Harriet Whiting 1813-1899

Parents: Daniel Whiting and Elizabeth Archer (1)
Born: 5th May 1813 (1)
Baptised: 1st August 1813 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill (1)
Married: James Ship, batchelor of Haverhill, on 10th October 1833 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill. Witnessed by John Piper and Charlotte Piper. (2)
Children: Sarah Ship b.1834, Henry Ship b.1837, Emily Ship and James Ship (twins) b.1842 died in infancy, Emma Ship b.1843
Died: November 1899 in Haverhill. Buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 2nd November 1899.(3,4)

Bio: We find a reference to Harriet (or Harriot) Whiting being born and baptised in Haverhill 1813 in the bishops transcripts for the Sudbury Archdeaconry.(1)

Her parents are listed as Daniel and Elizabeth Whiting. A Harriet Whiting marries James Ship in Haverhill in 1833, and we can be pretty sure they are one and the same because although the name of her father is not mentioned, the witnesses at the wedding are Charlotte and John Piper. Charlotte was Harriet's sister.

We find references to Harriet and James living in Burton End, Haverhill, on the baptism entries for their first two children. At the time of the 1841 census, they are still there and James is working as a weaver.

The 1851 census finds James and Harriet in Burton End again. James is an agricultural labourer this time, and Sarah their eldest child is working as a servant. Henry is still living with them, and they have an new daughter, Emma.

On the 1861 census James and Harriet are now living at Castle Farm Cottages in Haverhill. James is a labourer, and daughter Emma, a weaver, is living with them. There is a lodger, Sarah Webb, 19, who is also a weaver.

At the time of the 1871 census, James and Harriet are living in Queen Street with daugher Emma, a cotton weaver. There are two lodgers this time, Thomas French, a widower of 74 and George Foot, 34.

Harriet's husband James was to die in 1878 aged 79, and was buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 6th May 1878. On the 1881 census Harriet is a widower and remaining in Queen Street. Her daughter Emma has recently married Jeffery Forge, a labourer, and they have had two children, William and Kate. James Scott, 50, a marine store dealer, is living with them as a boarder.

The last census Harriet appears on is the 1891 census. Here she is living in Withersfield Road, Haverhill, a housekeeper and head of a household that includes her daughter Emma and Jeffery Forge, now a horsekeeper, their children Harry and Kate, and two lodgers, Thomas Webb a pensioner (army?) and brickmaker, 29, and Mary his wife.

Harriet died in 1899 at the very respectable age of 86. She was buried at Haverhill Cemetery.(3,4)

Sources:

(1) www.Familysearch.org, Bishops transcripts for the Archdeaconry of Sudbury 1812-1830, Source: 0951459, Batch: C132211.
(2) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4
(3) Death Register. 4th Quarter 1899, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 480
(4) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref.2554. http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm