Another brick wall (or another brick in the wall)

[grouchomarx]

I am trying to find when my 3X great-grandfather emigrated from Ninfield, Sussex, UK to America. His name was James Lambert Harmer and he was born on 31 July 1791.  He first appears in America on 18 Nov 1822 marrying one Elizabeth Whitehead of Saddleworth (?) England (Is there a Saddleworth? If there is, what county is it in?).  His parents were William Henry Harmer and Hannah Lambert. He had a sister Hannah born in 1795. William stayed behind in Ninfield and was a letter carrier for many years. His wife Hannah died the same year their daughter Hannah was born. Daughter Hannah died in Ninfield in 1846. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[nickgc]

Hi - Saddleworth appears to be around Manchester according to web search.

Doubtful whether passenger lists for early 19th century are going to be helpful, but I'm not an expert on this. 

I presume that you have Elizabeth in New Jersey in 1860 with several adult children and probable 90 year old father "John Whitehead".  If not, I will transcribe for you.

1860  >  NEW JERSEY  >  SOMERSET  >  BERNARDS TWP
Series: M653  Roll: 708  Page: 582   
HARMER  ELIZABETH  55  F  W  ENGL  NJ  SOMERSET  BERNARDS TWP  1860
 
 
Nick

[OneBigFamily]

Just in case you dont have the 1850

Looks like there may have been a Whitehead cousin too

1850 US Federal census
Census Place: Bernards, Somerset, New Jersey
Name Age Birthplace
James Harmer 56  Birth Place: England, Val of Real Esate 1800
Elizabeth Harmer 46  Birth Place: England
Cordelia Harmer 26  Birth Place: New Jersey
William Henry 24  Birth Place: New Jersey Carpenter
Elizabeth Amanda Henry 14  Birth Place: New Jersey
George Henry 12  Birth Place: New Jersey
Hannah Henry 17  Birth Place: New Jersey
Harriet Henry 6  Birth Place: New Jersey
Horace Henry 9  Birth Place: New Jersey (FEMALE)
Julian Henry 13  Birth Place: New Jersey (FEMALE)
Sarah Henry 10  Birth Place: New Jersey
Jane Whitehead 27 Birth Place: New Jersey
Note their presumed son William Henry Harmer (named after his grandfather) is just entered as William Henry and the ditto under his parents surname is missing.  Suspect the indexer then thought Henry was the surname so the records under William Henry Harmer are indexed under surname of Henry from then on.  I have no idea why the Horace was entered as F for female on original, nor whether the Julian on original entered as F again, was actually a Julian or a Julia.

[OneBigFamily]

Although you explain you dont know when he arrived in the States, do you know where he first settled?

[grouchomarx]

I know that James settled in Somerset County, New Jersey. I have been to his grave site and I even have a map from Somerset County, circa 1850, which shows the exact location of the Harmer farm. I can track everything after James gets to America. I'm just banging my head on that proverbial "brick wall" as to the why and when of his emigration.