14 & 17 St. John's Square - Clara Harrison (nee Baker)

This is the first blog of hopefully many about some of the residents who lived in St. John's Square. Clara Harrison was a resident of 14 and 17 St. John's Square for a total period of about 28 years. It should be noted there is not currently a 17 St. John's Square because it later became part of 18 St. John's Square.

Clara's story began a long way from Wakefield in the Somerset market town of South Petherton which is now considered a village. South Petherton is near the A303 not far from Crewkerne and Yeovil. She was born as Clara Baker on 17th July 1843 in the Yeovil District of Somerset (1 & 2).

Clara was baptised at South Petherton on Christmas Day of 1843. Her parents were Simeon and Sarah. Simeon's occupation was a writer. Of the eight people listed on the baptism register six were labourers and one was a baker, so this suggests Simeon was more educated and possibly better off than most (2).

The rather general occupation for Simeon is clarified in the 1851 Census which confirmed his occupation was a solicitor's managing clerk where writing would be a significant part of the job. Simeon who was approximately eight years younger than Sarah was born in nearby Whitelackington and Sarah in Merriott, also nearby. Clara had an older brother called Henry, age 12 and a sister, Margaret, age 9 (3).

By April 1861, Clara, age 17 was a pupil at a boarding school at Kew Lane, Richmond, Surrey some considerable distance from South Petherton along with twenty seven other girls between the ages of nine and nineteen. The school was ran by Emma Dickson, the proprietor and her sister Elizabeth M. Dodimede, governess. Also employed at the school was a French governess, German governess, cook , housemaid and warden (4).

Clara next appears on 27th July 1868 when she married Joseph Harrison at South Petherton. Her husband Joseph was living in Alverthorpe, Wakefield and was working as a school master at the time of the marriage, so they married in the school summer holiday (5). This would have been a private school because the Forster's Education Act which provided elementary education for children between 5 and 12 was not introduced until 1870.

Clara was living in South Petherton. Initially before marriage this was a long distance relationship. Clara's father Simeon was a witness and his occupation was a clerk (5).

The question of how Joseph Harrison met Clara was resolved in the 1861 Census where age 21 he was Assistant Master of a small school at Hayes land, South Petherton. On the next page of the census living at Rose Cottage was Clara's father, Simeon; her mother, Sarah and sister Margaret. Joseph and Clara must have met when she returned from her boarding school in Richmond. The census confirmed that Joseph was born in Bowes, Yorkshire which is near Barnard Castle. He was one of two assistant masters at the school which was ran by Robert Billing. There were sixteen other pupils between the age of eight and fourteen at the school as well as a cook and housemaid (6) & (7).

Joseph's parents were Thomas and Mary Ann with at least five siblings in 1851. Thomas was a carpenter employing two boys and Mary Ann was a dressmaker, so they were doing well enough to encourage Joseph into further education and a respectable occupation (8).

A newspaper report from the Pulman's Weekly, 1st January 1861 reports pupils would study subjects including English, ancient and modern languages, mathematics and drawing, scientific subjects, classics, French, music and dancing. As with many schools at this time which were fee paying it had close links to the church. The benefit of a railway station at South Petherton may have attracted more pupils and teachers.

A newspaper notice from the Dorset County Chronicle, 26th December 1861 confirms the reopening date after Christmas in 1862 and that J. Harrison was the Assistant Master and that there was a French Master (8).

By 1865 Joseph had relocated to Wakefield. The Wakefield and West Riding Herald from 21st July 1865 confirmed that a Mr J. Harrison was working at Back Lane School, Wakefield preparing school boys for university, civil and military examinations and public schools. Enquiries were to be directed through Alverthorpe Parsonage. Therefore, we know that he had moved to Wakefield at least three years prior to his marriage to Clara in 1868. Alverthorpe was a village about one mile from Wakefield Town Centre (Wakefield was not a city at this time) (11).

The White's Directory of Leeds and the West Riding, 1870 listed Joseph as a schoolmaster of Back Lane and a curate of Alverthorpe. The position of a curate was an individual within the church who was still in training and had not been ordained. He was likely to be assisting the vicar in addition to being a school master and therefore was had no ambition to become a vicar because of his additional role as a schoolmaster.

