Literary Life of the Rev. William Harness
Edward Neville Crake to A. G. K. L'Estrange, 12 November 1869
“The Deanery, Battle,
“Nov. 12, [1869.]
“Our poor dear old friend Harness is no more. He fell down a flight of stone steps at the Deanery
last night, and was instantly killed.
“Poor Miss Harness and
Miss Archdale have been here, but have returned home. The
funeral takes place here on Monday afternoon.
“I will not attempt to tell my sorrow.
Edward Neville Crake (1827 c.-1909)
The son of William Crake of London; educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was Dean
of Battle in Sussex (1863-82).
Mary Harness (1801-1869 fl.)
The daughter of John Harness and Sarah Dredge; she was the sister of William Harness who
kept house for him in London.
William Harness (1790-1869)
A Harrow friend and early correspondent of Byron. He later answered the poet in
The Wrath of Cain (1822) and published an edition of Shakespeare
(1825) and other literary projects. Harness was a longtime friend of Mary Russell
Mitford.
Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange (1832-1915)
Miscellaneous writer and biographer of Mary Russell Mitford. He took his degrees from
Exeter College, Oxford and was curate to William Harness at All Saints', Knightsbridge. He
died unmarried, having restored the family castle at Conna.