Melliship & Harris: History

 

The Company

This firm was founded by George Melliship and John Harris in 1858 according to the “ESTAB^D 1858” notice placed over the doorway of their shop as seen in the picture below[1].  The words “ESTABLISHED 1858” also appear in some of their advertisements[2].  This company was first listed in an 1860[3] London city directory as “Melliship & Harris, booksellers, stationers, engravers, printers & bookbinders, 62 Westbourne grove, Bayswater”.  By 1865[4] the business moved down the street to 37 Westbourne Grove where it added “dressing case, travelling bag & dispatch box manufacturers” to its list of products.  In March 1869[5] the partnership between the two men was dissolved and John Harris carried on the business by himself.  Before 1870[6] the company expanded to include a shop at 62 Baker Street, then by 1872[7] it moved permanently to 111 Westbourne Grove at the intersection with Hereford Road, as seen here.  In 1875[8] the firm was listed as “stationers, jewellers & importers of foreign & fancy goods, travelling bags & despatch box manufacturers, 111 Westbourne grove, Bayswater”.  The company’s advertisements during the 1880’s[9] provide interesting details regarding the types of merchandise they sold.  Examples can be found in the Images section of this chapter.  Sometime between 1881 and 1885 John’s son, Sydney John Harris, joined his father’s business and appears to have taken over the company after his father’s death in 1906.  The firm continued to be listed as stationers or fancy stationers in city directories until 1915[10], however what happened to it after that is unknown as it was no longer listed in 1920[11].

Only one Avery style needle case has been found with the Melliship & Harris name.  The Quadruple Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf, picture here, was registered by William Avery in 1868.  The basic Quadruple design can be found with 21 slightly different exterior decorations with the one with the Fleur de Lis being the most popular, stamped with 14 different names, followed by the Butterfly on Leaf decoration, stamped with 11 different names.  Most of the company names found on these needle cases were from the London area.  Obviously, Mr. Avery made arrangements with them to place their names on his needle cases which contained his needles, thereby increasing the sale of the items Avery actually manufactured.

 

 

The Melliship Owners

(Note: In order not to confuse the two men with the same forename, the father will be listed as George Sr. and the son as George Jr.).

 

George William Melliship was born c1803 in the London area.  In 1825 he married Margaret Sweetman at St. Marylebone in the Westminster section of the city.  At first the family lived on Warren Street, a few blocks east of Regent’s Park.  By 1830 they moved to Edgware Road, just north of Hyde Park where they remained for a few years before settling around 1855 at Stranraer Place on Maida Hill, approximately 2 miles northwest of Hyde Park.  George Sr. and Margaret had 7 children between 1827 and 1840: Emily, George Jr., Almena, Henry, Eliza, Susannah and William.  Throughout his life George Sr. had a variety of occupations.  He was listed as an oil man in his eldest daughter’s baptism record in 1827, then as a timber man, timber merchant or builder from 1830 until 1840 and then as an omnibus proprietor from 1841 and 1851.  During the Victorian Period an omnibus proprietor was someone who owned and operated a horse driving bus service[12].  George Sr’s. degree of wealth or success is found in his 1854 will where he was listed as a gentleman who gave his two eldest sons each £1,500 (£88,694[13] today) and his youngest son and 3 eldest daughter’s £1,000 each.  George Sr. died in 1855 at age 53 and was buried at the All Souls Cemetery in Kensington.  His wife Margaret continued to live at Stranraer Place with their youngest son William for a few years before she decided to live with her daughter Eliza, son-in-law William Boutcher and their family in Kensington by 1871.  In 1881 she was living with her eldest daughter Emily at Shalimar Horn Lane in Acton, 3.5 miles west of Maiden Hill.  Presumably she moved there to assist Emily and her family because her son-in-law, George Treadaway, died in 1865.  Five years later in 1886 Margaret died there at age 87 and left an estate of £2,637 to her son George Jr. who was listed as an esquire and her daughter Emily Treadaway.  The two youngest sons of George Sr. and Margaret became grocers whereas their second daughter, Almena, married John Harris who became one of the owners of the Melliship & Harris company.

