Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
I have been studying my FARRIS family for ten years. During this time I have compiled information that I would like to share with other cousins.
Also,I would like comments about some of my speculation on this early individual that is said to have migrated from Edinburgh, Scotland to Albemarle Colony VA/Carolina about 1663 (That part of North Carolina was considered part of Virginia by early settlers).
These are my notes for Ian Esom Farris:
ANCESTRAL HOME OF FARRIS PEOPLE, from Elvin Farris research
There are several possible origins for people, by the name of FARRIS who live in the United States. Farris people have migrated to the United States from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Lebanon, in the Middle East. There are also those of African descent, who have taken this name.
It is generally believed that IAN ESOM FARRIS came to America from Scotland. Evidence points to Ian marrying Emily Jane Cameron in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1661. Therefore, his descendants consider themselves of Scottish origin.
It should be pointed out that Farris is likely an Anglicized name. Some may call it a corruption of the original name (possibly Farie). However, for purposes of this research FARRIS, or FARIS, is the name generally used by the great majority of Ian's descendants.
POSSIBLE SCOTTISH SPELLINGS OF FARRIS, from Carole Werner <itapa@enter.net> and Elvin Farris research
There are likely to be many FARRIS lines that descend from Scottish origins. The following research indicates numerous Scottish names, from which different FARRIS families may be descended.
From The Scotch Irish V-I III page 404 "The Scotch name of Ferrie, sometimes spelled FARIE and Ferrey, has been supposed to be an abbreviation of Ferrier, but a respected correspondent of the suther, of this surname, is of opinion that the name was originally adopted by the one who kept a ferry (boat).
In and about Glasgow, (Scotland) the name was at one time, and maybe yet, a common one. In the parish of Rutherglen, in the neighborhood of that city, a family of the name of FARIE has been settled for about six hundred years." (Book can be ordered through Genealogical Publishing Co)
From the Surnames of Scotland, by Black "The names Ferres, Ferries, Ferris, From (Mac) Ferries, q.v., or simply a corruption of Fergus, q.v. Old (17th Century) spellings are: Feres, Ferres, Phires, Pheres, and Ferries.
By local usage in Aberdeenshire Ferris is a contraction of Ferguson. Ferries also occurs as a diminutive of Farquharson."
"MacFerries-G.Macfhearghuis (Fear'uis) 'son of Fergus' q.v. Andreas McFeris, one of the king's tenants in Crethnard, Strathdee, 1527-39" (Grant III, page 68; ER, xvii page 528) "Patrick McFers, tenant in Easter Micras (Estir Mecra) 1539" (ER, xvii page 659)
Katherine M'Ferries, who was accused of witchcraft in Aberdeen, 1597, also appears in record without Mac'. Thomas McPhereis in Crathinhard is mentioned in 1603 and John Bane McPhires in the same place in 1643. The name also occurs in seventeenth century records as M'Pheires, Feres, Phires, Ferries, Pheres.
OTHER RESEARCHERS' WORK ON IAN'S SCOTTISH ORIGIN & FIRST FARRIS OF RECORD (For this line)
1) From John Farris McGauhey, Jr. research
IAN ESOM FARRIS was from Rutherglen, Scotland, where the FARRIS (FARIE) people (see above notes) had lived for 600 years before emigrating to Albemarle Settlement, North Carolina in 1663. (This information came from A Partial Genealogy of the Farris Family, by John Farris McGauhey, Jr. of Dallas, TX. In print and available through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Book No. 929.273 A1 no. 8321. Typescript, 1887-1888);
2) From Randall Farris and Sandra McIntire research; also book by McPherson, Nation Builders; Ancestral File: August 1893, Annadale, Virginia Family History Center, April 1994, submitted by Catherine Deon Hart Farris, Cloverdale, California.
Information suggests that JAMES ESOM FARRIS, IAN'S grandson, left a record that contained the following paraphrased remarks:
"My grandfather was IAN ESOM FARRIS, who married EMILY JANE CAMERON 20 May 1661, in Edinburgh, Scotland and came to the Albemarle Colony in 1663."
