Harris - Nine Years War - 1593 to 1603

The Nine Years Wartook place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603.

In my research into the period of the late 16th Century, the later years of the Tudors and the lead-up to the English Civil War, I found that the Harris family had a connection to the Nine Years War. The two Sir William Harris' were both combatants in this war. From what I have found so far is that they were probably cousins and both were from Essex.

The portrait of Robert Devereux, one of Elizabeth I's favourites, looks remarkably similar to that of Sir William Harris hanging in the drawing room at Bekchamp Hall, It is painted in a similar style (Mannerist) as the portrait attributed to Zuchero.

The research on the Harris family at around Deereux's time also reveals a connection to the Astley Family. Frances Astley was Lady Harris and her portait also graces the drawing room at Belchamp Hall. The artist of these two portaits appears to be Zuchero.

The period at the time of Elizabeth's death, the rise of James I (James VI) to the throne in 1603, the aquistion of Belchamp Hall by the Raymond's in 1611 is pertiment to Belchamp Walter's past.

King James proved to be "dissappointing" to the catholic population in England and it seems the Irish were not too enamoured. The Anglo Irish war of 1593-1603 ended on his succession. Catsby and Fawkes and associates were plotting!

Robert Devereux

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (eighth creation (1572)), was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599. In 1601, he led an abortive coup d'état against the government of Elizabeth I and was executed for treason. His maternal great-grandmother Mary Boleyn was a sister of Anne Boleyn, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, making him a first-cousin-twice-removed of the queen.

The two Sir William Harris', if they fought in the Nine Years War, served under Sir Robert Devereux on the English army against Hugh O'Neill of Tyrone and Hugh Roe O'Donnell of Tyrconnell.

The Nine Years' War, is also known as Tyrone's Rebellion

William FitzWilliam

I am not sure where I saw the statement that the two Sir William Harris' were cousins. I have some text that it came from the BritishBattles.com website and there was also a reference to Sir William FitzWilliam, who did take part in the battle against the Spanish Armada and he was involved in the Nine Years War.

Sir William Winter

Research Notes

Using dsta found on geneological websites is of secondary value when it comes to putting things into context. While it is interesting to know who married whom and what the geneological connections are the reasons for these connections is not clear. In fact the use geneology for periods of time prior to the current technology of gene analysis is tenuous at best. Instead of scientific proof records are primarily based on written records, if they were made.

For example, while it would be possible to take a swab from William the Conquerors thigh bone or from Richard III's skeleton found under the car park in Leicester, relating it back to present day seems purely "interesting" and does not provide any context.