John Harris (Bere Alston MP)


John Harris of Hayne in the parish of Stowford in Devon and of St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, was a Member of Parliament.

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of Arthur Harris of Hayne and of Kenegie, Gulval, Cornwall, Sheriff of Cornwall 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, Devon.

Career

He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford 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 Member of Parliament for Launceston, Cornwall, in 1621, for Bere Alston on 28 April 1640 and for Launceston again in 1641.

Marriages and children

He married twice:
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.