Ian and his wife had five sons: Peter, Samuel, Isaac, William, and Henry (not necessarily in order of birth). It is generally agreed that most, if not all the children were born in the American colonies.
FARRIS FAMILY BIBLE
If the above remarks were from a Bible, it may be the one that burned when the home of Joseph Dowis Farris burned, near Walden, Whitley Co., Kentucky. Three different people have started a Farris family history, and all three of these, at different times and different places have quoted the above information on Ian Esom Farris. All three of these came from the Whitley County, Kentucky area. It is entirely possible that this Bible passed from James Esom Farris through his son, John Farris, to John Isham Farris to Joseph Dowis Farris.
Another source suggests that the above information was engraved on "a piece of leather" and framed, and that later, the "leather" was removed and discarded, and the frame used to make a shadow-box. This was in Whitley Co. in one of the Gatliff families.
OTHER SONS
**It is possible that the Isaac and William that Randall Farris listed were the Isaac and William of North Carolina, in which case the records tend not to support the theory that they were sons of Ian. But, not knowing the source of Randall's information I will not remove them until further proof is found. skm
Source (s): Randall Farris
** Sandra McIntire (updated 5/9/96)
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH NEEDED
If Ian Esom Farris and his wife, Emily Jane Cameron Farris, emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland to the Albemarle region of Carolina about 1663, they were some of the earliest European settlers in this area. A time line of early North Carolina history, as well as shipping records of early cargo/passenger ships follows:
EARLY NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY
From North Carolina Museum of History
ROANOKE COLONY
1585- Sir Richard Grenville, of the Revenge, brought the first English colony to America and settled on Roanoke Island. He left another small group there in 1586. The settlement was called “Roanoke.” During its early life, Sir Frances Drake rescued the first colony from starvation. He is famous as the first English circumnavigator of the globe and as the preeminent seadog and explorer of English history.
August 18, 1587- Virginia Dare was the first child of English parentage born in the New World. She was born in the “Citie of Raleigh in Virginia
1587 to 1590- Roanoke Island colony struggled to survive.Because of England’s preoccupation with Spain and its attempted invasion, efforts to relieve the Roanoke colony failed. Only two small pinnaces could be spared and these did not reach Roanoke.
August 16, 1590- Governor White, Capain Cooke, and Captain Spicer arrived to relieve the colony. They set forth in two boats for Roanoke Isand. No settlers could be found. This became known as the “Lost Colony of Roanoke.” The only clue was the carving on a tree “CROATAN.”
1590 to 1652- . During the next sixty years there were virtually no Europeans in the area now known as North Carolina
1652- Rev. Green of Nansemond County, Virginia entered Carolina.
LATER SETTLEMENTS
July 1653 Rev. Green applied for a grant of 10,000 acres for the first 100 people who should settle in the Albemarle region. The area was considered to be part of Virginia. It lay along the Roanoke River and on the south side of the Chowan River. Rev. Green received 1,000 acres for his efforts. This was the second settlement in present-day North Carolina, the first being the ill-fated Roanoke Island colony.
1655- Nathaniel Batts was the first known permanent white settler. He built a two room home three miles south of present-day Chowan River bridge in Bertie County. His deed was from an Indian chief of Yeopin in present-day Perquimans County.
1661- George Durant settled in Carolina
1663- Calib Calloway, who had received an earlier grant, settled sometime after 1663.
1663- King Charles II of England granted Carolina to eight supporters called "Lords Proprietors." The region, which included present-day North and South Carolina, stretched from Albemarle Sound in the north to present-day Florida in the south and west to the Pacific Ocean. The Proprietors divided this land into three counties: Albemarle, Clarendon, and Craven. Scottish merchant William Drummond was appointed governor of Albemarle County, the only one of the three counties with colonists.
