John Harrison 1774-1854
Cotton weaver, warehouseman, annuitant
C.McG has done extensive work on him and his ancestors - thanks!
One of the sources for details below is 'Memoir of John Harrison' by his son Joseph 1855 - suspect this is in local archives: cannot find as a book!
1774. John Harrison was born to James Harrison & Mary Ramsbottom on 9/3/1774 in the New House, Skipton ( this later the New Inn, then the Devonshire Arms)
He had smallpox as a young child which slightly marked him for life
He attended a Dame School for a brief time before starting work on the spinning wheel
1782. At the age of 8 he went to work at the new cotton mill in Skipton Road for 14 hours a day. He gave his overtime earnings to an aunt, Batress Watson, for safekeeping from his straightened parents, but she passed them on to them! He was devastated- a whole story exists on this episode on ~Scan 705 of C/ McG's files, but too long to type!!
1789. He and his family were evicted from the New House( Duke of Devonshire wanted to convert it to the New Inn) and settled in Tillotson;s Yard. About this time, John left the mill, bought his own loom and started calico weaving, earning ~15 s /week, allowing him to save. He started going to evening classes. At the same time his uncle Joseph Harrison became the minister at the Congregational Chapel, Skipton
1792. He was so affected by a Christmas Day sermon by his uncle that he beame a converted character.
Pre 1800. He started preaching at the Congregational Chapel, Skipton, and also run a shop selling flour that increased his earnings to 30-40s /week
1800. John Harrison , cotton weaver, marries Grace Holmes on 25/12/1800 in Skipton Parish Church
1800 They inherited a £40 legacy from a distant relation of Grace: used this towards buying a house in Union Square_ he sold this in 1843
1804. Their eldest son James dies - Monumental Inscription St Andrews
1807 . Mary Harrison was born to John & Grace between January & September 1807 at the Zion Chapel, Skipton
1810. Their 1st daughter Jane died aged 5 - Monumental Inscription St Andrews
1812. Twins Joseph & Benjamin born 30/6/1812 . Grace became ill soon after
1815. John Harrison was a regular teacher in the Skipton Sunday School - he one of the main instigators of it
1818.Their 6th son, Robert, born 23/6/1818
1818. He agrees to loan £5 to build a new school
1821. Their 3rd daughter Jane born
1822. Listed in a directory as living New Market Street
1823. Grace Harrison gets cancer
1825 Grace Harrison dies 14/8/1825 - Monumental Inscription St Andrews
1841C. John Harrison Waller Hill Skipton
| John | Harrison | Male | 60 | 1781 | warehouseman Yorkshire, England |
| Robert | Harrison | Male | 20 | 1821 | Independent Yorkshire, England |
| Jane | Harrison | Female | 15 | 1826 | Independent Yorkshire, England |
1842. He retires from Birkbecks where he had been working since~ 1810
1848 John Harrison , yeoman, makes his will He talks of his 2 canal shares and of the children of his late daughter, Mary Waugh - she died in his house in 1847
1851C. John Harrison Newmarket Street Skipton
| John | Harrison | Head | Widower | Male | 77 | 1774 | Canal Proprietor/Annuitant | Skipton, Yorkshire, England |
| Jane | Harrison | Daughter | Unmarried | Female | 29 | 1822 | House Duties | Skipton, Yorkshire, England |
| Jane | Waugh | Grand Daughter | - | Female | 10 | 1841 | Scholar | Settle, Yorkshire, England |
| Mary | Cockshott | Visitor | Unmarried | Female | 19 | 1832 | Farmers Daur | Beamsley, Yorkshire, England |
1854. John Harrison, 80, dies 'in the same street in which he was born- Newmarket Street and within 10 minutes from the house where he was born' , on 22/3/1854 - Monumental Inscription St Andrews , gives him as bookkeeper
Probate to John, William & Benjamin Harrison. Effects: <£1500
I cannot find any grave/ inscription - tried Findagrave & googled
EXTRA Facts .
Son John 1803 became a Congregational Minister & also an examiner in Oriental Studies at Airedale College! And in 1851 was running the small school in Warwicksattended by his nephew Benjamin Waugh 1839 and the sons of Samuel Boothroyd
Son William 1809-1877 became a Canal Agent
Son Joseph 1812 wrote those valuable memoirs. Ironically, nothing seemingly known about his life!