 

George Jr. was the eldest son of George William Melliship (George Sr.) and Margaret Sweetman.  He was born in late 1829 and was baptized at Christ Church in Westminster in early 1830.  In 1851, while living with his parents in the Paddington area, George Jr. was working as a clerk to a coach worker presumably assisting his father in the omnibus business.  A few years after receiving his £1,500 inheritance from his father in 1855, he established a stationary business in 1858 with John Harris, a solicitor’s clerk, who a year later married George Jr.’s sister Almena.  By 1861 all three, George Jr., John Harris and Almena, where living together at 62 Westbourne Grove, most likely on the floor above their Melliship & Harris shop, and George Jr. was listed as a stationer.  Something must have happened to their friendship because in 1869 their business relationship ended and by 1871 George Jr. was living by himself as a lodger with another family in Paddington where his occupation was listed as out of business. Then by 1881 he moved again and this time was living with his widowed sister Emily Treadaway, her 4 children and their mother, Margaret, in Acton where he was listed with an occupation as living on interest of money.  In 1886, eight months after his mother’s death, George Sr. died at his sister’s house in Acton at age 57.  His estate, valued as £2,386, was proved by his sister Emily. 

 

The Harris Owners

John Harris, the son of James and Susannah Harris, was born in c1832 and was baptized that year at St. James in Paddington.  No information about his parents has been found because the Harris surname is quite common in the London area.  His father’s died before 1851 as John was living that year with his mother, a widow, and his siblings and was working as a solicitor’s clerk.  Within the next 6 years he became friends with George Melliship Jr. and they decided to become partners in a stationary business in 1858.  A year later, in 1859, John married his partner’s sister, Almena Melliship, at St. James, Paddington and in 1861 the three lived together on Westbourne Grove where both John and George were listed as stationers.  After their partnership dissolved in 1869, John took over the business and by 1871was listed as a stationer employing 5 men and 3 boys.  John and Almena had 5 children between 1860 and 1872: Sydney John, Kate Almena, Frank, Minna Margaret and Charles, while living in the Paddington section of London.  Almena died there in 1872 at age 40 and was buried at the All Souls Cemetery in Kensington.  Three years later, John married his second wife Rebecca Stroud, a widow, in 1875 at St. Matthew in the Bayswater section of Westminster.  In 1881 the family was living in Hanwell in northwest London, about 3 miles west of Acton where John’s children’s grandmother, an aunt and an uncle were living.  Later they moved to neighboring Ealing where they spent the rest of their lives.  From 1861 until his death John was consistently listed as a stationer, fancy stationer and by 1891 a stationer employer and in 1901 a stationer and jeweler employer.  Rebecca died in Ealing in 1905 at age 74 leaving an estate of £9,715 to her husband and to several others.  A year later in 1906 John died at their residence at age 74 and his estate of £17,058 passed to his son Sydney John Harris, who was listed as a gentleman that year, and another man.

 

Sydney John Harris was born in 1860, the eldest son of John Harris and Almena Melliship.  Sometime between 1881 and 1885 he joined his father’s business as a stationer.  In 1885 he married Amy Mary Highland at St. Matthew, Bayswater and within a year their child: Constance Amy Mary, was born in 1886.  Unfortunately, his wife Amy died shortly after the child’s birth in 1886 at age 25 and was buried at the cemetery in Hanwell.  Sydney remained in Hanwell and in 1891 was working as a stationer’s assistant while living with his daughter and 2 servants.  Later that year he married his second wife, Elizabeth Wylde at St. Mathew in Bayswater.  Sydney and Elizabeth had 3 children between 1892 and 1898: Muriel Grace, Dorothy Edith and Stanley John.  By 1901 the family was living in Ealing, where they remained, and Sydney was working as a stationer’s manager.  In 1911 Sydney was listed as a fancy goods and stationery dealer employer presumably carrying on the business his father established in 1858 after his father’s death in 1906.  Although it is unclear exactly how long he continued the Melliship & Harris stationary business, Sydney presumably spent his working life there as he was listed in 1939 as a retired stationer.  Sydney died at is home in Ealing in 1941 at age 80 and was buried at a cemetery in Hanwell.  To date his probate has not been found.  His wife Elizabeth’s death has also not been found because her name is very common in the London area.

