The Henry Harold Harrison Family

Biography

Henry Harrison was born on 27 March 1860 in Blackrod, probably at a place called Blundles Fold. Henry was the son of Joseph Harrison, a labourer at a coal mine, and his wife Ellen Ball. Henry was their third child, having an older brother, Edward, and sister Elizabeth.

The Blackrod area had been a centre for the Harrison family members for some time. Henry’s father, Joseph, was from Adlington, a short distance north of Blackrod. Ellen was from Haigh, just west of Blackrod. Although Blundles Fold no longer exists, Blundell Lane is now a back road through country fields between Haigh and Blackrod. Local residents say that there were several coal pits near Blundell Lane in the 19th century and that the Lane was home to many of the miners.

The 1861 census recorded Henry Harrison living with his parents and two older siblings at Blundles Fold, Blackrod. Shortly thereafter, probably in 1862, the family moved to the Poolstock area of Wigan that would become the family’s neighbourhood for the next 75 years. From 1862 through the 1870s, Joseph and Ellen had five more daughters (in addition to any children who may have died in infancy): Maria, Jemima, Ellen, Alice, and Margaret. The family were most likely renters as they moved from house to house every few years but always in the Poolstock neighbourhood. For example, at the time of the 1871 census, they lived at 6 Byrom Street in Poolstock, Wigan, by which time the family had grown to include seven children. In 1875, they were living at 31 Pool Street, according to the birth certificate of Margaret Harrison. At the time of the 1881 census, they were living at 64 Pool Street.

This was a working class family. Joseph, who seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades, held various jobs as a labourer, blacksmith, coal miner, and timber sawyer. Ellen was a stay-at-home mother looking after eight children. The children went to school in their younger years but generally went to work around age 13 or 14. Edward worked as an engine tenter, and all of Henry’s sisters worked as cotton weavers in the Poolstock textile mills, of which there were several. The 1881 census found Henry at age 21 still living with his parents and working as a stoker, presumably shovelling coal into a boiler at one of the local mills.

On 27 June 1885, Henry married Alice Barton, a local girl, at St. Thomas Church in Wigan. The couple lived in the Poolstock neighbourhood in a house at 20 Walmer Street. On 18 May 1886, Henry Harold Harrison was born, their first and only child. At the time, Henry Sr. was working as an engine minder, according to Harold’s birth certificate.

Sometime between 1886 and 1891, Henry became the proprietor of the Honeysuckle Inn, located at 75 Pool Street in Poolstock on the bank of the Douglas River. Henry certainly knew the inn as he had lived with his parents at 31 Pool Street in 1875 and 64 Pool Street in 1881.

Henry operated the Honeysuckle for about the next dozen years. It is said that he would drink with his customers at breakfast, lunchtime, and dinner, sleeping off the alcohol between meals. When he would become too ill from drinking, the local doctor “would wean him off the booze with champagne.” It is also said that when he was drunk he could become abusive. He was a frequent gambler holding cock fights behind the Honeysuckle.

The 1891 census taken at the Honeysuckle Inn registers Henry, his wife Alice, and son Harold living there along with two of Alice’s sisters, Ellen and Annie Barton. Ellen and Annie may have been employed at the Honeysuckle or may simply have been visiting their sister when the census-taker arrived.

In 1897, Henry’s wife, Alice Barton, died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 33. On 9 January 1900, Henry remarried at age 39. His second wife, Elizabeth Donahue, age 25, resided at 90 Pool Street, just up the road from the Honeysuckle. They were married at St. Thomas’ Church in Wigan. Henry and Elizabeth had eight children together over the next 18 years.

The 1901 census records Henry and Elizabeth living at the Honeysuckle Inn with son Harold and John, Henry’s cousin, probably the son of Joseph’s brother William. In the same year, Henry indentured his son Harold as an apprentice to Robert George Dawson, a local joiner and family friend.

