Robert HARRIS

                   NOTE:
    Robert's will and other documents can be found in his PAF notes.

    Robert Harris was born 14 February 1760 in Locklein, Scotland (name is probably misspelled as a hunt in Scotland found no such name. More research needs to be done).
Robert was a very strong Presbyterian. He was quite wealthy owning a lot of land, a forest behind his beautiful 3 story brick home facing a river and a lake called Marsh Lake. His estate is now Marsh Creek Park. The foundation of the house remains at this time.
He applied for citizenship. A file card reads as follows: Robert Harris, native of Great Britain and Ireland; in U.S. between 6.18.1798 and a4.14.1802; resided in same 5 years and upwards and in Pennsylvania 1 year; renounced Great Britain and Ireland and took oath in August term of 1809. His citizenship papers read as follows:
ROBERT HARRIS, a native of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland presented his petition setting forth that he was residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States between the 18 day of June 1798 and the 14 day of April 1802 and that he has resided in the same for five years last past and within the state of Pennsylvania for one year last past that he has not born any hereditary title or been of any of the orders of nobility there or elsewhere praying that on his making the proofs and taking the oaths prescribed that he may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America. Satisfactory proof being made here in open court that the facts contained in the petition above set forth are true and if appearing to the satisfaction of the same court that during the same time he has behaved of and as a man of good moral character attached to the principals of the Constitution of the United States, that he doth renounce and relinquish any title or order of nobility to which he is or maybe thereafter entitled and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce any or all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate state and sovereignty whatever and particularly to the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to whom he was here-to-fore a subject he is therefore admitted a citizen of the United States.
At a Court of Common Pleas held at West Chester for the County of Chester on the last Monday of October 1809 before the Honorable Bird Wilson Esquire and his associate judge present and from thence continued by adjournment until the fourth of November next following.
Robert was very upset when Agnes joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1840. When he made his will in 1842 he cut her out of it except for the sum of $10.00 as he considered Mormonism a delusion. His feelings regarding this matter must have been very hard on him and Agnes as well. When she left for Nauvoo, she never saw her father again. He died 19 February 1846.
When Eva Sessions Perakis and Janice Magistri went to Chester to search his genealogy, they had a very spiritual experience. Before leaving a sudden storm came up in Philadelphia and Janice had to take the children to school because the storm caused the school buses to be cancelled. This delayed our trip by about an hour.
When we arrived in Chester, Eva searched records and did not find anything more than the researcher she had hired. Eva was looking for Jane's maiden name. Then they went to see if Robert Harris home was still in existence. When they asked at the records department they told her they didn't know where the records were because of being so old. Just then a man walked into the building and the clerk said, "he is a surveyor, if anyone would know it would be him." The surveyor told us that he knew where they were located and went to look for them. When he came back he was actually pulling his hair and kept saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it" His great Grandmother was a daughter of Robert Harris. She was Rachel and married William Gutherie. The surveyor had purchased the land. He knew where Robert was buried and his wife Jane, but did not know her maiden name. He knew where the house used to be and gave us the directions for both. He told us the foundation was still there. If that storm had not come we would never have met this man. We found the graves and the foundation and saw the forest, the river and the lake. It was beautiful.
Another item of interest --- when we went to the cemetery to look for his grave it down poured rain and we had to run to the car. It didn't let up so we went home. We went back the next day and did find his grave. It was almost like he was upset with us, too. But we fooled him. We persevered.
Chester County Courthouse, West Chester, PA Register of Wills
Will Index
Robert Harris Place of Residence - West Nantmeal letters Granted - 3/6/1847Letters Granted to - David Harris & James ToddInventory Filed - 3/6/1847Date of Filing Account - 7/27/1849No. of Papers - 11086Will Book - 19Page - 171
Will Book 19, Page 171
Robert Harris of the Township of West Nantmeal, County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman ---- Farm where he lived on Barren Hill in said township, real estate to be sold within 2 years and proceeds to be applied as follows:
To 4 children of deceased daughter Sarah (late wife of Samuel Rea) who died in state of Ohio $900 to be divided between them at age 21. Gives details of how the money was to be handled until they came of age.
Then I give and bequeath that my daughter Elizabeth, wife of James Bones, the use and life estate in her or proper person, all my message and lot or tract of land wherein she now resides with her husband in the township of Brandywine and County of Chester which I purchased at Sherriff's Sale as the property of William Chrisman and Containing 50 acres and after her death land goes to her children or other heirs which may survive her as tenants in common.
To my daughter, Agnes, wife of Jacob Baum, $10, believing as I do that any greater sum would be squandered in maintaining what I consider a perfect delusion, for as such I consider the doctrines and practices of Mormonism.
I give and bequeath to ~ Charlotte Harris $200, the same to be payed to her out of the share hereby bequeathed to John Harris.
Item - Remainder share and share alike between the following of my children:
John, Robert and David Harris - Janet, wife of James Todd, and Rachel, wife of William Guthrie, excepting as above stated regarding the share of John Harris. And last I nominate and appoint David Harris and James Todd Executors.
Dated February 9, 1842
Witnessed by Andrew Buchanan and ~organ J. Thomas
DEED
Recorded May 24th 1804
Robert Harris et ux This INDENTURE made the 2nd day of April in the Year to __________of Our Lord 1804 between Robert Harris of West
George Walleigh Nantmeal in the County of Chester in the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania, yeoman and Jane, his wife, of the one part and George Walleigh of East Nantmeal Township in the aforesaid county, yeoman, of the other part. Whereas James M. Cochran in and by a certain indenture bearing date the 6th day of October AD 1802 recorded in the Recorder's Office for Chester County aforesaid in Book W2 Vol. 45 page 180 (?) granted and conveyed unto the said Robert Harris fee simple a Plantation tract of land situate in West Nantmeal Township aforesaid CONTAINING 217 acres and the usual allowances for roads. To- _________________________