HARRISON OF WORCESTER AND KINGTON
The death certificate of James Harrison gives his age in February 1859 as 63. From the 1841 census returns, it appears that he was not born in Worcestershire, although some information in the entry relating to the family members’ places of birth is contradicted by other records. James is not listed with his wife and children in the 1851 returns and has not been definitely located elsewhere in that year although he was living at the time.
A clue to the earlier history of the family is found in the records of the Worcestershire quarter sessions. An order was issued in 1846 for the removal of James Harrison, his wife Susanna and their children Mary Ann, Prudence, Reuben, Henry and Daniel from the parish of St Peter, Worcester, to the parish of St Chad, Shrewsbury. However, the order was “quashed for informality and not on the merits”.[1] Some years later, shortly after the death of James Harrison, it was reported in The Worcestershire Chronicle of 30 March 1859 that “An order was granted for the removal of Susannah Harrison from the parish of St. Clement to St. Chad’s, Shrewsbury. The woman is the mother of thirteen children, all grown up, and doing for themselves. It is sad that out of so many, not one can be found to rescue their mother from pauperism”. Again, the removal may not have actually taken place, as in 1861, Susannah was living in Worcester (although in the parish of St Peter) with her son Reuben.
A possible set of parents for Susannah’s husband James are James Harrison and Martha Jones who were married on 21 September 1786 at Holy Cross, Shrewsbury. I have not found baptisms for any children of James and Martha at Shrewsbury but it is likely that they were the James and Martha Harrison who had a son Thomas baptised at Chirbury on 27 December 1786 and a daughter Elizabeth baptised at the same place on 28 July 1788. A few years later, on 9 July 1793, a Mary, daughter of James and Martha Harrison, was baptised at Ludlow. Mary was buried there on 13 May 1795. Also at Ludlow was the baptism on 2 September 1795 of “James Son of James Harris [sic] and Martha”. This would match exactly with the age at death given for James Harrison of Worcester in 1859. I have not traced James and Martha Harrison further at Ludlow but they may have returned to Shrewsbury as a James Harrison was buried there at St Chad on 14 May 1832 when his age was given as sixty-eight. Further evidence for this family may be in the records of the Shrewsbury Incorporation, which I have not yet seen.
James and Susanna (Kettle) Harrison may have had a connection of some kind with John and Mary (Shepherd) Parkes who were married at Penn in 1806 and who later lived at Wednesbury. John Parkes was a witness at the marriage of James Harrison and Susannah Kettle. John was an ironmonger, which may be relevant to James Harrison’s work as an iron and brass moulder.
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HARRISON
1 JAMES HARRISON of Worcester and of Kington, Herefordshire, iron and brass moulder, was born ca 1795[2] and died on 13 February 1859 at Worcester.[3] He married on 13 September 1818 at Wednesbury, Staffordshire, SUSANNA KETTLE,[4] gloveress, daughter of John and Sarah (Page) Kettle (see here). Susanna was born at Worcester, baptised on 24 August 1797 at St Peter, Worcester, and died on 10 April 1866 at Worcester.
Children of James and Susanna (Kettle) Harrison:[5]
i CHARLES
HARRISON, bap 5 May 1819, St Peter, Worcester.[6]
2 ii GEORGE
HARRISON (1820-1888); m ELIZA LILLEY.
