Mary Ann Paine née Harmer 1827 – ???? – “But I am John Harmer!”

Mary Ann, baptised on 8th July 1827 at All Saints Church, Heathfield, was the fifth of nine children born to George Lovel Harmer and Elizabeth Barber. She was one of John Harmer’s younger sisters. You can read more about the family’s life in Heathfield here.

Moving to Brighton and marriage

In the 1841 census Mary Ann (14) was still living at the family home at Quarry Brook, Heathfield. Mary Ann probably migrated to Brighton with her parents around 1848/9, initially living with them at 22 Lavender Street. On the 30th September 1849, when she was 22, she married William Paine at St. Nicholas Church, Brighton. William was born in 1823 at Brighton, and was a bricklayer. He was about 26 when he married Mary Ann.

By 1851’s census the couple were living at 44 John Street, which is within close walking distance of 22 Lavender Street. This photograph of 41, 42 and 43 John Street taken on March 21st 1912 gives an idea of what this working class area looked like. All these buildings have since been demolished.

William was still bricklaying, and Mary Ann (23?) was working as a laundress. Visiting them were Ellen Moon, a 22 year old laundress born at Brighton, and Mary Ann’s brother James (22).

By 1861’s census William (38) and Mary Ann (24) were living at 62 Marine Parade, in the Kemp Town area of Brighton facing the seafront. This building, which is still standing, is very ornate and handsome – a far cry from the couple’s earlier home. Astonishingly they were the only occupants, and given their previous and later abodes we can only conclude that the family who owned the property were away. Mary Ann was working as a cook, and they had a daughter, also named Mary Ann, aged 5.

On 12th October 1870 Mary Ann Snr. was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital suffering from dyspepsia, or pain in the upper abdomen, from which she recovered.

By 1871’s census the family were living at nearby 34 George Street Gardens. William (48) was still bricklaying, Mary Ann Snr. had no occupation and Mary Ann Jnr. was at school.

These two photographs, taken in 1939 and 1956 respectively, vividly recall this now demolished slum district:

Old buildings at the corner of Edward Street and George Street Gardens 1939 (c) The Regency Society

Looking North towards Carlton Hill, in 1956. A narrow street of small cottages with minute gardens facing each house. They were of the same age as the neighbouring streets, built about 1830 when the Edward Street – Carlton Hill was developing. Since it was included in a clearance area in the Corporation Development Plan, one by one the houses were acquired and demolished, but in 1962 a few still remained with ugly gaps in between. [words by James Gray] (c) The Regency Society

William died in the Sep Q of 1877 at Brighton, when he was 54.

Life after William

By 1881 Mary Ann Snr. (53) and Mary Ann Jnr. (24) were sharing a house at 17 William Street with two other families, and working as charwoman and a general servant respectively. A lot of my own family lived in William Street over the years, which was an area popular with Brighton’s fishing community. Although it was subject to overcrowding, it was a very tight-knit street.

This street, built about 1815, as originally named North Steyne Street, and was renamed after William, Duke of Clarence, later William IV.
Although always a poor street it contained some fine doorways and bow windows.
This photograph was taken in 1934 and the houses on the east side of the street were demolished in 1935-1936. [Words by James Gray] (c) The Regency Society

Death

I have not yet traced either Mary Anns in the 1891 census, and am sincerely hoping that they did not end up in the workhouse although this does seem possible.

Mary Ann may have been the Mary Ann who died in Mar Q 1901 at Brighton aged 73.

Children

Mary Ann Paine (Sep Q 1856 – ????)

Mary Ann may have been the Mary Ann who died in Mar Q 1900 at Brighton aged 46.