Harris alias Peggermean

[gandolf]

I have run into some interesting problems in a Harris family based at Sithney in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Not sure if any of the the resident experts have bumped into the family, but hoping someone may have a clue to assist.

The problem starts with Michael Harris christened 19 Jul 1705 at Sithney. His christening notes his father as being Michael Harris alias Peggermean.

The parents of Michael (chr. 1705) were Michael Harris and Grace Necharroe who married 1704 at Sithney.
Michael Harris alias Peggermean was buried as Michael Harris at Sithney in 1741, and his widow Grace seems to be the Grace Harris buried at Sithney in 1775 (apparently in her nineties).
(Grace creates her own separate challenge as her maiden surname is unique in the records, and I suspect it is a heavily corrupted Nichols or Nicholas).

My problem is that I cannot locate a christening record for Michael Harris (Snr) under either the surname Harris or any possible variation of Peggermean. For that matter there is not a single record in Cornwall (baptism, marriage or burial) prior to 1750 with a stand alone surname that even begins PEG that I can find so far.

What I did find however is that contemporary with Michael Harris alias Peggermean, there is also a Richard Harris alias Peggermean at Sithney, and it would seem that they must be brothers (same area, same alias, not to mention marrying and also dying within a couple of years of each other).

Richard Harris married 1699 at Sithney to Mary George and had ten children that I can identify. Richard was buried 1742 as Richard Harris, and his widow Mary in 1754 at Sithney.
All the baptism (and burial) records for their children are recorded with the surname only as Harris except:
Mary Harris als Peggermean chr. 1702 Sithney
James Harris als Peggermean chr. 1708 Sithney
Joseph Harris als Peggermean bur. 1714 Sithney (christened simply as Joseph Harris in 1714)

There is a "possible" baptism for Richard Harris als Peggermean as Richard Haryes, chr 1674 at Sithney as the son of John.

The only other item I have so far located that "might" be relevant is a property sale in 1674 in the Cornish Record Office indexes:
Ref No: CF/1/1726
Title:    Bargain and sale, three quarters of Bossullow Veor, Madron
Date:   1 Feb 1674
Description: Parties: 1) Thomas Edwards of St Just in Penwith, yeoman and wife Alice, Richard Pegan of Madron, yeoman and
                 Katherine Hoskin of Madron, widow 2) Martyn Rodda of Madron, blacksmith 1) to 2): three quarters of Bossullow Veor.

[Cornish Terrier]

Not sure about the rest of the problem as I have not had anything really to do with Harris of Sithney however I think I can correct you on one point.

Necharroe

Rather than Nichols or NIcholas I think it much more likely that this is a bastardisation of NANCARROW. (Just as Ankervis, Nekervis, Nekerwis etc are to Nankervis.)

CT

[gandolf]

The parents of Michael (chr. 1705) were Michael Harris and Grace Necharroe who married 1704 at Sithney.
Michael Harris alias Peggermean was buried as Michael Harris at Sithney in 1741, and his widow Grace seems to be the Grace Harris buried at Sithney in 1775 (apparently in her nineties).
(Grace creates her own separate challenge as her maiden surname is unique in the records, and I suspect it is a heavily corrupted Nichols or Nicholas).

After further digging around, I was probably a bit hasty about thinking Necharroe a corruption of Nichols or Nicholson.
It is far more likely to be a variant of Nancarrow.

It would seem a strong possibility that the Grace Necharroe (Necarrow/Nancarrow?) who married Michael Harris was probably originally from Illogan, since there are three separate burials of a Grace Nancarrow (or variant) of varying apparent ages in Illogan in the 1730s. The greatest majority of the dozen or so records from the 17th a& 18th century involving a Grace Nancarrow (or variant) are at Illogan.

[gandolf]

Playing bingo with me CT?

[Cornish Terrier]

SNAP!

[gandolf]

Further digging has established what seems to be a single family...

John HARYES married 13 Jan 1672/3 at Sithney to Margery ??
children:

Name	baptism	alias	Married
Richard HARYES	3 May 1674 Sithney	als Peggermean	15 Jan 1699 Sithney - Mary GEORGE
John HARRYES	27 Dec 1676 Sithney	als Piggane	24 Nov 1701 Sithney - Jane JANE
Michael HARRIS	not found	als Peggermean	21 Jun 1704 Sithney - Grace NECHARROE
Ann HARRIES	15 Oct 1682 Sithney
Elizabeth HARISS	20 Jul 1685 Sithney		16 Sep 1701 Sithney - Bernard CREEDE

There are a couple of other Harris/Harry surnamed people wandering around Sithney at the time, that I can't directly relate to the above, although there might be a relationship (e.g. cousins or siblings of the the above)

There is a William HARRY who marries in 1666 (possible brother of John Snr above?) who has a single recorded son Wearne HARRIS, who in turn marries and has at least six children at Sithney between 1695 and 1710.

There is also an Alice HARRIS who marries in 1703 at Sithney to a John JAMES who I suspect may be another daughter of John Harris above since she would probably be a decade too young to be a daughter of the William (and sister to Wearne) above. There is certainly a big enough gap to fit Alice nicely alongside Michael in the 1676-1682 period.