Harris of Devon and Cornwall in Somersetshire and Gloucester

 

 

The Harris family of Devon and Cornwall had an association with the families of Whyte/White and Browne, and other families, in regard to properties in the adjoining counties of Somersetshire and Gloucester, as well as in Devon.

This document deals with properties that ended up in the possession of Harris of Hayne descendants as is evidenced by official UK archives entries in 1627 and 1701 as are shown later.

The Harris of  Radford involvement in Somerset lands with the Johnson family is covered in a separate document as is the Harris of Hayne involvement with the Whyte, Coventry and Keyte lands at Ebrington in Gloucestershire and Creech St Michael in Somersetshire.

There is also a separate file on the Harris of Hayne family at Donnington in Gloucestor, albeit in a later period.

The Brownes were a family of consideration and repute. Sir Thomas Browne - son of Sir Stephen Browne, Lord Mayor of London in 1439 - was treasurer of the Household to Henry VI, and also Sheriff of Kent in 1440 and 1460. he married Eleanor Fitz-Alan, daughter and heiress of Thomas Fitz-Alan and Joan his wife (PM 21 Henry 6th) which said Thomas Fitz-Alan was brother to John 14th Earl of Arundel.

Sir Thomas and Lady Eleanor Browne had several children born to them, amongst whom were Sir Anthony Browne, Constable of Calais, ancestor to the Lords Montague; Sir George Browne of Bleechwood Castle, Surrey, beheaded in 1483; and William Browne whose son finally settled at Tavistock (Sir B Burke’s LG).

The name of his son as it appeared in Har. MSS. and Rawlinson’s MSS. 6164.287, and also by another MS. in Queen’s Coll. Oxon, was John Browne of Tavistock, who had William and Thomazine, and probably another daughter who married William (?) Grylls of Tavistock.

Thomazine was, as before stated, the wife of John Glanville of Tavistock, and mother of Sir John Glanville, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, whose fine monument is still to be seen in Tavistock Church.

The families descent in so far as I have it, is as shown on the following page.

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The Whyte family were rich merchants and traders who for a large part of the time were based in London with branches in Cornwall, Devon and Gloucestor. They never forgot their roots in the southwestern counties of Britian establishing charities at Plymouth, Liskeard and St Germans. The family also held lands in Hampshire and in  April 1566Gyles Whyte was mayor of Winchester There family held land in the locations that the Harris of Hayne family resided, for example between 1460 and 1465 John Whyte, of Brixton, son of John Whyte, of Broadwood-Kelly took legal action against. Nicholas Whyte, feoffee: Manor of Stowford Bere: Devon, and John Whyte, Esq., at Pilton, owned the site of the priory, and Westaway estate, and had a handsome mansion there called Pilton House.

 

The Harris families that descend from John of Stone, John of Radford and John of Lanrest were all involved in these dealings.

 

In regard to the Harris families we find that the descent of the main branches from William of Hayne, John of Radford and John of Lanrest are documented in the visitations and elsewhere however the main branches only are covered in that documentation.

 

 

 

 

 

(Map of the area in question – Stapleton Gloucester)

 

 

 

With the increased information that is now available from on line sources it is now possible to fill in a number of gaps in the family and the following chart of the first three generations from the 3rd known John Harris shows that detail.

 

 

The first entry that I can find involving the Harris and Whyte family interaction relates to grants of  lands in Devon and Somersetshire to the Harris family in 1453:

 

Reference: 3248A-0/11/95 Devon Record Office Creation dates: 1453 Scope and Content Grant1 Joan, widow of John Whyte of Morston2 John Harry, Geoffrey Boghmyll and John PekePremises: All her lands and tenements in Devon and Somerset

 

The John Harris referred to in this entry may be John Harris of Stone, the ancestor of the Harris of Hayne family, as well as other lines that are not covered in the visitations documentation of the early 1600s.  This suggestion is supported by the recorded detail that the Hayne family held some of the lands in the 1600s and 1700s.

 

The Hayne branch of the family commences with William, son of John of Stone, whose death date is believed to have been 1547.

 

The alternative is that the John Harris referred to in the 1453 entry  was the first John Harris of Lanrest, father of John Harris who married Anne Becket in the early 1500s. That John has another son  William who may be the person referred to in the next two entries in the archives relating to land in Devon:

 

1486-1529 Robert Alwey and Mabely, his wife, daughter and heir of William Harrys. v. John Whyte, of Exeter, Joan, his wife, and Margery Colaton, widow.: Forcible entry and removal of goods and deeds from a messuage in Exeter, late of the said William.: Devon

 

1500-1515 Richard Huett v. John Godiscote and John White, merchants of Exeter.: Failure to act as surety for William Harrys, of Bretaigne, who has left the country in debt.: Devon.

