Brighton became a much more boring place in October 1860, when John Harmer set sail for America. I have no idea what John was up to in Lancing before he left England, but that he did leave is certainly correct.
The New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Garden) 1820 – 1957 M237 1820 – 1897 Roll 206 tells us exactly which members of the Harmer family travelled from England to New York.
They comprised:
John Harmer aged 37 (builder) and his wife Mary Ann Harmer (misspelled as Marian) aged 37
John (15 years 2 months)
Mary Ann (11 years 4 months) (misspelled as Marian)
James (13 years 6 months)
Henry (10)
Walter (8 years 10 months)
Zilpah (7 years 5 months) (misspelled as Zelpha)
The steamer ship which carried them from London to New York was indeed the Plymouth Rock, a 335ft long vessel which was very beautifully furnished, boasting ‘the finest beds, bedding, chandeliers, china, cut glass, and furniture money could buy’ according to historian and author Blake A. Bell. It arrived safely at New York on 24th Oct 1860, heralding a new life for the Harmer family.
The illustrations below give an idea of that their journey was like:
