Peter Harris, second son of Rufus Harris and Lucy Hill, was born on April 23, 1778 in Smithfield, Providence County, Rhode Island. Peter was the brother of Lucy Harris.
Smithfield, one of the largest communities in Rhode Island, was home to the Harris family for three generations. There, the family made a bountiful living in the quarries. When Peter was age twenty, his father Rufus died. Rather than remain with his family in Smithfield, Peter left for the east coast of the United States, where he became a sailor. In Massachusetts, he became reacquainted with the widow Abigail “Nabbie” Lapham Cook, whom he had known in Smithfield. Abigail was fourteen years older than Peter, being born on March 12, 1864.[1] Peter and Abigail were married in Massachusetts. Abigail did not bear any children.
Soon after their marriage, Peter and Abigail migrated to Ontario County, New York with Peter’s oldest brother, Paul Harris. Peter and Paul Harris were listed in the 1800 US Federal Census as residing in Palmyra. In 1802, Peter registered a sheep mark as “a shallow tail in the left ear and a half penny under the right ear” with the village of Palmyra.[2] The following year, Peter began purchasing land in Palmyra that was later sold to Samuel Durfee.[3]
In 1804, Peter purchased 100 acres from his uncle Nathan Harris (the father of Martin Harris). Peter retained ownership of this land for the remainder of his life. His acreage was next to the Artemus Lapham 211 acre farm.[4] As a landowner, it was expected that Peter would take his turn as an overseer of highways, which meant that he would call upon his neighbors to maintain the road nearest their property. Peter served as overseer of highways in Palmyra in 1806, 1809, 1815, 1825-1826, and 1828.
Quakers in Palmyra
More significant than expected community service was Peter Harris’s connection with Quakerism in Palmyra. As early as 1790, Quakers began holding meetings in private homes in Farmington Township, about fifteen miles from Palmyra. The home of Abraham Lapham was one of the primary gathering places. The Farmington Society of Friends constructed a double log house in 1796. After the double log house was burned to the ground in December 1803, a new frame meetinghouse was constructed in 1804. While the new building was being erected, the Farmington Society of Quakers met with the Palmyra congregation.
Quakers in Palmyra had an orthodox meetinghouse on the Lemuel Durfee farm, about two miles north of the community of Palmyra. Lemuel Durfee, the leading Quaker, donated land on Walker Road for the meetinghouse.[5] By 1804, a sizable number of the Quaker society had established themselves in the area. A local historian assessed the influx: “In Macedon there were many families of the society; in Farmington about thirty families, and in Palmyra about forty-five.”[6] Numbered among the forty-five families in Palmyra were the Harris families.
Characteristics of Quaker worship at that time were as follows:
They had no music in their meetings, and they put great emphasis on the Holy Spirit or inner light to guide them in their conduct and correct them in their errors. They accepted no paid salary in their ministry: neither was their Clergy educated in Theological Seminaries. They were men and women who felt called to preach, and spoke as the spirit gave them utterance. The Friends never hurried in their worship, but literally waited on the Lord. If no one in the Meeting was prompted to speak, they would sit in silence the usual length of time. They all kept quiet until one of the Elders of the High Seats extended his right hand in greeting to the one who sat nearest to him, which was the signal for breaking up the Meeting (a benediction, so to speak).[7]
In 1809, Peter Harris united with the Quakers, many of whom were his relatives and extended relatives who had moved from Providence, Rhode Island to Palmyra. Peter was soon recognized as a Quaker minister in Palmyra, meaning he was one of the elders who sat in “the High Seats and extended his right hand in greeting to the one who sat nearest to him, which was the signal for breaking up the Meeting.”
By 1819, Peter Harris was holding Quaker meetings in his own home. This suggests that the number of Quakers in the Palmyra community had outgrown the meetinghouse on the Lemuel Durfee Sr. property. It also suggests the size of the home of Peter Harris.[8]
Peter was not paid for his service to the Quakers. It appears from property and Palmyra town records that he continued to expand his farm and sheep enterprises in an effort to support his family. By 1811, Peter had been granted a deed from Levi Harris which extended his farm.[9] In 1820, after the death of his brother Paul, Peter was granted a deed from Oliver Hicks and Smith Munsell.[10] On April 26, 1821, Peter once again registered his sheep mark which was “a slit in the upper and underside of each ear and a slit in the end of the same.”[11] However, even with his land acquisitions and an expanding sheep herd, Peter was not largely successful. His respect came not from wealth but from his position among the Quakers.
