Although Paul Harris claimed that his ancestors came over with the 'Mayflower', the reference was probably not to a 'Harris' but to John Alden, the cooper with the Pilgrim Fathers. Tracing the Harris connection is as yet incomplete. An amateur genealogist in Florida, Lewis Harris, has researched the Harris family fairly comprehensively, and much of the following is based on his findings. Lewis is not related to Paul Harris but has been researching the name Harris. Paul was born on April 19, 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin to George Harris and his wife, Cornelia, Bryan. Many Rotary publications give details of Paul Harris' immediate family, his parents and his grandparents, while another starting point is the 1880 US Census. Using the IGI, we can trace the family back in outline as far as the early 18th century or possibly the late 17th century. Lewis Harris has used many local New England registers to fill in the gaps in the IGI coverage. This then is the probable line, so far:- 1. GEORGE HARRIS born? 1662 Lancaster, Worcester, Mass married a. Lydia Grose b. SArah VINTON Dec 5,1688 Concord died Oct 24, 1716 Concord, Middlesex, Mass 2. WILLIAM HARRIS son of George and Sarah born Mar 4, 1701/2 Concord, Middlesex, Mass married MARY TEMPLE died Mar 29, 1782 Concord, Mass 3. WILLIAM HARRIS son of William and Mary born Mar 17, 1726/7 Concord, Mass or Holden, Worcester, Mass married PATIENCE GLEASON Jan 24,1749/50 Worcester, Mass died Aug 15, 1797 W. Brattleboro, Vt buried at The Flat At Farm, West Battleboro, Vt 4. SALATHIEL HARRIS son of William and Patience born Aug 12, 1759 Holden, Worcester, Mass married SUSANNAH died Oct 29, 1846 Brattleboro, Vt 5. HOWARD HARRIS son of Salathiel and Susanna born Aug 14,1799 Brattleboro, Vt married PAMELA RUSTIN Oct 16,1826 died Mar 17, 1888 Wallingford, Rutland, Vt buried Green Hill Cemetery, Wallingford, Vt 6. GEORGE HARRIS son of Howard and Susanna born abt 1842 Wallingford, Vt married CORNELIA BRYAN May 12, 1864 died 1920 Denver, Co. 7. PAUL HARRIS son of George and Cornelia born Apr 19, 1868 Racine, Wis married JEAN THOMPSON July 2, 1910 Chicago died Jan 27,1947 Chicago We acknowledge the work of Lewis Harris of Tampa Bay, Florida in compiling the above tree. Basil Lewis