Harrison Family, Cheltenham

[bluerover]

I am having trouble tracing records for Samuel and Elizabeth Harrison. Elizabeth, nee Smith, is shown in census records as being born in Woodchester in about 1811. She had four children, all living with her in Cheltenham in 1851 - no sign of Samuel, although she is shown as wife not widow. By 1859 she had moved to London where her daughters married, she was a widow in 1861. But I can't find Samuel on the 1841 or 1851 censuses. I would appreciate advice on where I can find a record of their marriage, their birth records, and the birth of their eldest daughter (also Elizabeth) - in Cheltenham -  in 1833?

[rosie17]

Do you know what year Samuel was born ?? some names matching the children might be them in 1841 census but no parent's

[bluerover]

Yes I have the four children in Portishead in the 1841 census but no parents, and I have no date information for Samuel at all - I know he exists only from a marriage certificate for his eldest daughter and the birth certificate of his youngest child.

[avm228]

Hi there

You say you've got the youngest child's birth certificate - what was Samuel's occupation then?

[bluerover]

He is shown as a commercial traveller on the daughter Maria's birth certificate in 1837, and on the daughter Elizabeth's marriage certificate in 1859 he is shown as a clothier. Wife Elizabeth is a widow in 1861, and a fundholder, so I assume there was a little bit of money.

[SWar]

Bit of a long shot but there is a 47 year old Samuel Harrison lodging in the household of Ann Nixon in Newcastle on Tyne.  He gives his occupation as tailor and his birthplace as Gloucester.  He is listed as unmarried though.  Can't find this entry on Anc****y

There is also a death in Newcastle on Tyne Dec Q 1855 Ref. 10b 10

Sue

[bluerover]

This is interesting although the 'unmarried' listing is worrying. And I'm not much further forward in finding a birth record - would the records be held in the Gloucester Record Office?

[SWar]

Hi,

Looking again at the census record I found, he does give his birth place as 'Gloucestershire, Gloucester' and this is the only record I can find that matches -

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JW4D-8JF

I think if he had left his family, he may well want to be classified as 'unmarried'

Sue