WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
There was one "Master John Harrison" who was a colonial governor
of Virginia, in the year sixteen hundred and twenty-three (1623)
(Smith's History of Virginia) elected by the Colonists to the place of
the governor sent out, who died during the year. The families of
Berkely and Brandon are descended from him.
Benjamin Harrison (Hon.) of Surry county, born in Southwark Parish,
in that county, in the year sixteen hundred and forty-five (1645)
and who died 1713. His tombstone is at Cabin Point Chapel, and
his will recorded at Surry C. H. He is called "Hon. Benjamin Harrison,
Esq.," on his tombstone. Benjamin had three sons and one daughter.
Benjamin the eldest settled at Berkely, in the county of Charles City,
and married Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Burwell, of Gloucester county,
by whom he had one son, Benjamin, and one daughter, Elizabeth. He
died at the age of thirty-seven in the year 1710. His tombstone and
that of his wife may be seen at Westover burying ground.
Benjamin married Anne, daughter of Robert Carter, of Carotoman,
commonly called "King Carter." He and two of his daughters were
killed at Berkely by lightning.
Benjamin, his eldest son, was one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence. Of the remaining sons, Nathaniel settled in Prince
George county, Henry in Surry; Robert in Charles City. Charles was a
general of Cavalry in the Revolutionary war; Carter in Cumberland
county, at Clifton; Benjamin the signer, married Miss Bassitt, and by
her had three (3) sons Benjamin, Carter Bassit, and William Henry, a
general of 1812, and afterwards President of the United States. The
daughters married, David Copeland, John Minge, Dr. Richmon, and
the fourth twice, first Peyton Randolph, and second, Captain Singleton.
Benjamin Jr's Son Nathaniel, settled at Wakefield, in Surry county.
Nathaniel, of Wakefield, Surry county, married Wilmuth Munford, and
by her had one son, whose name was Benjamin Munford, his mother
and father died before he was seven years of age, when Wm. Allen was
appointed his guardian.
Benjamin Munford Harrison was born in New Kent county, at the
residence of his maternal grandmother, November 17, 1788, and married
Agnes Atkinson. of Mayfield, who died without issue; his second
marriage was to Dolly Pleasants Gray Briggs Carter Nicholas, of Norborne,
in the county of Dinwiddie, Virginia. Dolly (Benjamin Munford's
wife), was a daughter of Robert Carter Nicholas, of Norborne,
Dinwiddie county, and granddaughter of Col. John Nicholas, who married
Dolly. Pleasants Briggs, daughter of Gray Briggs, of "Comans
Well," Surry county. Benjamin Munford, by Dolly P. Nicholas, had
two sons and two daughters, to wit: Nathaniel Cole, John Nicholas,
Agnes Atkinson, and Ann Eliza Carter.
Nathaniel Cole Harrison, was born at "Cat-tails," Amelia county,
Virginia, in the year 1820, March 28th, and died September 28, 1887,
at Petersburg, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Leigh Drinkard, by
whom he had one son and two daughters, to wit: William Henry, Mary
Heth. and Wilmuth Munford Harrison.
William Henry Harrison, was born at Petersburg, Virginia, December
30, 1843, and attended school in Petersburg. He entered the Confederate
States Army when a little over eighteen years of age, in March,
1862, in Company A, 12th Virginia Regiment. He was captured
October 27, 1864, at Burgess' Mill, and held at Point Lookout until
March 8, 1865. Among the battles in which he took part, are—Seven
Pines, Fraziers Farm, Falling Creek, Drewrys Bluff, Fredericksburg,
Second Manassas, Crampton Gap (Antietam), Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania,
Petersburg, Crater, Reem's Station, Farmville; and surrendered
at Appomattox Court House. From 1872 to 1880 he was Commissioner
of Revenue for Petersburg. He is now engaged in business in Petersburg
as dealer in carriages, buggies, wagons, and manufacturer of
harness, saddles, etc. In this city, October 27, 1875, he married Rosa
West, of Richmond, Virginia; she is the daughter of George Montgomery
West, who was born at Concord, New Hampshire, and who
died in 1860. Her mother, Evlyn Quarles, was born in Richmond,
Virginia, died in 1858. John West Harrison, first-born of the children
of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, is no longer living. Their remaining children
are: Ann Elizabeth Harrison (Elise), William Henry Harrison, jr.,
George West Harrison, Nathaniel Cole Harrison, jr., and Helen West
Harrison.
