HARROLD

Summary of the descent of Alan Blythe

William Harrold		Sarah Wright
William Bird		Sarah Harrold
John Flint		Sophia Bird
John Jarratt Blythe		Mildred Mary Flint
Alan Blythe		Jessie Clara McCullough

Our research on the Harold family was begun many years ago, though unfortunately we remained long unaware of two published histories, the second of which we have still not seen in its entirety: One Harrold Family by John William Harrold (Largo, Florida: privately printed, 1976), and Christmas comes to Australia: The Harrold Family History by Murray Harrold (Happy Valley, South Australia: privately printed, 1995). Both works traces many lines of descent further than is done here.

We have received help from the following persons:

• Mrs. Gill Rayment of the Wisbech and Fenland Museum.
• Jayne Mays of Wisbech, who in 2009 brought to our attention the existence of Sarah’s brother, Simon Harrold, and supplied a number of records relating to him;
• Carol Kimberley, who suggested several improvements to this page, and identified Sarah’s cousin, Sarah Ann Harrold, the second wife of John Flint;
• Jennifer Ham (not a Harrold descendant), who supplied additional information on Simon Harrold and his wives.
• Tanya (Harrold) Metcalf, who supplied copies of pages from Christmas comes to Australia and alerted me to the digitization of One Harrold Family.

Henry Harrold, of Tilney St. Lawrence, Norfolk, born say 1775-80, died shortly before 9 June 1833, when he was buried in Tilney churchyard.^[1] He is called a labourer in the baptismal records of his children Christmas (1817), Sophia (1818), Joseph (1820), and simon (1823). At the time of his marriage he and his wife were both residing in the parish of Tilney St. Lawrence. He married probably in November 1804 (the date of the third publications of the banns) in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence,^[2] Sarah Wright, born ca. 1783-84 (calculated) at Tilney, Norfolk (per 1851 census), died shortly before 15 March 1854, when she was buried in Tilney churchyard, reportedly aged 70 years. She is found at Tilney St. Lawrence as Sarah Harrold, aged 55-59 years (thus born in 1781-86), born in Norfolk, of independent means, marital status not stated, in the 1841 census.^[3] She is found as a widow in the household of her son George at Walsoken, Norfolk, in the 1851 census, which states her age as 73 years, implying a date of birth in 1777-1778. This is probably exaggerated, as it conflicts with other records and would make her about 28 at the birth of her first known child and about 45 at that of her youngest. In all likelihood she was the Sarah, daughter of William and Catharine (____) Wright, baptized 3 April 1784 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence.
    This couple must have been profoundly illiterate, as their surname is given as Heron in the baptismal records of two of their children (1817, 1818), and as Herring in another (1820).^[4]
    Known issue, all baptisms in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence:

