It can be suggested that a family of Harris established itself at Creech St. Michael, Milverton (10 mls easterly) and Wiveliscombe (3 mls easterly of Milverton) in Somerset in the sixteenth-century, and these Harris were of the Harris family of Hayne, in Devon; and a branch of that family from Cullompton, in Devon; and were of Welsh extraction.

These Harris intermarried with a family of More:

John More of Cullompton: More v Osborne. Plaintiffs: John More and Isabel, his wife, Richard Beryman and Margaret, his wife, John Bilcheford and Johane, his wife, William Cornysse and Elizabeth, his wife, and John Ferys and Catherine, his wife, daughters of John Harrys, the younger, son of John Harrys, of Monkelegh, the elder. Defendants: Hugh, son of John Osborne. Subject: Land at Tokkeslond in Abbotsham. Devon. 1475-1485. (C 1/52/198).

1. John Moore of Moor Hayes (d. 1509), m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Clivedon of Willond.

1.1. Margaret More, m. John Walrond of Bradfield.

1.2. John Moore of Cullompton, 3rd son, co-ex. of father’s Will, m. Isabell Harrys.

1.2.1. “John More, gentleman”,* as follows.

Annery, in this parish (of Monkleigh), was the seat of the Stapledons, whose heiress brought the manor to Hankford. Sir William Hankford, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, resided here; and dying in 1422, was buried in Monkleigh church, where is a monument to his memory, the inscription of which was visible when Westcote wrote his survey, in the reign of Charles I. Arms of Hankford : — gules, a chevron barry wavy argent and sable

John Harrys, the younger was he m. to Katherine Hankford. His family are commonly designated as “of Radford”, where they held land, without it being their main residence.

HANKFORD

1. Sir William Hankford, Kt. of Monkelegh, Devon .

1.1. Richard Hankford, who d. in 1419, the king’s writ for taking on his death being dated May 23, 1419, when Richard the son was found his heir and of full age. Dying intestate, administration of his effects was granted the November 30th following to Sir William Hankford, Kt. his father, and John Hankford, brother of Sir William.

1.1.1. Sir Richard Hankford, appointed Sheriff of Devon on Nov. 13, 1423; styled “Ricardus Hankeford, miles,” in the inquisition after his death, dated Feb. 28, 1431.

1.1. Katherine Hankford, m. John Harry, d. ca. 1430.

1.1.1. John Harry. June 7, 1450. Parties: William Hyndeston and John Fitz, querents, and John Harry, esquire, deforciant. Property: The manor of Radford and 1 messuage and 40 acres of land in Plympstoke and Plymphome. Action: Plea of covenant. Agreement: John Harry has acknowledged the manor and tenements to be the right of William, as those which William and John Fitz have of his gift, and has remised and quitclaimed them from himself and his heirs to William and John Fitz and the heirs of William for ever. Warranty: For this: William and John Fitz have given him 100 pounds sterling.

1.2. Jane Hankford, m. Sir Theobald Gorges, lord of Wraxall, Somerset, and Braunton Gorges, co. Devon.

1.2.1. Elizabeth Gorges, m. Thomas Grenville, who had m. (1) Anne Courtenay, mother of Elizabeth Courtenay, wife of William Hyndeston, and …. Courtenay, the wife of John Fitz.

1.2.1.1. Mary Grenville, m. Richard Bluett (1479 – c. 1523), of Holcombe Rogus, in Devon, later of Kittisford, Somerset. The Bluetts were of Welsh extraction.

1.2.1.2. Philipa Grenville (d. 1524), m. (1) Francis Harris (1475–1509) of Radford

1.1.1. John Harris, ob. ante October 16, 1485. John Harrys, esquire: Devon. (C 142/1/82).

1.1.1.1. Francis Harris, m. Philippa Grenville, born 1489, sister of Katherine Grenville. Francis Harrys, son and heir of John Harrys, esquire. Writ April 22, 12 Henry VII. The writ recites that the said John lately held of the king, as of the honor of Plympton, late in the king’s hands, by knight-service; that afterwards, viz. 26 October, 1 Henry VII, the king by charter gave the said honor to Edward, earl of Devon, in tail male, with knights’ fees, advowsons, &c.; and that the lands of the inheritance of the said Francis are in the custody of Roger Holand, esquire, by the king’s grant. He was born at Plympstoke, and baptized in the parish church there, and was of the age of 21 years and more on 16 October last, as John Speccot, Thomas Tregarthyn, John Arundell Trereys and Nicholas Yeo, esquires, Alexander Arundell, Richard Upcote and Henry Thorne well know, inasmuch as they were present in church at his baptism, and then were there David, the prior of the house and church of Plympton, and David Blakhede, his fellow-monk, godfathers of the same Francis, and Katharine Spicer, his godmother. William Harrys, aged 50 and more, held the salt at the child’s baptism. John White, aged 50 and more, being then servant of the said John Harrys, esquire, the father, was sent to fetch the said godparents. The said Roger Holand, esquire, to whom by letters patent, 1 March, 1 Henry VII, the king gave the wardship of the lands, &c. late of John Harrys, the father, together with the marriage of the said Francis, appeared, 12 April aforesaid, at Plympstoke, and could not gainsay, &c.

