Harbott Notes

Harbott

Elizabeth Ann Harbott was the mother of Mabel Gladys Hulbert, and therefore an SCM Great Grandmother. She had married Arthur West Hulbert in 1890 at the age of about 23, at 46 Marcus Street, West Ham. Her father was James William and her mother Fanny (formerly Ewins).

James William had been born on 30th June 1838 at Veres Gardens, Stratford. He is described as a Gardener at the time of his marriage in 1863, but as a traveller for a confectionery firm at the time of Elizabeth Ann`s birth, four years later. The 1881 census shows the family living at 8 Queen Street, Stratford. The spelling of their name was Harbutt.

Whether this was how the family spelt it is difficult to judge. Several variations appear throughout the records of census, birth, marriage and death. Another common appearance is Harbolt, with a less common Harboss. It is not easy to distinguish our ancestors from the families with the genuine surnames. Not even `copies` of actual certificates solve the issue.

Harry, married to Ellen Maud Balls, (Chart g), being a notable example. On William`s marriage certificate in 1869, Harry`s father and grandfather could be read as either Harbott or Harbolt. On the copy of his 1904 birth certificate, Harry`s son Harry Robert shows as almost certainly Harbolt; another son Charles William is clearly a Harbott on his 1912 birth certificate; and Harry`s own marriage certificate has the tt reasonably clearly crossed. I have kept my fingers crossed in including them in our Harbott connections.

By 1881 James William was now a School Board Officer. Elizabeth Ann was not living with the family, but 6 other children were. Indeed, there is no trace of Elizabeth Ann in any census record before her marriage; and her father and mother have disappeared between 1851 and 1881. Ten years later, in 1891, now Harbotts, James William was a School Caretaker at Salway Road Board School, in the Caretaker`s house. Charlotte was no longer living with them, but Florence P. had been born. In 1901 Fanny was a widow, John Ebenezer, age 26, was now the school caretaker, and Annie, 22, and Florence, 18, were the only children still at this address. Fanny died in 1913.

Of the marriages of Elizabeth Ann`s siblings, one is quite intriguing. James Henry married Annie Blunden Tucker in 1896 in Totnes in Devon. They were living in West Ham in 1901. The census history for Annie shows her as a boarder with a furniture broker`s family in Brixham in 1881 and 1891. In 1871 there was an Annie at the age of 6 living with an uncle William, aged 28, already a widower, a farmer with 157 acres. Also living there was William`s sister Elizabeth, unmarried, aged 18. Annie`s birth certificate shows her as born in 1866 to Samuel Stephens Tucker, an ironmonger of Brixham and Ann Blunden, formerly Richardson. How did Annie and James Henry come to meet? James Henry was a railway audit clerk, so would have had free or cheap tickets available. Perhaps he met Annie on a holiday in Devon? Annie died in Totnes in 1952, but I have not traced James Henry`s death.

Other marriages are not so hard to fathom the meeting place. James`s spouse was Charlotte Cook. In 1851 the census notes that William Cook, silk printer, lived next door to James and Charlotte Harbolt; on his marriage certificate, James is described as a silk raiser.

There were one or two interesting items about Occupations. In the 1881 census Albert, married to Mary Pannifer (chart e), was described as a Railway Clerk. In 1919 on his son`s marriage certificate his rank or profession was given as Gentleman. Ebenezer Henry (chart b), a Shoe Manufacturer in 1881, became a Boot manufacturer, employer in 1891. His 25 year old daughter, Elizabeth, was a boot saleswoman and another 22 year old daughter, Eliza, was a boot mannequin.

Return to List of Names that have Notes or Open Harbott Brief chart A