Life in America 1860 - 1888
This part of John’s life is shrouded in mystery. I so far lack any census data for John, although I have managed to detail his children’s marriages and offspring. I have only included a little about them on this timeline for brevity. Please get in contact if you find any information which would help fill in the gaps about John and Mary Ann!
24th Oct 1860
The Harmers arrive at New York
John and Mary Ann emmigrated with six of their children; John (15 years 2 months), Mary Ann (11 years 4 months), James (13 years 6 months), Henry (10), Walter (8 years 10 months) and Zilpah (7 years 5 months).
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5th Oct 1862
Ada Harmer is born at Harrison, Hudson County, New Jersey
Ada was the ninth child born to John and Mary Ann Harmer, and their only child to be born in America.
She was christened in March 1863 at Newark, Essex, New Jersey.
13th Mar 1865
John quashes rumours of his demise
The local press back home in Brighton publish news of a letter posted from N.J. by John on 23rd of Feb to his old friend Mr. Adderson of the Railway Hotel, Surrey Street. John reports that he is in good health, and ‘attending to the duties of his trade – that of a builder’.
1869 - 1872
An address for John!
Holbrook’s street directory for Newark, New Jersey lists John at a house at ‘Pike rd n Bridge, South Newark’, with the occupation of ‘Ornamental Plasterer’.
1st Jun 1880
A census entry!
The U.S. Federal Census records Mary Ann (58) and Ada (17) living at 214 Warren Street, Harrison. Ada was working at a cotton mill.
10th Oct 1887
John’s wife Mary Ann dies
Mary Ann was 65 when she passed away at Harrison. She was interred at Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, Essex County, N.J. Her marriage to John had lasted 46 years.
18th Feb 1888
John has returned to England
He was living at Portslade-by-Sea and getting into trouble as usual!
2nd April 1888
Henry Albert has returned to England
Henry, the Harmers’ fifth child, married his paternal first cousin Zilpah Underwood at Brighton.
16th March 1889
Henry Albert Harmer dies in New Jersey
Henry died of diabetes, having returned with Zilpah to 330 Warren Street, Harrison.
