THE LIFE, TIMES & MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF JOSIAH HENRY HARRIS

On 17 April 1917 the much-respected Cornish author, Josiah Henry Harris, took his own life at his home at Portmellon just to the west of Mevagissey. There was no question as to Josiah’s intention: he had pinned a note to his jacket stating:

Carbolic, self-administered, is all the trouble. If you find me in a comatose state pray don’t worry. Bunkered. -- J. H Harris.

An inquest was held at which Josiah’s doctor, family friend and neighbour, Dr Grier, Josiah’s wife Lydia, and one other friend* were examined, none of whom was able, or perhaps prepared, to enlighten the proceedings. Given the seriousness of the event, the investigation could only be summed up as ‘cursory’. Josiah’s wide family connections in the village either knew nothing or effectively closed ranks, so that the unhappy episode was never discussed. The next generation invariably referred kindly and deferentially to ‘Uncle Joe’ and ‘Aunt Lyd’. Sadly, Lydia sold her marital home some two years after Josiah’s death and moved to Plymouth where her circumstances rapidly declined, leading to her death in an almshouse in 1930. That in itself is a mystery as she was not left unprovided for when inheriting an estate of over £2,000.

Unanswerable questions?

Nothing transpired over the following century to cast light on the events of that time, specifically what exactly had happened to prompt Josiah’s drastic and painful course of action? What might he have done to induce such a frame of mind? Was it despair, regret, or guilt over events unknown? Was he being threatened or blackmailed over something in his past?

* Note: it is possible that Lydia was ‘hard of hearing’ so brought her neighbour Mrs Williams to help her at the inquest (the inquest report indicates this to be the case)

These are questions which might be considered unanswerable as the initial event recedes well beyond the memory of the present generation. However, with the advent of digitisation of family records and newspaper archives, the authors, both of whom share a common ancestor with Josiah in William and Jane Harris (1792 - 1841 and 1793 -