#59 Emma Harper

Birth
Emma Harper was born to Hannah and William Harper. Her date of birth is unconfirmed and could be any of the following:

• around 1822 in London, England (1901 England Census)
• around 1825 in St Pancras, London, Middlesex, England, (England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915)
• around 1827 in St Pancras, London, Middlesex, England (1881 England Census)
• On November 5, 1828, in St Pancras, Middlesex, England (England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975; England, Pallot's Baptism Index, 1780-1837; and London Metropolian Archives, Ref x030/010)
• around 1829 in Camden Town, Middlesex, England (1851 England Census)
• 1829 in London, England (1871 England Census)
• 1831 in London, Middlesex, England (1861 England Census)
• around 1835 in Uffington, Berkshire, England, about two hours away from Middlesex (1911 England Census)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Pancras,_London

St Pancras Old Church is in the southern half of the parish, and is believed by many to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in Great Britain. It is considered by some to have existed since AD 314 (Inglis, Angela (2007). Railway Lands: Catching St. Pancras and King's Cross. Troubador. ISBN 978-1-906221-40-9).

Given that her baptism was on December 17, 1828, that is her most likely year of birth. She was baptised at Old Church, in Saint Pancras, London, England. Her father is listed as dead on her baptism record. (England, Pallot's Baptism Index, 1780-1837) 

Historical
In 1829, Emma Harper was living in London when mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage created a precursor to the modern calculator.

It's possible that Emma may have read Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, published in 1838.

First Marriage
Emma Harper married Edward Pym on August 13, 1848, when she was around 19 years old.

Family
Her daughter Mary Ann was born around 1849 and daughter Jane was born around 1850, both in Garsington, Oxfordshire, England.

Residence
Emma and her family lived in Garsington, Oxfordshire, England, in 1851. That year the worldwide cholera epidemic made deadly passes through England and Wales.

Death of First Husband
Her husband Edward passed away on November 24, 1854, in Headington, Oxfordshire, England, at the age of 25. They had been married 6 years.

Birth of Son
Her son Charles was born in 1856. He passed away in 1857 when he was 1 year old. (Caskey Family Tree)

Second Marriage
Emma Harper married William Samuel Gardener in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on September 4, 1859, when she was around 30 years old.

Residence
According to the census, Emma and her family lived in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, in 1861 and 1871. In 1881 they were in Cowley, Oxfordshire.

1861 England Census

Family
The children were all born in Oxfordshire. 

Her daughter Emily Matilda (my great-great-grandmother) was born between 1859 and 1861 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. She appears as an infant in the 1861 census.

William S was born between 1958-1860, James A. was born in 1864 or 1865, Walter Edward was born in 1866 (baptised November 4, 1866).

Historical
Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, died suddenly in 1861. That was a also a time when the railroad industry swiftly expanded in England. The Bank Holiday Act of 1871 provided additional days off from work, thanks to Sir John Lubbock’s bill that sanctioned government-sponsored bank holidays.

Her daughter Mary Ann Pym passed away in 1870 at the age of 21.

Death of Second Husband
Her husband William Samuel passed away on December 11, 1882, at the age of 47. They had been married 23 years.

Residence
In 1901 Emma lived in St Clement, Oxfordshire. She was the head of the household and her widowed daughter Jane Harris and grand-daughter Olive Harris lived with her.

The following year Emma may have joined in celebrating the coronation of King Edward VII at Westminster Abbey.

Death
Emma died on May 19, 1909, in Headington, Oxfordshire, England, when she was around 80 years old.