Harris Family News

NATHAN HARRIS

Nathan Harris, son of Preserved Harris and Martha Mowry was born March 23, 1758 in Smithfield, Rhode Island. 25 He died on 17 Nov 1835 in Mentor, Lake, Ohio. 4

He married Rhoda Lapham before March, 1780 and they lived in northern Rhode Island 3, 11.

She was born April 27, 1759 in Glocester, Rhode Island, died October 11, 1849, daughter of Solomon Lapham and Silvia Whipple of Glocester, R.I. 14

In late 1780 or early 1781 they moved to Easton, NY.  Census records show Nathan and his family living in Easton, NY in 1790 (near Cambridge, NY). 1 Records show Nathan Harris was taxed in Saratoga East, Albany Co., NY in 1787 and 1788 24

They had the following children:

Emer 29 May 1781 Cambridge (Easton), Albany, New York 2 5

Martin 18 may 1783 Easton, Albany, New York

Preserved 8 May 1785 Easton, Albany, New York

Solomon 18 Mar 1787 Easton, Albany, New York

Seville about 1790 Easton, Albany, New York 1

Sophia about 1792 Easton, Albany, New York

Lydia about 1795 Palmyra, Wayne, New York

Naomi 5 May 1800 Palmyra, Wayne, New York

With its toleration of different religions, colonial Rhode Island became a haven for refugees of religious persecution, most notably the Quakers (Friends). 9 While the Quaker population in Rhode Island was small, they had great influence in political and social affairs. 8.  Research shows some Harrises were Quakers living and worshiping in the Smithfield community of Providence, RI in late 1700s.10 However Nathan was not a Quaker but his wife was a member according to minutes of the Smithfield Meeting's records, RI. On 25 May 1780 "Rhoda Harris (Wife of Nathan" was "disowned" after a "complaint" was raised "for her neglecting to attend any religious meeting, also for her marrying out of unity and being into the fashions of the world". 11, 12 Research of Quaker records indicate that Nathan and his immediate Harris family were not Quakers, but were closely associated with Quaker friends. 26 Rhoda and many of her Lapham Quaker relatives have records at members meetings in Uxbridge or Smithfield at the time she married Nathan. 13

For several years starting in 1773 families from Rhode Island migrated to Easton, NY where an active group of Quakers was newly located. 6 Easton was the center of Quaker worship in the Hoosac Valley east of the Hudson and Saratoga (10 miles west of Cambridge, NY). Nathan and Rhoda moved to Easton in company with other Lapham relatives 22 and several other families from Smithfield, RI and Uxbridge, MA. 17 Their migration following the American Revolution was part of this expansion of families into northern, central and western New York State, 200 miles west of the Hudson.

Nathan's father Preserved died in 1797 and makes no mention of his son Nathan. All other sons and daughters received their inheritance. Since Nathan had left RI for New York by 1781 one can speculate his father gave him an early inheritance. 23 His mother had died in 1774 when he was 16. Nathan did have the means to purchase a large amount of land by 1794.

Later on, a large group of families (many from nearby Adams, MA and more from Easton) established the Farmington Preparative Meeting (Quaker) 8 miles from Tolland, NY (Palmyra). 26 Nathan and Rhoda Harris, along with twelve other families originally from Rhode Island, 7 went on to join the John Swift’s Colony at Tolland, New York (then known as Swift's Landing) 18 arriving by the way of the military road November 1791 (19). John Swift had moved his family there after the purchase of "Township No. Twelve in the Second Range of Towns in Phelps and Gorham Purchase." (now Palmyra) in September, 1790 (16) and immigration of others began soon after. On January 4, 1796, the area name was changed to Palmyra.

There were few white settlers in the Palmyra New York area when the Harris family arrived and Indian trouble persisted until 1794 18. On the 3rd of February, 1794, Nathan bought six hundred acres of land from John Swift for two shillings an acre (about $300 in New York currency). Nathan hued a home of timber near Wintergreen Hill and only a trail led to his log cabin. A few years later a road was laid out from the north side of Mud Creek to his log house. (The road from Main Street north to the north side of Mud Creek and called Chapel Street to this point was laid previously.) His house stood on the north end of Wintergreen hill, and lately was the residence of John S. Wright.  Current address is 1963 Maple Ave, Palmyra, NY.