Some time between 1902 and 1904, Henry ceased to operate the Honeysuckle Inn. His granddaughter believes he “gambled it away.” The family was still at the Honeysuckle when Aunt Maggie was born in 1902. When their next child, Nellie, was born in 1904, the family was living at 90 Pool Street, and Henry was back working as a colliery engine winder. When his daughter Gladys was born in 1909, he was living at 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock, an address a block away from the Honeysuckle Inn and still working as a colliery engine winder. 

At the time of the 1911 census Henry, Elizabeth and their children were enumerated at 30 Tipping Street. They were both employed as shopkeepers selling “mixed” goods such as sweets and perhaps hors d’oevres (horis dubers sic) from their home. Ten years later the 1921 census recorded Henry and his family living at 65 Byron Street in Poolstock. Henry is listed as an invalid (no further details provided) and was apparently unemployed. It seems likely that for the last 15 years of his life he was supported by his children.

Henry died on 30 October 1937 of “senile decay”, now referred to as dementia, at Billinge Hospital. He 77 years old and living at 88 Poolstock, a house on the Leeds-Liverpool canal only a few hundred metres from the Honeysuckle Inn. Henry’s death certificate records his occupation as a stoker (cotton mill). On Elizabeth Donahue’s death certificate, Joseph Harrison recorded his father’s occupation as general labourer. Henry’s funeral service and burial were reported in an obituary by the local Wigan Examiner newspaper at the time. Henry is buried in a family plot with his two wives, Alice and Elizabeth, his brother Edward, and several other family members at the Wigan Cemetery and Crematorium in Ince.

Research Notes

As to the doctor’s prescription, “[I] would wean him off the booze with champagne.” I can’t find this cure on the Internet!

The above biography is based mainly on census records, civil registration certificates, oral history passed down through the family, and the report of Henry’s funeral in the Wigan Examiner, which was in the family’s possession. Another key piece of information that links family members is the common burial plot at the Wigan Cemetery and Crematorium where 13 family members are interred.

The most important research issue is the link between Henry Harrison and his parents, Joseph and Ellen. The key points that, taken together, establish the link between Joseph, Henry and Edward as a virtual certainty are as follows:

• The 1881 census confirms that Joseph and Ellen had sons Edward and Henry born circa 1855 and 1860 respectively
• Henry Harrison’s marriage certificates both to Alice Barton and to Elizabeth Donahue confirm that Henry’s father was named Joseph
• The Wigan Examiner report of Edward Harrison’s death in 1894 establishes with certainty that Henry Harrison, proprietor of the Honeysuckle Inn, had a father named Joseph and a brother named Edward born circa 1855. It also establishes that Edward died in October 1894
• The Wigan Examiner report of Henry Harrison’s funeral establishes with certainty that Harold’s father and the proprietor of the Honeysuckle Inn died in October 1937
• The family burial site in Wigan Cemetery and Crematorium contains the remains of Edward Harrison who died in October 1894, and Henry Harrison who died in October 1937, along with their spouses and other family members
• At the time of the 1881 census Joseph and Ellen Harrison and family lived across the road from the Honeysuckle Inn

Although perhaps possible, it is unlikely in the extreme that two Joseph Harrisons resided in Poolstock in 1881 with sons Edward and Henry born in 1855 and 1860 respectively.

Source Documents

• Birth Certificate of Henry Harrison (1860–1937)
• 1891 Census Record of Henry Harrison (1860–1937) and household
• 1901 Census Record of Henry Harrison (1860–1937) and household
• Death Certificate of Henry Harrison (1860–1937)
• Marriage Certificate of Henry Harrison (1860–1937) and Alice Barton (1863–1897)
• Marriage Certificate of Henry Harrison (1860–1937) and Elizabeth Donahue (1875–1961)
• Henry Harrison’s Funeral, 10 November 1937 (as reported in the Wigan Examiner)

Details

• Residence: 6 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Parents' Home.

  Per Ellen’s Birth Certificate and per 1871 Census.

• Occupation: 1837-10-30, Cotton Mill; Stoker (formerly).

  Per Death Certificate.