 

1500-1515 John Godiscote and John White. v. The bailiffs of Exeter: Action by Richard Huet against complainants as sureties for William Harryes, who cannot plead a discharge by Huet, as it was written in Middelburg. Certiorari.: Devon.

 

To summarise the above, John White was guarantor for William Harris, who fled to France and left behind unpaid debts. John as guarantor was required to cover the debts but apparently didn’t do so and was taken to court by a number of creditors. To recover some of the costs John White attacked the home of Mabely Harris, daughter of William, and stole goods. Mabley and her husband Robert Alwey then took legal action against john White over this.

 

It appears also that following the death of robber Alwey that Mabely married John White – this may have been a son of the John White who was the guarantor. Note also the marriage of Mrs. White and Nicholas Baron – His daughter married Degory Harris, son of John Harris

 

The possibility that it is the Harris of Lanrest branch involved is supported by the entry which refers to Mabely, daughter of William Harris – there is no Mabely Harris in the well documented Hayne line.

 

 

At this stage it is appropriate to show the interaction between the Whyte and Browne families, particularly concerning the land in the Stapleton area of Gloucester and to do that I quote the following entries from the UK archives:

 

 

Reference: AC/D/4/6Creation dates: [1568] Feb.1Scope and Content1 Feb. 10 Eliz.IBargain and Sale1) Mathew Smyth of Middle Temple, gent.2) Richard Barkeley of Stoke Pifford, Glos., esq.His moiety of manor place or capital messuage of Ridgewey in parish of Stapulton, Glos., now or late in tenure of Robert Browne and demised to Nicholas Browne, father of Robert, for certain years by John Whyte of Bristowe gent. dec'd by indenture 24 Apr.6Edw.VIAttorneys: William Wade and John Warren.

 

Reference: AC/D/4/7Creation dates: [1569] Aug.10Scope and Content10 Aug.11 Eliz.IBargain and Sale1) John Sachefylde of Bristol, gent.2) Mathew Smythe of Middle Temple, esq.Moiety of manor of Ridgewey and of lands in the towns parishes hamlets or fields of Ridgewey Stapulton Barton Hundred Wickwicke Mangersfylde adn St.Phelippes in Glos. and Bristol whereof John White of Bristol, gent. died seised in fee simple, excepting the manor place or capital messuage of Ridgewey in parish of Stapulton and lands belonging now or late in tenure of Robert Browne and demised to Nich.Browne, dec'd, his father by John White by deed of 23 Apr. 6 Edw.VI. Consid.£121.9.2.

 

Reference: AC/D/4/7Creation dates: [1569] Aug.10 Scope and Content 10 Aug.11 Eliz.IBargain and Sale1) John Sachefylde of  Bristol, gent.2) Mathew Smythe of Middle Temple, esq.Moiety of manor of Ridgewey and of lands in the towns parishes hamlets or fields of Ridgewey Stapulton Barton Hundred Wickwicke Mangersfylde adn St.Phelippes in Glos. and Bristol whereof John White of Bristol, gent. died seised in fee simple, excepting the manor place or capital messuage of Ridgewey in parish of Stapulton and lands belonging now or late in tenure of Robert Browne and demised to Nich.Browne, dec'd, his father by John White by deed of 23 Apr. 6 Edw.VI. consid.£121.9.2

 

Reference: AC/AS/6Scope and ContentAbstract of Title of Sir John Smyth to his estate in counties of Glos. (1665-1729), manor of Christon, Som. (1695-1729), manor of Sturdon and Ridgeway, Glos. (1694-5).Thomas EDMUNDES and Anne his wife, late the wife of Ralph Elys, v. Nicholas BROWNE.: Messuage and land held of the Duke of Somerset's manor of Ridgeway.: GLOUCESTER. 1544-15516 May 1540 Indenture of Sale. (1) Edward, Earl of Hertford, and (2) Henry Whyte, of town of Bristowe, grocer. Sale of manor of Ruggewey and all lands in Ruggewey, Maggottysfeld, otherwise Maugersfeld, Stapulton, Wekeweke and Barton by Brostow, co. Glouc., with hundred of Kynges Barton next Bristow. Seal ; signature : Harry Whyte.

