HISTORY OF THE HARRIS FAMILY
BEGINNING 300 YEARS AGO IN AMERICA
This year marks the tricentenary of the landing of our ancestor, Thomas Harris, in the New World.
He belonged to the Baptist Church of England and suffered much persecution because of refusing to
accept the thirty-nine articles of faith of the Church of England. Like many other Pilgrims and
Puritans, he fled to America to escape this religious persecution. A descendant related in a family
history that this Thomas had been told in a dream, by God, to go with the Roger William’s group to
the New World, and his posterity would be blessed. He, with twenty-two others, including their
pastor, Roger William, boarded the small ship “Lion” at Bristol, England; December 1, 1630. After
being tossed and buffeted by the storms of tempestuous seas some sixty-seven days, they landed
near Boston, Massachusetts on February 5, 1631.
This ship carried a cargo of food for the starving Pilgrims, who on its arrival at their port, had a day
of thanksgiving for their deliverance. Religious persecution hadn’t quite subsided even in the New
World, for Thomas and his brother, William Harris, along with Roger Williams suffered much
hardship and were banished from the Massachusetts Colony on account of their beliefs. William
Harris spent the winter with the Indians. In the spring, he and five others went to Rhode Island and
founded Providence in 1636, they being the first settlers there. Our forefather, Thomas Harris,
smarting under the influence of the begetted Massachusetts Colony, went down to Boston from
Providence to ask for the privilege of speaking in their Church. The request was granted after their
own minister had finished. He warned them of the coming of the Great and Dreadful Day of the
Lord, and declared against their pride and oppression. These people, not being tolerant, allowed
him to be pulled down by the hair of the head and dragged from the Church. A hand was put over
his mouth to keep him from speaking forth. He was put in jail in Boston without food or drink until
his friends passed food through the windows to him. They also whipped him with a cord whip, or
what we call a “cat of nine tails.”
Our ancestors were very prominent in establishing freedom and religious liberty in the general
assembly of Rhode Island. A representative of our ancestors held the position of assemblyman, or
as we would say, legislator, for one hundred years after the settlement of Rhode Island. William
Harris was very prominent in political affairs. He made five trips to England to help the cause of
the colonies. On the fifth trip, he was tortured by an Algerian corsair and sold for a slave in
Barbary. After more than a year in slavery, he was ransomed at a high price, of which sum the
Colony of Connecticut paid $1,444. He traveled through Spain and France and finally reached
London, where he died three days later at the home of his friend, John Stokes. No matter where our
people have been located, they have been prominent in both ecclesiastical and political affairs. Four
or five towns have been established in different states where they have lived.
During the Indian and Revolutionary wars, our forefathers played a prominent part; Thomas Harris
being a lieutenant in the army. Following our ancestral line all the way down to the present time,
you will find them taking part in the affairs of the nation. Some of the family who remained in
Rhode Island have scattered through the New England states where they have settled. They have
given good account of themselves. Our ancestors lived in Rhode Island until after the Revolution.
Then there seemed to be a general scattering after the War, or a trend to push westward. They
moved to northern New York, which was then a wilderness and uninhabited by white men. They
settled where Palmyra now stands, they being among the first settlers.
Nathan Harris bought about 600 acres of timberland for 25 cents per acre. There he lived in a home
in the wilderness and reared a large family; out of which came our illustrious grandfather, Emer
Harris, and his brother, Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This
property became the foundation for funds, which Martin Harris used to pay for the publication for
the Book of Mormon. Apparently, Nathan Harris divided his property among his heirs.
History shows that the Lord must have had a hand in their moving to Palmyra, New York; because
in our line there seems to have been a favored son who inherited property and where leaders of the
family and society being such, Nathan Harris had money enough to purchase this land. Soon after
the arrival of the family, Joseph Smith Senior, and his family came to the area. The Smith family
seemed also to be led by the hand of the Lord, because they settled nearby. The two families
became intimately associated as neighbors.
When Joseph Smith received visitations from Heavenly beings, Martin Harris became much
interested. He investigated the rumor and found out from the lips of Joseph Smith that which had
been reported was true. He put his hand in his pocket and gave Joseph $50.00 to help the work
along. Sometime afterward he went again and offered his services. Joseph Smith accepted his offer
and he acted as scribe until the first 116 pages had been deciphered. These were lost. Martin Harris
felt this loss more keenly than we think, but God was prepared, and substituted the small plates for
that which was lost.
Martin Harris was rejected because he permitted the manuscript to be seen by more than the Lord
designated in the revelation. He sorely repented, when he hard that three men were to be chosen
witnesses of the Gold Plates. He desired very much to be chosen as one of them. He went to
Joseph Smith to have him ask the Lord for the privilege. The request was granted, and he had the
privilege of seeing the wonderful visitation of the Angel Moroni, as well as seeing the Gold Plates
and signing the remarkable testimony, which he declared to be true, until the day of his death. His
dying works were a reiteration of that testimony.
Martin Harris, being called by revelation, paid $3,000 for the publication expenses of the Book of
Mormon. This amount was considered a small fortune at that time. He was also called to lay his
money before the Church to set an example before the people of the Law of Consecration. When
the Church moved westward, Martin Harris remained in Kirtland with relatives. Brigham Young
sent Edward Stephenson back to Kirtland for him. He was brought back out to Utah in 1870, his
family having preceded him there. He bore his testimony to the Divinity of the Book of Mormon,
in both the Salt Lake and Ogden tabernacles. He also went through the Endowment House in Salt
Lake City. Of his father’s family, onely three joined the Church and emigrated to Utah. He reared
a large family whose numerous descendants are found in many states. He died in Clarkston, Utah
on July 10, 1875. A beautiful monument was erected by the Church at his grave, it being dedicated
by President Heber J. Grant; July 10, 1925, fifty years from the date of his death.
Emer Harris, our worthy sire, was born in Cambridge, New York, May 29, 1781. He was also
seeking for truth and joined the Church. He was called by revelation, found in the Doctrine and
Covenants, Section 75, to go and preach the Gospel. His brother, Martin, presented him with the
first copy of the Book of Mormon off of the press. He immediately read it through, became
convinced that it was the Word of God, and was baptized along with others. He and his brother,
Martin, labored together a year and raised up a large branch of the Church in Brownshelm,
Pennsylvania. Emer Harris worked on the Kirtland Temple as well as on the Nauvoo Temple.
During the trials and tribulations of Jackson County and Nauvoo, he suffered all of the persecutions
of the Saints, yet remained true to the faith. He migrated to Utah in 1850, settling in Provo. He
held the position of a Patriarch of the Church. He died November 28, 1869 at Logan and was also
buried there. His descendants are numerous, holding responsible positions wherever they live.
Compiled by Leander S. Harris and Emma Harris Brown Jay
Retyped 12 Feb 2000 by Marilyn Walker Clark