1. Mary Harrold, baptized 15 January 1806. She married 11 November 1823 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence,^[5] Robert Bowman.
2. George Harrold, of Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire, a shepherd and sheep-dresser, baptized 15 March 1808, died 6 April 1868. He is the ancestor of the line extensively treated in One Harrold Family by John William Harrold.^[6] He married 29 May 1832 in the parish church of Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire,^[7] Mary Sketcher, born 1800-01 (aged 60 in 1861) at Gedney, Lincolnshire (per 1861 census), of whom John William Harrold writes: “It is believed that she was the daughter of William and Mary Sketcher but no record has been found to confirm this belief.”^[8] Possibly this was the Mary Smith Sketcher, baptized 11 January 1802 in the parish church of Gedney, [illegitimate] daughter of William Smith and Mary Sketcher.^[9] The marriage record fails to note the age or father’s name for either party. Both parties made a mark in lieu of a signature; the witnesses were [the groom’s sister] Sarah “Herrold” and [her future husband] William Bird. He is called a labourer in the baptismal record of his children Henry (1832) and Eliza (1838). He is enumerated at Tydd St. Giles, Cambrideshire, in the 1841 census, in which he is called an agricultural laborer; his brother Christmas is either in the same household or an adjacent one.^[10] They were enumerated at the Roman Bank, Walsoken, Norfolk, in the 1851 census, in which he is called a farm shepherd.^[11] He is found at Walsoken in the 1861 census, in which he is called a sheep-dresser.^[12] “Mary Sketcher Harrold survived her husband by fifteen years. She lived in the family home on Crab Marsh Road in Walsoken, Norfolk county, with her two unmarried daughters. She died May 9, 1883 at the age of 88 years….”^[13] They are said to have had four children, so our record of their family is possibly complete:^[14]
   1. Henry Harrold, born at Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire (per 1861 census), baptized 9 December 1832 in the parish church of Tydd St. Giles, alive in 1861. He is not listed in his parents’ household in 1851, but that is perhaps a mistake. He married by 1861, Mary ____, born 1825-26 (aged 35 in 1861) at Walsoken, Norfolk. He and his wife were living with his parents in 1861, when he was a sailor.
   2. Sarah Ann Harrold, said to have been born at Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire, baptized 1 May 1826 in the parish church of West Walton St. Mary, Norfolk,^[15] died almost certainly s.p. 19 August 1923 at Wisbech. She is found in her parents’ household in 1841. She is not listed in her parents’ household in 1851, but that is perhaps a mistake. In 1861 she is enumerated in in the household of the widow Mary Bland at Hampstead, in which she was employed as servant.^[16] In 1871 she was a servant in the household of the wine merchant Walter Gilbey at Stansted, Essex.^[17] In 1881 she was still in the employ of the Gilbey family, but they were then living on Park Crescent in Marylebone.^[18] We have seen no evidence for the statement in One Harrold Family that prior to her 1887 marriage to John Flint, “Sarah Ann Harrold may have married a man with the last name of Teed … [and] a daughter named Georgia Teed was born.”.^[19] She married (as his second wife) (registration in the first quarter of 1887 at Marylebone),^[20] John Flint, born 17/18 December 1836 at Holbeach, baptized there 27 December following in the Primitive Methodist Church on Albert Street, died (testate) 17 December 1925, aged almost 89 years, at Walsoken, Norfolk, of old age, and was buried beside his first wife in Leverington Road Cemetery, near Wisbech, widower of her cousin Sophia Bird (daughter of William Bird and Sarah Harrold below) and son of George and Mary (Inkley) Flint, of Holbeach, Lincolnshire.
   3. Eliza Harrold, born at Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire (per 1851 and 1861 censuses), baptized 24 June 1838 in the parish church of Tydd St. Giles, still living unmarried with her parents in 1861, when she was a dressmaker.
   4. George Harrold, born in 1840 (aged 10 months in 1841) at Tydd St. Giles (per 1851 census). “George Harold lived at Walsoken with his parents until he became an apprentice seaman at the age of fifteen years and nine months…. [He] was also employed as a farm laborer by Henry Ollard.”^[21] He married Emma Powell, the daughter of William Powell.
3. Henry Harrold, Jr., baptized 18 March 1809, buried 30 January 1828.
4. Sarah Harrold, baptized 21 May 1812 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence,^[22] died 20 March 1883 at Clenchwarton, probably aged 71 or 72 years (as stated on her tombstone, and not 73 years as stated in her death record), of bronchitis,^[23] and buried beside her husband in the parish churchyard of Tilney St. Lawrence.^[24] Sarah “Herrold” and her future husband William Bird served as witnesses at the wedding of her brother George in the parish church of Tydd St. Giles, Cambridgeshire on 29 May 1832. She herself married 10 March 1833 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence, following publication of banns, William Bird, of Tilney St. Lawrence, Walpole St. Andrew, Terrington St. Clement, and Clenchwarton, born probably in 1804 (aged 47 in 1851) at Tilney St. Lawrence, baptized 12 May 1805 in Tilney parish church, died 9 February 1884 at Clenchwarton, aged probably about 80 years (and not 82 as stated in his death record) of pneumonia and exhaustion,^[25] and buried with his wife, son of Robert and Susannah (Lowden) Bird, of Tilney St. Lawrence. At the time of their marriage both were single and of Tilney, and both make marks in the register in lieu of signatures. The witnesses were a Robert Bowman and a Harriet Bates. The illiteracy evidenced by this record doubtless accounts to a great extent for the drastic inconsistency with which their ages are reported in various records, and in particular for the exaggerated ages reported for them at their deaths. For further discussion and a record of their issue see BIRD.
5. Christmas Harrold (male), born 25 December 1816 at Tilney St. Lawrence, baptized there 5 January 1817, died 28 January 1896 in Australia.^[26] He is found in the 1841 census of Tydd St. Giles, Camridgeshire, either in the household of his brother George or in an adjacent on. He married in 1842 in the Wisbech registration district,^[27] Margaret Barton, said to have been born in 1820 at Wisbech, died 2 May 1908 in Australia. Christmas Harrold is called a labourer in the baptismal records of several children (1843, 1845). Christmas Harrold (aged 36), with wife Margaret (aged 32) and son William (aged 7) sailed for Australia on the Magdalena in 1853. The group in which they arrived is recorded with the following notice:

   The Land and Emigration Commissioners have forwarded to this office written engagements subscribed by the Emigrants arrived by the Magdalena, whereby they severally promise and undertake, that if they, or any of their families with their permission, quit or purpose to quit the Colony, within four years from the day of their landing, they will repay to the Government a proportionate part of the cost of their passage to South Australia, that is to say — at the rate of £4 a piece for themselves and wives, and half that sum for each of their respective children, for each year or any fraction thereof which shall be wanting to complete four years’ residence in the Colony.^[28]