Stapleton is described in 1868 (The National Gazetteer) as being a parish "in the hundred of Barton Regis" within the county of Gloucestershire, Stapleton - the village, as it was then, was about two miles north-east of the city of Bristol. It sat atop the South Gloucester and Somerset coalfield. In the north runs a ridge some two hundred feet high. The river Froom (Frome) used to cross the parish and was an integral part of Stapleton and its neighbouring parish of Fishponds, created as a separate entity in about 1830. Modern transport networks have long since seen the Frome degraded. The Gazetteer goes on to state that "The Wesleyans have a chapel, and the Baptists two. Hannah More (celebrated "blue stocking" activist, abolitionist (slavery) and writer) was born here in 1744, and died in 1833. Heath House, Stoke Court, Stapleton Grove, and Stapleton House are the principal residences, besides several others."

There are numerous other entries that relate to the interactions between these two families, and the Harris family, which I summarise as:

 

 

The David Harris, son of John,  referred to  is of  an unknown ancestor. A particular entry relating to his involvement in the subject lands is given by the following entry:

 

1550    Reference: P/AS/D/NA 70 Former Reference: (295)Bargain and Sale. Deed poll.Creation dates: [1550]Scope and Content September 10.David Harries, grocer [recites NA 52, p. 378]. He now holds all right and interest in the garden leased, by right of his marriage with [Margerie, over erasure] Browne, decd, sometime extrix of the Will of Thomas Browne; in cons. of this and for certain causes, he has surrendered [etc.] the said indenture and his estate and right to his well-beloved in Christ Giles White, merchant, in the term which he held.Purchaser is bound to pay the rent by the covenants of the previous deed. Note of signing and sealing by vendor.Signed: per me David Harrys. Seal: absent. Slit for tag.Dated: 10 September 4 Edward 6. Not witnessed.Endorsed: [contemp.] a relese from Mr Davy Harris for a gardyn that Thomas Rycards holdythe atte pleasure.Md. that the 8th Aug. 1566 and 8 Eliz. Anne White, late wife of Giles White, merchant, deed: surrenders and delivers to Thomas Colston', mercer; William Yeman, grocer; William Pill, grocer; and Robert Younge, merchant; feoffees of the lands, tens. etc. of All Saints';To the only use of the feoffors [sic] and their successors: all her estate, right etc. in the garden within-mentioned, and another writing indented [P/AS/D/ NA 52], in all things.. as Anne or Giles held or ought to hold.. without let or interruption.

 

Gyles Whyte was married to Anne Hayle on the 28th November 1664 in Buckland.

 

Buckland is a township, village and parish, 8 miles from Evesham station, on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line of railway, 3 miles from Broadway, 24 from Gloucester, and 93 north-west from London, in the lower division of the Hundred of Kiftsgate, and bishopric of Gloucester and Bristol, and Union of Winchcomb.

 

In 1254, John FitzAlan, Lord of Oswestry (1246–1272), was granted a licence for a chapel by the Bishop of Winchester. It is not known where the house was but there was a private chapel in Betchworth Castle in 1457 indicated in the 1488 will of Dame Elizabeth Browne.

The Castle is a fortified medieval house situated on a sandstone spur overlooking the western bank of the River Mole. Physical historical records indicate that it dates to at least 1377, when Sir John Fitzalan, 1st Baron Maltravers and Marshall of England (c 1349 - 1379), was granted a licence to crenellate his residence there. Interestingly a licence to crenellate was also granted to the Brownes in 1449.

Dame Elizabeth (1429–1488), widow of Sir George Browne was a member of the famous Norfolk family of Paston. Sir George Browne, 1st son of Betchworth Castle and Sheriff of Kent, was executed in 1483 in London for supporting Henry VII. His father Sir Thomas Browne, of Betchworth Castle and Sheriff of Kent also suffered a similar fate, being executed on 20 Jul 1460 at the age of 46, after a battle in the War of the Roses. The link with the FitzAlan family is here with Sir Thomas who married Alainor FitzAlan, daughter of Sir Thomas FitzAlan (d 1431).

Getting back to David Harris, there is no David Harris  that I can find in the Hayne, Radford or Lanrest  branches of the family. This David was an alderman, as were Browne family members, at Bristol – it was a Harris family trait to hold  such official positions . For example John Harris of Lanrest was the reeve of the Princes Manor at Liskeard in 1497, his son John was Mayor of Lostwithiel in the 1530s and Bartholomew Harris was elected Mayor of Barnstaple in 1602.

