Richard A. Harris was born in Warren County, North Carolina ca. 1834. On March 6, 1856, he married Martha A. Weatherford (b. ca. 1838) in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. At the time of the 1860 census, Richard and Martha were living in Granville County, North Carolina with their three young daughters (Mary, Eliza, and Sarah). Also living in the household was James Forest (also spelled Forrest and Forrast) who was born in Ireland ca. 1836. In his marriage records and in the 1860 census, Richard Harris’s occupation is listed as “sawyer.”Both Richard Harris and James Forrest served as privates in Co. A, 44th North Carolina Infantry. Harris died of disease at Orange Court House, Virginia on September 28, 1863.