Henry, born at Hailsham in June 1838 and baptised on 24th June 1838 at All Saints Church, Heathfield, was the last of nine children born to George Lovell Harmer and Elizabeth Barber. You can read more about the family’s life in Heathfield here.
Early life in Brighton
By 1851 Henry, 14, had moved to Brighton and was living with his older brother John Harmer who had by now set up in business as a builder and timber Merchant. The family were living at 41 Western Road, and Henry was working as a plasterer, probably for John.
Military life
In the 1861 census Henry, now 24, was living at the District Barracks, Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent. His rank was that of a ‘private’.
A brush with the law
To be written up.
Marriage
Henry married Louisa Cannon (b. 1838 at Greenwich) on 22nd February 1864 at St. James, Croydon Common. The couple had one child together, Thomas, who was born in the Sep Q of 1866 at Croydon. Sadly Thomas died in Mar Q 1871 when he was just four years old.
In the 1871 census Henry was living with Louisa at 4 Washington Cottages, Washington Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. He was working as a carpenter, and the couple were sharing a house with a bricklayer and his family.
Death
Henry died at Kingston, Surrey, in January 1873 aged just 35.
Louisa’s later life
Louisa remarried at Shoreditch in 1883 to a Benjamin Stapleton.
1891 census -(aged 52) Living at Clerkenwell with Benjamin.
1901 census – Holborn Union (workhouse) infirmary (aged 62)
Benjamin died in 1910.
Louisa died in 1916 at Shoreditch. She was 76 years old.