 

Bartholomew Harris, who was possibly related to John Harris  (died 1602) who served as Mayor of Barnstaple in 1578 and 1596, and to the Richard Harris (died 1637), who served as mayor there in 1608 and 1626. (TAG 63: 39 & 40.) The connection of these Barnstaple Harris’s to the subject Harris families has yet to be explored however it is reported in a number of on line sources that they are descendants of John Harris and Elizabeth Kelly – that is the Hayne line.

 

I should add that it was not necessary, and to a large extent it was uncommon, for the Mayors of those days to actually live in the town that they were representing. In addition the distance between Bristol and Gloucester is not significant.

 

The holding of such official positions by the Harris family continued on throughout later centuries particularly as a number of members were of the legal profession.

 

David Harris had several cousins in his branch with the name William Harris, and one of these  was holding lands of Whyte in 1585:

 

           Reference: D1508M/Moger/291  Creation dates: 26 September 1585  Language: Latin  Scope and Content  BRAUNTON; COMBE MARTIN; MARKWOOD. Writing of Edward Lyell and John Browne, granting in confirmation of an indenture of same date to Philip Wyot, Gent. half of all messuages, land and tenements in the several hamlets, parishes, and fields of Braunton, Chollacombe, Merwoode, Kyngescholdecombe and Kyngesheaunton, Co. Devon, now 1r late in the several tenures of Simon Longe, John Slocombe and William Harrys, which once were the inheritance of Fulk White, decd.  Clause of Warranty.  Attorneys appointed by Grantors:-  John Shephurd. Richard Brooke.  Dated 26 Sept. 27 Eliz. (1585).  Sealed and delivered to John Wyot to the use of Philip Wyot in presence of:-  Balthazar Botelere.  John Boteler.  Nicholas Poyntz.  John Loveringe. Memorandum that possession and seisin was taken and delivered over by John Shephurd of the lands in the tenure of William Harrys according to tenor of this deed, in presence of:- Alexander Harrye. John Shepherde.  Endorsed. A feoffment fer my lands in Chellacomb, Deyes, ......and Walters ten. 2 Seals.

 

A further complication in sorting out the Harris branch/s involved  arises from the following entry:

 

Richard Harry, grandson and heir of John Browne of Tamerton Foliott and of Margaret his wife. v. John Brese, son of Isabel Keys, and grandson of the said John Browne.: Messuages and gardens in Whitchurch and Tamerton Foliott.: Devon.1529-1532

 

There was no Richard Harry who was a member of the Hayne or Lanrest branches  at this time however the William Harry of the Lanrest line referred to above had a brother Richard  as is shown in the chart above – hence it is assumed that the Richard referred to is of the Lanrest line.

 

Following the properties descent over the years we find clear reference to the Browne holdings in the will of Arthur Harris in 1628:

 

ARTHUR HARRIS, Esquire, of Kenegie in Gulval written: 30 Sep 1627 proved: 12 Jul 1628 poor of Gulval 20 sh. poor of Marcajewe 40 sh. poor of Hillarie 20 sh. poor of Clemanotes 20 sh. poor of Stowford 20 sh. poor of Lifton 40 sh. poor of Pathericke Stowe 40 sh. wife: MARGARET HARRIS: misc. plate, furniture from house at Kenegie; benefit & use of Tent. of Riviton held of the heirs of BROWNE; all the goods I have at Marland daughter: MARGARET DENHAM 40 sh. to buy a ring + her unpaid marriage portion daughter: ALICE HARRIS 1000 L + maintenance 2nd son: WILLIAM HARRIS 100 L upon condition that he assign over his right in Rinsie of the grant of Mistress BLANCHE STABIN to his brother THOMAS HARRIS 3rd son: THOMAS HARRIS bedding, linnen and various furniture which are now at the Mount + 50 L granddaughter: MARIE d/o son THOMAS 6 L 13 sh. 4 d. when age 16 grandsons: ARTHUR & JOHN ss/o son THOMAS 40 sh. apiece when 21 4th son: TOBIE HARRIS 100 L 5th son: PHILLIPP HARRIS 300 L daughter: NEWCORTE 40 sh. grandchild: JOHN NEWCORTE 40 sh. when 21 grandchildren: ELIZABETH & JANE 6 L 13 sh. 4 d when 21 or one year after my death sister: KATHERINE MARTIN 40 sh. to buy a ring her children 20 sh. apiece "my executor shall cause to be made a Tombe or Monument at Lifton for my worthy father" kinsman & sometimes servant: WILLIAM HARRIS 10 L servant: GEORGE PARSON 10 L servant: WILLIAM CHIGWINE 5 L servant: THOMAS HARVYE 5 L PHILLIPP WHITE, OLIVER COLLIN, THOMAS HILL, JOHN SLADE, JAMES TRENEARE & WILLIAM WHITE 40 sh. apiece all the rest of my servants at Hayne & Kenegie both men and women dwelling with me at my death half a year's wages eldest son: JOHN HARRIS all the rest & executor overseers: son-in-law JOHN DINHAM; brother-in-law JOHN NORLEY; cousin WILLIAM KELLIE of Kellie; uncle MICHAELL MALLETT, Esquire mentions: the leases which I have by Sir THOMAS BROWNE's will; the Barton of Browne; THOMAS & HERCULES CURRINGTON Arthur Harris no witnesses P.C.C., 1628, Barrington, folio 67 ..........

