HARRIS, JOHN (1704 - 1763), 'of S. Kennox ' (Llawhaden, Pembrokeshire), Methodist and Moravian exhorter -

Not to be confused with John Harries (1728 - 1788), 'of Ambleston '; born at Newport, Pembrokeshire, on Good Friday, 1704. His wife was Esther Davies (died 1766), daughter of Llewelyn Davies of Clynfyw, Manordivy - it was her sister Letitia, wife of James Bowen of Dygoed, Clydey, who in 1739 invited Howel Harris to visit Pembrokeshire for the first time. Harris was early a Methodist; it was he who welcomed Howel Davies to the county; and he had charge of a group of societies in Little England.' But by 1747 he was at variance with the Methodists; they doubted his orthodoxy, and he disliked their enthusiastic transports. He ceased to attend Association meetings, and on 1 August was excommunicated by Howel Harris. According to a Moravian record (see Cymm., xlv, 34), he was then offered the pastorate of Albany Independent church at Haverfordwest, but preferred (c. 1750-3) to associate himself with the brothers Relly. In 1753, under the influence of the Moravian missioner John Cennick, he joined the Brethren. He died 21 October 1763, and was buried at S. Thomas's, Haverfordwest. A sister of his was married to George Gambold. Harris's daughter Anne (Davies) kept school at Haverfordwest; she was still alive in 1806, for 'Widow Ann Davies, late Harris ' appears in the Congregation catalogue of that year.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Sources

• 'Account of John Harris,' and other manuscript Moravian records at Haverfordwest

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733432

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/