The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Timothy D. Mallory
The Revolutionary War Patriot, Moses Harris, Sr. (William, Amos, Joseph, John) was born abt. 1760 in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine, and is the son of Capt. William Harris and Mary Bradbury who moved from North Yarmouth and purchased property in New Gloucester in 1763. His father Capt. William Harris was an experienced officer in the Revolutionary War, survived the French and Indian Wars in the mid-1700s, and commanded the New Gloucester Company of the 4th Cumberland County Regiment. The Harris family was in the first group of settlers that followed the wilderness trail from North Yarmouth, and built rustic cabins on “Harris Hill” between 1739 and 1742.
Moses Harris, Sr. married Betsey Hersey on Aug. 29, 1782 in New Gloucester by Rev. Samuel Foxcroft, and they resided in Poland, Maine. An account of their children’s births is recorded in the early vital records of Poland, Maine. James, born Mar. 4, 1783; Moses, Jr. born Aug. 28, 1784; Mary, born Apr. 16, 1786; Betty, born Feb. 17, 1788; Charles, born Nov. 26, 1795; and Thomas, born Jun. 27, 1801. The parentage of Betsey Hersey is elusive, and has not been proven with a vital record to date.
Moses Harris, Sr. served as a corporal in the Revolutionary War. He mustered into service on 1780 in Capt. Isaac Parson' company for six years of service in Col. Prime's regiment, under Brig.-Gen. Wadsworth. He survived the Rev. War, yet was killed by the falling of a tree upon him in Minot, Maine, on Jun. 28, 1789.
The Moses Harris farm in Minot was quitclaim deeded by his wife to their daughter Mary “Polly” Harris-Washburn and son-in-law Eliphalet Washburn of New Gloucester. Eliphalet Washburn was the son of Stephen Washburn, Sr. (also Rev. War Patriot) of New Gloucester. Eliphalet and Polly Washburn then sold the Harris farm to her brother Moses Harris, Jr. of Gray on Mar. 7, 1812. The Washburn family then moved to Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.
Moses Harris, Sr. was a lumberjack clearing lands for farming in the Bradbury Hill area. His burial place is not known to date, but he may have been buried in one of the two unfound Bradbury Cemeteries that were located on the now (2007) discontinued part of the Bradbury Hill Road in Minot. This Bradbury Hill Road use to connect to the Brighton Hill Road where the Harlows lived and is the area where Betsey Hersey-Harris and her 2nd husband Thomas Seabury were living in 1800. Betsey Hersey-Harris, received a widow’s pension for Moses Harris’ military service. She died abt. 1845 living with Thomas Seabury in Parkman, Maine.
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