iii CHARLOTTE HARRISON, bap 20 Dec 1821, St
Peter, Worcester.[7]
iv ELIZA HARRISON, b Worcester, bap 12 Jan 1823,
St Peter, Worcester,[8] d 25 May
1896, Worcester;[9]
m 26 Feb 1844, St Martin, Worcester, RICHARD MASON.[10]
v MATILDA HARRISON, b Worcester, bap 6 Mar
1825, St Peter, Worcester,[11] d 9 Dec
1891, Bristol;[12]
m 2 Apr 1850, Claines, THOMAS LONGMORE.[13]
vi JOSHUA HARRISON of Worcester, shoemaker and
painter, b Worcester, bap 24 Dec 1826, St Peter, Worcester;[14] m 18
Jun 1849, St Peter, Birmingham, MATILDA CHURCHMAN.[15]
vii CHARLOTTE HARRISON, b Worcester, bap 13 May 1828,
St Peter, Worcester,[16] bur 7
Sep 1911, Reading;[17] m 18
Mar 1866, St Clement, Worcester, JOHN TOLLY WILLIAMS.[18]
viii LOUISA HARRISON, b Worcester, bap 26 Mar 1830, St
Peter, Worcester,[19] d 14
Oct 1904, Bristol;[20] m 25
Feb 1849, St Peter, Worcester, WILLIAM HYDE.[21]
ix MARY ANN HARRISON, gloveress,
b Worcester, bap 19 Oct 1831, St Clement, Worcester,[22] d 28
Sep 1876, Bristol;[23] m 23
Mar 1863, Holy Trinity, St Philip, Bristol, PETER DENBY.[24]
x PRUDENCE HARRISON, gloveress,
b Worcester, bap 31 Oct 1833, St Clement, Worcester,[25] d 9 Aug
1865, Worcester;[26]
m 19 Apr 1863, St George, Claines, JOHN HOWE.[27]
xi REUBEN HARRISON of Worcester, glover, b ca
1835, Hereford,[28] bur 11 Dec 1916, Sherborne;[29] m 6 Aug 1855, St Martin, Worcester,
EMILY JONES.[30]
xii HENRY HARRISON, glover, b Kington, bap 30 Jun
1837, Kington.[31]
xiii DANIEL HARRISON of Milborne
Port, Somerset, glover, b 28 Dec 1838, Kington;[32] m 1 Nov 1863, St Clement, Worcester,
FELICIA SMITH.[33]
2 GEORGE HARRISON of Nail Row, Kington, iron moulder, was born at Worcester, baptised on 20 October 1820 at St Peter, Worcester,[34] and died on 31 August 1888 at Kington.[35] He married on 11 November 1841 at Ludlow, Shropshire, ELIZA LILLEY,[36] daughter of John and Sarah (Turner) Lilley alias Woodward (see here). Eliza was born at Kington, baptised on 5 September 1824 at Kington and died on 26 February 1891 at Kington.
Children of George and Eliza (Lilley) Harrison:
3 i
CHARLES HARRISON (1844-1898); m
NAOMI RAWLINGS.
ii AGNES HARRISON, b Kington, bap 4 Oct
1846, Kington,[37]
d 7 Jul 1898, Edmonton;[38] m 31
Jan 1878, register office, St George, Hanover Square, Westminster, FREDERICK
GARDNER.[39]
iii JOHN HARRISON of Kington and of Reading,
iron moulder, b Kington, bap 31 Dec 1848, Kington,[40] bur 14
Mar 1912, Barkham;[41] m(1) 1869, MARY
ANN BARNES;[42] m(2) 1889,
Reading, SARAH ANN (BENWELL) BARNES.[43]
iv SARAH ANN HARRISON, b Kington, bap 16 Feb
1851, Kington,[44]
bur 23 Mar 1922, Hyde Park Cemetery, Doncaster;[45] m 29
Mar 1877, Doncaster, JAMES HILL.[46]
v RACHEL HARRISON, b 16 Jun 1853, Kington,[47] bur 28
Nov 1909, Hyde Park Cemetery, Doncaster;[48] m 14
Aug 1877, Doncaster, WALTER BATTY.[49]
vi GEORGE HARRISON, iron moulder, b 1856,
Kington,[50] bur 25 Sep 1873, Kington Cemetery.[51]
vii PRUDENCE HARRISON, b 7 Nov 1858, Kington,[52] d 9 Jul 1933, Kington;[53] m 1885,
THOMAS WILLIAMS.[54]
viii FREDERICK JOHN HARRISON, b Kington, bap 11 Jun 1862,
Kington,[55]
bur 21 Sep 1876, Kington Cemetery.[56]
ix ELIZA JANE HARRISON, b 19 Oct 1867, Kington,[57] d 7 Feb 1943;[58] m 16 Nov 1889, Kington, GEORGE JONES.[59]
3 CHARLES HARRISON of Nail Row, Kington, iron moulder, was born on 18 July 1844 at Kington[60] and died on 26 July 1898 at Kington.[61] He married on 30 October 1870 at Kington Wesleyan chapel, NAOMI RAWLINGS,[62] daughter of William and Ellen (Jones) Rawlings (see here). Naomi was born on 27 November 1847 at Lymm, Cheshire, and died on 27 April 1903 at Kington.