 

Arthur’s pedigree is shown in the following chart:

 

 

 

 

 

The properties of Browne, in particular Rivaton  in Devon were still held by the Harris family in the early 1700s as is evidenced by the following entry, which I have abbreviated:

 

 

             Reference: Z16/1/17/10 Former Reference: DD. 47561 Devon Record Office

Creation dates: ndScope and Content LangtreePartition 16 September 1701

copy

Of the manor of Ilaish Rivaton and Withecott by the Jurors in an inquisition

 

(a) To Samuel Holle, esq., messuage and tenement called Barton Land with appurtenances, parts and parcels of the Barton of Browns, Towneplace, West Towneparke, the South Towneparke, the Easter Towneparke, the Bladder Parke, the fleet moore, the Cros parke, the Pond Close, The Horseparke, the little Horseparke, the Horse parke meadow, Brownes Moore and a field called Old Walls, which said parts of Browns are two fifths part of the said Barton

 

(b) To John Row, gent., chielf rent of 6½d out of Davies Smaleridge, chief rent of 5s 11¼d out of Palmers Smalridge, messuages called Easter Stibb, Higher Withecott all part of the Barton of Brownes, i.e. Ilaish moore, 3 fields called Saffron parkes alias Souther Ground, 3 fields called North Ground and 2 plots adjoining, the 3 Wester fields the 3 Hoselands, 4 fields called Summers ground, 5 fields called the Six acres, the Easterfield and a field called the Hill, which said parts of Browns are two fifth parts of the said Barton.

 

(c) To Abraham Barnfield, messuage called Wester Ashbury, and 2 messuages called Higher and Lower Chollaishes

(d) To Thomas Horwell, gent., chief rent of 5s. out of Tucker Stowford, chief rent of 6s 0½d out of Malletts Bood, chief rent of 2s 8½d out of messuage called Langs Westwood, chief rent of 5s 10d out of a messuage called Abbotts Eastwood, chief rent of 3s 11½d out of Holmans Bood, chief rent of 1s 5½d out of Palmers Sudons, chief rent of 3s 4d out of Langfords wood, Hocking, chief rent of 6s 5½d out of 2 messuages called Smyths Withecotts, messuages called Easter Ashbury, Wester Stibb, Middle Stibb, Puttishole, all of which are in the parish of Langtree

 

(e) To Dame Theophila Harris, messuage called Revaton

 

Theophila, nee Turner, was the wife Arthur Harris who died in 1686. His pedigree is as hereunder:

 

 

There is no clear indication as to where the lands that John Harris received from the Whyte family in 1453 were located but I suspect they were in Devon and that the John Harris was of Stone. The question remains as to whether these lands were amongst the  tenements held by the Browne family.

 

Concerning the lands of Browne, it is clear that David Harris acquired a share through marriage with a daughter of Browne, and I suspect that Arthur Harris acquired his inheritance from his ancestors, the Calwoodleighs and the Kellys.

 

It appears likely that the various branches of the Harris family in the early days remained in contact and to some extent at least had a common circle of acquaintances. This would give a reason for the Stone/Hayne and other branches all receiving lands of Browne and White.

 

Entries in italics http://www.a2a.org.uk/search/index.asp

 


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