Harrison family

The Harrison family originated in England. There is a reference in Burke's Peerage & Gentry to Thomas Harrison and Elisabeth Bernard of Gobion's Manor in Northamptonshire. This estate became famous in the 18th century for it's landscaping art and Queen Caroline visited it in 1732 with three of her daughters to see "the fine gardens, waterworks and the collection of curiosities". The first of the Harrisons to arrive in the New World was Joseph, the grandson of Thomas and Elisabeth. He settled down in Isle of Wight County in Maryland, where he met and married Elisabeth, the daughter of Captain Robert Troope, who owned a large estate in Maryland called "Scotland Yard". Later Joseph acquired a plantation by Avon River and there he and Elisabeth raised a family of seven children: Francis, Joseph, Richard, Mary, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Benjamin.

There has been some speculation that this Harrison family shared a common ancestor with President William Henry Harrison's family. It is possible, that way back in England, before the arrival of Joseph Harrison around 1650, the two families shared a common ancestor, but this cannot be proven. Joseph's son Richard was quite wealthy and went to Pennsylvania where he was a close friend of the famous Quaker leader George Fox and much esteemed by William Penn. In 1685 he married Jane Delayhaye of a Huguenot family, who left France because of the religious persecution. Their son, Captain Joseph Harrison, married Verlinda Stone, granddaughter of the William Stone, the Governer of Maryland.

• A1. Stephen Harrison, lvd:Kendall, Westmoreland, England;
  • B1. Thomas Harrison, m. Matilda Blackwell;
    • C1. William Harrison, m. Jane Colombell;
      • D1. John Harrison;
        • E1. George Harrison of Derbyshire, England;
          • F1. Robert Harrison of Stowe, Northampton, England, m. Ellizabeth FitzGeoffrey;
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    • G1. Thomas Harrison, m. Eliza Barnard;  ==>  Barnard family
      • I1. Benjamin Harrison, lvd:1594/1643 England;
        • J1. Joseph Harrison, b:1623 Isle of Wight, Maryland, d:1673, m. Eliza Troope;
          • K1. Richard Harrison, lvd:1659/1727, m. Jane Delayhay;
            • L1. Joseph Harrison, d:1727, m. Verlinda Stone;  ==>  Stone family
              • M1. Joseph Harrison, Jr., d:1763, m. Eliza Simmons;
                • N1. Benjamin Harrison, lvd:1746/1790;
                  • O1. Mary Frances Harrison, m. Capt. James Hicks;  <==  Hicks family