Children of Charles and Naomi (Rawlings) Harrison:
i RUTH
HARRISON, b 19 Jun 1871, Kington,[63] d 26
Jun 1871, Kington.[64]
ii WILLIAM
HARRISON of Liverpool, dock checker, b 20 May 1873, Kington.[65]
iii FREDERICK GEORGE
HARRISON of Leominster, iron moulder, b 9 Mar 1876, Kington,[66] d 1 May 1929, Kidderminster;[67] m 28
Feb 1904, Moravian chapel, Leominster, BEATRICE FOX.[68]
iv JESSE HARRISON of
Leominster, iron moulder, b 16 Oct 1878, Kington,[69] bur 1 Apr 1952, Shanklin;[70] m 1907,
EMILY TOWNSEND.[71]
v HERBERT HARRISON of Coventry, iron moulder, b 19 Sep 1881, Kington,[72] d 3 Mar 1945, Coventry;[73] m 13 May 1916, Coventry, ETHEL MAY MIDDLETON.[74]
vi CHARLES HARRISON
of Kington and Leeds, saddler and garage labourer, b 3 Jun 1884, Kington,[75] d 5 Mar 1956, Burmantofts.[76]
vii RACHEL HARRISON, b 30
Jul 1886, Kington,[77] d 19 Feb 1961, New Wortley, Yorkshire;[78] m 10 Oct 1910, St Ethelbert’s Catholic
church, Leominster, THOMAS DAVIES[79] (see here).
viii ERNEST HARRISON of Liverpool, docks foreman, b 29 Jul 1889, Kington,[80] d 28 Oct 1956;[81] m 29 Jul 1919, Morpeth, EDITH JOBLING.[82]
ix NAOMI HARRISON, b 14
Sep 1893, Kington,[83] d 26 Dec 1969;[84] m 3 Feb
1923, Llanddewi Rhondda, ALFRED CHARLES GALE.[85]
[1] Worcestershire Quarter Sessions Order Books, 1632-1921 (online at www.ancestry.com).
[2] Death certificate; 1841 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO 107/1209/9, fol. 18).
[3] Death certificate.
[4] St Bartholomew, Wednesbury, parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). In the marriage and banns entries, James and Susanna were both said to be of the parish of Wednesbury. The identity of the James Harrison and Susannah Kettle married at Wednesbury with the James and Susannah Harrison whose children were baptised at Worcester and Kington is proved by the birth certificate of Daniel Harrison (born in 1838) which gives his mother’s maiden surname as Kettle.
[5] Their daughter Mary Ann seems to be the Mary Ann Harrison mentioned in The Worcestershire Chronicle, 25 Apr 1860, as the complainant in a case of assault, where she is stated to have had a sister called Phœbe Ann. However, no other trace of such a sister has been found. It may be an error for Prudence.
[6] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (Society of Genealogists, Mf 2213).
[7] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (Society of Genealogists, Mf 2213).
[8] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (Society of Genealogists, Mf 2213); 1851 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO 107/2042, fol. 491).
[9] Death certificate.
[10] St Martin, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 13 Jun 1863, reports that Daniel Harrison, glover, was charged with assaulting his sister, Eliza Mason.
[11] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (Society of Genealogists, Mf 2213); 1871 census returns, Bristol (National Archives, RG 10/2558, fol. 5).
[12] Death certificate.
[13] Claines parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1861 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, RG 9/2093, fol. 38); 1871 census returns, Bristol (National Archives, RG 10/2558, fol. 5).
[14] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1891 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, RG 12/2328, fol. 31).
[15] St Peter, Birmingham, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[16] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1881 census returns, Wokingham (National Archives, RG 11/1310, fol. 53).
[17] Berkshire Burial Index (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); 1911 census returns, Reading (National Archives, RG 14/6576).
[18] Marriage certificate. A Charlotte Williams registered the death of Susanna (Kettle) Harrison in 1866.
[19] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1881 census returns, Bristol (National Archives, RG 11/2498, fol. 136).
[20] Death certificate.
[21] St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[22] St Clement, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1851 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO 107/2042, fol. 459).
[23] Death certificate.
[24] Holy Trinity, St Philip, Bristol, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1871 census returns, Bristol (National Archives, RG 10/2531, fol. 86).
[25] St Clement, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1851 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO 107/2042, fol. 459).
[26] Death certificate.
[27] St George, Claines, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[28] 1851 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO 107/2042, fol. 459).
[29] Sherborne parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1911 census returns, Sherborne (National Archives, RG 14/12446).
[30] St Martin, Worcester, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 18 Aug 1855.
[31]
Kington parish registers; 1851 census returns, Worcester (National Archives, HO
107/2042, fol. 459).
