Matthew HARRIS

                   I also have a note that says he died in Lancaster ??? Another one that says he died in 1829.
May have died elsewhere. Attended Princeton, and graduated in 1753. He and his wife lived in PA for some years after their marriage - probably at Conewago. He sold his farm there (1764) and in 1767 was living in Maryland, holding slaves. Hemigrated to Nova Scotia in 1769, where he founded the well known branch of thatsection. They settled on a farm five miles from Pictou, N.S. CAN.
They were among the first English speaking settlers of Nova Scotia.  Matthew wasa strong American Patriot during the revolution and sympathized much with the Colonies in their struggle for freedom. He named one of his children after GeorgeWashington, although they thought it wise to modify the names a little, in viewof their location and surroundings.
Matthew's outspoken patriotism sometimes got him into trouble. Once, while in Halifax, he was arrested as a spy. Some of Matthew's children and grandchildren came to the U.S. to live after political independence had been secured. Matthew and Suit came to visit in the US and spent considerable time in Lancaster County, PA., where they were born, and in Philadelphia, where their son, Robert, and Matthew's brother Robert, lived, both being doctors. Matthew spent his last days inNova Scotia, dying in Pictou. Their descendents have been numerous, including George Patterson  D.D. LL.D., and Simon Newcom, LL.D., the great mathematician and astronomer.

