THE HIDDEN HARRISES OF CANTERBURY CONNECTICUT
By Jane A. Marrotte (CSG #8710)

 
 
 
Paul Harris (Samuel, Samuel, Gabriel. Walter, Walter) was born 20 March 1724. 
(New London. Connecticut VR. 2:80). He married 20 September 1749. 
Married in Canterbury Congregational Church, Canterbury, Windham CT
(Canterbury. Connecticut VR. afterward. CVR. 1:155. Mary Herrington. 
He died 17 November 1777. (CVR. 1:165). 
Their children are all recorded in Canterbury, CT. 
 
  1. Paul Harris, Jr. b. 3 Jun. 1753. (CVR. 1:158).

  2. Samuel Harris b. 2 Feb. 1757. (CVR. 1:160) m. 4 Mar. 1779. (CVR.XI:I55). 
Elizabeth Cady. daughter of Simeon and Ruth (Harris) Cady. 

  3. Phebe Harris b. 5 May 1760. (CVR. 1: 160). 

  4. Ruth Harris b. 26 Mar. 1764. (CVR. 1:161). 

  5. Hannah Harris b. 29 Nov. 1766. (CVR. 1:161) 

  6. Ebenezer Harris b. 16 Jul. 1771. (CVR. 1:162). 
 
The family listed above is his family of record.  His will, however, reveals 
a second family, born of his union with Amy Stanton, a single woman. 
Amy was born about 1733 and died 21 April 1819, aged 83 years 
(First Trinitarian Congregational Church Record). Probate packet 
number 2027 in Plainfield, Connecticut dated 16 March 1786 and accepted 
2 November 1790 reveals that she is the daughter of Thomas and 
Sarah (Staples) Stanton. 
 
Further, the will of Paul Harris of Canterbury, written 5 March 1777 
and proved in June 1777, Plainfield Probate District, packet 
number 1022 states: 
 
Item - I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Harris the use, 
	improvements and profits of one 
	third of my whole estate (Excepting what is 
	hereafter given to the poor children of Amy Stanton).
 
Item - I give to the three youngest sons of Amy Stanton of Canterbury 
	viz Joel, Hosea and Heber 
 
The second family of Paul Harris Sr., as revealed above, through his union with 
Amy Stanton, is as follows:  The children were recorded as surnamed Stanton in 
Canterbury, with the exception of Heber. `Later in life all these children were 
known by the name of Harris. Children of Paul Harris and Amy Stanton: 
 
  1. Abiah Stanton alias Harris b. 14 Nov. I756). (CVR. 1:221 ). S
he married 11 Dec. 1784. Windham, Connecticut VR. 2:21. 
Lemuel Deans, son of Zachariah and 
Elizabeth (Luddington) Deans.

  2. Aman Stanton alias Harris b. 27 Jun. I762. (CVR. 1:221 ). 
He married 25 Jul. 1782 
(First Trinitarian Cong. Ch. Records), Hopeful Pratt. 

  3. Content Stanton alias Harris b. 12Jul. 17( ), (CVR, 1:221). 

  4. Joel Stanton alias Harris b. 16 Aug. 1764S), (CVR, 1:221). 

  5. Heber Harris - b. about 1770 m. 8 Dec. 1799, Pomfret, CT., Mary Polena Phillips.
d. 27 Oct 1827, Canadice, Windham, New York.

Children:

i  Hiram Harris, b. 20 Nov. 1800

ii  



  6. Hosea Stanton alias Harris was born 9 May 1768, (CVR, 1:221) 
married 8 January 1792, (BVR, 1:67), Eunice Pellet 
(parents unknown). She was born about 1772/3 and 
died 28 December 1860.  Hosea died 27 February 1828. 
They are buried in Brooklyn, Connecticut on the hill 
behind the old stone house. He died intestate. His estate 
administration papers are Brooklyn probate packet 
number 1014, Plainfield Probate District, dated 1 April 1828. 