GRENVILLE

1. Sir Thomas Grenville of Stow, Sheriff of Cornwall (d. 1513), m Isabella, dau. of Otho Gilbert, of Compton.

1.1. Roger Grenville.

1.2. Honora Grenville, m. (2) Arthur Plantagenet.

1.3. Jane Grenville, m. (1) John Arundell of Trerest.

1.4. Catherine Grenville, Sir John Arundell of Lanherne.

1.5. Philippa Grenville, m (1) Francis Harris.

1.6. Mary Granville, m (1) Richard Bluet.

1.6.1. Roger Bluett.

1.6.1.1. Catherine Bluett, m. Richard Warre, of Milverton, Somerset, as follows.

1.1.2. William Harrys.

His grandson, I presume:

1.1.2.1. Henry Parrys . More v. Toker. Plaintiffs: *John More, gentleman and Henry Aparys (Parrys), merchant, both of Cullompton. Defendants: John Toker, late abbot of Buckland. Subject: Loan for repayment of which defendant promised to obtain the convent seal. Devon. 1538-1544. (C 1/1034/53-54).

Lease for life. 1. Humphry Walrond esq. and Mary his wife. 2. Henry Parrys and John and Humphry, his sons. 1554. (Dev. Arch., 1926 B/W/L/6/12).

Lease for 6 years. 1. Humphry Walrond esq. 2. Humphry and William Parrys of Cullompton, merchants. 1567. (Dev. Arch., 1926 B/W/L/6/73).

Parrys v Cogeyn. Plaintiffs: John Parrys alias Court. Defendants: Richard Cogeyn of Chard, mercer. Subject: Ill-treatment of complainant when his apprentice, and dispute as to account of goods sold. Somerset. 1538-1544. (C 1/1046/18).

(Of John Parrys: Creech manor in Somerset (10 mls. E. of Milverton) was held in 1558 by John Radford (d. 1565) and John Harris, who was dec. by 1585, when Nich0las Harris sold John’s portion to John Radford’s son, Lawrence. (Cal. Pat. 1558-60, 137; P.R.O., C 3/37, no. 40; C 3/211, no. 10; ibid. CP 25(2)/206/27 Eliz. I). Lawrence’s son sold the manor to Robert Cuffe (br. of John) in 1598, son of Robert Cuffe, son of John Cuffe, d. 1557 ( P.R.O., SC 6/Hen. VIII/3137; ibid. C 142/114, no. 43), who farmed the capital messuage of Creech in 1535. Creech manor was conveyed by George Farwell to Thomas Warre in 1609. John Sydenham (d. 1547), was the largest taxpayer in the parish in 1526; his eventual heir, his granddau Elizabeth, m. Sir John Poyntz. A coat of arms evident in Creech church were those of the Harris of Monkleigh).

Evidently Henry Parrys had married into the family of Courte. Courte v Sydenham. Plaintiffs: William Courte alias Parrys. Defendants: George Sydenham esquire (m. Mary Warre), Richard Metford and John Metford. Subject: bill to establish title by lease. Two closes of land and a moor called Ayshelandes in the parish of Merriott, Somerset, demised to plaintiff on a lease for lives. 1585, ca. (C 78/60/21).

Gift: (1) Trystram Gorges of Butsheade, Devon, Esq. (2) John Courte of Bristol, Esq., George Hoop of the Middle Temple, gent., and John Cuffe of Bristol, gent. Capital messuage called the Mawdlens on St. Michael’s Hill … late parcel of the inheritance of Maurice Rodneye. 1596. (Brist. Arch., 26389/2). Marriage Settlement: (1) Simon Courte (br. of John) of Glastonburie, Som. gent.(2) George Norton of Abbotts Lighe, Som. esq. and Edward Popham of Huntworthie, Som. esq. In consid. of marriage between John Courte of Christon, nephew of Simon (br. of John) and Joane d’ter of Samuell Norton of Abbotts Lighe and sister of George. – same premises. 1611. (Brist. Arch., AC/D/10/20).

