JOHN HARRIS DAR MEMORIAL MARKER PRESENTATION, Anderson County, SC

Version 2.3, 27-May-2006, C298m.TXT, C298m


********************************************************************************

It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within 
these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to 
Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines.  
 
COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public-
domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are 
considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have 
Author permission for public-domain.  Facts, names, dates, events, places & data 
can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be 
copyrighted.  Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the 
presentation of this data. 

REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal 
or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would 
like to give any author compiling credit.

AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD

*********************************************************************** 05-01-15


By: Seneca Daily Journal, 4-May-2006

Bob Harris, of Walhalla, uses his boat to frequent the gravesite of his 
ancestors, as he is a direct descendant of the marriage between John Harris, the 
son of a Maryland Presbyterian minister and Mary Pickens, the eldest daughter of 
Gen. Andrew Pickens and Rebecca Calhoun.

The burial site is situated on a small hourglass-shaped island off Oconee Point 
Park, where the waters of Coneross Creek once merged with the Seneca River.

Large hardwood trees shade freshly hewn granite burial markers now sitting 
beside larger stone slabs, some placed there nearly 250 years ago. Other graves 
are marked by mere bowling-ball size roughly shaped rocks bearing the effaced 
etchings of long-ago dates.

The knoll, once part of the Harris .family estate - some of the first lands 
claimed by Back Country settlers - has long been the final resting place
of at least two of this state's most outstanding contributors to colonial 
American history.

Some years ago, a bronze monument with information describing the life and
military accomplishments of Harris was incorrectly affixed atop the grave marker 
of his father - Col. John Harris III (1789-1838), a veteran of the War of 1812. 
This error occurred because unknown persons removed the markers for Pickens and 
Harris during the construction of the man-made lake, says Harris.

The elder John Harris (1762-1845), referred to as "Private John" by family, 
joined the state militia in Abbeville at age 16. Wounded in earlier battles, he 
went on to fight at Cowpens and also participated in the siege of Yorktown. At 
the close of the war, Harris married Mary Pickens and with "bounty money" paid 
to evolutionary soldiers, acquired land for a plantation and for more than 40
years, served as the area's "high sheriff" as well as magistrate
judge.

Now, at the behest of the Daughter's of the Revolution, and specifically the 
efforts of Marion Whitehurst, a DAR member who spearheaded their replacement, 
the new headstones will stand as the first "official" monuments for the 
patriots.

A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for May 15 2006.

HARRIS, John, b. 6-dec-1762, d. 24-apr-1845, revolutionary war private, John, p. 
john harris & mary harris, private in colonel williamson's sc regiment, war of 
1812