Harriet was born in Rochester, Kent in 1809 and christened in St Margaret’s church on 24th December that year. She was one of six siblings, children of William and Mary Pedley. ch(1) She married James Waghorn at Frindsbury, near Rochester on 19th November 1832 when she was 22 years old. Neither she nor James could write their names, they put a cross on the page which was annotated by Vicar Fornby: “the mark of…..” ch(2) She gave birth to her first child, Jane, whilst still living in Rochester, but had moved to Whitechapel before the birth of the second child, Harriet, two years later. cs Harriet gave birth to at least 9 children, one every two years. We know that Susanna and James, listed on the 1851 census as 5yrs and 5months old respectively had died before the 1861 census. cs Her children all found employment as they grew up, the girls as parasol makers or needlewomen. Her oldest son, Joseph followed his father to become a blacksmith whilst the younger children went to school. We have no knowledge of Harriet after 1861.
footnote links open in a new tab or window depending on your browser settings
Back to top