The school at Back Lane where Joseph Harrison was the schoolmaster appears on a Wakefield map from 1888 which is now the building known as The Orangery. See the photo of the Orangery below. Joseph would have been able to walk to here and back from his home in Alverthorpe (13).

In 1871 Joseph and Clara living at Rose Villa, Alverthorpe, Wakefield with their first two children Henry W. Harrison and Wilfred Baker Harrison. Henry W. was born in South Petherton. They have two domestic servants. One is a nurse, so was presumably helping with the two infants. Rose Villa was inhabited by a second family headed by William Hunter who was a Bank Manager (14).

Clara went on to give birth to a further seven children with the last being baptised in 1885. Seven were baptised at Alverthorpe St. Paul and two at Bretton where the family moved to in around 1880. Two children Bertha Lilian and Ernest Baker died in infancy and were buried at Alverthorpe St. Paul. For all of the baptisms Joseph unsurprisingly listed his occupation as a Clerk in Holy Orders rather than a School Master (15 to 22).

The map of Alverthorpe from 1888-1890 shows the location of Rose Villa and Vintry House. This road is now called Batley Road. The map shows Rose Villa divided into two parts as mentioned previously (27).

By 1881 Joseph & Clara had moved to Bretton Lodge at Bretton West which is a village between Wakefield and Huddersfield near to the location of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park where Joseph was now the curate in charge of Bretton West. This was considerably more rural location than Alverthorpe. With an expanding family of four children Clara's widowed mother Sarah was living with them. In addition there was a governess, nurse and servant and three boarders. The governess may have been brought in to educate Joseph and Clara's children and the boarders of age 10, 16 & 18 may have been pupils at Joseph's school. Joseph would now have to commute about 6.5 miles from Bretton to his school in Back Lane, Wakefield (28).

Bretton Lodge is shown on the map below from 1891 (29).

A report in the Wakefield and West Riding Herald from 5th May 1883 identifies that Joseph was educating and preparing young men who would go onto significant careers. Richard Whiteley was pursuing a possible career as a surgeon (30).

One famous Wakefield resident, George Gissing attended Joseph Harrison's Collegiate School in Back Lane along with his brothers William and Algernon until the death of his father in 1870 when he was age thirteen. Gissing went onto publish twenty three novels between 1880 and 1903 (31). The Gissing Newsletter from January 1987 mentions the relationship between Harrison and Gissing. it also confirms that Harrison was curate of St. Paul's Church, Alverthorpe which seemed plausible as Rose Villa and Vintry House were nearby, St. Paul's is perched on top of a small hill overlooking Alverthorpe (32).

Life changed considerably Saturday 27th September 1890 when Joseph died at age 50 from dropsy which is a swelling caused by fluid in the body's tissue. A report from the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer two days after on the Monday confirmed he had been ill health for sometime. Joseph had been running the Collegiate School for twenty five years from 1865 to 1890. His death occurred just as his life was to undergo a major change because he had recently been appointed to a rectory near Hexham, Northumberland. He left Clara and six surviving children (33).

Joseph was buried at Bretton Chapel on 30th September 1890. The parish burial mentions he was a clerk in holy orders and chaplain for ten years at this chapel. The previous seven burials on the register were conducted by Joseph himself with the last one being on 10th May 1890 (34)

The probate calendar where wills and administration are indexed dated the 13th October 1890 confirmed that Joseph's personal estate was £554, 16s 6d with Clara being granted administration of the personal estate (35).

With Clara prepared for a new life away from Bretton Lodge an advertisement was placed in the Wakefield and West Riding Herald on Saturday 8th November 1890 for an auction on Monday 10th November for some of Joseph's larger belongings at Bretton West Vicarage. These included:

• Outdoor effects.

• Sitting room furniture.

• Bedroom appointments.

• Kitchen and dairy utensils.

• Bay pony 13 hands high.

• New four wheeled horse drawn cart with harness cart and gears.

• Saddlery.

• Poultry implements.

• Two dairy cows.

• Greenhouse plants.

• Garden tools.

• Other useful items

By April 1891 Clara had moved from rural Bretton West to 17 St. John's Square with all six of her children aged between ages nineteen and six. Clara became the principal of a girls school with her eldest daughter Constance Margaret a governess of a school, possibly employed by Clara. Her eldest son Wilfred Baker was a student of theology possibly following in his father's footsteps. With two relatively young children Clara probably needed to work, so following in Joseph's footsteps she used her experience to set up a school at 17 St. John's Square. Although the previous census entries were blank for her occupation it was likely that she was assisting him with his work, giving him advice and helping with the boarders who he taught. She had reduced her servants down from two to one (37).

Clara posted adverts in local newspaper Wakefield and West Riding Herald in 1891 and 1892 which confirmed the new dates of term that Mrs Harrison and Miss Harrison would start at 17 St. John's Square and that they would take young ladies as day pupils (38 & 39).

In 1901 Clara was still running the girls school at 17 St. John's Mount with Constance Margaret as assistant teacher. There were only two of her other children living at home and no servants (40).

By 1906 Clara and her daughter will still at 17 St. John's Square and placing term time adverts in local newspapers (41)

By 1911 Clara and her three remaining children living with her have moved to 14 St. John's Square where they have a relatively comfortable existence with ten rooms excluding the bathroom. Constance Margaret was now head of the household. Both her and Clara, now age 66 were still teachers and younger daughter Hilda Mary was also a teacher at home. Boarding with them was a French National who was teaching at the nearby Wakefield Girls High School which opened in 1878 (42).

In November an advert was replaced in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer for someone to assist with housework that appears to have been placed by one of Clara's daughters. Perhaps they had moved out and as Clara got older the four floors of the apartment became harder for her to look after (43)

Clara died on 31st August, 1919 at 14 St. John's Square, age 76. She died of cholelithiasis otherwise known as gallstones. Elizabeth Constance Harrison was the informant who was now living at 5 Sunnyside Terrace, Outwood (44)

Clara was buried at Bretton Chapel on 3rd September 1919, most likely reunited with Joseph (45). No will or administration was identified for her in the probate calendar indexes.

Sources:

1. Clara Baker Birth , Jul-Sep 1843. FreeBMD , Civil registration database. Yeovil, Vol 10, Page 546.

2. Clara Baker Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, South Petherton, 1843, page 15. Somerset, England, Church of England , Baptism, 1813-1914, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by Somerset Archives & Local Studies. Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914 - Ancestry.co.uk

3. Clara Baker, 1851 England Census. Archive ref: HO107; Piece No. 1929; Folio 323; Page 17; Schedule 55, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

4. Clara Baker, 1861 England Census, Archive ref: RG09; ED10; Piece No. 459; Folio 99; Page 12; Schedule 56, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

5. Joseph Harrison & Clara Baker Marriage, Parish Marriage Register, South Petherton, 1868, page 230. Somerset, England, Church of England , Marriages Registers, Bonds & Allegations, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by Somerset Archives & Local Studies. Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 - Ancestry.co.uk

6. Simeon Baker, 1861 England Census, Archive reference: RG09; ED1; Piece No. 1641; Folio 19; Page 34; Schedule 185, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

7. Joseph Harrison, 1861 England Census, Archive reference: RG09; ED1; Piece No. 1641; Folio 20; Page 35; Schedule 186, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

8. Joseph Harrison, 1851 England Census, Archive reference: HO107; Piece No. 2387; Folio 267; Page 22; Schedule 79, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

9. Pulman's Weekly, 1st January 1861, page 1. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Pulman's Weekly News and Advertiser 01 January 1861 Page 1 | findmypast.co.uk

10. Dorset County Chronicle, 26th December 1861, page 17. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Dorset County Chronicle 26 December 1861 Page 17 | findmypast.co.uk

11. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 21st July 1865, page 2. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 21 July 1865 Page 2 | findmypast.co.uk

12. White's Directory of Leeds & the West Riding, 1870, page 542. Digital image, Ancestry, UK , City & County Directories, 1766-1946. UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946 - Ancestry.co.uk

13. City of Wakefield Map, 1888. Redrawn from the Ordnance Survey edition of 1890 (surveyed in 1888) with additional information from Kelly's 1889 Directory.

