William Harris (colonist)
| William Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 October 1757 Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | 4 September 1812 (aged 54) East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania |
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | farmer, soldier, state legislator |
William Harris (1757–1812) was a farmer, soldier, and member of the Pennsylvania legislature. He was the father of two other American military men.
William Harris was born October 7, 1757, on his parents' farm in Willistown Township in the Province of Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Harris (1722–1799), had immigrated from Ireland about 1745. His mother, the former Elizabeth Bailey (1726–1799), also an immigrant from Ireland, was the heir of her childless uncle, Alexander Bailey, owner of the farm. About 1760, the family moved to nearby Grubb's mill, and about 1768, they moved to neighboring East Whiteland Township in the Great Valley of Pennsylvania where, in 1770, Thomas Harris bought a farm just inside the Welsh Tract. This farm was William Harris' home for the rest of his life.
Thomas and Elizabeth Harris had nine children, seven of whom—two sons and five daughters—lived to adulthood. Both sons, William and his older brother John (1753–1838), participated in the American Revolution.
William Harris joined the Pennsylvania militia at the age of 18, as the Revolutionary War broke out. The first known mention of him appears in a memorandum book of Captain Persifor Frazer in the summer of 1776, which calls him a sergeant. In March 1777 he was appointed a second lieutenant in Captain John Marshall's company of the State Regiment of Foot, Col. John Bull, commander. In time, he rose to the rank of captain. He is listed as captain of the 5th Company, 5th Battalion, of the Pennsylvania Militia for 1777, and of the 4th Company, 4th Battalion for 1780. His regiment was taken into the Pennsylvania Line of the Continental Army, and became the Thirteenth Regiment, which saw action in the battles of the Brandywine and Germantown and several minor engagements. Although records exist showing his involvement in a number of troop movements later in the Revolution, his battalion appears not to have seen any battles in the later years of the war. His name appears on a list of Chester County residents who applied to the government for reparations after the war was over. Harris was involved in the capture of Joseph Doane, a notorious highwayman and member of a family of robbers, in 1782.
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