HARMANs - Wooburn, Burnham, High Wycombe

[Crunwere]

Hi - new to this county so forgive my ignorance.
I have a line going back to Joseph Harman born about 1825 in Wooburn.
Joseph is shown as a Rag Merchant in Speen in 1851 - then he moves to Dorset.

Joseph's father is shown as James Harman born about 1797 in Burnham.  On the 1841 census as paper maker at High Wycombe and in 1851 at Wooburn.

The 1861 census has Joseph in Dorset as a rag merchant with a nephew called John Harman born about 1842 in Wycombe Marsh and a married niece called Kezia Hyde born 1814 at Wooburn (I have found her husband as a Robert Hyde).

It is believed that the John Harman born in 1842 (possibly he is John Samuel - or is there two?) is the son of James Harman (b 1797 in Burnham and Ann b 1803 in Londwater).

? Does anyone have any more information to connect these two branches of the same family - or any information on the rag or paper trade - they all seem to have been paper makers, rag dealers or marine store dealers.

[Barbara F]

Hello

There were many paper mills in the Wooburn area.  If you google "paper mills Wooburn" you will find a number of links  eg to Glory Mill.

Hope that helps.

Barbara

[Crunwere]

Thanks for that Barbara - makes interesting reading.  I was wondering whether the paper making and the rag collecting may have been connected?

[Barbara F]

Oh yes a definite link!

The pulped rags were used for making paper.

Barbara

added:  http://www.paperlinx.com/cpa/htm/htm_paper_history.asp?page_id=56

[Martin Harman]

I noticed an old enquiry on James Harman born 1797 also  related to him through their son George and can fill in all that side of the family.

Martin H 

[Crunwere]

Hi Martin.  Thanks for the reply.  George would have been Joseph's brother and my husbands 3xgrt uncle!

I have quite a bit on an Ancestry tree but nothing more on George's line.  If you want to send me a message we can chat about things.

[trish1120]

Welcome to Rootchat Martin,

You need 2 more posts on her for pm system to be activated.

I can answer some questions re the Harmans for you both.

Birth Reg GRO Index;
HARMAN, JOHN  SAMUEL, Mothers mn   DEAN*****
GRO Reference: 1842  M Quarter in THE WYCOMBE UNION  Volume 06  Page 440

Marriage;
5 June 1838, Wycombe, Buckingham
James HARMAN, Widowed**,  Father JOSEPH
Ann DEAN, Single, Father JOHN
(F/S.Org)

Trees have Ann as Nee SIMMONDS.
Looks to me that this Ann has died by 1837ish and James remarried.

I Saw Carolines Baptism, Mother Ann Simmonds**, Daug of Francis a Wheelwright

So all of these Children are hers from 1841 Census;
James Harman   40
Ann Harman   35
Joseph Harman   16
George Harman   14
Ann Harman   13
Mary Harman   8
Caroline Harman 6

But John Samuels Mother is Ann Dean.

Death Reg Gro Index;
HARMAN, ANN, age  41 ******
GRO Reference: 1838  M Quarter in THE WYCOMBE UNION  Volume 06  Page 351
So born c 1797

He didnt wait long to remarry, nothing unusual in those days for Widowers with young Children.

ANN Dean christened 28 April 1803, Bethel Chapel Independant, Wooburn
Parents JOHN/MARY

Trish

EDIT so John Samuel is a half-brother of George/Joseph/Caroline etc. Not a Nephew as 1861 Census has.

[trish1120]

Sorry i'm getting carries away here but just looked at Carolines 1837 Baptism again.

Ann Harmans Father is Francis Simmonds, Wheelwright of Bray, Berkshire

1841 Census
Tilehurst, Berkshire
Francis Simmonds, 75, Blacksmith**
Ann Simmonds, 70
Harriott Simmonds, 30
John Simmonds, 20, Blacksmith

My G/G/Grandfather was a Wheelwright/Blacksmith/Farrier on Census and Certs.

ANN Simmonds christened 4 March 1798 Tilehurst, Berkshire to FRANCIS/ANN
(F/S.Org)

Francis SIMMONS married Ann OSBORN 12 July 1790 Tilehurst, Berkshire
(F/S.Org)

[trish1120]

Not sure how the Hydes fit in but here we go;

Marriage;
2 Feb 1841, Saint James, Paddington, London
Robert HYDE, Father RICHARD
Kezia HEADING, Father DANIEL

1841 Census
Winkfield, Berkshire
Charlotte Kidd, 14
George Kidd, 12
Miria Kidd, 10
John Kidd, 70
Elizabeth Kidd, 65
KEZIAH Hyde, 25 ********
Ann Hoding, 15*
Image is Ann HEADING**
Keziah /Ann down as not born in County

Robert is in Winkfield also;
Robert Hyde, 25***
Richard Fry, 15
William Gardener, 45