Dr. John Harris was among the early settlers of Truro, although he did not come until a few years after the Township was granted. He and his family were one of the six families that sailed from Philadelphia, in the month of May, 1767, sent by a company to settle in Pictou. The people of Truro having heard of this vessel being in Halifax, sent seventeen men through the woods to Pictou to welcome their arrival. When they came in sight of the harbor, June 11th, they saw the ship coming up the harbor at a distance, and they kindled fires on the shore to attract the attention of those on board. When they saw the fires, they concluded that they were set by the savages; they held a consultation what to do--whether they would submit to them or resist. They resolved upon resistance. The next morning, when the people from Truro were walking down the shore, they on board the vessel saw with their glasses that they were white folks, and it was not long until they came ashore, and were welcomed by the men from Truro. These people commenced clearing away the trees and putting up small houses. They sowed some seed in the ground, but it was so late in the season they grew very little crop that year; but the fish were very plenty in the harbor and rivers, so they made out to live with much difficulty. Two of the six families became so much discouraged that they left for Truro. Those that remained had a very hard winter, and the next spring they had to go to Truro, a distance of forty miles, and carry their seed potatoes on their backs through the woods, having no other guide than the blaze upon the trees. The next spring, they had to go again to Truro, for seed potatoes, but this time, they took another plan. They cut the eyes out of the potatoes and only carried the eyes.
The names of the families that remained in Pictou were Robert Paterson, Dr. John Harris, John Rogers and James McCabe. The next year they were joined by two families fro Truro. Mr. William Kennedy's family was one of these.
Dr. John Harris removed to Truro about the year 1776, and settled on the interval of Salmon River, and built his house on the same place that Mr. Robert Bennett's house now stands. He was a Justice of the Peace, and was in the habit of celebrating the marriage contract. He was Town Clerk from a short time after he came to Truro, until the year 1790. April 9th, 1802, he went from home on horseback, and rode to the Village, and as he was turning into Mr. Jonathan Blanchard's yard from the street, he fell from his horse and was killed instantly. He was married to Elizabeth Scott before they left New England. She died in the month of July, 1815. He represented Truro, in Parliament from the year 1781, until the year 1784.
Thomas, their eldest son, was born June 10th, 1767, on board of the ship in which they came to Pictou. He was married to Alice, daughter of William Logan and Janet Moor, of Truro. They had four sons and one daughter. They settled near the "Town Gut," so called, near Pictou Town, where they reared there family, and they both died there some time ago.
Mary, the eldest daughter of Dr. John and Elizabeth Harris, was born in 1769, being the first female child that was born in Pictou, after it was settled by the English. She was married to Robert, third son of Rev. Daniel Cock, in the year 1795. They had three sons and three daughters. They appear among the Cock families. She died November, 1864, aged 96 years, and her husband died about the year 1843, aged 78 years. William, their second son, was born in the year 1771. He studied for a doctor, removed to the United States, and was married there to Susan Hunt. They had one daughter. He died there when he was but a young man.
Margaret, their second daughter, was born in Pictou, in the year 1773. She was married to Joseph Notting, June, 1793. John Harris Notting, their only son, was born in Truro, April 5th, 1794. He was married to Martha, the eldest daughter of John Kent and Janet McCurdy, September 29th, 1825. They had one son and two daughters. They settled in the Lower Village, where they are still living together. Joseph Notting was a tanner by trade, and settled and built his house and tan-yard at the same place that James and Ralph Watson now reside. He died there January 23rd, 1795. His widow was married again to Robert, son of Thomas Watson, Esq., of Cumberland, February 9th, 1796. They had seven sons and one daughter. They continued on this same place, where they reared their family. He died there March 22nd, 1851, aged 82 years, and his wife died June 6th, 1853, aged 80 years.
Elizabeth, the third daughter of Dr. John and Elizabeth Harris, was born in the year 1775. She was married to John, son of Capt. John McKeen and Rachel Johnson, December, 1798, being the first that Mr. Waddell married after he came to Truro. They had three sons and seven daughters. They first settled on the farm that Mr. Hugh Clark now resides upon, about five miles from Truro. They removed thence to St. Mary's. They removed again and settled in the wood on Tatamagouche Mountain, where they spent the remainder of their days. She died January 6th, 1820, aged 45 years, and her husband died October 17th, 1854, aged 84 years.
John Washington Harris, their third son, was born in the year 1777. He was married to Mary Hadley. They had eight sons and four daughters. He settled near Pictou Town, and was Sheriff of Pictou for a long time. He died there October. 1860, aged 92 years. Susanna Hunter Harris, was born in Truro, April 2nd, 1779. She was married to John, son of Hugh Moore, Senr., and Janet Logan, his wife. They had three sons and five daughters. They settled on the West Branch of River John, where they reared their family and died.
Robert, the fourth and youngest son of Dr. John and Elizabeth Harris, was born in Truro, November 21st, 1783. He was married to Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer Hoar and Catherine Downing, January 30th, 1805. He inherited his father's property in Truro, where he spent the whole of his life. He died December 26th, 1812, aged 29 years. Ebenezer Hoar Harris, their eldest son, was born May 13th, 1806. He was married to Lavinia Lynds, June, 1829. They had one son and two daughters. They settled on Onslow Mountain. Mrs. Harris died there March 18th, 1869, aged 62 years. Eliza, daughter of Robert and Hannah Harris, was born October 21st, 1811. She was married to James, the eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Archibald, December 31st, 1833. They had three sons and one daughter. They reside at Clifton now. Robert the second son of Robert and Hannah Harris, was born July 14th, 1813. He was married to Maria, the youngest daughter of Robert Cock and Mary Harris, 1839. They had four sons and one daughter, who appear among the Cock families.
Dr. John Harris, being one of the first settlers of Pictou, was interested in what was called the Philadelphia Grant. This grant being escheated after the death of Dr. Harris, there were grants given of five hundred acres each to John W. and Robert Harris, and their four sisters. This 3000 acres of land was laid out and granted about the year 1813, on each side of the road leading from Truro to Tatamagouche, and soon after, the sons of Robert Cock and John McKeen commenced to clear and make themselves farms at the same place that some of their descendants now reside, on Tatamagouche Mountain. These were the first settlers between Onslow and Tatamagouche.
About the years 1817 and 1818, there were others who had arrived from Scotland, and commenced making a settlement West of the place that the heirs of Harris were settled. This has become a considerable settlement, and is called New Annan. It was one unbroken forest between North River and River John, until the year 1817, when Alexander Miller made the first survey in what is now called Earltown. He continued to survey a large part of the Crown Land of Colchester and Pictou, which was not included in the Townships of Truro, Onslow and Londonderry. Afterwards he fixed boundary lines for Townships and gave them their names; that part lying between the East line of Truro, and the County line between Pictou and Colchester he called Greenfield; that part lying between Pictou County line and Onslow he called Kempton, in honor of Sir James Kempt, who arrive in Halifax June 1st, 1820. That part which lies North of Kemptown, and North of the East end of Onslow, he called Earltown, for the Earl of Dalhousie.
