William Harrison I believe was born 16th May 1819 in Bury, Lancashire and baptised 13th June 1819 at St Marys, Bury. On his baptism record his parents were given as: Thomas Harrison (a Servant man) and Mary from Woodhill in the county of Lancaster. (Reference Number: L215, Item Number: 1, Archive Roll: 671).
On the 5th May 1850 he married Amelia Ann Hankin:
Marriage solemnized at Trinity Church in the parish of St Mary Newington in the county of Surrey.
William Harrison of full age bachelor.
Profession: Coach Maker.
Residence: Swan St.
Father: Thomas Harrison deceased.
Spouse: Amelia Ann Hankin of full age spinster.
Residence: Swan St.
Fathers name: John Hankin Labourer.
Married after banns.
Witnessed by John Harrison (Signed by his mark) and Elizabeth Townsend (signed by her mark) Elizabeth may have been Amelia’s Aunt.
(London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Newington, Register of marriages, P92/TRI, Item 022.)
William and Amelia went on to have 14 children:
1. William John Harrison, born 1850, Willesborough, Kent, bp. 29th Dec 1850 in Ashford, Kent. (So at the time of William and Amelia’s marriage, Amelia was already pregnant.)
2. Thomas Harrison, born c1852, Ashford, bp. 3rd Sept 1854, Willesborough, Kent.
3. Robert Harrison, born c1854, Ashford, bp. 3rd Sept 1854, Willesborough, Kent.
4. George Harrison, born c1855, Willesborough, bp. 7th Sept 1856, Willesborough, Kent.
5. Samuel Harrison, born c1856, Willesborough, bp 7th Sept 1856, Willesborough, Kent, died 1858.
6. Richard Alfred Harrison, born c1858, Ashford, bp. 7th Feb 1858, Willesborough, Kent.
7. Albert Henry Harrison, born c1860, Ashford, bp. 1st Jan 1860, Willesborough, Kent.
8. Frederick Holmes Harrison, born 4th April 1862 Ashford, bp. 3rd Aug 1862, Willesborough, Kent.
9. Amelia Elizabeth Harrison, born c1864, Ashford, bp. 5th June 1864, Willesborough, Kent. (Finally a girl! Thank goodness as she was my 2nd great grand mother!)
10. Mary Ann Harrison, born c1866, Ashford, Kent.
11. Rosetta Harrison, born c1867, Ashford, Kent, bp. 27th Oct 1867, Ashford, Kent.
12. Alice Harrison, born c1871, Ashford, Kent, bp. 7th Nov 1871, Ashford, Kent.
13. Samuel Holmes Harrison, born c1871, Ashford, b.p 7th Nov 1871, Ashford, Kent.
14. Arthur Harrison, born c1874, Ashford, bp 12th Sept 1874, Willesborough, Kent.
In 1851 the census notes the family living at 99 New town in the Parish of Willesborough.
1. William Harrison, Head, Married, age 31, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Harrison, Wife, age 41?, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William John Harrison, Son, age 4 months, born Alfred Town, Willesborough, Kent.
By 1850 over 130 houses had been built in the area for staff by the South Eastern Railway. The railway called this area ‘Alfred Town’, known as ‘New Town’ by everybody else. The works employed about 600 people in 1851 increasing to about 950 by 1861, and around 1,300 by 1882. A carriage and wagon works was opened on an adjacent 32-acre (13 ha) site in 1850. (Source Wikipedia)
In 1861 the census shows the family still living at 99 New Town, Willesborough:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 41, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Harrison (Wife) age 31, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William J Harrison (Son) age 10, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
4. Thomas Harrison (Son) age 9, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
4. Robert Harrison (Son) age 7, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
5. George Harrison (Son) age 6, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
6. Richard A Harrison (Son) age 3, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford.
7. Albert H Harrison (Son) age 1, born Kent, Ashford.
Class: RG 9; Piece: 515; Folio: 70; Page: 7; GSU roll: 542653.
In 1871 the census shows the family had moved next door to 100 New Town:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 51, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Ann Harrison (Wife) age 41, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. William John Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 20 (occupation hard to read..possibly ‘Turner’) born Willesborough, Kent.
