12. | Hugh HARRY was born in 1662 in Of Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, WLS (son of Harry Thomas OWEN and Elizabeth UNKNOWN); died after 28 Sep 1708 in Birmingham Twp., Chester, PA, USA. Notes:
UA Record #:2338 The Welsh name Harry was spelled Harri or Hari. Hugh Harry, sometimes called Harris, was a Quaker being noted in Pennsylvania Quaker records in 1671, 1680, 1681, 1682, and 1685. He was a weaver who immigrated with his brother, Daniel, from "Maukinleth" (Machynlleth) in Montgomeryshire aboard the "Vine of Liverpoole", William Freeson, Master. They arrived in Philadelphia on the 7 month, 17th day, 1684 from "dolyserne nere dolyules in Merionethshire." He settled in Birmingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on two hundred and fifty acres of land given to him by his father-in-law, William Brinton, two months after the Quaker Records say he and Elizabeth Brinton "were free to proceed" with their marriage plans (2nd month, 12th day, 1686 and 4th month, 12th day). They were members of the Radnor MM. Hugh and Elizabeth were witnesses at Elizabeth's brother William's marriage in 1690. On Nov. 19, 1707, he bought an additional 430 acres in Marlborough, Chester Co, PA which can be verified in Deed records. (C-2139) He died probably in late September 1708 leaving the following will. "To all Christian people to whom these presents may come, whereas, I, Hugh Harris of Brumingham (Birmingham) in the County of Chester, West Randolph, greeting this twenty fourth day of the first month called March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight, being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory, prayse be to God for the same, and knowing the uncertainty of this life on earth & being disposed to better things, I do hereby make this my last will & testament in manner and form following - that is to say - First and principally I commend my soul to almighty God, my estate & my body to the earth from whence it was taken. To be buried in such decent & Christian manner as my Executrix here after named be thought wise and convenient, as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath sent me. My will and meaning is the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed, that is to say - I make and certify my well-beloved wife Elizabeth Harris my whole and sole Executrix of my last will & testament. Item - I give to my sonn Evan:Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one yeras. With my weaving loom, the gears thereunto belonging. Secondly - I give to my sonn William Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Thirdly - I give to my sonn Hugh Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Fourthly - I give to my sonn John Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Fifthly - I give to my daughter Elizabeth Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Sixthly - I give to my daughter Ann Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Seventhly - I give to my daughter Jane Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Eighthly - I give to my daughter Lois Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Ninethly - I give to my daughter Olive Harris the sum of five pounds to be paid at the age of twenty one years. Tenthly & lastly - I give full power to my well-beloved wife, Elizabeth Harris, which I have hereby constituted my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. To sell, & dispose of all & all manner of my real & personal estate, to the best advantage as may be. To pay my funeral charges & my just debts, with the legacys herein mentioned. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal the day of year above written. Hugh Harris (H for his mark) (Seal) Witnesses: Richard Webb, Jonathan ?, William Brinton, John Bennett. (Photostats of Original Philadelphia Wills & Inventories, 1681-1710. GSP, PH:13 Will #96:1708., or Philadelphia Will Book C, p. 126 #96:1708, GSP XW Pennsylvania PH 2. He is buried at Radnor MM in Pennsylvania. (C-956) It is widely published that this Hugh Harry's ancestry goes through many Royal lines. However, a Harry Family Association Newsletter dated 1995, has cast serious doubt on this. Hugh's father, Hugh Thomas Owen, was the son of a Thomas Owen. A researcher has found a second Thomas Owens in Machynlleth who could be this Harry Thomas's father. He believes this Thomas who was not prominent in English affairs, to be Harry Thomas' father because 1) Hugh Thomas was a weaver when he came to America and 2) The Quaker minutes after he arrives mention that his parents were having financial trouble. The sons promised they would pay any member back who could help send money to their parents on March 13, 1686. (This would not have been true for the son of the affluent Thomas Owen. [FN:Thomas Underwood, 1650 Immigrant:FN] The support for Hugh being the grandson of Thomas Owen, of Royal Lineage, is that 1) Harry Thomas Owen became a Quaker, was imprisoned and heavily fined, making impoverishment for his family a likely occurrence. This would explain the lower station and practical trades of his sons. 2) It is an accepted, published line in [UL:Ancestors of American Presidents:UL].
Hugh married Elizabeth BRINTON on 12 Apr 1686 in Chichester, Chester, PA, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of William BRINTON and Ann BAGLEY) was born on 9 Aug 1665 in , Worcestershire, ENG; died after 8 Nov 1727. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|