Moses Harrison was born 8 February 1771 in New Bern, Craven Co., North Carolina.[date from Geo. W. Harrison family Bible, place from Z. D. Harrison biographical info. at GDAH]

     In the year 1773 Moses, with his parents James and Ann Harrison and siblings moved from North Carolina to the 96th District in South Carolina where James received a land grant from George III of England. [copy Land Grant] Not much is known of these years that Moses grew up on his father's farm. Moses was only 5 years old when the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776. His father and brothers, William and James, were patriots in Michael Watson's Company.

    In 1791, we found in Edgefield County Deed Book 17, p. 74, Moses witnessing the sale of land on Peters Creek of Cloud Creek, he is 20 years of age.

   In 1792 Moses is again a witness to a land sale on Ridge of Clouds Creek of the Saluda River. [Deed Book 6, p. 74]

   In 1795 we find Moses in Screven County, Georgia where he witnesses a land deed between William Mobley to Solomon Morgan. [copy of deed ]

Moses is found again in Screven County, Georgia in March of 1797. He applies for Letters of Administration on the estate of John Rains in Screven Co., Georgia. John Rains is the first husband of Abigail Morgan Rains who becomes Moses' wife. Abigail is the daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Ward) Morgan. She was born 4 December 1771 in North Carolina. Into this marriage Abigail brings a son, Joseph W. Rains, born 23 February 1795. [Genealogical Material from Legal Notices in Early Georgia Newspapers, abstracted by Judge Folks Huxford, p. 231] [GWH Family Bible]

On 12 February 1798 Moses and Abigail become parents to James W. Harrison. [GWH Family Bible]

In June of 1800 in Screven County, Georgia, Moses is sworn in as Justice of the Peace. [Information provided by Bo Smith]

In August of 1800 Moses is found buying property in Camden County, 250 acres from Claibour Wright for $400 on Little Satilla River. [Deed Bk B, p. 224]

On the 12th of January 1802, Moses and Abigail become parents to John T. Harrison. [GWH Family Bible]

In December of 1806 Moses sells 250 acres of land on the Little Satilla River to Mr. Hall for $550.00. [Deed Bk G, p. 329] This land is believed to be the Harrison homestead.

On the 20th of September 1807 Moses and Abigail become parents to George Washington Harrison. We believe the family is now in Camden County, Georgia. Land records are unclear. It appears the land in Camden was sold in 1806 and the family moved to Wayne but no documentation has been found for purchase of land in Wayne. Moses received a Headright/Bounty grant for 360 acres in Camden County in 1807. [Deed Bk. G5, p. 168]

In 1810 Moses Harrison, Esq. is appointed one of the Commissioners for the Courthouse and Jail for County of Wayne. [“Wayne Miscellany” by Margaret Coleman Jordan]

In 1812 Moses is given two land Headright/Bounty grants of 400 acres each in Wayne County, Georgia. [copy of original grants]

On the 8th of March 1812 Moses and Abigail become parents to Leaton L. Harrison. [GWH Family Bible]

In 1812 Moses and wife Abigail of Wayne County, Georgia sell land granted to Moses in 1807 to John Hardee for $25. We assume this land was swamp land. [copy of Deed] That same year Moses refuses to serve an appointment as Commissioner of the Academy of the County of Wayne [“Wayne Miscellany” by Margaret Coleman Jordan]

In 1813 Moses, Justice of the Peace, performs the marriage of Grantham and Sheffield on October the 10th. [“Wayne County, Ga., It's History & People”, edited by Bobby M. Martin; GDAH]

In 1815 we find Moses and family are now residing in Wilkinson County. This county's Courthouse has been burned four times, the last being 1928. Very little information exists today of the lives of those early Wilkinson county families.

In August of 1815, “All persons are cautioned against trading for four notes of hand executed by the subscriber to Abram Shivers, for $25.00 each...Those who trade for these notes will buy a law suit, for I am determined not to pay them... (signed) Moses Harrison, Wilkinson County, Georgia.” [Genealogical Abstracts from The Georgia Journal (Milledgeville) Newspaper, 1809-1840, Vol. 1, 1809-1818, abstracted and compiled by Fred R. Hartz and Emilie K. Hartz, Vidalia, GA. 1990]

In December of 1816 Moses is found witnessing, as a J. P., a land sale in Laurens County, Georgia. [“Laurens County Georgia Legal Records 1807-1832,”compiled by Allen Thomas]

In 1819 Abigail Harrison is found as a member of the Big Sandy Baptist Church. [“Wilkinson County Georgia Historical Collection,” by Joseph T. Maddox] Abigail and son, George W. Harrison are members, Moses is not listed as a member.

In 1820 Moses is listed as Arbitrator between Hunter and Stanly in Laurens County. [Laurens Co. Legal Records] Moses also appears in the 1820 Wilkinson County census.

In 1821 Moses is granted land in Irwin County, Lot 149, Sec. 3, from 1820-21 Land Lotteries of Georgia [The Third or 1820 Land Lottery of Ga., by Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr.]

In 1825 Moses and sons are found trading with Beall & Patterson Trading Post in Wilkinson County. [Wilkinson County, Georgia Historical Collections by Joseph T. Maddox]

In 1830 Moses is listed, with his wife and 7 slaves on the 1830 Wilkinson Co., Georgia census.

On the 13th of December 1831, Abigail dies. [GWH family Bible]

Moses follows in death on the 24th of March 1832. [GWH family Bible]
 

The children of Moses and Abigail Harrison:

James W. Harrison, born 12 February 1798. We believe he died young. No further information has been found on James, the oldest child.

John T. Harrison, born 12 January 1802, married Patsy Lindsey in Wilkinson Co., on 5 April 1822. They moved to Randolph County, Georgia and from there unknown.

George Washington Harrison, born 20 September 1807, married (1) Joicey Cannon in Wilkinson County, Georgia, (2) Frances Simpson West in Baldwin County, Georgia. Frances and George moved to Randolph County where he was elected Sec. of State of Georgia and they moved to Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., Georgia, where he died May 15, 1854.

Leaton L. Harrison, born 8 March 1812, youngest child, married (1) Martha Butler in Wilkinson County, Georgia. She was the daughter of Joel W. Butler and Patsy (Culpepper) Butler. They moved to Randolph County, Ga. where Martha died. Some of their children moved to Early County, Ga., one moved to Texas. Leaton's second wife was Georgia Ann Eldridge. Leaton's death date is unknown, he is believed to have died in Quitman County, or a surrounding county. He was last found on the 1870 Quitman Co., GA. Census.
 
 
 

A Note: Credit given to Bo Smith, now deceased, for sharing his research linking George W. Harrison to Moses Harrison and Moses Harrison to James Harrison of Clouds Creek, Edgefield Co., South Carolina.
 

Copyright 2012 Lois Harrison Colwell