Sir Arthur Harris of Creeksea (Kent)

HERRYS (HARRIS), Sir Arthur (c.1587-1632), of Creeksea Place and Woodham Mortimer, Essex

Sir Arthur Harris was an incorporator and subscriber of The Virginia Company between 1612-1624, when it was dissolved by King James I and Virginia became a royal crown colony. As such he made several trips across the Atlantic[4] but he never relocated to Virginia, keeping his family "safe" in England.

Family and Education

b. c.1587,1 o.s. of Sir William Herrys of Creeksea and Alice, da. of Sir Thomas Smythe Haberdasher and collector of customs, of London, Ashford and Westenhanger, Kent. educ. Sidney Sussex, Camb. 1602, G. Inn 1605, L. Inn 1607; travelled abroad 1604-5. m. (1) by 1610, Anne, da. and h. and Robert Cranmer of Chipstead, Kent, 2s.; (2) 31 Jan. 1615, Anne, da. and sole h. of Sir Nicholas Salter of Enfield, Mdx., Clothworker, wid. of Sir Henry Bowyer of Denham, Bucks., 5s. (?1 d.v.p.) 5da. kntd. 15 July 1606; suc. fa. 1616. d. 9 Jan. 1632.2 sig. Arthur Herris.

family notes

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harris-3826

In July 1606, he married Anne Cranmer, daughter & heir of Robert Cranmer of Chepsted, Kent, at St. Mary the Virgin church, Aldermanbury, London. They had two sons: Cranmer Harris (b. 1608) and John Harris (b. 1611); and one daughter, Jane Harris (b 1609). Anne died in 1613 and Sir Arthur remarried on January 31, 1614/1615 in Saint Olave, Hart Street, London, to Anne Salter, daughter and sole heir of Sir Nicholas Salter of Enfield, Middlesex, Clothworker. Anne was the widow of Sir Henry Bowyer of Denham, Buckinghamshire. They subsequently had 5 sons and 5 daughters between 1615 and 1628.[3].

He also held several official posts in both Essex and Kent and in 1624 was named by the electors of Maldon, Essex, to represent them as their Member of Parliament. He remained in Parliament for 5 years when age and declining health led him to retire to his family estates in Essex. There he made his Will in 1631 in which he provided legacies for his five surviving younger sons amounting to 4,200 each and portions of 2,000 each for his five daughters. He also bequeathed a total of 7 to the poor of the two Essex parishes where he resided.

Sir Arthur Harris / Herrys died on January 9, 1631/1632, and is buried in All Saints Church, Creeksea, where a bronze plaque attests that he was a just and pius gentleman.

biographical notes

From http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/he...

