John Brown McKee

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37299386

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37299384

James married Eleanor (Ellen) Harris. Eleanor (daughter of Robert Harris and Jane McCaule) was born 07 Apr 1781, York Co. SC; died 12 May 1850, York Co. SC; was buried , Old Unity Cemetery, Fort Mill, York Co. SC. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37299385

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37299375

Robert married Jane McCaule. Jane was born 1758, Mecklenburg Co. NC; died 24 Jan 1816, York Co. SC; was buried , Old Unity Cemetery, Fort Mill, York Co. SC. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37299376

Notes:

Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name: John Harris
SAR Membership: 41089
Birth Date: 1727
Birth Place: Monaghan, Ireland
Death Date: 8 Jun 1808
Death Place: Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Spouse: Eleanor Reynolds
Children: Hugh Harris

CENSUS RECORDS
1800 Federal Census
Name: John Harris
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Salisbury, Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 2
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 3
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 7

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"Our Kith and Kin: or, A history of the Harris family, 1754-1895, Mary Letitia Chalmers, Philadelphia

John and Eleanor (Reynolds) Harris, the ancestors of the 'Harris Family', were parishioners of Rev Thomas Clark, M.D. and natives of Monaghan County, Ireland.

They were amoung the number of fithful followers who accompanied Dr Clark to prison in January 1754, for their youngest son James Harris, the author of a little work on Psalmody, known as the 'Plowman's Letter' says in the book: "I heard my mother mention to Dr. Clark that she remembered that on their way to jail they sang the 29th verse of the 18th Psalm (old version), which promises were made good to him, for he was honorably acquitted."

John and Eleanor had their marriage solemnized by Dr C lark, during his incarceration, the latter part of January 1754. A few months later they sailed for America. Their ship was detained in quarantine for a length of time, during which detention their first born saw the light. After landing they settled and remained for several years in Lancaster County, PA. Then they moved to North Carolina and located temporarily on 'Goose Creek' in either Mecklenburg or Union County, N.C. This removal probably took place about the year 1767 or 1768.

In a short time they secured a large tract of land, known as 'Indian Land' situated partly in Mecklenburg County, NC and in York District, SC. Here they found a permanent home and spent the remainder of their days.

This last settlement was likely made prior to 1775, as we learn from a "History of Steele Creek" by Rev J. B. Watt that as early as 1775 a few families from Lancaster County, PA, originally from Ireland, settled in Steel Creek, and from that time till their organization in 1792/93, received supplies by ministers direct from Ireland and Pennsylvania, and amoung others 'Clark' is named. (Rev Thomas Clark we presume)

John and Eleanor Harris preceded Dr. Clark to this country by at least 10 years, and 'tradition' says that John Harris rode all the way from SC to NY on horseback, leading an extra horse for the doctor to ride back, and that in this way he made his first visit to the South. Dr. Robert Lathan, in his "History of the Associate Reformed Synod of the South' says that Dr. Clark visited that portion of his congregation which went to SC. It is evident from the referenced book that Dr. Clark made at least 4 seperate visits from NY to SC, and during these visits and after his permanent settlement in SC, he was a welcome visitor at the comfortable home of John and Eleanor Harris.

In his last publication, a "Pastoral Letter" written from Long Cane, Abbeville County, SC in 1792, to the Associate congregation in Ballybay, Ireland, and printed in Salem, NY in 1811, Dr. Clark says that while imprisoned "one young couple of your number came and got their marriage solemnized in prison, viz: John Harris and Eleanor Reynolds, now settled here by the Catawba River. She lately died an eminent Christian, and her children still act as firm friends to religion, and are in comfortable crcumstances."

John and Eleanor had four sons; Hugh, Robert, John and James. The two oldest sons (Hugh and Robert) were in active service during the whole of the Revolutionary War. Once they were captured and imprisoned in Camden, SC, but with other prisioners effected their escape and rejoined the American Army.

John Harris Sr, and three of his sons, Hugh, John Jr and James were prominent in the organization of Lower Steele Creek or Blackstock's Church, in 1792/93. James was elected and ordained one of the first ruling elders.
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"Our Kith and Kin: or, A history of the Harris family, 1754-1895, Mary Letitia Chalmers, Philadelphia

Our story begins with a marriage solemnized within the gloomy walls of a prison. We sometimes witness marriages in churches, brilliantly lighted, with elaborate decorations, large audiences and the music of the deep toned organ; somtimes in ancestral halls among friends and relations who load the happy pair with costly presents and congratulations; somtimes in the humbler walks of life with but few to witness; and occasionally a "Gretna Green" affair.