14. Joseph Harrison, 1871 England Census, Archive reference: RG10; ED10; Piece No. 4628; Folio 44; Page 20; Schedule 109, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

15. Henry Walton Harrison Baptism. Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1869, image 5. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

16. Wilfred Baker Harrison Baptism. Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1870, image 14. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

17. Constance Margaret Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1872, page 11. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

18. Clara Evelyn Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1873, page 30. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

19. Bertha Lilian Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1874, page 47. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

20. Charles Reginald Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1876, page 69. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

21. Ernest Baker Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1877, page 84. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

22. Edward Cyril Harrison Baptism Parish Baptism Register, West Bretton Chapel, 1881, page 75. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

23. Hilda Mary Harrison Baptism, Parish Baptism Register, West Bretton Chapel, 1885, page 79. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1910, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 - Ancestry.co.uk

24. Bertha Lilian Harrison Burial, Parish Baptism Burial Register. St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1876, page 188. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials, 1813-1985, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 - Ancestry.co.uk

25. Ernest Baker Harrison Burial, Parish Baptism Burial Register. St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1878, page 31. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials, 1813-1985, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 - Ancestry.co.uk

26. Henry Walton Harrison Burial, Parish Baptism Burial Register. St. Paul, Alverthorpe, 1879, page 47. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials, 1813-1985, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 - Ancestry.co.uk

27. Ordnance Survey Map, Alverthorpe, 25 Inch, Yorkshire CCXLVIII.2. Surveyed 1888-1890, Published 1893. Digital image, National Library of Scotland. View map: Ordnance Survey, Yorkshire CCXLVIII.2 (Ossett; Stanley; Wakefield) - Ordnance Survey 25 inch England and Wales, 1841-1952

28. Joseph Harrison, 1881 England Census, Archive reference: RG11; Piece No. 4570; Folio 11; Page 16; Schedule 1165, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

29. Ordnance Survey Map, West Bretton, 25 Inch, Yorkshire CCLXII.5. Surveyed 1891, Published 1893. Digital image, National Library of Scotland. View map: Ordnance Survey, Yorkshire CCLXII.5 (West Bretton; Woolley) - Ordnance Survey 25 inch England and Wales, 1841-1952

30. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 5th May 1883, page 5. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 05 May 1883 Page 5 | findmypast.co.uk

31. George Gissing & Wakefield, Clifford Brook, Published 1992, pages 18 & 19.

32. The Gissing Newsletter, January 1987, Volume XXIII, Number 1, page 25 newsletter-23-1.pdf

33. Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 29th September 1890, page 5. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 29 September 1890 Page 5 | findmypast.co.uk

34. Joseph Harrison Burial, Parish Baptism Burial Register. Bretton Chapel, Silkstone & Sandal Magna 1890, page 56. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials, 1813-1985, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 - Ancestry.co.uk

35. England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations), 1858-1998. Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Digital image, Ancestry. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 - Ancestry.co.uk

36. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 8th November 1890, page 4. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 08 November 1890 Page 4 | findmypast.co.uk

37. Clara Harrison, 1891 England Census, Archive reference: RG12; RDWakefield; SDWakefield; ED1; Piece No. 3748; Folio 18; Page 29; Schedule 159, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

38. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 5th September 1891, page 4. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 05 September 1891 Page 4 | findmypast.co.uk

39. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 30th April 1892, page 4. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 30 April 1892 Page 4 | findmypast.co.uk

40. Clara Harrison, 1901 England Census, Archive reference: RG13; RDWakefield; SDWakefield; ED1; Piece No. 4284; Folio 11; Page 14; Schedule 77, digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census | findmypast.co.uk

41. Wakefield & West Riding Herald, 5th May 1906, page 4. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Wakefield and West Riding Herald 05 May 1906 Page 4 | findmypast.co.uk

42. Clara Harrison, 1911 England Census, Archive reference: RG14; RD504; SD4; ED1; Piece No. 27377; Schedule 169 digital image, Find My Past. England, Wales & Scotland Census. Original held by The National Archives, Kew, London. Record Transcription: 1911 Census For England & Wales | findmypast.co.uk

43. Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 4th November 1916, page 1. British Newspaper Archive. Digital image, Find My Past. Originals at British Library National Newspaper Building at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 04 November 1916 Page 1 | findmypast.co.uk

44. Clara Harrison Death, Jul-Sep 1919. GRO Ref: Wakefield, Vol 9c, Page 41. Original record, General Register Officer.

45. Clara Harrison Burial, Parish Baptism Burial Register. Bretton Chapel, Silkstone & Sandal Magna 1919, page 65. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths & Burials, 1813-1985, digital image, Ancestry. Original held by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 - Ancestry.co.uk