Pictou During the American Revolution
1781 , mostly Nova Scotia
From Pictou During the American Revolution by Kristen McKay Willard http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pictou/picrev.htm
Both Dr. John Harris and his brother Matthew Harris were strong American patriots during the Revolution and sympathized with the colonies in their struggle for independence. Dr. John's son, John Washington Harris (1777-1863) became a loyal British subject and served as sheriff of Pictou County for many years. Matthew'stenth child, born in Nova Scotia in 1778, was named William Washington. He moved to Philadelphia about 1800 where both his brother Robert and his uncle Robert Harris were doctors. Mrs. Matthew Harris died in Philadelphia in October, 1813, but Matthew returned to Pictou, although several of his family were living in the United States.
Matthew Harris had gone to Philadelphia on some business matters during the American Revolution. On 10th June, 1781, he acknowledged himself as a Prisoner of War to the United States of America, and arranged to go to Nova Scotia on parole to effect an Exchange for a person of equal rank to be sent to Philadelphia. Major Gilfred Studholme, commander of Fort Howe at the mouth of the Saint John Riverreceived a letter in October 1781 telling how Col. McNutt "a subtle designing fellow" who was well known in Nova Scotia had pawned himself upon the Congress ofPhiladelphia as an agent to look after Nova Scotian affairs. The letter warned him that McNutt would try to smuggle letters and pamphlets into Nova Scotia.
Major Studholme passed this warning along to Michael Francklin, a prosperous Halifax merchant who had been Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1766 to 17776, and who was still a member of the Council and Superintendent of Indian affairs. Francklin was well known as a loyalist. He wrote that on October 20th, "being informed that a Matthew Harris of Pictou brother to the Doctor of Cobequid was in the Port lately come from Philadelphia and bound to Cobequid, and as I knew the Doctor was formerly connected loosely with Col. McNutt, and that he the Doctorhad also given many Specimens of this Disafection and had even as it was said acted openly in favor of the Rebells; it occurred to me that Matthew his Brother might be Charged with Dispatches from the Sd. Col. McNutt, he was therefore suddenly ordered up to Fort Howe, and an Officer took possession of his Little Baggage to attend him which was compleatly (sic) searched in presence of Major Studholme my self and others when we found the papers from No. 1 to No. 10 concealed and wrapped up in his Trouzers, the large Bundle of news papers and other lettersof Little consequence being in a separate parcel open to view, and not in the Trouzers, he deliverd (sic) himself as his whole papers. Those in the Trouzers were secreted and to all appearance not designed to be known"
Matthew Harris was not arrested for going to New England without a pass, or for treasonable practices, but he was kept in close confinement. On November 5, 1781, Francklin sent Matthew Harris and his papers from Windsor to Halifax for further examination by Hon. Richard Bulkeley, Secretary of the Province of Nova Scotia. Harris was escorted by Constable Garret Vandergrift and two soldiers of the King's Rangers. In a postscript Francklin instructed Bulkely "please to pay the Constable and I realy (sic) think the soldiers should have a trifle to pay for Shoes worn in there Extra Dutys." (sic)
Rev. George Patterson relates how the soldiers guarding Harris went into the inner room of the tavern in Halifax, leaving him to move about on his parole. He was walking around when a woman rushed into the tavern calling "Your prisoner is escaping." One of the soldiers hit Harris over the head and wounded him. Matthew Harris was shortly released from custody although Francklin had written "if a Stop is not put to this Intercourse with the Rebells the most dangerous consequences may result from it."
Most of the people living in Nova Scotia during the American Revolution were toobusy tying to earn a living in a pioneer country to bother about politics. All the settlements were separated from one another by great stretches of forest. Windsor and Halifax were connected with a road of sorts, but elsewhere there were only forest trails. The sea was the highway between the settlements, and the seawas controlled by the British navy. Nova Scotia remained apart from the United States because of its geographical isolation from the main body of the rebellious colonies, and because at Halifax influential citizens and officials wished to remain under British rule.
The following is his letter>
Sir:
On or about the 16 October last Major Studholme having received at Fort Howe a letter of Information or Intelligence (sic) part of which is extracted and markedwith the letter A which was communicated to me, and on the 20th being Informed that a Matthew Harris of Pictou brother to the Doctor of Cobiquid was in the Port lately come from Philadelphia and bound to Cobiquid, and as I knew the Doctor was formerly connected closely with Col. McNutt; and that he the Doctor had alsogiven many Specimens of his Disafection and had even as it was said acted openly in favor of the Rebells; it occurred to me that Matthew his Brother might be charged with Dispatches from the sd Col. McNutt, he was therefore suddenly ordered up to Fort Howe, and an Officer took possession of his Little Baggage to attend him which was compleatly (sic) searched in presence of Major Studholme my selfand others when we found the papers from No: 1 to No: 10 concealed and wrapped up in his Trouzers. The large Bundle of news papers and other letters of Little consequence being in a separate parcell open to view, and not in the Trouzers, he delivered himself as his whole papers. Those in the Trouzers were secreted andto all appearance not designed to be known: upon this I desired Major Studholmeto confine the said Matthew Harris in order to be transmitted to Halifax. It was done Accordingly, he is now here and I send him to you with the Original papers found on him attended by Vandergist the Constable and two soldiers of the Kings Rangers, and you will be pleased to examine him and do otherwise with him as shall be thought proper. He had no pass to go to New England I did not chuse (sic) to committ (sic) him in a formal manner for Treasonable practices as I understand such cannot be Immediately tried, but thus much I shall venture to say that if a Stop is not put to thos Intercourse with the Rebells the most dangerous consequences may result from it. You will be pleased to lay this letter before the Lieut Governor
I am Sir
Your most obedient and most humble Servant
Mich Francklin
Please to pay the Constable and I realy (sic) think the soldiers should have a trifle to pay for Shoes worn in these Extra Dutys
Honble: Richard Bulkeley Esqr
Secy of the Province of Nova Scotia
Endorsed 5th Nov 1781
Concerning the apprehension of Matthew Harris


Location of James Harris ca. 1758
ca 1758 , PA
Colonel George Steuart and his wife Margaret Harris
By Robert Stewart
Nor was their intercourse confined to neighbors or near relatives. A few miles further west on the banks of the Conewago lived at least one family with which they were on intimate terms; for it was to members of it two of their number were eventually joined in the bonds of matrimony. That was the family of Capt. ThomasHarris1, whose third son, Matthew,1 married Suit (or Sutia) Stuart, Sep. 21, 1758, and whose daughter Margaret6 was married to the subject of this sketch aboutthe same time. Intimacy with this family may have been brought about through the relationship of the latter to James Harris who lived near Maytown and was a neighbor to tho Allisons. This James Harris1 or 3 must have been either a brother or an uncle of Capt. Thomas Harris.*