Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

died October 18, 1735. He married, December
14, 1680, Abigail Barnes, born
March 16, 1657, died May 22, 1723, daughter
of Thomas Barnes, of New Haven,
later of Middletown.
Thomas Harris, youngest child of Daniel
and Abigail (Barnes) Harris, was born
about 1695 m New London ; was a tan-
ner, settled in Wethersfield, Connecti-
cut, where he died in the spring of 1774.
In 1755 he built a house on South Hill,
Wethersfield, which is still in good condition
and occupied by his descendants. He
married, December 18, 1729, Anne Nott,
born July 29, 1699, died October 9, 1769,
daughter of John and Patience (Miller)
Nott.
The youngest child of this marriage
was Thomas Harris, born May 7, 1743, in
Wethersfield, died there December 27,
1774, at the early age of thirty-one years.
He married, July 26, 1770, Abigail Rob-
bins, born April 29, 1749, died August 8,
1796, daughter of Joshua (2) and Mary
(Wells) Robbins. She married (second)
Dr. Josiah Hart.
Her eldest child was Thomas Harris,
born February 8, 1771, in Wethersfield,
was a farmer there, and died May 2, 1829.
He married, February 8, 1797, Sarah
Crane, born May 7, 1772, died February
7, 1829, five days after her husband;
daughter of Hezekiah and Mary (Dix)
Crane. They were the parents of ten
children, of whom the youngest receives
extended mention hereinafter.
Chauncey Harris, youngest child of
Thomas and Sarah (Crane) Harris, was
born September 28, 1816, and was only
thirteen years of age when his parents
died. He early formed habits of indus-
try and self-reliance and achieved for
himself considerable distinction as an
educator, gaining at the same time a high
position in the hearts of his contempor-
aries. When a child, he lost several fin-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
34i
gers of his right hand and was thus incapacitated
for many forms of labor. Nat-
urally a student, he made the most of his
opportunities in order to fit himself for
a professional life. At an early age he
began teaching in the district school near
his home, and rapidly gained success as
an instructor, and taught in schools at
Bristol and Meriden, Connecticut; Hemp-
stead, Long Island ; and Rock Island, Il-
linois. In 1844 he was elected principal
of the south district school in Hartford,
at that time a three-room building,
located on the present site of St. Peter's
Church, the only public school in the dis-
trict. He continued in charge of this
school until his death, February 12, 1875.
In honor of his memory, the school has
been named the Chauncey Harris school.
Mr. Harris was distinguished for his
great poise, remarkable self-control, in-
dustry and exceedingly kind disposition.
While gentle in manner, he was at once
firm and just, and had a remarkable gift
for management of schools. For many
years he was in charge of the Hartford
Orphan Asylum, but resigned this be-
cause the labors were too great in connection
with his work as a teacher. Upon
the paternal farm at South Hill, Wethers-
field, he built a house, where he resided
during the latter part of his life. Profes-
sor Harris had a remarkable influence
over the young, and was distinguished for
his piety and most upright life, and was
widely mourned when death closed his
labors.
He married, May 6, 1845, Emeline
Wells, who was born about 1820 in
Wethersfield, daughter of George and
Prudence (Deming) Wells, a descendant
of Governor Thomas Wells, of Wethers-
field. They were the parents of the fol-
lowing children : George Wells, who is
now a farmer in Wethersfield ; Frances
Estelle, wife of E. Newton Loveland
;