Their children were all recorded in Brooklyn. 
 
     i.           Thomas b. 22 Sep. 1792, (BVR, 2:23).
 
     ii.          Martin b. 29 Aug. 1794, ,BVR, 2:23). 
 
     iii.          Solomon b. 25 Dec. 1796, (BVR, 2:23). 
 
     iv.         Louisa b. 9 Feb. 1799, (BVR, 2:23). 
 
v.                         Franklin b. 24 Aug. 1801;, (BVR, 2:23), m. 9 Dec. 1821, 
(BVR, 4:6), Abigail Millet. 
 
     vi.         Nancy b. 27 Jan. 1804, (BVR 2:23), m. 9 Dec. 1821, (BVR 4:7), 
Joseph Blanchard of Foster, Rhode Island. 
 
     vii.         Henry Webb b. 24 Jan. 1806 (BVR. 2:23). 
 
     viii.        Edwin b. 12 Feb. 1808, (BVR, 2:23). 
 
     ix.         Joanna b. 16 Feb. 1810 (BVR, 2:23). 
 
     x.          George Washington b. 24 Oct. 1812, (BVR, 2:23). 
 
     xi.         Erastus b. 24 Mar. 1815. (BVR, 2:23). 
 
            Martin Harris, son of Hosea and Eunice (Pellet) Harris, was born 24 (poss 29) August 1794, 
(BVR, 2:23) married 6 December 1821, Windham, Connecticut VR, afterward WVR, 3:36), Maria Follet,     
daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth (Stoel) Follet. He died 22 November 1871, WVR. 
Maria was born 31 January 1800 and died 19 January 1864, WVR. Their children are all 
recorded in Windham. His will was probated in Windham, packet number 1798. 
 
 
  1. Oliver F. b. 5 Oct. 1822. (WVR, 3:36), m. 7 Apr. 1845 (WVR, 3:221), 
Julia Tracy, daughter of Thomas C. Tracy. 

  2. George Washington Harris, son of Hosea and Eunice (Pellet) Harris) was 
born 24 October 1812. (BVR, 2:23). He married Eliza Cady, daughter of Captain 
Samuel and Alice (Downey) Cady. He died 11 September 1897, (BVR). The births of 
their children are recorded in Brooklyn and the 1870 Census. 

  3. Ellen A. b. 1849. 

  4. Samuel E. b. 1850, m. 6 Mar. 1892, Brooklyn. Connecticut VR. Emily Ann Tripp. 
daughter of Stephen H. and Abbie (Pidge) Tripp. He d. 19 Mar. 1930 and 
she d. 30 Jul. 1918. both (BVR).

  5. Lyman W. b. 1852. m. 31 Dec. 1892. (BVR). Jennie M. Weaver. 
He d. 10 Apr. 1899, (BVR). 

  6. Andrew J. b. 16 Apr. 1854, in. Mary Ellen Pickett. His will was probated 
in Windham. CT. packet number 611. 

  7. Amanda b. 24 Dec. 1855. (BVR).  

  8. Harvey b. 1860. m. 25 Dec. 1882. (BVR). Jennie M. Cheney. 
He d. 7 Mar. 1899. (BVR).

  9. Male b. II Oct. 1859.  

  10. Male b. 29 Jul. 1864. 
 
Erastus P. Harris, son of Hosea and Eunice (Pellet) Harris was born 24 March 1815. (BVR. 2:23). 
He was a blacksmith. He married 9 February 1840. (BVR. 4:71). Amy Herrick. daughter of Timothy and Rebe (Wheeler) Herrick. .She was born 16 September 1819, (BVR). He died 13 February 1871, (BVR). Their children were both born in Brooklyn and recorded there. His will was probated in Brooklyn, packet number 200. Timothy Herrick b. 27 Sep. 1842. source: The Connecticut Nutmegger, March 1996 vol. 28 No. 4, pages 549-551