 

 

 

Melliship & Harris: Images

 

December 11, 1886 advertisement on page 74 in The Queen newspaper with established 1858 listed in the bottom center.

 

December 24, 1887 advertisement on page 69 in The Queen newspaper.

 

December 13, 1890 advertisement on page 101 in the Queen newspaper.

 

Westbourne Grove street sign, 2023

 

111 Westbourne Grove on the corner of Westbourne Grove and Hereford Road where Melliship & Harris originally had their business.

 

  

Melliship & Harris: Genealogy

 

Melliship Generation 1: George William Melliship (c1803-1855) and Margaret Sweetman (c1800-1886)

·       Born: c1803 (S4).

·       Baptized: not found.

·       Marriage: June 3, 1825 St. Marylebone, Westminster (S1m).  Listed as George William Melliship a bachelor and Margaret Sweetman a spinster.

·       1840 London Directory, Trades Section (S=ancestry.com): Page 240.  Listed as Geo. Wm. Melliship a timber dealer at 137 Edgware Road.

·       1841 Census: 54 Portman Place, Marylebone, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as George Melliship age 35 a omnibus propter born in the county with Margaret age 40 born in the county and 6 children all born in the county: George, William, Emily, Almena, Eliza, Susana and 2 servants (Note: all of these individuals are not listed together in the census index and there is a blank page in the actually census that separates George and George from William, Margaret and the other children.  Also, Margaret’s surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Molliship).

·       1845 London City Directory, Court Section (S=ancestry.com).  Page 628, listed as Geo. Wm. Melliship esq. 54 Portman Place, Edgware Road.

·       1851 Census: 13 Paddington Green, Paddington, Marylebone, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as George W. Melliship age 48 an omnibus proprietor born in Middlesex with wife Margaret age 52 born in Middlesex and 4 children: Emily, George, Almenia, Eliza and 2 servants. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists George as George W. Melliship Jr. and the census taker lists one of the servants with the surname Melliship).

·       Death: November 21, 1855 Kensington (S8d).  Listed as George William Melliship age 53 a omnibus proprietor who died of phthisis at Stranraer Place, Paddington with George Treadaway of Westbourne Grove, Paddington present at his death.

·       Burial: November 27, 1855 All Souls Cemetery, Kensal Green, Kensington and Chelsea (S1burial).  Listed as George William Melliship of 1 Stranrear Place, Maida Hill, Paddington age 53.

·       Probate: December 19, 1855 London (S6).  Will dated: November 25, 1854.  Listed as George William Melliship of Stranraer Place, Maida Hill, Middlesex a gentleman.  His will mentions his wife Margaret of 64 Edgware Road, Marylebone.  Also, he gave £1,500 to his sons George and Henry and £1,000 to his son William and daughters Emily, Almena and Eliza and appointed George Treadaway and his son George as trustees.

·       1861 Census: 1 Stranraer Place, Paddington, Marylebone (S4).  Listed ss Margaret Melliship a widow age 63 a proprietor of houses born in St. Gilesin the Fields, Middlesex with son William and grandson Athur C. Treadaway and 1 servant.

·       1871 Census: 128 Lancaster Road, Kensington (S4).  Listed as Margaret Melliship a mother -in-law age 72 a widow born in Bloombury, Middlessex living with William Boutcher age 42 a retired architect born in Broadelyst, Devon and his wife Eliza age 35 born in Marylebone and 5 Boutcher children and 2 servants.

