The Harris Connection (Part 2) Mary Harris born Mary Heard

This is an ongoing and cumulative account of all the information I can find about Mary Harris (born Mary Heard). Please feel free to copy, confirm or clarify any details. Check out other blog posts about my Harris family information, and do check out the Descendants of William and Mary Harris Facebook page. 

Mary Heard was born on July 1, 1825. The evidence for this is a small page from her (prayer of Bible?) book, the page below being all that survives of it. The inscription says: 

Mary Heard's book. A reward given by the Meadrose Sunday School, August 12th, 1838.  

She would have been 13 years old at this stage.  At the bottom is added:

 Mary Heard was born July 1st 1825.  

 Later, obviously after her marriage, she has added: 

William Harris, born October 1, 1823. 

From this, we can assume that Mary was literate - possibly through her attendance at Sunday School which locates her in Meadrose, in the parish of St Teath (rhymes with breath) in 1838. (Meadrose is also found spelled Medrose and Meathrose.)

Detail from photo of Mary and William. Mary appears to be holding a small book, conceivably the same size as the page  above.  

 I wonder if this page is from the book she appears to be holding in the photo of William and her together? (See previous blog post). 

In 1847, Mary signed her own name in the Warbstow parish marriage register (where William is only able to make a mark and is obviously illiterate). More on this later. The marriage certificate also identifies Mary's father as Richard Heard. 

William and Mary's entry in the Warbstow marriage register. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

A few things to ponder:
Mary's name in the marriage register does not appear to be the same handwriting as the inscription in the page of the book, and the M in the Mary Heard at the top of the page is a different style to the M in her name at the bottom of the page, with her birth date. 

Interesting links for further information: 
1. Parochial and family history of the parishes of St. Teath and Temple, in the county of Cornwall
by Maclean, John, Sir, 1811-1895.  

2. St Teath Village Website 

3. Medrose St - Delabole (Google Maps)

4. A comprehensive report on the Delabole area (2002) assessing it for its historic value and conservation. Lots of interesting information, including a reference to the Harris family (ours?) commemorated in the church at St. Teath.  Covers the history of Medrose.

5. St.Teath Marriages  1754 - 1837 listed by year (Look for 1817 Richard Yard (sic) marriage to Jane Hoskin - Mary's parents).