More information on nearby historic site: Harris Farm

History shows that providence had a hand in bringing Nathan Harris to this important area of New York and in purchasing this section of land. It became some of the best farm lands in the area and its value increased significantly. It was here he reared his large family of eight children. Nathan later deeded portions of the farm to his son Martin, who later became a friend to the Joseph Smith family. In 1829 Martin mortgaged part of his farm to finance the first publication of the Book of Mormon after its translation. Later 151 acres of the land was sold for $3,000.00 to pay the debt to E.B. Grandin Press. Nathan's father in law left Rhoda 200 dollars in his will probated in 1800. (14)

Nathan was well known throughout the neighboring country for his prowess with rod and gun. Commonly known as “Uncle Nathan”, this good man frequently attended “raisings” and could play ball even in his old age, with all the enthusiasm of youth. One account in 1792 tells of a single haul of a seine (a large net with sinkers on ore edge and floats on the other) across Ganargua Creek, resulted in a catch of eighteen fine salmon.” (Palmyra History, Cole p.202) A “History of Wayne County Hew York” records “Harris as a marvelous fisherman" and when he was at home, his neighbors did not go fishing.

He possessed, to a remarkable degree, a spirit of rest and did not allow the onerous duties of the farm to weigh heavy on his mind. His zeal for letting things run, as the saying goes, was so great that he let the sills of his barn rot; away with the accumulation of barnyard material. If the necessities of the farm demanded the attention of Nathan, he would exhibit symptoms of a decline, but if a “Huskin’ Frolic” or a “Loggin’ Bee” was underway, his youthful exuberance was unbounded. He was the center figure of such groups and received with the best of humor any jokes aimed his way. With Nathan’s involvement elsewhere, Rhoda and the boys were left to manage the daily duties on the farm. (20)   An account of a 1796 Husking frolic at the house of Nathan Harris is found in History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps & Gorham's Purchase (1852) as given by Mrs. Eden Foster: "We had pot pie baked in a five pail kettle, composed of 13 fowls, as many squirrels, and due proportions of beef, mutton and venison; baked meats, beans and huge pumpkin pies.  Hunting stories, singing, dancing on a split basswood floor, snap and catch 'em, jumping the broom stick, and hunt the squirrel, followed the feast".

Beyond the house on the west side of the road was a spring in which he kept a pet trout. In time it grew to be a very large trout and so well educated that it would jump from the water and seize grasshoppers which were held out as bait. One day a friend, possessor of a large, red nose, called at the Harris home for a visit. A social glass was followed by a stroll over the farm, and ultimately the walk led to the spring. The friend got down on all-fours for a drink while Nathan looked on. As the red nose neared the water, out sprang the trout and seized it. A quick upward toss of the man’s head landed the trout a full ten feet to the rear. Nathan returned the trout to the spring an informed the bewildered friend that the time was propitious for fishing and together they made a fine catch that afternoon. The name “Trout Harris” was given to Nathan in consequence of this incident became widely known.

 

View of Nathan Harris Farm Land

with Wintergreen Hill in background.

 

At the first recorded town meeting of Palmyra in April, 1796 one of the decisions was to pay a bounty of two cents for crows, squirrels, woodpeckers, and blackbirds, and five dollars for every wolf. (21)  When one considers that land could be purchased for fifty cents an acre wolf hunting may not have been strictly for sport. Wolves were frequent prowlers and the townspeople declared war on them and reduced their number to one big timber wolf. The animal had become known far and wide by its depredations. A hunting party was formed to rid the community of this marauder. As “Uncle Nathan” was now well along in years, he was allowed to follow the road while the rest of the men spread out in the timber on either side. As Nathan rode along the road on his old horse, the wolf came out just a few rods ahead of him. Nathan urged his horse to gallop towards the animal, raised his gun and fired under full headway and the creature was killed.

His long rifle brought down many a duck and his bullets, known to be his from their great weight, were chopped out of trees by area settlers even after his death. It was said that some of the more crooked roads in the surrounding neighborhoods, were first laid out as his hunting paths.

Another item of business at the first town meeting was the appointing of Nathan Harris to “path master”, (Histories of his son, Martin, record that for many years he was chosen to have charge of the roads in the Palmyra area.)

Nathan Harris lived where he first settled until the fish and game became scarce. He began to exhibit symptoms of uneasiness and sought an new area where wildlife continued to roam free. Eventually and moved to Ohio in 1831along with some of his married children and their families, migrating with other followers of the newly formed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nathan lived to be quite an old man and died in November 1835 at Mentor Lake, Ohio. There is no record that indicates that he ever joined the Church.

In the Prophet Joseph Smith’s diary 18 Nov 1835 in Kirtland, he recorded, "I then went to Preserved Harris's, to preach his fathers funeral Sermon, by the request of the family I preached on the subject of the resurection, the congregation were verry attentive My wife my mother and my scribe went with me to the funeral, we rode in a waggon, had a pleasant ride, the weather was pleasant, when we went, but cloudy and cool when we returned"  15  Preserved Harrises home still exists and is located on southwest corner of Rt. 84 and Chillicothe in Mentor.

Nathan Harris Family Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rhoda LaphamFamily Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information about Nathan's brother Rufus Harris Family who moved from Smithfield, RI beginning 1800 after his death.