·       1881 Census:  Shalimar Horn Lane, Acton, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Margaret Melliship a widow age 82 born in Lincolns Inn, Middlesex living with daughter Emily Treadaway age 53 a widow and 4 Treadaway children, 1 brother George Melliship and possible 4 servants.  (Note: the person who scanned this page of the census accidently cut off part of it therefore the census index was used for this information). 

·       Wife’s Death: 2nd QTR 1886 Brentford, Middlesex (S5d), listed as Margaret Melliship age 87.  March 31, 1886 at Shalimar (S6).

·       Wife’s Burial: April 1886 Kensington and Chelsea (S1bural).  Listed as Margaret Melliship.

·       Wife’s Probate: June 7, 1886 Principal Registry (S6).  Listed as Margaret Melliship formerly of Hayes House, Hayes but late of “Shalimar”, Horn Lane, Action both in Middlesex with a personal estate of £2,637 proved by George Melliship Esquire the Son and Emily Treadaway widow the daughter both of Shalimar the executors.

·       Children:

1.     Emily Melliship (1827-??).  Born: August 7, 1827 and Baptized: September 2, 1827 St. Marylebone, Westminster (S1c), listed as Emily with parents George William and Margaret Melliship of Warren St., St. Pancreas with father’s occupation oil man.  1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4). Marriage: March 10, 1855 St. James, Paddington, Westminster (S8m), listed as Emily Melliship a spinster who resided at Stranraer Place whose father was George William Melliship a gentleman and George Treadaway a widower and gentleman who resided at Westbourne Grove.  Husband’s Death: 4th QTR 1865 Kensington (S5d), listed as George Treadaway, October 13, 1865 at 11 Shrewsbury Villas, Talbot Road (S6).  Probate: December 5, 1865 Principal Registry (S6), listed as George Treadaway formerly of Washington House, Westbourne Grove but late of Chepstow Lodge, Westbourne Grove in Paddington and of Hayes House, Hayes all in Middlesex a gentleman with effects under £35,000 proved by the oaths of John Harris of 37 Westbourne Grove a stationer and William Boutcher of 10 Elbury Villas, Sussex Road, Kensington aforesaid gentleman the executors.  1881 Census: Shalimar Horn Lane, Action, Middlesex (S4), listed as Emily Treadaway age 53 a widow with 4 children: Arthur C., Elsie M., Madeline and Evelyn G. and her mother Margaret Melliship and brother George Melliship and possibly 4 servants (Note: the person who scanned this page of the census accidently cut off part of it therefore the census index was used for this information).   

2.     George Melliship (1829-1886). – See Melliship Generation 2.

3.     Almena Melliship (c1832-1872). Baptized: January 6, 1833 St. James, Paddington (S1c), listed as Almena Melliship with parents George William and Margaret Melliship.  1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4). - See Harris Generation 1.

4.     Henry Melliship (c1833-??).  Baptized: November 17, 1833 St. James, Paddington (S1c), listed as Henry Melliship with parents George William and Margaret Melliship.  Marriage: April 30, 1867 St. James, Paddington (S1m), listed as Henry Melliship whose father was George William Melliship and Ann Thompson.  1871 Census: 33 Lancaster Road, Kensington, Chelsea (S4), listed as Henry Melliship age 37 a grocery born in Marylebone with wife Annie age 34 born in St. Bartholomew and 4 children all born in Paddington: Edith A., Alice L., Maude and Frank S. and 1 visitor Marie Rosen Kranz age 23 a governess born in Germany and 2 servants.  (Note: the visitor’s surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Kranig).