June 30, 1665- The Lords Proprietors’ charter was amended to include settlements in the Albemarle region previously considered a part of Virginia. The Albemarle County Assembly, North Carolina’s earliest legislative assembly, met for the first time in 1665.
1666- Peter Carteret, assistant governor of Albemarle County, granted a license to three New England men to hunt whales along Carolina’s northeast coast. This is the earliest known document indicating commercial whaling in the colony.
August 27, 1667- A severe hurricane swept along the coast, destroying settlements in the Cape Fear and Albemarle regions.
May 1, 1668- The Great Deed of Grant from the Lords Proprietors permitted Albemarle settlers to hold lands under same terms as colonists in Virginia.
1669- Laws reduced the land tax and gave settlers five years’ immunity from suits over former debts. This encouraged immigration.
In an attempt to tighten their control over unruly Albemarle colonists, the Lords Proprietors issued the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, written by John Locke. This document increased the power of appointed officials, decreased the power of elected officials, and made ownership of 50 acres of land a requirement for voting.
1670- The County of Albemarle was divided into Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Chowan Precincts.
The Ashley River settlement (present-day Charleston, S.C.) was founded. Its excellent port made it easy for people there to ship goods to England.
1672- George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and missionary William Edmundson visited Albemarle and converted many colonists to Quakerism. Edmundson preached the first sermon in the colony near the site of Hertford. Quakers became the first religious body to obtain a foothold in Carolina and the only communion of importance before 1700.
1673- The Plantation Duty Act required that all colonies trade directly with England or face heavy duties on goods. Albemarle colonists resisted because their lack of an adequate harbor required them to ship goods to northern colonies before they could be shipped to England. Albemarle governor John Jenkins refused to enforce the act.
1675- Chowanoc Indians attacked white settlements in Carolina. The uprising was quelled with the "loss of many men."
Factionalism emerged in the colony between newer residents, who favored Proprietary rule, and older settlers, who disagreed with the way the Proprietors ruled Albemarle. Two leaders of the Proprietary faction, Thomas Eastchurch and Thomas Miller, clashed with Governor John Jenkins, a leader of anti-Proprietary sentiment. Jenkins jailed Miller for “treasonable utterances” and attempted to dissolve the assembly. The majority of that body disagreed with Jenkins, however, and he was deposed and jailed.
GROWTH OF SHIPPING & PORT ACTIVITY From Bath; Edenton; New Bern; and Wilmington, (North Carolina-History) Websites, and Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828, Volumes 1-3, David Dobson,
There was very little shipping activity to the Carolina ports before 1730. Of 225 ship crossings between Scotland and American colonies, the only ships that were recorded as visiting the Carolina region were those that entered Charleston, South Carolina. More ships entered Virginia ports than all the other ports along the eastern seaboard combined. Could some of these vessels that “arrived in Virginia” have visited Edenton, located on the Chowan River? This area of Carolina was still considered part of Virginia when Edenton was settled.
By the early eighteenth century permanent settlements were established along the Carolina coast. These settlements were developed along the major waterways of Carolina. The small communities of Bath, New Bern, Edenton, and Brunswick were established between 1705 and 1726 (see comments that follow)
PAMLICO RIVER
1705- Bath became Carolina’s first town. A library sent to St. Thomas Parish in 1701 became the first public library in the colony. Bath was also the haunt of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. He is said to have married a local girl and briefly settled in the little harbour town about 1716.
NEUSE AND TRENT RIVERS
1710- New Bern was built. It was located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent river. New Bern was settled by Swiss and German adventurers, led by Baron Christopher de Graffenried from Bern, Switzerland. New Bern is the second oldest town in the state. Royal Governor William Tryon made this seaport his colonial capitol and residence. Tryon Palace was built in 1770.
ALBEMARLE SOUND AND CHOWAN RIVER
1715- Edenton was orginally incorporated in 1715 as “The Towne on Queene Anne’s Creek;” later as “Ye Towne on Mattercommack Creek;” and still later as “The Port of Roanoke.”
