Joseph Percivall Harrison

Joseph Percivall Harrison

• Father: James Gabriel Harrison b. 19 May 1776, d. 9 September 1863
• Mother: Hixcey Robertson b. circa 1780, d. say 1815

• Joseph Percivall Harrison was born on 22 February 1807 in Warren County, North Carolina.
• He married Lucy Burch, daughter of George Burch and Elizabeth Crisp, on 7 December 1826 in Williamson County, Tennessee, solemnized by Gilbert Marshall, JP.
• It is an educated guess that James H. Harrison was the son of Joseph Harrison and Lucy Burch, named for Joseph's father and mother, James Harrison and Hixcey Robinson. Joseph's father and other family were living in Kentucky at the time of his birth. We have found, however, no additional evidence to support the relationship. According to a few researchers, his middle name was Hayden. He was probably born too early to have been their child.
• It is an educated guess that Lucretia Harrison was the daughter of Joseph Harrison and Lucy Burch, named for her mother and sent to live with relatives after Lucy's death, then traveled to Illinois with others in the Burch family. However, researcher Robert Buecher has Lucretia's birth in Illinois, parents George Frederick Harrison (born Belfast, Ireland) and Rhoda Quick. It is noteworthy that Tennessee is only recorded as her birthplace in the 1850 census, elsewhere Illinois. Consequently, it now seems unlikely that she was the daughter of Joseph and Lucy Burch Harrison.
• Joseph Percivall Harrison became a widower at the between 1837 and 1838 death of his wife Lucy Burch.
• He married Emily Rochell on 5 October 1838 in Davidson County, Tennessee, solomnized by E. S. Halls, J.P.
• It is possible that he was in Shelby County, Illinois, in 1840, although number of persons and ages in the household are not a good match for the family.
• Joseph Harrison appears in the 1846 tax list in Walker County (formed in 1846 from Montgomery County), Texas, as owner of a horse, four cattle and some furniture. Since taxes collected in Spring 1846 were for the prior year, this indicates that the family was in Walker County in 1845.
• Joseph Percivall Harrison and Emily Rochell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Walker County, Texas. Other members of the household included Martha Frances Harrison, Mary L. Harrison, Richard Stanford Harrison and Milton Harrison.
• Joseph Percivall Harrison appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas, at State Penitentiary enumerated both at his residence and at his place of work.
• He was a prison guard "sergeant," according to the 1850 census.
• On 12 November 1858, Pleasant Williams Kittrell wrote in his journal: "Jo. Harrison (at the Penitentiary). Some months since, Jo came to me in the street and said that he wanted ten dollars. I owed him five dollars for a sow, which I had sometime before bought of him. I handed him a ten dollar gold piece with this understanding, that half of it was to go for the hog which I had bought of him and the balance for another if I wanted one. If not, he is to return me the money. I took no note or due bill or shewing of any kind."
• On 25 November 1858, Pleasant Williams Kittrell wrote in his journal: "On yesterday, I carried to my plantation a young sow which Jo. sold me sometime since. Since I bought her she has had a litter of pigs, which have grown up to the size of shoats. Jo. has swindled me out of the shoats, and made that much clear out of me. Some few days since, I ws reproaching him with it and he told me to come and get the pigs, he didn't want them. I attempted it this morning, and he got under his wife's petticoats and defeated me again. (Jo. won't exactly do)."
• Joseph Percivall Harrison and Emily Rochell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas. Other members of the household included Mary L. Harrison, Richard Stanford Harrison and Ellen Hicksey Harrison.
• Joseph P. Harrison fought on the side of the Union during the Civil War. He enlisted in Paducah, Kentucky, on 5 March 1864, joined for duty and enrolled on 1 April as a private in Company C, 16th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, GAR, and mustered in on 27 April. He was present in Company C May & June 1864, and received his 1st & 2nd bounty installments of $60 & $40; was present July & August, and also was marked present for September & October. But on 22 August 1865, he mustered in as a private (in Louisville, Kentucky) as a private in Company L, 12th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment. He was present in New Company L for November & December of 1864, and drew his 3rd bounty installment $40. Was discharged from Company L, at age 45, at Louisville, Kentucky, on 8 September 1865, and mustered out of his company on 23 August. Due to him from from 31 December 1864 through 23 August 1865, $40.92. Bounty paid $140, due $160. Remarks: " In Hospital Louisville, Kentucky."
• Joseph Percivall Harrison became a widower at the between 1860 and 1870 death of his wife Emily Rochell.
• He married Jane Ireland, daughter of Daniel Ireland and Margaret Cochran, sometime before the 1870 census.. Joseph's brothers William Burchett and John Gabriel married Jane's sisters Elizabeth and Elenor, respectively..
• Joseph Percivall Harrison and Jane Ireland appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Harter Township, Clay County, Illinois. Other members of the household included Ellen Hicksey Harrison and Margaret Cochran.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
• He applied for a Civil War pension on 8 January 1878.
• Joseph Percivall Harrison and Jane Ireland appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Indian Prairie, Wayne County, Illinois, located ten miles north of Fairfield.. Other members of the household included Daniel Farmer.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1880 census.
• Joseph Percivall Harrison died on 23 December 1881 at age 74 in near Willow Branch, Wayne County, Illinois.
• His wife Jane Ireland became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Willow Branch Cemetery, Keith Township, Wayne County, Illinois.
• The following appeared on 29 December 1881 in the Wayne County Press: (Lucust Grove) Joseph Harrison, better known as "Uncle Joe," died at his home near Willow Branch on the night of the 23d. Old age is supposed to be the cause of his death.
       And on 4 May: The funeral of Uncle Jo Harrison was preached Apr. 30th by Rev. J.J. Midkiff and to an overflowing house.

• Last Edited: 30 Jan 2013