Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-26
HARRISON'S CENEALOCY.
Ancestory of the Present President
of the United States.

Harrison, NirRinia's First Gov
nor, and Is No Relation TO Crom-
wells Mlnion--His Family Tree
and Crest.
There have been many statements
made TO the effect that the president
was "a descendant from Cromwell's
General Harrison, writes the Washing
ton correspondent OF the Chicago Trib-
une. The president has been written
TO on the subject, and his widely-pub-
lished reply went to show that if he
did not believe that the associate of the
"bloody CROMWELL was his an, estor
he was not entirely sure OF the fact.
ann able to asseverate aud conclu-
sively prove, | think, that the presi-
dent of the United States j. no more
descended from the regiciCe than he is
from the regicide's chief
Mr.. b. Il. Blackford, originally OF
Fredericksburg, Va, but resident of
Washington for the last five decades,
has made boraldry and genealogy his
fad for SpnGy years, and has made an
especial study OF the lineage and ances-
try OF the old Virginia families. He
fought beneath the Stars and Bars in
the rebellion, and in his democracy he
is noteworthy and unrelenting. These
facts gave an additional emphasis when
he said to me the other day:
"As an old Virginian | resent the
idea that the descendant of one OF the
Oldest OF our Virginia families and the
president OF our country should for
moment be considered TO have sprung
from regicides. The glaring character
OF the misstatement can be shown in u
few words. Cromwelfs General Har-
rison is merely supposed 10 have come
TO America after Cromwelrs death, in
1860. Now, rs | will prove TO you, the
ancestor Of the president was govern
ing Virginia in 1923, twenty-seven
years before the Cromwellite is said TO
have come to America.
MASTER JOHN HARRISON.
among the second importation of
Virginia colonists under John Smith
about the year 1909 was one Master
John Harrison, gentleman. Ia 1923 the
Virginia Company, as private corpora
ton, was eXtinguished. and Master John
Harrison was made governor OF Vir-
ginia. To him in 1915 was born a son,
who in due time became known as Ben
jamin Harrison of Surrey. This son
was the first great landed proprietor of
his name in Virginia He was buried
at Westover on the James river, and
monument was erected on the lawn of
the family estate. Ghe monument,
which is still eXtant, bears tie follow
ing epitaph:
Here lyoth the body Of Honora-
bic Benjamin Harrison, Esquire,
who did justice, loved mercy, and
walked humbly with his God was
always loyal 10 his Prince and a
great benefactor to his country.
This worthy man." continued Mr.
Blackford, left three sons. The eldest
was Benjamin Harrison, of Berkeley,
who died in April, ITO, at the age of
thirty-seven. A monument was erected
to his memory in Westover at the ex-
pense OF the state. He left son named
Benjamin, who married daughter of
Robert Carter, Of Corotoman, called
King Carter, and celebrity in those
days. This Benjamin Harrison was,
with his two daughters, killed by
lightning. OF his sons the first was
Benjamin, the great-grandfathe OF the
president, and one OF the singers Of the
Declaration OF Independence. 1t could
not have been said of him that he was
always loyal to his prince, but it can be
said that he was the father OF ruler
and the great-grandfather of q ruler OF
a country far more great and happy
than ever prince or king drew bounty
from.
The signer of the Declaration Of
Independence married Miss BaSSett
They had three sons BEN amin, Carter
Ca member OF congress) AID William
Henry, ninth president of the United
States. There was one daughter, who
married Randolph N. Wilton.
president Harrison's son, John
Scott, was the father of the president,
and | think you will admit that the
succession from Master John to the
gentleman who succeeded Mr.. Cleve-
land has been clearly shown"
HARusON's FAMILY TREE.
Mr.. Blackford rapidly drew partial
genealogical tree, which tells its own
story at glance:
MASTER JonS HARRrsov,
First governor OF Virginia in 1923
BENJAMIN HARRISON, or SURREY,
Born 1915
His son,
BENJAMIN HARRlsoN, or BERKELEY,
Died April l1LD.
His son,
BENJAMIN HARRTSoy,
Killed 10y lightning
His son,
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
Great grandfather Of the President
His son,
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON,
President OF the United States.
His son,
JOHN SCoTST HARRISON,
Father of
THE PRESIDENT.
Hugh Griggsby," continued my
genealogical enthusiasm, who insisted
on experimenting his facts with docu-
mentaIy evidence, lin his book on the
Convention of 1776,' says OF the Harri-
son family: OF all the ancient families
In the colony that OF Harrison, if not
the Oldest, is one of the Oldest.
Mr.. Blackford also showed me the
coat of arms Of the Harrison family and
described them as follows in heraldic
vernacular:
"Perpale gu. and az; an eagle dis
played or murally gorged of the first,