4. Thomas Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 19, Coach Maker, born Willesborough, Kent.
5. Robert Harrison (Son) Unmarried, age 17, Coach Maker born Willesborough, Kent.
6. George Harrison (Son) age 16, Coach Trimmer, born Willesborough, Kent.
7. Richard Harrison (Son) age 13, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
8. Albert Harrison (Son) age 11, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
9. Fred H Harrison (Son) age 8, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
10 Amelia Eliz Harrison (Daughter) age 6, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
11. Mary Ann Harrison (Daughter age 5, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
12. Rosella Harrison (Daughter) age 3, Scholar, born Willesborough, Kent.
13. Alice Harrison (Daughter) age 1, born Willesborough, Kent.
Class: RG10; Piece: 961; Folio: 114; Page: 43; GSU roll: 827248.
1881 Census, still at the same address: 100 Newtown:
1. William Harrison (Head) age 61, Coach Trimmer, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia Ann Harrison (Wife) age 51, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. Thomas Harrison (Son) unmarried, age 29, Coach Builder, born Ashford, Kent.
4. Richard Harrison (Son) unmarried age 23, Coach Builder, born Ashford, Kent.
5. Albert Harrison (Son) unmarried age 21, Coach Trimmer, born Ashford, Kent.
6. Frederick H Harrison (Son) unmarried age 18, Coach Builders Apprentice, born Ashford, Kent.
7 Amelia E Harrison (Daughter)age 16, Dressmaker, born Ashford, Kent.
8. Mary Ann Harrison (Daughter age 15, Dressmaker, born Ashford, Kent.
9. Rosa Harrison (Daughter) age 13, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
10. Alice Harrison (Daughter) age 11, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
11.Samuel Harrison (Son) age 9, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
12. Arthur Harrison (Son) age 7, Scholar, born Ashford, Kent.
Source Information: Family History Library Film 1341226, Public Records Office Reference RG11, Piece / Folio 0950 / 117, Page Number 9.
1891 Census: 100 Newtown, Willesborough
1. William Harrison (Head) age 71, Foreman Trimmer SER, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia A Harrison (Wife) age 61, born Lambeth, Surrey.
3. Samuel H Harrison (Son) single, age 19, Turner S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
4. Arthur Harrison (Son) single, age 17, Coach Maker, S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
5. Mary A Harrison (Daughter) single, age 24, Carriage Lining Maker S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
6. Alice Harrison (Daughter) single, age 21, Carriage Lining Maker S.E.R, born Willesboro’ Kent.
Class: RG12; Piece: 702; Folio: 70; Page: 8; GSU Roll: 6095812.
1901 Census: 100 Newtown, Willesborough
1. William Harrison (Head) age 81, Living on means, born Bury, Lancashire.
2. Amelia A Harrison (Wife) age 71, born Lambeth, London.
3. Arthur Harrison (Son) single, age 27, Coach Maker, born Ashford, Kent.
4. Alice Harrison (Daughter) single, age 30, Lining Maker for Carriages, born Ashford, Kent.
5. Hesta? Smith (Grandson) age 4, born Deal, Kent.
Class: RG13; Piece: 786; Folio: 47; Page: 31.
William Harrison passed away 12th Feb 1906 in East Ashford and was buried 17th Feb 1906 in Ashford. Probate was granted 25th April 1906 to his daughter Alice Harrison, William was noted as an Ashford, Kent railway factory foreman. (Source: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 [database on-line])
Willesborough & Ashford history links:
Ashford, Kent genealogy, local and family history resources.
Ashford Railway Works: Local Industries and Farming.
Photos of Ashford Railway Works.
Willesborough, Kent (A Vision of Britain website).
Willesborough (Wikipedia).
The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 7. Originally published by W Bristow, Canterbury, 1798, entry for Willesborough.
The Willesborough civic war memorial: Info on those that died during the 1st World War (opens as PDF).
Francisfrith.com: Willesborough in old photos.
New Mill, Willesborough: Grade II listed smock mill, built in 1869.
Guide to South Willesborough, Kent: Ancestry, family history, and genealogy.