Harris of Lye Waste--

[MaryMS]

From a range of evidence I believe that my 3g-grandfather was a John Harris born in Lye Waste around 1805. I think this may be him but cannot at present be certain (the information comes from someone else and I have not been able to check the parish registers for myself as yet):

"John Harris Christened 23rd February, 1805, Oldswinford. His father is listed as John, born in 1776, and his mother as Sarah nee Knowles. They were married on 7th March, Oldswinford, in 1802. The Church would have been Saint Mary's".

What I do know for certain is that my 2g-grandfather was a William Harris, son of John Harris, locksmith, who according to the census of 1851 and 1861 was born in Birmingham/Warwickshire c.1829. By 1851 he had moved to Leigh, Lancashire, where he met my 2g-grandmother, Margaret Yates. They married in 1852 and their children comprised Mary, Jane, Martha, John, Elizabeth and Ellen. Wiliam died in Salford Union Workhouse hospital in 1864.

I think I have found William in the 1841 census: 107/1142/3 Birmingham St Martin's, Bordesley St, William age "15" with Francis Tandy (labourer, "45") and Sarah ("50"); neither Francis nor Sarah b Warwickshire. Marriage (at Handsworth, Staffs) found for this couple (1824); Sarah is nee Harris.

I also think I have found WIlliam's father, John Harris, in some of the available censuses:

1861 RG9/2174, Watery Lane Cottage back of Crown and Anchor, Aston. John, screw bolt turner, b Lye Waste, Worcs, with second wife Martha. Also present are Martha's two children, Samuel and Louisa (age 12 and 7). Martha's birthplace is listed as Newport, Salop. [The 1859 marriage certificate for this second marriage states that John Harris locksmith and widower, son of another John Harris, soldier, and Martha Shaw widow were married on 7th March 1859 at St Martin, Birmingham.]

1871 Lodging with Simkin family, "labour [sic] at screw factory", "back of 207 Watery Lane,Bordesley, Aston (back-to-back cottage], married, aged 67, Martha not present. Was Martha helping one of her children? [not found in FMP census search]

1881 RG11/3009 Devonshire St ("16Bk66" - assumed to be back-to-back cottage), Birmingham All Saints. John aged 76 and wife Martha age 69; grand-daughter Eliza E Jones aged 9, born Birmingham (Births Dec 1871)

This may be John in 1841:
HO107/1144/4 Henrietta St, Birmingham, age "40", Machine Ruler J[ourneyman?], in what appears to be lodgings.

I gather that a move from Lye Waste to Birmingham may have had a lot to do with the unrest that led to the Nailmakers' strike of 1842.

Can anyone help with further information on the above named, please? Any assistance would be much appreciated.

[peterd]

who where the witnesses on the marriage cert ?

[MaryMS]

My informant did not give me the witnesses' names in the first marriage of John Harris at Old Swinford. (I think he found it via familySearch, which as is often the case include this information.)

The witnesses of the 2nd marriage were George Wiseman and Jane Green (at Birmingham St Martin's).

I assume you're not referring to the witnesses of my 2g-grandfather's marriage, but for completeness they are John N Bevington and James Milligan, who appear to have been 'professional witnesses'.

[rockyfowler]

7 Mar 1802 St Mary Oldswinford
John HARRIS Bachelor
Sarah KNOWLES Spinster
By Banns The X Of Both
Wit; Richard Knowles / Mary Knowles X

[MaryMS]

Many thanks to rockyfowler for the information. If there is anyone with links to or more information on this couple, please contact me

[Northern Lass]

Hi Mary welcome to the forum

Not gone thru' the thread yet ....but if you have a look at the Black Country Connections site that Jo aka Grangers 14 and I run
let me know if any connect to yourself...I can if you wish put that you connect on.

I will add in that marriage RF has kindly looked up
so can add in you connect in notes if you wish
let me know

I will then move this thread to archived.

we have a surname section you could put your username and the name Harris and Jo or I will add to the list
so anyone searching for Harris knows you connect too

[MaryMS]

Hi

Many thanks for the welcome to the Forum. Thanks also to you and all involved in the Black Country Connections site. I haven't found any definite links yet but it's early days. I'd be grateful if you could add my name and the surname Harris to your surname section, and for any other advice etc.

Thanks again, and I hope that you and all on the Forum and BCC have a lovely Christmas.