Thomas Harris (Serjeant-at-Law) facts for kids
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Thomas Harris (1547–1610) was an important English lawyer and politician. He became a high-ranking lawyer called a serjeant-at-law in 1589. He was known for his sharp mind and great learning.
About Thomas Harris
Thomas Harris was born in 1547. His father, Edward Harris, bought land in a place called Cornworthy in 1560. Thomas married Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Henry Pomeroy from Berry Pomeroy.
Thomas went to the University of Cambridge to study. In 1566, he joined the Middle Temple, which is a place where lawyers are trained. By 1573, he was allowed to work as a lawyer, which is called being called to the Bar. When his father passed away in 1592, Thomas took over his family's estates.
His Work in Parliament
Thomas Harris was a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is a person chosen to represent an area in the country's government, called the Parliament of England. He represented different towns:
- Callington in 1584
- Portsmouth in 1586 and 1589
- Bossiney in 1593 and 1597
- Truro in 1601
In 1603, he stopped working in public life. He was also given a special honor called a knighthood. Sir Thomas Harris passed away in 1610. His wife, Elizabeth, passed away later in 1634.
His Family
There is a special monument to Thomas Harris and his wife, Elizabeth, in the church at Cornworthy, Devon. They had several children:
- Anne Southwell: Their oldest daughter, Anne, was born at Cornworthy Priory. She was baptised in 1584 and grew up to be a well-known poet.
- Sir Edward Harris: Their oldest son, Edward, moved to Ireland. He became an important judge there. Edward was the grandfather of a famous person named Valentine Greatrakes, who was known for healing people.
- Christopher: He was a soldier who sadly died while fighting in the Netherlands.
- Honor: She married a man named Sir Hugh Harris.
The Harris family line through the sons ended around 1643. After this, there was a disagreement among Sir Edward's daughters and daughter-in-law about who would inherit the family's property.