But in the case of JOHN HARRIS and ELEANOR REYNOLDS, our worthy and esteemed ancestors, how very different.

On 23 January 1754, Rev Thomas Clark, M.D., the beloved pastor of JOHN and ELEANOR, at Ballybay Congregation, Ireland, was arrested by the civil authorities, at the instigation of his Socinianized Presbyterian enemies, while in the very act of moderating in a call in the congregation of New Bliss.

The charge was disloyalty, because he refused to swear by "Kissing the Book," believing it to be unsciptural, and also because he refused to take the "Oath of Abjuration," inasmuch as it recognized the king as the head of the Church, though he had proven his loyalty be entering the army while a theological student and fighting against the Pretender.

Here is Dr. Clark's own statement of the affair: "They well knew that the Associate Synod of Scotland, to which I belonged, scrupled at the form of 'Book Kissing,' so in hopes to drive me out of the kingdom they summoned me on the Lord's day to swear the State Oath and Kiss the Book, which I refused to do. They fined me and afterward cmmitted me to jail."

All that night, after his arrest, he was kept under guard in a tavern, and the next day taken to Monaghan Jail. Many of his people accompanied him, and instead of allowing them to rescue him as they would have done, they sang portions of the 18th Psalm.

Such a man might suffer trouble as an evil does, even unto bonds, but the word of God could not be bound. During his imprisonment, like the great apostle to the Gentiles when a prisoner at Rome, Dr. Clark wrote frequent letters of instruction and comfort to his devoted people, who cheered and brightened the gloomy hours of their pastor's prison life by many tokens of love and loyalty. He preached to as many of them as could convene on the Sabbath, poured the baptismal waters upon the brows of thirteen little children, and married at least one couple, JOHN HARRIS and ELEANOR REYNOLDS. This last tender and beutiful act of devotion to their pastor on the part of two young lovers must have made a deep and lasting impression upon Dr. Clark, for nearly forty years afterwards he refers to it with manifest pleasure in the last document his hand ever wrote.

When the day of trial came his commitment was found to be erroneous and the whole thing a fraud and he was immediately discharged. He was urged to prosecute his persecutors with every assurance of success, but he refused, saying: "Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."



Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103139529

John married Elinor Reynolds. Elinor was born ca 1726, County Monaghan, Ulster, Ireland; died 22 Aug 1789, Mecklenburg Co. NC; was buried , Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. NC. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name: Eleanor Reynolds
SAR Membership: 54905
Birth Date: 1726
Death Date: 22 Aug 1789
Spouse: John Harris
Children: Hugh Harris

Unsourced

John and Eleanor (Reynolds) Harris, the ancestors of the 'Harris Family', were parishioners of Rev Thomas Clark, M.D. and natives of Monaghan County, Ireland.

They were amoung the number of fithful followers who accompanied Dr Clark to prison in January 1754, for their youngest son James Harris, the author of a little work on Psalmody, known as the 'Plowman's Letter' says in the book: "I heard my mother mention to Dr. Clark that she remembered that on their way to jail they sang the 29th verse of the 18th Psalm (old version), which promises were made good to him, for he was honorably acquitted."

John and Eleanor had their marriage solemnized by Dr C lark, during his incarceration, the latter part of January 1754. A few months later they sailed for America. Their ship was detained in quarantine for a length of time, during which detention their first born saw the light. After landing they settled and remained for several years in Lancaster County, PA. Then they moved to North Carolina and located temporarily on 'Goose Creek' in either Mecklenburg or Union County, N.C. This removal probably took place about the year 1767 or 1768.

In a short time they secured a large tract of land, known as 'Indian Land' situated partly in Mecklenburg County, NC and in York District, SC. Here they found a permanent home and spent the remainder of their days.

