John Harris (c. 1586 – 6 March 1657) of

Hayne Hayne is a surname of English origin. Etymology According to the ''Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland'', modern names ''Haine'', ''Hayne'', '' Haines'', ''Hains'', ''Hanes'', and ''Haynes'' all in four different medieval name ...

in the parish of Stowford in Devon and of

St. Michael's Mount St Michael's Mount ( kw, Karrek Loos yn Koos, meaning " hoar rock in woodland") is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite s ...

in Cornwall, was a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of Arthur Harris (1561-1628) of Hayne and of Kenegie, Gulval, Cornwall,

Sheriff of Cornwall Sheriffs and high sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list: The right to choose high sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall. The Privy Council, chaired by the sovereign, chooses the sheriffs of all other English counties, othe ...

in 1603 and Captain of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, by his wife Margaret Davilles daughter of John Davilles of Marland in the parish of

Petrockstowe Petrockstowe (or Petrockstow) is a small village and civil parish in the district of Torridge in Northern Devon, England. Its population in 2001 was 379, hardly different from the figure of 385 recorded in 1901. The southern boundary of the pa ...

, Devon.

Career

He matriculated at

Exeter College, Oxford (Let Exeter Flourish) , old_names = ''Stapeldon Hall'' , named_for = Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter , established = , sister_college = Emmanuel College, Cambridge , rector = Sir Richard Trainor ...

on 18 March 1603, aged 17 and was admitted at Lincoln's Inn on 10 February 1607, marked in the records as being "of Devon", when he commenced his training as a lawyer. Harris was elected as a

for Launceston, Cornwall, in 1621, for

Bere Alston Bere Alston is a village in West Devon in the county of Devon in England. It forms part of the civil parish of Bere Ferrers. History and geography With a population of about 2,000, the village lies in the Bere peninsula, between the river ...

on 28 April 1640 (in the Short Parliament) and for Launceston again in 1641.

Marriages and children

He married twice: *Firstly to Florence Wyndham (1595-1630/1), a daughter of Sir

John Wyndham John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (; 10 July 1903 – 11 March 1969) was an English science fiction writer best known for his works published under the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names ...

(1558–1645) of

Orchard Wyndham Orchard Wyndham is a historic manor near Williton in Somerset, centred on the synonymous grade I listed manor house of Orchard Wyndham that was situated historically in the parish of Watchet and about two miles south of the parish church of ...

in the parish of Watchet, Somerset. She died aged 35 without children. *Secondly to Cordelia Mohun, a daughter of John Mohun, 1st Baron Mohun of Okehampton, by whom he had children: **

Sir Arthur Harris, 1st Baronet Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Travers Harris, 1st Baronet, (13 April 1892 – 5 April 1984), commonly known as "Bomber" Harris by the press and often within the RAF as "Butch" Harris, was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C ...

(c.1650-1686) of Hayne, only son and heir, thrice a

for

Okehampton Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and had a population of 5,922 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards are based in the town (east and west) ...

in Devon.

Death and burial

Harris died at Hayne at the age of 70 and was buried at Lifton, near Hayne, where survives his monumental brass. His elaborate monument survives in Lifton Church, showing three kneeling figures, himself at right, his first wife Florence Wyndham at left, his father in the centre.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, John 1580s births 1657 deaths Members of the Parliament of England for Bere Alston Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford Members of Lincoln's Inn English MPs 1621–1622 English MPs 1640 (April) English MPs 1640–1648