[Tarsha]

Hello to all. My family started researching our family history just last October 2004. We wanted to trace our family history to our Ancestor Jane Harrison. She was born around 1836 or 1837. We were hoping that we could trace our family history even further past the early 1800’s. For months I have been searching the Internet hoping to find information on Brunswick County, VA or a forum about Brunswick County. Just my luck I found the website http://www.winwinworld.net/GolfCourse/Indian.htm

I found some very useful and helpful information posted by Barry Carter and Ralph Travis. I forwarded the website address to other family members. I currently reside in Texas. I grew up in Brunswick County, the Ante area. I had no idea that our county had so much history. My ancestors and family members orginated from Brunswick County, Virginia. I attended Meherrin Powellton Elementary, James Solomon Russell Jr. High, and graduate from Brunswick Senior High School. During my school years of the late 70’s and in the 80’s such detailed African American and Indian History was not taught in school as it is today. Currently, I reside in Texas. My grandmother is 88 years old and has lived in Brunswick County all her life. I remember her and my grandfather telling me stories of their family and events of the past. Her grandfather Austin Claiborne parents where believed to have been slaves in Brunswick County. I believe that I was told a family story that Austin was at least under the age of 10 or so when he found himself on an Indian Reservation in the Brunswick County area. My grandmother husband, now deceased, family was from Greentown. My grandfather was a Harrison, he told me many stories of his Harrison family history. Some stories I remember and some stories I have forgotten. As a child I really didn’t understand how important family history is to people. I realize now as an adult that is is very important to know your ancestry orgins. We consider my grandmoter a family historian. Currently, my Harrison family is research our family history. My ancestor Jane Harrison, my grandfather’s great-great-grandmother was born about 1836 or 1837. Below is family history that is known to us.

**Jane Harrison was born in Virginia. She died on March 29, 1905 at the age of 68. Jane Harrison is buried in the Powell/Harrison Family Cemetery in Ante, Virginia (Brunswick County close to the Greensville County line) on her property on Brandy Creek Road. Jane Harrison land was also called the Jane Harrison tract along the Brandy Creek Line near the Meherrin River. Jane Harrison was a Caucasian woman, who had five (5) bi-racial children. She owned landed and was also known as a farmer according to the Lawrenceville court records. I am not sure if Jane and her children where taught how to read or write. They all signed their name with a mark (an X). Jane owned over 200 acres of land. Also, I was told her daughter Sally, had many acres. It is not known, but I assuming this land was conveyed to her. Jane’s bi-racial children are as follows: Richard Harrison, Benjamin Harrison, Samuel Harrison, James Harrison and Sarah (Sally) Harrison-.Ellis-Powell-Meredith. I found in my research that Brunswick County was also called New Brunswick., and before the establishment of counties there was a St. Andrews and Meherrin Parrish. During the 1880 U.S Census Jane lived in the Sturgeon District of Brunswick County, Virginia. Jane’s husband is unknown. He could have possibly been Indian or African descent. In my research I found that Brunswick County didn’t list any residents as Indian. Residents where documented as being Mulatto (Bi or Tri-racial), Black, or White. Ancestry.com offers a free 1880 U.S. Census.

In my research I found that the total population of Brunswick County, VA in 1880 was 16,639 people. (5,989 where listed as White) (9, 262 as Black) (1,383 as Mulatto) , 0 Asians, 0 Chinese, 0 Indian, and 0 Mexican.

Jane’s bi-racial son Benjamin Harrison had 2 sons and 4 daughters. William Henry Harrison, we call Grandpa Flint born 1879 (oldest child), Van Harrison, Ree H. Daniel, Dora H. Banks, Mary Harrison and Claudia Harrison-Pearson. I was told that a lot of our bi-racial or tri-racial family members married other bi-racial and tri-racial families. My Harrison family was known to be free persons. Farmers, and may possible be listed in the Brunswick Country registry of Free Negroes and Mulattos.

***William Henry Harrison (Grandpa Flint) was married to Francis Green Banks. Francis Green Banks mother name was Sue Green from Virginia. After Francis Green Banks husband died, she later married William Henry Harrison. Francis Green Banks -Harrison had two children from her previous marriage. Her children where Buck and Leah Banks. William Henry Harrison and Francis Green had 5 sons and 3 daughters together. Their children are Roy, Peter, Marvin, Curtis, Will, Gladys, Ora, and Sylena. After William Henry Harrison and Francis Green Banks-Harrison divorced. Buck Banks continued to live with William Henry Harrison and Leah Banks lived with her mother. William Henry Harrison got remarried. He married Maggie (Becky) Brown. They had no children together. Francis Green Banks-Harrison remarried to a Moss. Francis Green Banks-Harrison-Moss and her husband had no children together. Our family SURNAMES are Harrison, Ellis, Powell, Ross, Meredith, Jefferson, Banks, Green, Pearson, Lundy, Daniel, Brown, Moss, etc. Any information concerning the bi-racial Harrison’s and Powell’s of Brunswick County will be helpful. Please contact me at family@harrisonsconnect.com. Thank you!

–Tarsha

Jane Harrison’s great-great-great granddaughter

[Bill Childs]

Hi Tarsha! and Welcome to the Forum,

You’ve accomplished a great deal of work.

Let’s see what we can do to help you further.

Bill

[Tarsha]

Thanks Bill! If anyone has any information, little or a lot, it will help with our family history search. I have already received e-mails from viewers of my posting. Thanks everyone for contacting me.

Tarsha

[barryc]

Hello Cousin:

I am from Greentown. My uncle Ralph Travis still lives there along with lots of other cousins.

We have so many cousins all over the country and we are constantly meeting new ones. Many we are finding are deep into Indian culture independent of one another and it has been a joy with us all coming together. We are also connected with other Indian communities in Southside VA.

We are doing lots of research and projects.

[Shardel]

I was reading microfilm from the Library of Virginia for Wythe County births 1861.

There was a Peter Powell Ross, father. The child’s name was Sampson Ross. The

mother’s name was unreadable. The birth place was listed as Mt. Airy which was

the earlier name for Rural Retreat.

I checked the census records for 1860 and 1870 in Wythe County Virginia. Peter

Ross is not listed in either census. Sampson Ross is not listed in the 1870 census.

Do you have any information on Peter Powell Ross in your family records?

[Author]

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