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Edmund Harrison married Elizabeth Mempes at St. Leonard Church, Hythe, on 16th November, 1767.
Their seventh Child, Thomas, was baptised at St. Leonard on 8th July, 1783.
Thomas married Grace Farley at the Church of St. Mary and St. Eanswythe, Folkestone, on 24th July, 1809.
Their third child, John Cullen, our Great Grandfather was baptised at the Church of St. Mary and St. Eanswythe, on 11th March,-1818.
Edmund Harrison was not born at Hythe, but it is believed that he came from Bearsted (near Maidstone) Kent. The localities of Harrietsham, Hollingboume, Bearsted and Leeds, all clustered in a small area between Maidstone and Lenham (see map) appear in Harrison Baptism, Marriage and Death records so frequently that it must be assumed that the Harrisons were well established there over a considerable period. Canterbury Cathedral Archives have original tythe records showing portions of land held by successive Harrisons who farmed in the area.
Edmond's wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of William and Mary (nee Hickey) Mempes who were married at Hythe on 3/10/1742. Elizabeth was baptised on 17/4/1747 at St. Leonard, Hythe. William Mempes was a farmer at Hythe, and Edmund also farmed there. It is thought that Edmund was buried at Hollingbourne in 1814, aged 72, and his wife Elizabeth was also buried at Hollingbourne in 1821, aged 75, or in her 75th year. Her death certificate shows her address as Leeds (near Hollingbourne in Kent). Edmund and Elizabeth had ten children, our direct ancestor, Thomas, being the seventh.
Hythe is one of the old Cinque Ports on the English Channel, and the Church of St. Leonard stands on the hillside overlooking the town. The earliest Norman Church was built on the site in about 1086 and parts have been rebuilt and altered over the centuries. (see picture)
Left: St Leonard's Church, Hythe, Kent, where Elizabeth Harrison was christened on the 7th April 1814. Edmund Harrison and Elizabeth Mempes were married here on the 16th November 1767. Thomas, father of Elizabeth and John Cullen Harrison was christened here on the 18th July 1783.
Right: Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, Folkestone where Grace Farley and Thomas Harrison were married on the 14th July 1809 and John Cullen Harrison (our great grandfather) was baptised on the 11th March 1818.
Thomas's wife, Grace, was the daughter of Thomas Farley, Shipwright, and Mayor of Folkestone. I have done a separate chapter on the Farley’s' as I was given a lot of information.
The Church of St. Mary and St. Eanswythe at Folkestone is also pre-13th Century. Of particular interest is the Churchyard Cross, situated a few steps from the main North entrance. From 1313, when the town was first incorporated, the Mayor, who has a special pew in the Parish Church, was elected each year beside the Cross. Thomas Farley, the father of Grace, wife of Thomas Harrison, was Mayor for the years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1790. It may not have been such an honour as it would seem, as history suggests that if the desired applicant refused to stand for the Office, his house was burnt down!
John Cullen Harrison, Grace and Thomas's third child - our Great grandfather, probably arrived in Australia before 1838, but I have been unable to find any mention of him in shipping records. His Harrison and Farley uncles were all involved in shipping, so he probably came out as crew.
Why John Cullen Harrison was given the second name of Cullen is of particular interest as the name has been carried down in the Australian family. Michael Cullen, a dedicated Cullen historian, whom I met in England, has been a tremendous help, but we could not find a direct link, though Farleys, Cullens and Harrisons all intermarried. John was probably called after John Cullen, the husband of Grace's eldest sister, Elizabeth.
John Cullen Harrison's son, Australian born John Harrison, always maintained that he was descended from John Harrison of Chronometer fame. I have tried to trace the connection, but it is very hard, as there are so many John Harrisons with only one single Christian name. To further complicate things, both John Harrison's wives were called Elizabeth, as was his daughter and two of his three daughter-in-laws. It is possible that our Kentish Harrisons are related through brothers or uncles to that John Harrison, who came from the small Lincolnshire village of Barrow, on the southern bank of the river Humber. Certainly 'Longitude' John Harrison has a “look” of our Harrisons, and like him have followed occupations that have displayed a capacity for logical analysis.