HARRIS, THOMAS (1705-1782),
second son of Howel and Susannah Harris of Trevecka, christened at Talgarth 6 Jan. 1705. He went to Bath in 1728, and in 1729 to London, at first as a tailor with his uncle Solomon Price and afterwards working on his own. He spent some forty years in London, and after initial misadventures made a large fortune out of army contracts. In 1768 he was sheriff of Brecknock, and bought the estates of Trevecka and Tregunter, rebuilding Tregunter mansion in 1770. His life in London had been irregular and though unmarried he had at least three children. One of these, Elizabeth Robinson, associated with the Trevecka community during her residence at Tregunter; another, Thomas Robinson, a drunken boor, is known as the husband of the famous actress Mary Darby (‘Perdita’ — see D.N.B.); their daughter was b. at Trevecka House and christened at Talgarth 25 Oct. 1774. Mrs. Robinson (‘Perdita’) has left a not unkindly description of her father-in-law's person and habits, though he did little for her and left his property to his niece, the daughter of his brother Joseph (q.v.). Thomas Harris d. 23 Sept. 1782. Letters which passed between him and his brother Howel are in the Trevecka Collection at the National Library of Wales.
Bibliography:
- M. H. Jones, T.L., 48-51, also in Cylch. Cymd. Hanes M.C., x, 81-5, and further references therein.
Author:
Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, C.B.E., D.Litt., Ll.D., F.S.A., (1881-1969), Bangor.
