Biography

John Harrison, the fourth child of Edward Harrison and Martha Mason, was born on 13 May 1883 at his parent’s home at 22 Peet Street in Poolstock. Around 1884, the family moved to 32 Corporation Street, Poolstock where they were enumerated in the 1891 census. John was listed in the census as a scholar. In 1892, the family moved again to the Pumping Station at Boar’s Head where John’s father was employed.

In the fall of 1894, when John was age 11, he lost both his parents. His father Edward died of rabies after being bitten by a stray dog. His mother Martha died a month later of breast cancer. John and his siblings were taken in by their grandfather, Joseph Harrison. Joseph was given Edward’s job and residence at the Pumping Station, and the family continued to reside there. Joseph was a widower, and his spinster daughter Margaret raised the orphaned children.

At the time of the 1901 census, the extended family was enumerated living at the Pumping Station at Boar’s Head. John, then age 14, was working as a postman.

Sometime after 1901, Joseph Harrison, his three daughters and orphaned grandchildren moved to 130 Barnsley Street, Wigan. Joseph died there in 1908. John and his three younger sisters were enumerated at 130 Barnsley Street, living with their aunt Margaret in the 1911 census. John was still employed as a postman.

According to his grandson, although John worked as a postman for most of his life, he was also employed for a time as a bricklayer for the Wigan Coal and Iron Company at Kirkless replacing the refractory lining in blast furnaces.

John was a soldier during World War I. His grandson was told that John was “badly injured and lay wounded on the battlefield for a long time before he was rescued…[and] had a silver plate in his body from the operation he had afterwards. As far as I know, he recovered well from his injuries.”

In April 1916, John married Ruth M. Tomlinson and had two sons, Graham and John Jr. (known as Jack). The family resided for most of their life at 179 Barnsley Street in Wigan down the road from his Aunt Margaret. John’s daughter-in-law, who knew him during this time, always described John as a “gentleman” and a man who was “very well spoken.”

John’s wife Ruth died in the late 1940s. Circa 1950, John moved in with his son Jack and family living at 264 Hodges Street. John died there in 1952 of cancer.


Details

  • Residence: 1888-05-15, 32 Corporation Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Edward & Martha Harrison family home.
  • Residence: 1891-04-05, 32 Corporation Street, Poolstock, Wigan;

    Per 1891 Census, John was age 8, living with his parents and siblings.

  • Residence: 1901-03-31, Pumping Station, Boars Head, Standish; Grandfather's home.

    John was orphaned and was living with grandfather Joseph, three aunts, and siblings in 1901.

  • Occupation: 1901-03-31 ; Postman.

    Per 1901 Census.

  • Residence: 1943-01-05, 179 Barnsley Street, Wigan;

    Per Margaret Harrison’s Death Certificate.

  • Residence: 1946-11-03, 179 Barnsley Street, Wigan;

    Address given by John when he signed the Death Certificate of his sister Martha.