Person Record Title

James Harris (1755-1813)

Identifier

NJS-PER-00463

Given Name

James

Family Name

Harris

Birth Date

1755

Death Date

1813

Sex

Male

Biographical Description

James Harris (1755-1813) was an enslaver who resided in Piscataway, Middlesex County, NJ. He was married to a woman named Jane. In addition to Piscataway, the family is also associated with Bound Brook, Somerset County; they were members of the Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook. The Harris family were enslavers, with at least two enslaved persons in the household at the time of James Harris's death.

James Harris's will, written in May 1813, about three months before his death, mentioned a Black woman named Mary and her daughter Bet. Harris wished for Mary and Bet to be set free after his death. His wife Jane and friend Lefferd Waldron Sr were the executors of his will.

Keywords

white person

enslaver

Place of Significance

Piscataway

Bound Brook

Enslaver of

Mary

Spouse of

Jane Harris Covert (1757-1841)

Same As

James Harris, Memorial ID 15753251 (Find a Grave)

Record Contributor

Isaac Guzmán

Jesse Bayker