1722- The town was re-named Edenton in 1722 in honor of Governor Charles Eden. Edenton was the capital of the Carolina Colony and was the home of the Royal Governors.
CAPE FEAR RIVER
1726- Brunswick was established. It was located on the west bank of the Cape Fear River, near the ocean. Brunswick suffered a number of misfortunes before disappearing about the time of the Revolution.
Late 1720’s- Village of Newton was laid out 20 miles upriver from Brunswick.
1739- Amid political wrangling, Newton was incorporated as Wilmington, in honor of the Governor’s patron, Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington. It is estimated that by the time it was incorporated, Wilmington had 30-35 houses.
Pine trees were the engine driving settlement of the Cape Fear. At the time, the area had one of the largest accessible stands in the world. From them came tar, pitch, and turpentine; products necessary to keep wooden ships afloat. Britain, with the world's largest navy, had a huge appetite for the so called maritime stores. As a result, the region flourished. By 1768, more naval stores cleared the Cape Fear than any other port in the British Empire.
IAN’S MIGRATION DATE FROM SCOTLAND
From Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828, Vol. 1, 2, & 3, by David Dobson
No records have been found to confirm the 1663 emigration date of Ian and Emily Farris, other than the family Bible record (mentioned above). David Dobson’s research of vessels traveling between Scotland and the American colonies includes voyages made during the 1600’s. His research does not include any arrivals in 1663. The closest arrival dates are 1666. However, he states that his records (about 115 crossings during the 1600’s) include only a small part of the total voyages made.
Ian and Emily probably arrived in the colonies at a port in Virginia about 1663. The port of Charlestowne (Charleston) was not developed until 1670. Dobson’s earliest records of vessels arriving at Carolina (Charleston) was 1682. The settlements of Bath, Edenton, New Bern,Brunswick, Wilmington were not established until the early eighteenth century. There is no existing record to establish 1663 as the actual year that Ian and Emily arrived, so other years should be checked, too.
Could Ian and Emily have traveled on one of these vessels?
.
Note: Leith is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland. Most of the ships are described as originating in Leith, Scotland.
1666
Phoenix of Leith, master James Gibson, from Leith to Virginia with passengers 5.1666 (ETR#107)(EBR, 25.4.1666); 39 passengers arrived in York County, Virginia before 12.11.1666 (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: York County Records Project:DOW(04)-109), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 99
1667
Ewe and Lamb, master John Guthrie, from Leith to Virginia 1.1667, (RPC.2.201/446; 3.198/523/650) (SRO.E72.15.12/16), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 41
Job of Leith, master John Gourlay, from Leith to Virginia, returned 3.1667, from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 69
Elizabeth of Leith, master Andrew Spankie, from Leith to Virginia with passengers 1667 (RPCS.2.358), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 39
1668
Concordance, from Leith and Aberdeen to Virginia, with passengers, Letter 22.8.1668), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 28
Convertin, Captain Lightfoot, from Leith to Virginia, with 8+ passengers 9.1668 (RPCS.2.503/534), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 29
Ewe and Lamb, master John Guthrie, from Leith to Virginia 1668, (RPC.2.201/446; 3.198/523/650) (SRO.E72.15.12/16), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 41
Star of Perterhead, master John Kerr, from Prestonpans, in Virginia Oct. 1668 (AC7/4), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 2, p. 153
1669
Ewe and Lamb, master John Guthrie, from Leith to Virginia 1669 (RPC.2.201/446; 3.198/523/650) (SRO.E72.15.12/16), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 41
Charles of Leith, from Leith to the Plantations 6.1669, with passengers (RPCS/3.III.21), from Ships from Scotland to America 1628-1828 Vol. 1, p. 24
LATER YEARS
Ian, Emily, and their family have been described as living somewhere on the Roanoke River. This river runs through Virginia and North Carolina. Their home must have been located somewhere near the Virginia/Carolina border.
