Who was John HARRINGTON's father

[Ladyhawk]

I am currently researching the circumstances of a Court case in 1890 which involved Nottingham chemist Richard Beaumont Harrington (RBH).

Richard was the son of John Harrington and Mary Ann Beaumont and was baptised in Bury St Edmunds on October 18th 1823.

I am trying to find a marriage for John and Mary Ann - and also the name of John's father (was he illegitimate?)

The Court case hinged upon how RBH was related to a William Richard Harrington - an organist and Professor of Music - who died intestate in 1889.

Is this the first child of John & Mary? Sorry not found a marriage

Maria Arabella Harrington
Birth 1 May 1805
Baptism 22 Jan 1813 St James,Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk
Father:   John Harrington
Mother:   Mary Anne Beaumont

You may already have these but just in case....

Frederick William Harrington
Birth 1 Dec 1809
Baptism 22 Jan 1813 Saint James in Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk
Father:   John Harrington
Mother:   Mary Anne Beaumont Harrington

Alfred Harrington
Birth 29 Jul 1815
Baptism 2 Aug 1815 Suffolk County Bts, Suffolk
Father:   John Harrington
Mother:   Mary Ann Beaumont

Alfred Harrington f/a, Surgeon
Marriage 25 Jan 1841 St George, Bloomsbury, Camden
Father:   John Frederick Pogson Harrington , Music Master
Spouse:   Emily French Barry father John, Gent

Ellen Harrington
Birth 1 Jan 1821
Baptism 2 Jan 1821 Saint Mary, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk
Father:   John Frederick Pogson Harrington
Mother:    Mary Ann Beaumont

Lewis Harrington
Birth    27 Jul 1822
Baptism    18 Oct 1823 St James,Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk
Father:   John Harrington
Mother:   Mary Ann Beaumont

Possible death 

Lewis Pogson
Burial 23 Mar 1834 St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Father:   John Frederic Pogson
Mother:   Mary Ann Harrington

[Newfloridian]

Perhaps I could put this request into sharper focus.

The Court case revolves around Probate for an estate of a William Richard Harrington who died intestate in 1889. It was claimed by a Richard Beaumont Harrington, who said he was a first cousin.

The case was contested by Eliza Panter and Elizabeth Burditt (sisters, as it happens) who said they were second cousins. The first hearing was in February 1890:

Who Are The Next Of Kin?

and went to a final hearing where arguments were heard and Richard was deemed ineligible as his father was considered illegitimate. The two sisters were awarded Probate.

Local case Law

Both reports from the Northampton Mercury sourced on FindMyPast.

My interest in this is that Eliza Hall (mistakenly called Elizabeth in the first report) was the wife of Levi Panter, part of the Tansley family under current research.

Cheers Alan

[trish1120]

HARRINGTON    William Richard    68    Islington    1b   149

Only one I can see is in Northants with that occp;

1881 Census
Midland Road
Wellingborough
William R. Hurrington   57 Head Unm Professor Of Music Musician born Thrapston, Northamptonshire
Rebecca R. Hurrington 60 Sister Unm

Ok FreeREG has him buried Northants 28 Jan 1889 abode Holloway London
Sister Rebecca Rebina buried 11 Apr 1882 age 61 abode Midland Road*

[Newfloridian]

That's where the problem arose. Both William and Rebecca died unmarried. William left his estate to Rebecca but she predeceased him - hence the intestacy. There was an advertisement placed in The Times a month after his death inviting next of kin to apply.

Alan

[trish1120]

Yes well it looks to me his Father was illeg Mother Sarah Smith.

Here they are in 1851;
William Harrington   Head   Male   67   Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (Professor Of Music)
Mary Harrington   Wife   Female   51   Thrapston, Northamptonshire
Rebecca Harrington   Daughter   Female   31   Lowick, Northamptonshire
William Harrington   Son   Male   28   Lowick, Northamptonshire
Emily Wise   Servant   Female   19   Stanwick, Northamptonshire

[Ladyhawk]

Yes well it looks to me his Father was illeg Mother Sarah Smith.

Here they are in 1851;
William Harrington   Head   Male   67   Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (Professor Of Music)
Mary Harrington   Wife   Female   51   Thrapston, Northamptonshire
Rebecca Harrington   Daughter   Female   31   Lowick, Northamptonshire
William Harrington   Son   Male   28   Lowick, Northamptonshire
Emily Wise   Servant   Female   19   Stanwick, Northamptonshire

and on 1841 census names as transcribed on Anc*y

Piece:   801 Folio:   47 Page Number: 20
Northampton
William Harrington   50 Professor of Music
Mary Hassinger   40
Bebeoca Hassinger   20
William Harrington   18 Professor of Music
All born in this county apart from William Snr.

[trish1120]

I'm going to drop out now as need to sleep
Back tomorrow.

[gobbitt]

Alan

You ask whether John's father was illegitimate. This is answered in two of the sources already mentioned: the baptism at St James's church in Bury St Edmunds on 20 May 1794 of "John Frederic Pogson Smith alias Harrington base child of Sarah Smith [born] March 21, 1781"; and the "local case law" report you found in the Northampton Mercury of 20 June 1890, where RBH's counsel in the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice, Mr Middleton, accepted the evidence and admitted that he was "completely satisfied he could not maintain the legitimacy of his client's father".

Although John Frederick Pogson Harrington may not be explicitly described as a son in the will of Thomas Harrington (PCC, 1813), he is given a generous annuity. Perhaps his relationship is spelt out in the will of Thomas's widow, Rebecca Roberta Harrington (Archdeaconry of Sudbury, 1835). They were both recorded as single when their marriage licence was issued in 1783 (allegation no 296).

David

[Newfloridian]

Hi David

Thank you for that clarification.

I must admit having seen the will of Thomas Harrington from the National Archives as it is written in archaic script I am unable to make any sense of it so could not verify the "generous annuity"

Cheers Alan