Guardian of Four Children
In 1821, a most unfortunate tragedy greatly afflicted the Harris households in Palmyra. On December 12, 1821, the schooner Atlas, carrying a cargo of barreled pork, cider, and lard, left Pultneyville, New York. The Atlas sailed on Lake Ontario and was bound for Ogdensburgh, New York. Its crew consisted of five men, including Seth Harris and Freeman Cobb of Williamson, New York. During a severe winter gale on the night of December 13, 1821, the Atlas was wrecked and all hands went to a watery grave.[12] The Western Farmer described the total destruction: “The vessel, dismasted and with her deck and cabin carried away, with nothing remaining but her hull, was driven on shore, on the 13th ult. near the mouth of Sand Creek, at Ellisburgh, Jefferson County.”[13]
The members of two large Harris families, interlinked by birth and marriage, were devastated when they received confirmation of the tragic event. Among the drowning victims was Seth Harris, brother of Peter Harris. Seth had married his first cousin Sophia, the daughter of Nathan and Rhoda Harris and a sister to Martin Harris. Also drowned was Seth’s brother-in-law, Freeman Cobb. Freeman married Seth’s sister Polly (Mary) Harris, daughter of Rufus Harris and sister to Lucy Harris.
Martin Harris and Reuben Hewitt were appointed to be administrators for the Seth Harris estate.[14] The administrators found that there were outstanding debts and demands against the estate, amounting to some fourteen hundred and forty-nine dollars “over and above the assets remaining.” They were authorized by the court to sell the Seth Harris lands in Williamson to assist in the payment of the debt. The mill and mill pond were sold at public auction to help erase the debt. The court appointed Peter Harris as guardian of Seth’s four minor children—Anna, Melinda, Daniel, and Naomi.
This meant that Peter and Abigail Harris went from having no children in their household to being the guardians for four children between the ages of one to eight years. It appears that Sophia and her children resided with Peter and Abigail until Sophia married a second time. She married Cornelius Putnam on September 1, 1824. Unfortunately, Sophia died three years later in Marion, Wayne County on October 18, 1827.[15] It is unknown whether her children returned to the Peter Harris household after her death.
Peter and Abigail Harris took Sophia and her children into their home at the same time that Martin and Lucy Harris took Polly Cobb and her children into their home.
1825 Property Transfer—Martin Harris to Peter Harris—Peter Harris to Lucy Harris
At the insistence of Lucy Harris, she and Martin entered into a legal agreement to transfer 80 acres and a house from the northwest portion of the Martin Harris farm from Martin to Lucy in 1825. To fulfill the requirements of the New York common law, which would not allow a direct transfer of property from a husband to his wife, on November 29, 1825, Martin deeded the said acreage to Peter Harris.
This Indenture made the twenty ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five between Martin Harris of the town of Palmyra County of Wayne & state of New York of the first part and Peter Harris of the town county & state aforesaid of the second part Witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged hath granted bargained sold remised released and forever Quit Claimed and by these presents do grant bargain sell remiss release and forever Quit Claim unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever all that certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the town of Palmyra county & state aforesaid (to wit) beginning on the road leading from Phinehas Bills to Noah Palmers on the town line thence north on the said town line to lands deeded to Peter Harris thence East to land belonging to William Durfee thence south to said road thence west to the place of beginning supposed to contain Eighty acres be the same more or less. Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders rents issues and profits thereof and all the estate right title interest claim and dimand [sic] whatsoever of the said party of the first part either at law or equity of in and to the above bargained premises with the said hereditaments and appurtenances To have and to hold the said premises above described to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns to the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the party of the first part hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written before execution the words deeded to Peter Harris thence East to land interlined between the 9th and 10th lines. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Th[omas] P Baldwin. Martin Harris. (Seal.)
That same day, Peter deeded the said acreage and home to his sister, Lucy Harris.
This Indenture made the twenty ninth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five between Peter Harris of the town of Palmyra County of Wayne & State of New York of the first part and Lucy Harris wife of Martin Harris of the town county & state aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged hath granted bargained sold remised released and forever Quit Claimed and by these presents do grant bargain sell remise release and forever Quit Claim unto the said party of the second part and to her heirs. . . . Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Th[omas] P. Baldwin Peter Harris (Seal)
I certify that on this 29th day of November 1825 personally appeared before me the within named grantor Peter Harris to me well known as the same person described in and who executed the within deed and who acknowledged before me that he had signed and who executed the within deed and who acknowledged before me that he had signed sealed and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and there are no alterations therein except those noted to have been made before Execution.
Th. Baldwin a commissioner for Wayne County under act of 19th April 1823.