   They went first to Kapunda, South Australia, but by 1859 were at Saddleworth in the same state. “Christmas Harrold, farmer, Saddleworth” is listed in a directory published in 1876.^[29] Known issue:^[30]
   1. William Harrold, baptized 27 August 1843 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence, died by 1845, when another son was given the same name.
   2. William Harrold, baptized 6 September 1845 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence; alive in 1853.
   3. Sarah Ann Harrold, born 17 August 1856 at Kapunda, died 13 August 1941 at Norwood. She married 29 January 1874 at Saddleworth, South Australia, Robert Cameron, born 22 Jun 1851 Barony Parish, Glasgow, died 26 December 1925 at Kapunda, son of Robert Cameron, of Kapunda, by the latter’s wife Agnes McIntosh. They had thirteen children and numerous descendants, for whom see the Cameron Genealogies website.
   4. John Harrold, born 3 June 1859 at Saddleworth, South Australia.
   5. Maria Harrold, born 27 June 1860 at Saddleworth, South Australia.
6. Sophia Harrold, baptized 30 August 1818.
7. Joseph Harrold, born at Tilney (per 1861 census), baptized 26 November 1820, alive in 1861. He married by 1844, Mary A. ____, born 1817-18 (aged 43 in 1861) at Thorney, Cambridgeshire, alive in 1861. Two of their children were born at her home town of Thorney in the mid-1840s. However, they are found at Church End, West Walton, Norfolk, in the 1861 census, in which he is called a blacksmith.^[31] Known issue:
   1. Henry Harrold, born 1844-45 (aged 16 in 1861) at Thorney, Cambridgeshire.
   2. Samuel Harrold, born 1846-47 (aged 14 in 1861) at Thorney.
   3. Sarah Harrold, born 1850-51 (aged 10 in 1861) at [West] Walton, Norfolk.
   4. John Harrold, born 1855-56 (aged 5 in 1861) at [West] Walton.
   5. Joseph Harrold, born 1858-59 (aged 2 in 1861) at [West] Walton.
8. William Harrold, sawyer, born ca. 1820 (he claimed to be of full age in 1841). He was of Tilney St. Lawrence and later of Tilney cum Islington. He married (1) 8 April 1841 in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence, Margaret Whittrick, died by 1851, daughter of Robert Whittrick, publican. He married (2) by 1851, Martha ____. One Harrold Family places this second marriage before the birth of the son Simon, but this would make the spacing of the children very tight. Known issue:
   1. Sarah Ann Harrold, born ca. 1842 (aged 9 in 1851). She married 5 October 1865,^[32] John Kent, brickmaker, of Islington, Norfolk.
   2. Simon Harrold, born ca. 1844 (aged 7 in 1851). Considering that his sister was married at Islington, he may have been the Simon Harrold who married in 1866 in the Islington registration district, Eliza Jane Hammond.
9. Joseph Harrold, blacksmith, born 1821 (aged 40 in 1861), died (testate) 9 September 1898. He lived at Thorney and at West Walton St. Mary, Norfolk. His will, dated 29 July 1892, made a bequest to his wife Hannah which in a codicil dated 30 November 1894 is cancelled on account of her death. He married (1) ca. 1845, Mary Ann ____, born ca. 1818 (aged 43 in 1861), died 5 July 1886, aged 69 years, and buried in Wisbech Burough Cemetery. He married (2) Hannah ____, who died between 29 July 1892 and 30 November 1894. One Harrold Family, which has a much more extensive account of him, lists his issue as follows:
   1. Henry Harrold, born 21 December 1844, died 8 September 1930; married Eliza Louisa Hall, born 20 April 1851, died 4 November 1930. They moved to Bee, Seward County, Nebraska, U.S.A. Issue: 5 children.
   2. Samuel Harrold, born 1847, died 1921, married Mary Smith. Issue: 2 sons.
   3. Sarah Harrold, born ca 1850, died 23 November 1906, and buried with her brother Joseph in Wisbech Borough Cemetery. She maried (1) George Crump, of Gosport, Hampshire, apparently still alive in 1892. She married (2) ____ Adnams.
   4. John Harrold, born 29 Nov 1855 at West Walton St. Mary, died 1 Oct 1928; married (1) ____ Morse, by whom he had no issue, and (2) Sarah Elizabeth Morse, born 5 January 1864, died 1928, by whom he had 6 children.
   5. Joseph Harrold, born ca. 1858, died 1936, and buried with her brother Joseph in Wisbech Borough Cemetery. He married Emma Williams, born ca. 1861, died 11 May 1924. Issue: 3 children.
10. Simon Harrold, blacksmith, born 7 January 1823, baptized 27 January following in the parish church of Tilney St. Lawrence, died 1892, and buried with his first wife in the General Cemetery, Leverington Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (his age at death being overstated as 71 on his tombstone). He married (1) in 1847 in the Wisbech registration district,^[33] Catharine Parlett, born probably in 1819 (aged 32 in 1851, 51 in 1871), died 1 March 1889, aged 69 years (year and age per tombstone), and buried with her husband. They are found at no. 121 North Brink, Wisbech, in the 1851 census, in which Simon is called a blacksmith.^[34] We have not found them in the 1861 census, but they are found at no. 10 Bell Green Road, Wisbech, in the 1871 census, in which his occupation is similarly given, and at which time their household included an eleven-year-old niece, Mahala Rhamm, who has not been otherwise identified.^[35] They are found at no. 13 Canal Side in 1881, when he is called a retired blacksmith.^[36] He married (2) in 1889 in the Wisbech registration district,^[37] Sarah Jane Bulman Retchless, born 4 June 1851 at West Walton, baptized 6 January 1861 in the parish church of Wisbech St. Peter, Cambridgeshire, died 16 Setpember 1918, aged 67 years (year and age per tombstone), and buried near her husband, daughter of John and Hannah (Bulman) Retchless.^[38] By his second wife, he had a son:^[39]
    1. Simon Harrold, born 29 May 1890, died 27 December 1890, and buried with this mother.