5.     Eliza Melliship (1835-??).  Born: November 30, 1835 and Baptized: October 1, 1837 St. Marylebone. Westminster (S1c), listed as Eliza daughter of George William and Margaret Melliship of 137 Edgware Road with father’s occupation listed as builder.  1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Marriage: November 29, 1860 St. Saviour, Paddington (S8m), listed as Eliza Melliship a spinster who resided at Stranraer Place, Paddington whose father was George William Melliship a gentleman and William Boutcher a bachelor and artist. (Note: the marriage index incorrectly lists the surname as Milliship).  1871 Census: 128 Lancaster Road, Kensington (S4), listed as William Boutcher age 42 a retired architect born in Broadelyst, Devon with his wife Eliza age 35 born in Marylebone and 5 Boutcher children: Alan Geo., Enid Mary, Lillian Mabel, Harold W. and Douglas L., and 1 mother-in-law Margaret Melliship age 72 a widow born in Bloombury, Middlesex and 2 servants.

6.     Susannah Melliship (1837-??).  Born: August 29, 1837 and Baptized: October 1, 1837 St. Marylebone. Westminster (S1c), listed as Susannah daughter of George William and Margaret Melliship of 137 Edgware Road with father’s occupation listed as builder.  1841 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Marriage: September 20, 1867 St. Peter, Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea (S8m), listed as Susannah Melliship a spinster who resided as Paradise Villas whose father was George William Melliship a gentleman and Paul Chatanet a bachelor and merchant (Note: her husband’s forename is incorrectly listed in the marriage index as Jane).

7.     William Melliship (1840-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1840 Marylebone (S=GRO Online Index), listed as William Melliship with mother’s maiden name Sweetman.  1841 and 1861 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Marriage: March 20, 1873 St. Matthew, Brixton, Lambeth (S6m), listed as William Melliship age 32 a bachelor and grocer who resided in Kensington whose father was George William Melliship a gentleman and Maria Ernestine Rosenkranz.  (Note: William’s wife was living with William’s brother Henry’s family in the 1871 Census).  1891 Census:  31 Milton St., Marcke, Saltburn, Yorkshire (S4), listed as William Melliship age 50 a grocer employer born in Paddington, London with wife Marie age 43 born in Germany a British Subject and 5 children born in Kensington or Saltburn: Walter, Sydney, Leonard, Edwin and Stanley and 1 servant.

 

Melliship Generation 2: George Melliship (c1829-1886)

·       Born: October 13, 1829 (S1c).

·       Baptized: March 7, 1830 Christ Church, St. Marylebone, Westminster (S1c).  Listed as George son of George William and Margaret Melliship who resided at Edgware Road with father’s occupation listed as timber merchant.

·       1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as George Melliship age 11 born in the county.

·       1851 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as George Melliship age 21 a clerk to coach worker born in Marylebone.

·       Marriage: never married.

·       1861 Census: 62 Westbourne Grove, Paddington (S4).  Listed as George Melliship age 31 an unmarried stationer born in Marylebone living with his brother-in-law John Harris and sister Almena’s family.

·       1871 Census: 18 Newton Rd, Paddington, Marylebone (S4). Listed as George Melliship a single lodger age 41 out of business born in Marylebone living with the Lueking family headed by Thomas Lueking age 44 a gardener with a wife and 5 children. 

·       1881 Census:  Shalimar Horn Lane, Acton, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as George Melliship a brother age 51 living on interest of money born in Marylebone living with his sister’s family Emily Treadaway and her 4 children, his mother and possibly 4 servants.  (Note: the person who scanned this page of the census accidently cut off part of it therefore the census index was used for this information). 

·       Death: December 23, 1886 Brentford, Middlesex (S8d), listed as George Melliship age 57 a retired jeweler who died of morbus addisonii and syncope at Shalimar, Action.  December 23, 1886 at Shalimar.

·       Burial: December 1886 Kensington and Chelsea (S1bural).  Listed as George Melliship.

·       Probate: February 14, 1887 Principal Registry.  Listed as George Melliship late of Shalimar, Horn Lane, Action, Middlesex with personal estate £2,386 proved by Emily Treadaway of Shalimar widow the sister one of the executors.