One child of Ian and Emily was Henry Farris. He moved to Henrico Co. area of Virginia and later is said to have lived in Petersburg, Virginia.
FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDED:
Because of the scarcity of information for Ian Esom Farris, the "original Farris immigrant" should be considered NOT PROVEN. Therefore other sources should be checked to verify this ancestor in order to determine the correct individual.
Study further the following individuals, all of which were INDENTURED SERVANTS, who were listed in the following land sales in Virginia colony during the mid to late 1600's, They were transferred (with others) along with the property.
Jno Farrs, 3-18-1662 Charles City County/James City County.
Jno Ferres, 10-2-1664, Northampton County
Jno Ferress, 11-9-1666, Accomack County
John Ferres, 10-9-1672, Northampton County
John Farch, 4-20-1685, Isle of Wight County
Since Ian is the Scottish version of John, it is possible that one of the above individuals is our "original immigrant." Shipping records should be studied further to determine if any of the above individuals came from Scotland.
One possiblity: John Ferress was listed as an indentured servant "transferred" during land sale November 9, 1666. The "Phoenix of Leith" arrived in York County, Virginia, from Leith, Scotland sometime before November 12, 1666. Was John one of the 39 passengers on board?
Y BASED CHROMOSOME TESTING
As of April 2005, five descendants of Ian Esom Farris have received their Y-DNA test results from DNA Heritage, in England. Four of the five “cousins” claim descent from Ian Esom Farris through his grandchildren. The Y-DNA test, which consists of 43 DNA “markers,” records different regions of DNA that are repeated several times. This DNA sequence is copied exactly when it is passed onto future generations through the male descendants. Except for an occasional change, or “mutation,” these sequence numbers remain virtually unchanged. The Y based chromosome test enables one to determine relationships with other individuals who have same or similar surnames and claim a common ancestor. The more exact, or almost exact matches these “cousins” have, the more they can document, through blood, their genealogical connections. In addition, they can also discover their earliest known ancestor’s “paternal ANCESTORS” migrations before recorded history.
Three of the five descendants have an EXACT MATCH on all 43 markers. One has a difference of one repeat in one of 43 markers, and one descendant has a difference of one repeat in one marker, and a difference of two repeats in one marker. The group that these five Ian Esom Farris descendants belong to is subhaplogroup I1a.
PRESHISTORIC PATERNAL ORIGINS
From “Phylogeography of Y-Chromosome Haplogroup I Reveals Distintive Domains of Prehistoric Gene Flow in Europe,” American Journal of Human Genetics, 75:128-137, 2004
To investigate which aspects of contemporary human Y-chromosome variation in Europe are characteristic of primary colonization, late-glacial expansion from refuge areas, Neolithic dispersals, or more recent events of gene flow, we have analyzed, in detail, haplogroup I (Hg I), the only major clade of the Y phylogeny that is widespread over Europe but virtually absent elsewhere. The analysis of 1,104 Hg I Y chromosomes, which were identified in the survey of 7,574 males from 60 poplulatin samples, revealed several subcladed with distinct geographical distributions. Subclade I1a accounts for most of Hg I in Scandinavia, with a rapidly decreasing frequency toward both the East European Plain and the Atlantic fringe, but microsatellite diversity reveals that France could be the source region of the early spread of both I1a and the less common I1c.
Subgroup I1a is mostly found in northern Europe, with its highest frequencies in Scandinavian populations, where it accounts for 88-100% of Norweigan, Swedish, and Sammi lineages. I1a has a decreasing gradient from its peak frequency in Scandinavia toward both the Urals and the Atlantic periphery. Since the Scandinavian Peninsula was completely depopulated during the last Glacial migration (ice age), two main European areas, the Iberian Peninula/southern France and the Ukrain/Central Russian Plain, can be considered as possible source regions of Scandinavian I1a chromosomes.
Notify Administrator about this message?
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/farris/messages/3189.html | ||
 |
Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|