leave and advice of the Town Council of said Smithfield first had from time to time and in case one or both of said Trustees should dye before or while the said Elnathan is living, my will is that the said Town council of smithfield abovesaid take full care as aforesaid into their own hands and manage the same as they shall think most beneficial for her and I do hereby order that the abovesaid hundred pounds be raised and paid out of my estate by my Executor herein after named
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Preserved Harris and unto his heirs Executors administrators and assigns forever, all my homestead farm whereon I now dwell, that is all that I have not given away by deed of gift already. Butted and bounded as followeth bounded on the north west with land I gave to my son David, on the west with land I gave to my son Richard, and on the south with land I gave to Preserved by deed, and on the east with the land of Edward Smith, on the north with Masachet (Moshassuck) river (7), together with the housing, buildings and orcharding thereon standing, to him his heirs and assigns forever, always excepting liberty to and for my said son David Harris his heirs and assigns forever, and also for my son Richard his heirs and assigns forever, for both them their heirs to pass through said farm from their own farms to that drift way that (bounds?) to said farm on the east side
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Preserved all the remaining part of my estate that is not already given away, both real and personal to be and remain unto him his heirs and assigns forever, and do hereby constitute ordaine and appoint my said son Preserved Harris, sole Executor of this my last will and testament, and do hereby utterly disalow revoke and disannull all and evry other former testaments wills legasies and bequeaths and Executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other, to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I the said Richard Harris have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of March and in the twelfth year of his Majesties reign George the second King of Great Brittain &c. 1738/9.
Signed sealed published pronounced and delivered by the said Richard Harris as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers
William Sly Elisha Dillingham Richard Harris (seal) Daniel Jenckes (6)
1. Clarence Almon Torrey ; with an introduction by Gary Boyd Roberts ; prepared for publication by Elizabeth P. Bentley, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, CD with Torrey's References (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1985
2.This source has now proven to be an invention and cannot be trusted: " Some Ancestral Lines" by Raymon Myers Tingley Pg. 127 etc. FHL US/CAN Film #1321281 Item 2
3 " Some Ancestral Lines" by Raymon Myers Tingley Pg. 127 etc. FHL
4. Vital Records of Rhode Island CD, R.I. Genealogical Register, Vol. 3, pg. 329.
5. Printed from Family Archive Viewer, CD215 Vital Records: Rhode Island, 1500s-l900s, RI. Genealogical Register, Volume 3 No.4, Abstracts Smithfield Wills, © Genealogy.com, June 24, 2001
6. Old Smithfield Probate Record Book #2 August 1749 to December 1768, Page 34.
7. Approximate location of the Richard Harris land located at intersection of Old Louisquisset Pike & Harris Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02865. Note Moshassuck River tributary is located along north boundary.
8. It is said that Richard owned a significant portion of the Harris LIme Quarries near Limerock, R.I. but no mention is made in his will. His son David (1714-1797) became the chief business manager of the quarries and turned the Harris Lime Quarries into a major producer for the colonial and later American Atlantic seaboard lime market. ("Lincoln R.I. Statewide Historical Preservation Report P.L-1", Rhode Island Historical Preservation commission, 1982, p. 13) This may explain why Richard only left David 5 shillings.
9. Jonathan is not mentioned in his father's will. He sold his share of the Harris Limerock Quarry to his brother David. Jonathan was a member of the Smithfield Society of Friends (Quakers).
10. "Lincoln R.I. Statewide Historical Preservation Report P.L1," Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1982, p. 13.
One of America's first limestone quarries started in the 1660s (after 1661 but before 1669) when Thomas Harris and Gregory Dexter began mining limestone along Rte 146 in Limerock. The Harris quarry was more than a mile northwest of the Dexter quarry in an area called, Limerock. Limestone was an integral part of the building in early Rhode Island. It made strong plasters and mortars during the 1600s-1700s. An early account shows William Harris was part of the Lime business.
11. For indepth study of the Lime Business and Generational ownership of Limestone Quarries and Kilns in Rhode Island Click Here
12. This is the traditional date although no official record is found. His will was proved 15 Sep 1750.
Photo above is of Limestone rock located near Harris Lime Kiln and Quarry . https://goo.gl/maps/gNiAG3vj1yUfbF2k9