Courte of Stoke St Gregory [Arms: Paly of six [or] and [az.], on a chief [sa]. a demi-eagle displayed (of the first). Crest: A demi-eagle displayed. I. John Courte of the Citty of Bristoll Esq; will pr. 28 Apr. 1600; mar. Sarah da: of Edward Popham of Huntworthy in Com Somersett (her will pr. 29 June 1631). The Pophams were interm. with the Warres.

In 1564, “Walronds” in Cullompton was bought by Henry Parish, who left it to his eldest son, Humphrey, from whom it passed to his daughter, Emilyn, wife of John Petre, a member of a junior branch of that family.

The Devon muster roll for 1569, Cullompton Parish: “Humphrey Parrys, 1 cors, l pike”.

Devon lay subsidy rolls, 1543-5. In order of most taxes paid: Henry Parrys, £66. Thomas Warryn, £50. Nicholas Menefy, £33. John More, armiger, £30.

Furse v Parrys. Plaintiffs: John Furse. Defendants: Henry Parrys and another. Subject: copyhold held of the manor of Smynye in Milverton, Somerset. 1558-1579. (C 3/67/19).

 WALROND

1. John Walrond of Bradfield, m. Margaret, dau of John Moore, of Moor Hayes, in Cullompton.

1.1. Humphrey Walrond of Bradfield, m. Eleanor, dau of Henry Ogan of Saltwinch.

1.1.1. Henry Walrond, of Bradfield (d. 1550), m. Agnes dau of John Whitinge, of Woode.

1.1.1.1. Humphrey Walrond of Bradfield (d. 1586) m. Mary, dau of Sir Thomas Willoughby.

1.1.1.1.1. William Walrond, of Bradfield (d. 1627), m. Mary, dau. of Nicholas Sandford of Cerne, relict of John Warre of Chipleigh.

1.1.1.1.1.1. Henry Walrond, of Bradfield (1584-1649), m. Penelope, dau. of Humphrey Sydenham, of Dulverton.

WARRE

1. Sir Richard Warre, d. 1542, lord of Milverton, Somerset.

1.1. Thomas Warre, m. Joan, dau. of William Malet, of Enmore.

1.1.1. Mary Warre, m. George Sydenham, of Chilworthy.

1.1.2. Richard Warre, his eldest son and heir, m. Catharine, dau. of Sir Roger Bluett, of Holcombe-Rogus in the county of Devon, lord of North-Petherton and Milverton, Somerset.

1.1.2.1. Roger Warre, m. Eleanor, dau. of Sir John Popham, chief justice of the Queen’s-Bench.

1.1.2.1.1. John Warre of Chipleigh.

 

THE HARRIS FAMILY OF MILVERTON AND WIVELISCOMBE

The Harris of Milverton and Wiveliscombe, 3 mls distant. It is very likely that the Harris family of Wiveliscombe derived from that of Milverton. In the former place: William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562. Richard Harris, m. Eleanor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594; father of Richard Harries, bapt. Jan. 28, 1595, etc. There are hardly any notices of the Harris family in Wiveliscombe before 1590.

1. Henry Aparrys, m. … Courte
1.1. Henry Parrys.
1.1.1. Thomas Parrys, bapt. April 27, 1547.
1.2. William Parrys, m. Elizabeth Tremayl, Jan. 29, 1541.
1.2.1. John Parrys.
1.2.1.1. John Parrys, bapt. May 8, 1564.
1.2.2. Lewis Parrys, m. Phyllis Stevens, Jan. 29, 1570.
1.2.3. Elizabeth Parrys, m. James Boucher, Sept. 17, 1582.
1.3. John Parrys, m. Alice Mugge, Aug. 3, 1545.
1.3.1. Robert Parrys, bapt. Nov. 4, 1549, m. Johan Daniel, Jan. 25, 1579.
1.3.1.1. John Parrys, bapt. Jan. 25, 1580.
1.3.1.1.1. Richard Parrys, m. Joan Parrys.
1.3.1.1.2. Edward Parrys, m. Friswell …
1.3.1.1.2.1. Mathew Parrys, bapt. March 13, 1625.
1.3.1.1.3. John Parrys, m. Margaret …
1.3.1.1.3.1. Henry Parrys, bapt. Oct. 25, 1629.
1.3.1.2. Robert Parrys, m. (1) Elizabeth Wolcott, June, 19, 1602; (2) Agnes Hill, Sept. 20, 1615.
1.3.1.2.1. Joan Parrys, m. Richard Harris, June 21, 1622, son of John Harris, who m. Isabell Rowley, Jan. 9, 1586.
1.3.1.2.1.1. Elizabeth Parrys, m. Edward Bennett, Aug. 14, 1655.
1.4. Agnes Parrys, m. John Williams, Oct. 24, 1549.

It may be that Virginia was host to a Harris family whose Welsh ancestry is hidden.

copyright m stanhope 2020