Notes

name               age       occupation  born in county?
-------------------------------------------------------
George Herrald     35[-40]  ag. laborer  N
Mary      "        40[-45]               N
Henry     "         5*                   Y
Sarah     "         5                    Y
Eliza     "         3                    Y
George    "        10 mo.                Y
=== (possibly a separate household) ===
Christmas Herrald  20[-25]   ----        N
James Markley      30[-35]   m.s.        N
Benjamin Batterham 20[-25]   m.s.        Y
-----
* He was really 8

name     relationship  cond. age  occupation     birthplace
----------------------------------------------------------------------
George Herrold  head   mar.  42   farm shepherd  Norfolk: Tilney
Mary Herrold    wife   mar.  41    "    " wife   Lincolnshire: Lutton
Eliza Herrold   dau.   u.    11                  Cambs.: Tydd St. Giles
George Herrold  son    u.    10                  Cambs.: Tydd St. Giles
Sarah Herrold   mother mar.  73   labourer       Norfolk: Tilney

name       relationship cond. age
---------------------------------
George Herrold  head        M  53 sheep dresser  Norfolk: Tilney St. Lawrence
Mary Herrold    wife        M  60 chair* woman   Lincolnshire: Gedney
Henry Herrold   son         M  29 sailor         Cambridge: Tydd St. Giles
Mary Herrold    dau.-in-law M  35 shoe binder    Norfolk: Walsoken
Eliza Herrold   dau.        U  22 dressmaker     Cambridge: Tydd St. Giles
=====
* sic; perhaps an error for "char"?

name   relationship cond. age occupation             birthplace
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Harrold   head  M  40  blacksmith             Norfolk: Tilney
Mary A. Harrold  wife  M  43  wife                   Cambridge: Thorney
Henry Harrold    son   -  16  blacksmith             Cambridge: Thorney
Samuel Harrold   son   -  14  scholar                Cambridge: Thorney
Sarah Harrold    dau.  -  10  scholar                Norfolk: Walton
=== (page break) ===                                 
John Harrold     son   -   5  --                     Norfolk: Walton
Joseph Harrold   son   -   2  --                     Norfolk: Walton
Charles Drachard appr. -  17  apprentice blacksmith  Lincoln: Long Sutton

name       relationship cond. age occupation   birthplace
--------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Harrold      head   M   30  blacksmith   Norfolk, Tilney
Catherine Harrold  wife   M   32  ----         Cambs., Wisbech St. Peter

 
name     relationship  cond. age  occupation  birthplace
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Harrold       head   M  48  blacksmith  Norfolk, Tilney
Catherine Harrold   wife   M  51  ----        Cambs., Wisbeach
Mahala Rhamm        niece  -  11  scholar     Norfolk, Walsoken
John Thorp     apprentice  U  20  blacksmith  Norfolk, Walpole St. Peter
David Tester   apprentice  U  17  blacksmith                "
Jane Sharpe       servant  -  15  general servant domestic  "

name      relationship  cond. age occupation    birthplace
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Harrold      head  M   58  retired blacksmith
                                           Tilney St. Lawrence, Norfolk
Catherine Harrold  wife  M   61  ----          Wisbech, Cambs.

Of Related Interest

• Cameron Genealogies
  <http://www.clan-cameron.org.au/>

From the Genealogy Page of John Blythe Dobson
URL = johnblythedobson.org/genealogy/ff/Harold.cfm
This page first published 17 November 2009
Revised 15 March 2023