[32] Birth certificate.
[33] Marriage certificate.
[34]
St Peter, Worcester, parish registers (Society of Genealogists, Mf 2213); 1851 census returns, Kington (National Archives,
HO 107/2492, fol. 291).
[35] The Hereford Times, 8 Sep 1888. George was run over by a train. Administration granted 12 Nov 1888.
[36] Marriage certificate. George and Eliza were still in Kington at the time of the census on 6 Jun 1841, when they were living with Eliza’s parents John and Sarah Lilley (National Archives, HO 107/423, fol. 25). George and Eliza were back in Kington by the time of the birth of their son Charles on 18 Jul 1844. Eliza’s brother Edward Lilley lived in Ludlow. The place of birth of George and Eliza’s son Charles is given as Ludlow in the 1871 census returns (National Archives, RG 10/2722, fol. 27), but it is clear from his birth certificate and other census returns that he was born in Kington.
[37] 1851 census returns, Kington (National Archives, HO 107/2492, fol. 291); England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1T3-WMB).
[38] Death certificate.
[39] Marriage certificate; 1891 census returns, London (National Archives, RG 12/288, fol. 28). The census returns understate Agnes’s age by several years, but given that she is stated to have been born in Kington and that the marriage certificate gives her father as George Harrison, iron founder, the identification seems clear. Agnes appears to have been some years older than her husband Frederick.
[40] 1851 census returns, Kington (National Archives, HO 107/2492, fol. 291); England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NK5G-6Z8).
[41] Barkham parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com); 1911 census returns, Langley Common (National Archives, RG 14/6633).
[42] National civil registration indexes; 1871 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 10/2722, fol. 37).
[43] Berkshire BMD (www.berkshirebmd.org.uk); 1891 census returns, Reading (National Archives, RG 12/995, fol. 30); 1901 census returns, Reading (National Archives, RG 13/1151, fol. 56); 1911 census returns, Newland (National Archives, RG 14/6633).
[44] 1851 census returns, Kington (National Archives, HO 107/2492, fol. 291); England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1T3-4R4).
[45] Yorkshire Burials (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[46] Doncaster parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); 1881 census returns, Doncaster (RG 11/4691, fol. 35).
[47] Birth certificate; 1861 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 9/4230, fol. 20).
[48] Yorkshire Burials (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[49] Doncaster parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); 1881 census returns, Doncaster (RG 11/4691, fol. 24).
[50] National civil registration indexes; 1861 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 9/4230, fol. 20).
[51] Kington Cemetery registers.
[52] Birth certificate.
[53] The Kington Times, 15 Jul 1933.
[54] National civil registration indexes; 1901 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 13/2499, fol. 15); 1911 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 14/15849). The death of Eliza (Lilley) Harrison was registered by her daughter Prudence Williams.
[55] 1871 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 10/2722, fol. 36); England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1T3-9L9).
[56] Kington Cemetery register.
[57] 1871 census returns (National Archives, RG 10/2722, fol. 37); 1939 register; War Office pension records (National Archives, WO 364/5360).
[58] Wiltshire Memorial Inscription Index (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[59] Kington parish registers.
[60] Birth certificate.
[61] Death certificate.
[62] Marriage certificate.
[63] Birth certificate.
[64] Death certificate.
[65] Kington School admissions register; 1881 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 11/2610, fol. 49).
[66] Kington School admissions register; 1881 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 11/2610, fol. 49).
[67] Death certificate.
[68] Marriage certificate.
[69] Kington School admissions register; 1881 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 11/2610, fol. 49).
[71] National civil registration indexes; 1911 census returns, Leominster (RG 14/15808).
[72] Kington School admissions register; 1891 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 12/2077, fol. 40); 1911 census returns, Coventry (National Archives, RG14/18557).
[73] National probate calendars.
[74] The Midland Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1916.
[75] 1891 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 12/2077, fol. 40); Kington School admissions register (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[76] Death certificate.
[77] Birth certificate.
[78] Death certificate.
[79] Marriage certificate.
[80] 1891 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 12/2077, fol. 40); 1939 register.
[81] Liverpool Echo, 29 Jul 1944, 29 Oct 1956.
[82] The Morpeth Herald, 1 Aug 1919.
[83] Kington School admissions register; 1901 census returns, Kington (National Archives, RG 13/2499, fol. 41).
[84] Grant of probate.
[85] Llanddewi Rhondda parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).