Harris family genealogy

Arms: Sa. an antelope salient ar. armed and crined or. Crest: A demi antelope, as in the Arms.[1]

Sir Thomas Harris, of Coickworthee, Devonshire, Knt., had:

2. Sir Edward, of Dromeny, Knt., a Judge in the King’s Bench, who died at Cahirmony, co. Cork, on 4th April, 1636, and was buried at Kilcredan, co. Cork. His first wife was Eliza, dau. of Anthony Fowell, of Fowelcomb, co. Devon, England, Esq., by whom he had four sons and three daughters:

1. Sir Thomas, Knt., of whom presently.
2. Edward.
3. Arthur.
4. Edmond.

The daughters were:

1. Philippa, who m. Robert Tent, of Ballycrinan, co. Cork, Esq.
2. Eliza, who married John Lancaster, of Waterford, Esq.
3. Mary, who married William Greatreax, of Affame.

Sir Edward’s second wife was Jane, dau. of — Bussey.

3. Sir Thomas Harris, Knt.; son of Sir Edward.

Notes

[1] Harris: Walter Harris, LL.D., one of the most distinguished of Irish antiquarian writers, and the editor of Sir James Ware’s works, was born at Mountmellick, late in the 17th century. Although expelled from Trinity College in early life for participation in a riot, the degree of LL.D. was afterwards conferred on him for his services to Irish historical research and archaeology. He mar. a great-granddaughter of Sir James Ware, and thereby inherited his MSS.; and, possessed of competence, he devoted his life to literary pursuits. His principal works were: History of the Life and Reign of King William III. (Dublin: 1745); Hibernica: a collection of eleven interesting and important tracts relating to Ireland (Dublin: 1749). The great work by which he has earned the grateful remembrance of all the students of Irish history, is his translation and expansion of the principal works of Sir James Ware, published in two volumes folio in Dublin, between 1739 and 1746. Ware’s Lives of the Bishops, which in the English translation of 1705 occupies about 200 pages, Harris has expanded to 660; the Antiquities of Ireland he has expanded from 154 to 286 pages; and the meagre notices of Irish Writers, from 42 to 363 pages. Of Ware’s Annals of Ireland he doubtless intended to make a third volume (all the early editions of Harris’s Ware are noted on title pages as three volumes). Harris died 4th July, 1761. His History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin, which he left in manuscript, appeared in 1766. Some of his MSS. are preserved in Armagh Library, whilst the majority were purchased from his widow by the Irish Parliament for £500. They may now be consulted in the Library of the Royal Dublin Society. They occupy twenty volumes closely written, almost entirely in Harris’s hand—in themselves a monument of his indefatigable industry and research. He was a most laborious copyist, and much of these materials are copied from printed books. Particulars of the contents of these MSS. will be found in Notes and Queries, 2nd Series; while of his printed works ample notices are given, under the title “Ware,” by Allibone and Lowndes.—Webb.