James Harris - Peterchurch/Michaelchurch Escley

[Britgirl]

Ok, I give up! 

I have been hunting for the baptism of my 3xGt Grandfather James Harris for decades now! Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes can help.

He married in Bath in 1835 but the 1851 census states he was born in Michaelchurch Escley and in 1861 it's Peterchurch. In 1841 it just said that he wasn't born in Somerset. His age consistently dates him to about 1800/01

I have ruled out the James Harris born in Michaelchurch Escley in 1797 as he died in 1818 aged 21 (working from memory here so might be a little out with dates)

Also ruled out are:
James chr 1796 Bromyard (s/o Edward & Anne): Found Herefordshire 1851

James chr 1797, Clodock (s/o Walter & Elizabeth): Found in Wales 1841-61 or Herefordshire 1851

James chr 1801, Brampton Bryan (s/o James & Mary): Found in Leominster 1841-51

James  chr 1803, Bredwardine (s/o Thomas & Elizabeth): Found in Herefordshire 1851-1861.

Can anyone help?

[RedMike]

http://www.lhsarchive.org.uk/

might be worth a try

[Britgirl]

Thanks RedMike.
I've had a lot of success on that site with a different (unrelated) Harris  branch on my tree, so I'll give it another whirl.

[mazi]

I hesitste to come in on this as my interests are in social history and geography really but there is a james harris on familysearch in english bicknor in glos. june 1799,there seemed to be a natural flow of people from longtown/clodock area down the monnow valley and on towards the crossing of the severn at gloucester,
just a thought

mike

[Britgirl]

Thanks Mike, that's exactly the sort of fresh approach I was meaning. 

James' wife, Judith Catherine Edwards (who I also can't find prior to her marriage!  ) states she was born ca 1811 in Abergavenny, so having had such little success with either of their baptisms has got me wondering how they both ended up in Bath, at which age they moved (as adults looking for work or as children with their family etc), which routes they may have taken, and how they may have me,t in the hopes it might open up new avenues to explore.

Interestingly Judith, who went variously under the name of Judith and Catherine, was in the 1861 census as Jane from Hythe in Kent.    I have no idea where that came from, unless the transcriber copied the wrong line in his book at that point!! 

[Britgirl]

Having just gone through my notes and rechecking the census images it seems Judith was also down as being a Jane Harris from Kent in 1881 and Judith Catherine Harris from Kent in 1891. Very strange.
They lived in Northampton St, Walcot throughout their lives. James died in 1866 and Judith in 1896.

[mazi]

The kent could remotely be a misinterpretation of kentchurch in herefordshire,this being connected to the Scudamore family, also a john harris, born 1753 whose father was steward of the herefordshire Hampton court, was a respected land surveyor, surveying amongst others for hereford and gloucester dioceseswho owned considerable amounts of land in both counties. Pure speculation, but the harrises in the site mentioned by redmike seem to be more literate and adventurous than the average ag lab.
Plear dont let my random thoughts influence you, just speculation

mike

[Britgirl]

Speculation maybe, but useful all the same.

Especially the part about  the Harris who was a steward, as this is the very occupation James' second son George favoured!

James was a Hostler, Coachman and latly a Dairyman, but generally called himself a servant in censuses.

My ancestor George was a Butler by the age of 23 (Bath),  a ships steward (Southampton),  restaurant waiter (for a few months in London), dairyman & assurance salesman (briefly back in Somerset), valet (London)!

I would certainly be interested in exploring those Harris' further, if you have a link please. I find the Ewyas Lacy site rather difficult to navigate.

[mazi]

Sorry I dont have a link to the harrises, just a passing reference in a book on old hereford mapmakers, no more than I mentioned before.

Why do I think he was the second or third son with no chance of inheriting the family farm,went off to make a new life for himself.

regards  mike