Winter and Early Spring of 1828
On November 28, 1833, the testimony of Abigail Harris, wife of Peter Harris, was printed in Mormonism Unvailed. In her testimony, Abigail told of events that happened in the early part of winter 1828 (possibly January) and of events that occurred two months later (possibly March). It should be noted that by mid-April 1828, Martin Harris was in Harmony, Pennsylvania serving as a scribe for the Book of Lehi:
In the early part of the winter in 1828, I made a visit to Martin Harris and was joined in company by Jos. Smith, sen. and his wife. The Gold Bible business, so called, was the topic of conversation, to which I paid particular attention that I might learn the truth of the whole matter.—They told me that the report that Joseph, jun. had found golden plates, was true, and that he was in Harmony, Pa. translating them—that such plates were in existence, and that Joseph, jun. was to obtain them, was revealed to him by the spirit of one or the Saints that was on this continent, previous to its being discovered by Columbus. Old Mrs. Smith observed that she thought he must be a Quaker, as he was dressed very plain. They said that the plates he then had in possession were but an introduction to the Gold Bible—that all of them upon which the bible was written, were so heavy that it would take four stout men to load them into a cart—that Joseph had also discovered by looking through his stone, the vessel in which the gold was melted from which the plates were made, and also the machine with which they were rolled; he also discovered in the bottom of the vessel three balls of gold, each as large as his fist. The old lady said also, that after the book was translated, the plates were to be publicly exhibited—admittance 0-5 cents. She calculated it would bring in annually an enormous sum of money—that money would then be very plenty, and the book would also sell for a great price, as it was something entirely new—that they had been commanded to obtain all the money they could borrow for present necessity, and to repay with gold. The remainder was to be kept in store for the benefit of their family and children.
This and the like conversation detained me until about 11 o’clock. Early the next morning, the mystery of the Spirit being like myself (one of the order called Friends) was revealed by the following circumstance: The old lady took me into another room, and after closing the door, she said, “Have you four or five dollars in money that you can lend until our business is brought to a close? the spirit has said you shall receive four fold.” I told her that when I gave, I did it not expecting to receive again—as for money I had none to lend. I then asked her what her particular want of money was; to which she replied “Joseph wants to take the stage and come home from Pennsylvania to see what we are all about.” To which I replied, he might look in his stone and save his time and money. The old lady seemed confused, and left the room, and thus ended the visit.
In the second month following, Martin Harris and his wife were at my house. In conversation about Mormonites, she observed, that she wished her husband would quit them, as she believed it was all false and a delusion. To which I heard Mr. Harris reply: “What if it is a lie; if you will let me alone I will make money out of it!” I was both an eye and an ear witness of what has been stated above, which is now fresh in my memory, and I give it to the world for the good of mankind. I speak the truth and lie not, God bearing me witness.[16]
What else can we learn from the statement of Abigail Harris? There was a friendly relationship between Martin Harris and Peter and Abigail Harris. They would visit Martin’s house and, in turn, Martin would visit their house. In spite of the separation of Martin and Lucy Harris, they went places together. Abigail was well aware of Joseph Smith and the gold plates before Martin and Lucy visited them in January 1828. Abigail claimed that she was a seeker of truth even though her husband was an elder and leader of the local Quakers. Abigail was informed of Joseph translating the plates in Harmony and had a general idea of the period in which Moroni had lived. It appears that Peter and Abigail Harris spent the night in the Martin Harris home because of Abigail’s talk of the next morning. In Abigail’s statement is the sentence, “They said that the plates he then had in possession were but an introduction to the Gold Bible.” Is this a reference to the 116 pages? Was it an introduction?
The Year 1828
On June 14, 1828, Martin Harris carried the 116 pages to Palmyra. He had the manuscript in his possession for three weeks or until about July 7, 1828. During those weeks, Martin Harris showed the manuscript to any “prudent” person who called. Would Peter Harris be considered a prudent person in 1828? Yes! Wouldn’t Peter feel upset that his sisters Lucy and Polly could see the pages and he could not? He was their minister and had taken in their brother’s wife Sophia and her four children. He had been involved in the transfer of property to Lucy Harris. The fact that he was not named as one of the people who could see the 116 pages may have been really irritating to him.
Did Peter Harris steal the 116 pages? Maybe. Peter was fifty years old, and his wife Abigail was nearly sixty-five at the time of the theft. It would be out of character for Peter to steal the pages, but he may have been offended that he was not given the opportunity to see the pages. He could also have been concerned about his sister. Lucy Harris most likely confided in her brother about her concerns concerning Joseph Smith trying to get her husband’s money. As a brother and a leader in the local Quaker congregation, could Peter have rationalized taking the 116 pages in hopes of mending the marital problem between Lucy and Martin? Could he have been part of a Quaker conspiracy? Did Lucy confide in her brother Peter that she was physically abused by Martin, and that Martin had an illicit relationship with “Mrs. Haggart,” a near neighbor? Could Peter have thought taking the pages would relieve tension in the Harris home?