• Residence: 1861-04-07, Blundles Fold, Blackrod, Lancashire;

  Per 1861 Census, Henry was age 1, living with parents Joseph and Ellen.

• Residence: 1862, Wigan, Lancashire; Family moved from Blackrod to Wigan.

  Henry was born in Blackrod in 1860. The family’s next chil d, Maria, was born in Wigan in 1863. The family moved some time between these two dates.

• Residence: 1865-08-11, 22 Wood Street (off Chapel Lane), Wigan, Lancashire; Family Home.

  Per Jemima’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1871-04-02, 6 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan;

  Per 1871 Census, Henry was age 11, living with his parents and family.

• Residence: 1875-01-31, 31 Pool Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Parents' home.

  Per Margaret’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1881-04-03, 64 Pool Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Joseph Harrison family residence.

  Per 1881 Census, Henry was age 21.

• Employment: 1881-04-03 ; Stoker.

  Per 1881 Census.

• Residence: 1886-05-18, 20 Walmer Street, Poolstock, Wigan, England;

  Per Henry Harold’s Birth Registration.

• Occupation: 1886-05-18 ; Engine Minder.

  Per Henry Harold’s Birth Registration.

• Residence: 1891-04-05, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan;

  Per 1891 Census.

• Occupation: 1891-04-05, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Licensed Victualler.

  Per 1891 Census.

• Residence: 1897-08-24, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry & Alice family home.

  Per Alice Barton’s Death Certificate.

• Occupation: 1897-08-24, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Licensed Victualler.

  Per Alice Barton’s Death Certificate.

• Residence: 1901-03-31, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan;

  Per 1901 Census.

• Occupation: 1901-03-31, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Publican (own account).

  Per 1901 Census.

• Residence: 1902-05-07, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry Harrison and Elizabeth Donahue family home.

  Per Aunt Maggie’s Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1902-05-07, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan; Licensed Victualler.
• Residence: 1904-09-13, 90 Pool Street, Poolstock, Wigan;

  Per Nellie Harrison’s Birth Registration.

• Occupation: 1904-09-13 ; Coliery Engine Winder.

  Per Nellie Harrison’s Birth Registration.

• Occupation: 1906-07-30, Wigan, Lancashire; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Joseph Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1906-07-30, 90 Pool Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry Harrison and Elizabeth Donahue family home.

  Per Joseph Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1909-04-04, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan;

  Per Gladys Harrison’s Birth Registration.

• Occupation: 1909-04-04, Unknown; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Gladys Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1909-11-28 ; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Gladys Harrison’s Death Certificate.

• Residence: 1909-11-28, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan; Henry and Elizabeth family home.

  Per Gladys Harrison’s Death Certificate.

• Occupation: 1910-10-05, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Annie Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1910-10-05, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan; Henry and Elizabeth family home.

  Per Annie Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1911-04-02, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan; Shopkeeper.

  In the census, Henry described himself and his wife, Elizabeth, as shopkeepers selling mixed [indecipherable], sweets, etc. They were self-employed and ran the business from their home.

• Residence: 1911-04-02, 30 Tipping Street, Poolstock Wigan; Henry & Elizabeth Harrison family home.

  Per 1911 Census.

• Occupation: 1915-07-12, Wigan, Lancashire; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Edward Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1915-07-12, 65 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry and Elizabeth Harrison family home.

  Per Edward’s Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1918-03-19, 65 Byron Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Colliery Engine Winder.

  Per Elizabeth Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1918-03-19, 65 Byron Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry and Elizabeth family home.

  Per Elizabeth Harrison’s Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1927-04-18, Poolstock, Wigan; Licensed Victualler.

  Per Aunt Maggie’s Marriage Certificate.

• Residence: 1927-04-18, 65 Byron Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Henry and Elizabeth Harrison family home.

  Per Aunt Maggie’s Marriage Certificate.

• Residence: 1937-10-30, 88 Poolstock, Poolstock, Wigan; Residence .

  Per Death Certificate.

• Burial: 1937-11-03, Wigan Cemetery & Crematorium;