My first sighting of Charles and his family was in 1851 census - H0107/1899/570/30 - in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. He is a 37 year old farm Labourer and his place of birth is Urchfont, Wiltshire. With him is his wife Elizabeth [age 37] and 5 children - Charles [age 14], Mary Jane [age 12], Emma [age 6], Maria [age 4] and Sarah Anne [age 3]. All childfen were born in Urchfont and I have their baptisms. I then found the marriage of Charles Harris and Elizabeth Draper in Urchfont on 26 Jan. 1837 - of course no parents named and the witnesses do not appear to be related to the couple. I think I have found the baptism of Elizabeth - in Market Lavington [a distance of about 3 miles from Urchfont] - to parents George and Jane Draper - [Jane's MN Lanham] - on 6 Feb. 1814. My initial problem is finding the correct baptism for Charles Harris as I think I have found 2 possibles: Baptism #1 - to parents James and Mary on 8 Jul. 1816 in Devizes, Wilts. - abt 6miles from Urchfont Baptism #2 - to parents John and Mary on 13 Nov. 1816 in Calne, Wilts. - abt. 14 miles from Urchfont. Given the distances from Urchfont I'm tempted to use Devizes but not 100% sure. The family added another child in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall - Elizabeth Ellen - baptised 30 Jul. 1854. The 1861 census -RG9/1521/59/17 - in Stoke Climsland has Charles [age 46], his wife [age 46] and 2 daughters Emma [age 17] and Ellen [age 6]. I have satisfactorily concluded some of the family after 1861: Charles died in Stoke Climsland on 15 Feb. 1870 and is buried in All Saints Churchyard Elizabeth died in Westbury R.D., Wilts. Nov. 1871 and was buried in Dilton, Wilts. on 19 Nov. 1871. This is the only one that fits and I can't find her in 1871 census. Son Charles married Eliza Mary Jewells in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. He and Eliza had 5 children and he died 11 Oct. 1904 in Stoke Climsland. He is buried in All Saints Churchyard. His widow died 10 Mar. 1921 in Stoke Climsland and is buried in All Saints Churchyard. Dau. Emma married Edward Strike in Stoke Climsland 12 Sep. 1861. She had 4 children - the last William baptised 3 Sep. 1870 in Stoke Climsland. Emma died in S.C and was buried on this same date. Edward remarried in 1863 and died 26 May 1917. The rest of the children are a work in progress and I may ask for help on them later.
Did you notice that the adjacent household is that of the Rector, William Henry Spencer (Churchill) and that he had three children born at Urchfont? Perhaps Charles or his wife was employed by the family. I can see no other reason for the move to Stoke Climsland. Fascinating!
No I didn't notice that. I also failed to mention that I couldn't find Charles or his family in 1841. So that is a distinct possibility.
1871 census for Elizabeth Harris - in Stoke Climsland RG10/2226/67/19 Elizabeth Harris b1815 Eccleston Wiltshire - widow - domestic servant Bessie Harris b1862 Launceston - granddaughter Emmanual Strike b 1864 Stoke Climsland- grandson