Relationship between Peter Harris and Elihu F. Marshall of Rochester
If Peter was part of the conspiracy to alter the pages of the Book of Lehi, it would have been more than convenient that he had a relationship with Elihu F. Marshall, the leading book publisher in Rochester. At that time, Marshall was the best-known printer in Rochester—better known than Thurlow Weed. He was the editor of the Rochester Album newspaper founded in October 1825, and had gained some notoriety for his “Spelling Book.”
Joseph Smith and Martin Harris went to Rochester to find a printer for the Book of Mormon. It is not known if Joseph and Martin went to see Marshall in his shop by chance, as a result of Marshall’s advertisements (because Thurlow Weed suggested him), or due to some of Marshall’s public statements.
A few months before Joseph and Martin called on Elihu Marshall, he had been involved in a public religious dispute. Peter Harris had sided with him. In 1829, Marshall was ostracized from the main body of Quakers for accepting the teachings of a radical Quaker theologian. Marshall had not only accepted the radical teachings but coauthored a pamphlet that delivered a stinging rebuke not only to the Quakers but to any religious group that did not allow for “private judgment.” Marshall argued that God accepted men based on the life they lived, notwithstanding the Protestant obsession with creeds and confessionals. Adherence to “speculative religion or abstract theology,” Marshall argued, was not a legitimate reason to reject someone that was trying to live the gospel of Christ.
Joseph Smith and Martin Harris secured a bid from Elihu Marshall, but still hoped to have the book printed in Palmyra. Joseph and Martin asked E.B. Grandin to reconsider. He did, and Marshall lost the opportunity to print the Book of Mormon.[17]
Remaining Years in Palmyra
On August 31, 1829, Isaac Hussee and Peter Harris took an oath to appraise Lemuel Durfee Sr.’s estate, following his death. This suggests the respect the Quaker community in Palmyra had for Peter Harris. The inventory of Lemuel Durfee’s estate listed an unpaid note of Joseph Smith Sr. and Abraham Fish for $37.50, plus $1.42 in interest, which totaled $38.92.[18]
Peter Harris was listed in the 1830 US Federal Census as having a household of one male under age 5, one male age 10-15, one male age 50-60, one female age 15-20, one female age 20-30, one female age 50-60, and one female age 60-70.
On April 14, 1836, Peter was assessed taxes by the commissioners of highways. He resided in the Palmyra 12th District and was assessed a highway tax of $9.[19]
In 1838, a few notes in the diary of Mary Durfee refer to Peter and Abigail Harris:
January 14: “Went to see Peter Harris & Abagail.”[20]
July 1: “Peter Harris & wife & Prudence Durfee spent the afternoon here.”[21]
On November 13, 1838, Peter entered into a legal contract with Richard H. Ford over property.[22] The following year, Peter was granted a deed from Richard Snell, Isaac Hathaway, and Daniel Robinson.[23] On November 28, 1839, Mary Durfee recorded, “In the afternoon Mary & Emily went to Peter Harris’s on a visit.”[24]
In 1840, Mary Durfee recorded in her diary:
March 12: “I went to Peter Harris’s. The Hills are sick.”[25]
May 15: “P. Harris washes his sheep.”[26]
August 3: “The girls wash & go to Peter Harris’ we go to the village came by Peters called to see Abigail she is very sick I think it will prove her last.”[27]
August 6: “Attended meeting had chickens for dinner – in the afternoon went to see Abigail Harris she seems to be in a resigned state of mind.”[28]
August 8: “Abigail Harris is failing Mary & Emily sits up with her.”[29]
August 9: “My mind was continually too Peters at length we went over there & found she A. had departed this life about five minutes. Is too be buried the 3rd day of the week.”[30]
That same day, August 9, 1840, the Wayne Sentinel reported the death of Abigail Harris at age seventy-six in Palmyra. She was buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery in Section U, Lot 564. Mary Durfee recorded:
August 11: “Attended Abigail Harris’s funeral it rains Gideon Herrendeen & wife dined with us Pliny Sexton & wife.”[31]
Death of Peter Harris
Almost a decade later, on April 7, 1849, Peter Harris died of scarlet fever at age seventy-two.[32] He left no children. There are 106 pages in the Wayne County Historian’s Office from the Wayne Surrogate’s Court on the estate of Peter Harris. In summary of those pages, his executors were Gideon Herrendeen and Isaac Reynolds. The executors tried to find relatives of Peter Harris. Notices were placed in newspapers that read, “Pursuant to an order of George H. Middleton, County Judge of the county of Wayne, notice is hereby given to all persons having claims against Peter Harris, late of Palmyra in said county, deceased to exhibit the same with vouchers” to executors who reside in Farmington, New York.
While waiting for a response, the real and personal estate of Peter Harris was inventoried and itemized by disinterred parties—Lemuel Durfee Jr. and George Smith. This process revealed that Peter Harris owed debts to Henry Jessup, Lemuel Durfee Jr., Pomeroy Tucker, Alexander McIntyre, and Franklin Lakey. It also revealed that Peter Harris had many items that belonged to the Farmington Quakers.
Polly Harris Cobb Parker and her husband received notice of an inheritance from the Peter Harris estate on February 9, 1850. On November 18, 1850, Polly was paid $100 by executors of the Peter Harris estate. She later received $70.32 from the same executors. On November 15, 1851, Polly was served a citation regarding her portion of the inheritance of the Peter Harris estate.[33]
It was not until 1851 that executors of the Peter Harris estate found Duty Cobb, a child of Polly Harris Parker in Charlotte, Nebraska and a daughter of Polly Harris Parker in Newfane, New York. The executors also found that Flanders and Lucy Harris Dyke were said to be the parents of seven children, five of whom were identified by name.[34] As to the children of Lucy and Martin Harris, George B. Harris was in New York City in 1851 and Betsy Adams, wife of Amos Adams, was in Trinton, Henry County, Iowa.
[1] Abigail Lapham Cook may have been born on January 3, 1763 in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
[2] Old Palmyra Town Record in the Palmyra Town Hall.
[3] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845, p. 520.
[4] Joseph Smith Home Page: Local Histories of Wayne County.
[5] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, pp. 256, 258; History of the Town of Farmington, New York 1788–1988 (Farmington, NY: Bicentennial Committee, 1988), pp. 12–15.
[6] History of the Town of Farmington, New York 1788–1988, pp. 14–15.
[7] History of the Town of Farmington, New York 1788–1988, p. 12.
[8] Records of the Farmington Monthly Meetings, 1816–1831, pp. 93, 119; Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 187.
[9] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[10] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[11] Old Palmyra Town Records.
[12] Ontario Repository [Canandaigua, NY], January 8, 1822; Western Farmer [Palmyra, NY], December 26, 1821.
[13] Western Farmer, January 2, 1822.
[14] See Ontario County Surrogate Court Records, 5 January 1822, in Scott H. Faulring Papers, “Seth Harris Probate Papers 1823,” Documents No. 2316, Box 100, Fd. 3, Manuscripts Division and Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; On 22 February 1822 Martin Harris and Reuben Hewett were appointed administrators of the Seth Harris estate, see Letters of Administration granted to Martin Harris and Reuben Hewitt, Surrogate’s Probate Records, Book 15, p. 125, Ontario County Surrogate Court Clerk, Canandaigua, New York; see also Wayne Sentinel, October 22, 1823, p. 4, Surrogate’s authorization for land sale at public auction by administrators.
[15] See “Sophia Harris” in FamilySearch.
[16] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 252–254.
[17] Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 3:65.
[18] Lemuel Durfee Sr. Probate Papers, 1830 and Nathan Piece Docket Book, 1830; Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 3:429.
[19] “Return of Road, District No. 12,” in Palmyra Historical Society.
[20] Mary Durfee Diary, January 14, 1838.
[21] Mary Durfee Diary, July 1, 1838.
[22] “Peter Harris File,” in Palmyra Community Library.
[23] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[24] Mary Durfee Diary, November 28, 1839.
[25] Mary Durfee Diary, March 12, 1840.
[26] Mary Durfee Diary, May 15, 1840.
[27] Mary Durfee Diary, August 3, 1840.
[28] Mary Durfee Diary, August 6, 1840.
[29] Mary Durfee Diary, August 8, 1840.
[30] Mary Durfee Diary, August 9, 1840.
[31] Mary Durfee Diary, August 11, 1840.
[32] Wayne County Deaths, Part 2; Peter was listed in the New York US Census Mortality Schedules, 1850–1880, as having died in Palmyra, Wayne, NY, with the cause of death old age.
[33] The Wayne Surrogate’s Court—In the Matter of the Estate of Peter Harris, deceased.
[34] From the Peter Harris, deceased, Wayne Court Surrogate Records in the Wayne County New York Historical Office.