Walter, John and Mary Ann’s sixth child, was baptised at St. Andrew’s Old Church, Hove on 28th Dec 1851.
There is some confusion over his name, as his birth seems to have been registered in March Q 1852 at Hove, with his first name given as William. But regardless of this, Walter/William was known as Walter.
Leaving England for America
In October 1860, when he was 8 years and 10 months of age, Walter accompanied his mother, father, and six of his siblings on their journey to New York.
Early Days in America
I am still trying to ascertain the Harmer family’s movements during their first few years in America. We know from the 1880 U.S. Federal Census that Mary Ann gave birth to a ninth child, Ada Harmer, at New York (or Harrison, Hudson County, New Jersey) in Oct 1862, and that she was baptised in March 1863 at Newark, N.J. 1862/3, therefore, seems to be the latest time that the family settled in the Newark area.
John Harmer is listed in Holbrook’s street directory for Newark, N.J. for 1869 at ‘h Pike rd n Bridge, South Newark’, with the occupation of ‘Ornamental Plasterer’. This would seem to be where Walter was brought up.
Marriage
Walter married Esther Dames around 1878. Esther was born in Ireland circa. 1854, and had emmigrated to America with her parents in 1877. We know from the New Jersey Births and Christenings Index 1660 – 1931 that a daughter, Ada Harmer, was born to Esther on 30th January 1879.
In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Walter (28) and Esther (26) are listed at 511 Harrison Avenue, Ward 3, Harrison. Walter was working as a truck driver. Their baby daughter Mary Ann was three months old, but there is no reference to Ada which implies that she had died in infancy.
The family remained at the house for some years; Holbrook’s street directory for Newark, N.J. lists Walter at 511 Harrison Avenue from 1880 – 1885 as a carman, and in 1887 as a ‘teamster’. Another daughter, Sarah – known as Sadie – came along in 1888. In the last year of his life Walter’s address was 24 Paterson, Harrison – he was still a teamster.
Death
Walter passed away on 20th July 1890 at Harrison, Hudson County, N.J. He was 38 years and 7 months old – which tallies with both his baptism record and birth registration.
Esther’s Life after Walter
After Walter’s death Esther never remarried, and moved around Hudson County quite a lot, presumably chasing work and trying to support her two young daughters. We can trace her movements around Harrison and Newark via Holbrook’s street directory thus:
- 1893 – 1895 328 Warren
- 1898 – 1903 101 4th Street
- 1904 – 1909 304 N 5th Street
- 1911 – 339 N 2d.
In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census Esther (43), Mary Ann (20) and Sadie (12) are living at 101 4th Street, Ward 3, Harrison. Sadie had only attended school for 10 months.
In New Jersey’s 1905 State Census we find Esther living with her daughter Mary Ann and her husband Frederick Devine at Kearney, East Newark.
By the time of the 1910 U.S. Federal Census life seems to have stabilised somewhat for Esther, who was by then 56 years old. Her daughter Mary Ann (30) had married Frederick Devine (33), a N.J. born shipping clerk who worked for a cotton mill, around 1904, and it seems that the couple had again taken Esther, and latterly Sadie in. They were living at 339 3rd Street, Ward 1 East Newark, and Frederick had found work for Sadie ‘ticking’, at the cotton mill. For some reason Esther’s age is given as 50!
In 1915’s directory Esther has ‘removed to Newark’, along with her daughter Sadie L. Harmer. From 1917 – 1922 she is listed as living at 234 Clifton Avenue, with Sarah (actually Sadie) L. Harmer, employee of the CT Co. (Could this stand for Cotton Thread Company?)
In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census Sadie is again living with her brother-in-law Frederick and her sister Mary Ann. Sadie is working at a thread factory, like Frederick who was in that year a packer there. It seems likely that Esther had passed away between 1915 and 1920.
Children
Ada Harmer 30th Jan 1879 – 1879/80?
Mary Ann Devine née Harmer Jan 1880 – ????
Sarah / Sadie L. Harmer 30th May 1888 – 5th May 1963
According to her Social Security Death Index record, Sadie never married. She died aged 74, at Kearny, N.J., and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, Essex County, N.J.