This last settlement was likely made prior to 1775, as we learn from a "History of Steele Creek" by Rev J. B. Watt that as early as 1775 a few families from Lancaster County, PA, originally from Ireland, settled in Steel Creek, and from that time till their organization in 1792/93, received supplies by ministers direct from Ireland and Pennsylvania, and amoung others 'Clark' is named. (Rev Thomas Clark we presume)

John and Eleanor Harris preceded Dr. Clark to this country by at least 10 years, and 'tradition' says that John Harris rode all the way from SC to NY on horseback, leading an extra horse for the doctor to ride back, and that in this way he made his first visit to the South. Dr. Robert Lathan, in his "History of the Associate Reformed Synod of the South' says that Dr. Clark visited that portion of his congregation which went to SC. It is evident from the referenced book that Dr. Clark made at least 4 seperate visits from NY to SC, and during these visits and after his permanent settlement in SC, he was a welcome visitor at the comfortable home of John and Eleanor Harris.

In his last publication, a "Pastoral Letter" written from Long Cane, Abbeville County, SC in 1792, to the Associate congregation in Ballybay, Ireland, and printed in Salem, NY in 1811, Dr. Clark says that while imprisoned "one young couple of your number came and got their marriage solemnized in prison, viz: John Harris and Eleanor Reynolds, now settled here by the Catawba River. She lately died an eminent Christian, and her children still act as firm friends to religion, and are in comfortable crcumstances."

John and Eleanor had four sons; Hugh, Robert, John and James. The two oldest sons (Hugh and Robert) were in active service during the whole of the Revolutionary War. Once they were captured and imprisoned in Camden, SC, but with other prisioners effected their escape and rejoined the American Army.

John Harris Sr, and three of his sons, Hugh, John Jr and James were prominent in the organization of Lower Steele Creek or Blackstock's Church, in 1792/93. James was elected and ordained one of the first ruling elders.

Unsourced

Our story begins with a marriage solemnized within the gloomy walls of a prison. We sometimes witness marriages in churches, brilliantly lighted, with elaborate decorations, large audiences and the music of the deep toned organ; somtimes in ancestral halls among friends and relations who load the happy pair with costly presents and congratulations; somtimes in the humbler walks of life with but few to witness; and occasionally a "Gretna Green" affair.

But in the case of JOHN HARRIS and ELEANOR REYNOLDS, our worthy and esteemed ancestors, how very different.

On 23 January 1754, Rev Thomas Clark, M.D., the beloved pastor of JOHN and ELEANOR, at Ballybay Congregation, Ireland, was arrested by the civil authorities, at the instigation of his Socinianized Presbyterian enemies, while in the very act of moderating in a call in the congregation of New Bliss.

The charge was disloyalty, because he refused to swear by "Kissing the Book," believing it to be unsciptural, and also because he refused to take the "Oath of Abjuration," inasmuch as it recognized the king as the head of the Church, though he had proven his loyalty be entering the army while a theological student and fighting against the Pretender.

Here is Dr. Clark's own statement of the affair: "They well knew that the Associate Synod of Scotland, to which I belonged, scrupled at the form of 'Book Kissing,' so in hopes to drive me out of the kingdom they summoned me on the Lord's day to swear the State Oath and Kiss the Book, which I refused to do. They fined me and afterward cmmitted me to jail."

All that night, after his arrest, he was kept under guard in a tavern, and the next day taken to Monaghan Jail. Many of his people accompanied him, and instead of allowing them to rescue him as they would have done, they sang portions of the 18th Psalm.

Such a man might suffer trouble as an evil does, even unto bonds, but the word of God could not be bound. During his imprisonment, like the great apostle to the Gentiles when a prisoner at Rome, Dr. Clark wrote frequent letters of instruction and comfort to his devoted people, who cheered and brightened the gloomy hours of their pastor's prison life by many tokens of love and loyalty. He preached to as many of them as could convene on the Sabbath, poured the baptismal waters upon the brows of thirteen little children, and married at least one couple, JOHN HARRIS and ELEANOR REYNOLDS. This last tender and beutiful act of devotion to their pastor on the part of two young lovers must have made a deep and lasting impression upon Dr. Clark, for nearly forty years afterwards he refers to it with manifest pleasure in the last document his hand ever wrote.

When the day of trial came his commitment was found to be erroneous and the whole thing a fraud and he was immediately discharged. He was urged to prosecute his persecutors with every assurance of success, but he refused, saying: "Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103139283