Long established in Essex, the Herrys family had achieved gentry status by the dissolution of the monasteries.17 Herrys paternal grandfather served twice as sheriff of Essex, owning property at Woodham Mortimer, a few miles south-west of Maldon, and at Creeksea, near the mouth of the river Crouch, where in 1569 he built Creeksea Place, which has been described as sizeable early Elizabethan mansion Herry father, who married one of the six daughters of Customer Smythe also served as sheriff of Essex (1598-9), was knighted at James I Coronation,19 and was sufficiently prosperous to afford for his son a thorough education and to contribute 60 towards the Privy Seal loan of 1604.20
In May 1604, two years after entering Cambridge, Herrys was granted a licence to travel abroad for three years, but he returned before his passport expired and was admitted to Grays Inn. Knighted on the same day as his cousin-in-law Henry Baker in 1606, he entered Lincoln Inn in the following year.
In March 1616 he obtained a grant in reversion to the office of rembrancer in the Exchequer at the nomination of his aunt, Lady Fanshawe, the widow of the recently deceased remembrancer, (Sir) Henry Fanshawe II in trust for her son.21 He succeeded to his father estates in November 1616, and subsequently obtained a royal grant of free warren at Creeksea.22 By 1619 he was seised of Norton Downey manor in Devon.23 Like his father before him he enjoyed a goodly income, donating 50 to the Palatinate Benevolence in 1622 after his arm was twisted by the Privy Council.24 He also helped to buy the wardship of his second cousin, John Baker, and sent his eldest son Cranmer on a tour of the Continent in 1627.25. ...
... Following the ending of the third Caroline Parliament, advancing age induced Herrys to retire from active service on the county bench, although he was one of two Essex magistrates who apprehended the ringleaders of a riot at Burrow Hill, near Maldon, for which he was congratulated by the Privy Council.37 He remained closely connected with Warwick, delivering a message on the earl behalf in September 1629.38 In July 1631 he surrendered his reversion to the office of remembrancer of the Exchequer,39 and four months later drew up his will, in which he provided legacies for his five surviving younger sons amounting to 4,200 and portions of 2,000 each for his five daughters. He also bequeathed a total of 7 to the poor of the two Essex parishes where he resided.40 Like his father before him,41 he left the choice of burial place to his executor. Following his death in January 1632 he was interred at All Saints, Creeksea, where a monument describes him as having been religious and just. Herrys fellow Essex j.p., the lawyer and poet Dr. Robert Aylott, marked his passing by composing many English verses which are much applauded, expressing his life beyond sea and here, his two wives and 12 children and his faithfulness to the country and king, but these have not been traced.43

No other member of Herrys family subsequently sat in Parliament.

monumental inscription

Monumental Inscription for Sir Arthur Herris at All Saints, Creeksea, Essex

Here Lyeth Interred Y Body Of Sr Arthur Herris of Creeksey In Y Countie of Essex Kt Sonne & Heire To Sr William Herris Of Y Same Place And County Kt First Married To Ann Sole Daughter And Heire To Robert Cranmer Of Chepsted In The County Of Kent Esq By Whom He Had Issue Cranmer Herris Kt John Herris And After To Dame Ann Bowyer Formerly Wife To Sr Henry Bowyer Of The Countie Of Buck Knight And Sole Daughter And Heire To Sr Nicholas Salter of Y City Of London Kt By Whom He Had Issue Ann Herris Alice Herris Mary Herris Dorithe Herris Salter Herris Francis Herris Thomas Herris Arthur Herris Edward Herris Willm Herris Eliz Herris

If any prying man here after come, That knowes not who's the tenant of this tomb, Wee'l tell him freely, as our sighes give leave, One, whose religious brest to God did cleave, And that to men just offices discharged And to the pinched soule his hart inlarg'd, One, that though laid in dust, of breath bereft. Like dying Roses sweet distillments left And moulders hoping, from this stone, God may Raise up a child to Abraham, one day.

Who Deceased y 9th day of January 1631 Aetaris Suae 47

supporting data

London marriage licences, 1521-1869 by Foster, Joseph, 1844-1905 Dean, John Ward, 1815-1902 Published 1887
Topics Marriage licenses

Marriage 1...

Karris, Sir Arthur. Sir William Harris, knight, of Crixeth, co. Essex, and Kobert Cranmer, of Chepsted, parish of Chevening, co. Kent, esq., allege marriage between Arthur Harris, knight, of Crixeth aforesaid, bachelor about 22, son and heir of said Sir William Harris, and Anne Cranmer, of St. Mary, Aldermanbury, London, maiden, about 19, daughter of said Robert Cranmer, esq. at St. Mary Aldermanbury. 15 July, 1606. B 

Marriage 2...

Harris, Sir Arthur, knight, of Crixeth, Essex, widower, 30, and Dame Anne Bowycr, of St. Olave, Hart Street, 22, widow of Sir Henry Bowycr, knight, who deceased three -quarte vear since — at St. Olave, Hart Street. 18 Jan. 1614. B.

• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58567566
• "Genealogical memoirs of the kindred families of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Wood, Bishop of Lichfield" page 10 - 11