·       Children: none.

 

Harris Generation 1: John Harris (c1832-1906)-and Almena Melliship (c1832-1872) and Rebecca Buckland (c1831-1905)

·       Born: c1832 (S1c).

·       Baptized: November 4, 1832 St. James. Paddington (S1c).  Listed as John Harris with parents James and Susannah Harris.

·       1841 Census:  not found.

·       1851 Census: Crown Inn, 63 Cricklewood, Hendon, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 18 a solicitor clerk born in Paddington living with his mother Susannah Harris a widow age 50 a publican born in Bitton, Gloucestershire and 3 siblings: James, Elizabeth and Mary Ann and 4 servants and 5 others.

·       Marriage: September 8, 1859 Kensington (S8m).  Listed as John Harris a bachelor and stationer who resided at the Parish of St. James, Paddington whose father was James Harris a victualler and Almena Melliship a spinster whose father was George William Melliship a gentleman. 

·       1861 Census:  62 Westbourne Grove, Paddington (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 28 a stationer born in Paddington with wife Almena age 29 born in Middlesex and 1 child: Sydney I. and 1 brother-in-law George Melliship age 31 a stationer born in Marylebone and 2 servants.

·       1871 Census:  11 Randolph Garden, Paddington, Marylebone (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 58 a stationer employing 5 men and 3 boys born in Paddington with wife Almena age 59 born in Marylebone and 2 children: Kate A. and Minnie M. and 2 servants.  (Note: the census index incorrectly lists the daughter’s forename as Marine F.).

·       1st Wife’s Death:  January 16, 1872 Kensington (S8d).  Listed as Almena Harris age 40 the wife of John Harris a stationer who died of phthisis pulmonal at 111 Westbourne Grove, Paddington.

·       1st Wife’s Burial: January 20, 1872 All Souls Cemetery, Kensingtoestbouren Gforven and Chelsea (S1burial).  Listed as Almena Harris of 111 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater age 40.

·       1st Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       2nd Marriage: October 11, 1875 St. Matthew, Bayswater, Westminster (S6m).  Listed as John Harris age 43 a widower and fancy stationer who resided at 111 Westbourne Grove whose father was James Harris a victualler and Rebecca Stroud, nee Buckland, a widow age 44 who resided at 109 Westbourne Grove.

·       1881 Census: 203 Cherrington House, Hanwell, Brentford, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 48 a stationer born in Paddington with wife Rebecca age 49 born in Burnham, Bucks and 2 children born in Paddington: Sydney J. and Charles and 2 servants.

·       1891 Census:  18 North Common, Ealing, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 58 a stationer employer born in Paddington with wife Rebecca age 59 born in Burnham, Bucks and 2 servants.

·       1901 Census: 18 North Common, Ealing, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as John Harris age 68 a stationer and jeweller employer born in Paddington with wife Rebecca age 70 born in Burnham, Buckinghamshire and 2 servants.

·       2nd Wife’s Death: January 8, 1905 Brentford, Middlesex (S8d), listed as Rebecca Harris age 74 wife of John Harris a fancy goods dealer who died of malignant disease at 18 North Common Road, Ealing.  January 8, 1905 (S6).

·       2nd Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       2nd Wife’s Probate: January 31, 1905 London (S5).  Listed as Rebecca Harris of Braemar, 18 North Common Road, Ealing, Middlesex wife of John Harris with effects £9,715 to the said John Harris and Arthur James Stroud gentleman and Georgia Sarah Ann Richards wife of John James Richards.

·       Death: October 29, 1906 Brentford, Middlesex (S8d), listed as John Harris age 74 a stationer who died of a stone in the bladder at 10 Creffield Road, Ealing with his son Sydney John Harris in attendance.  October 29, 1906 (S6).

·       Burial: November 1906 Kensington and Chelsea (S1burial).  Listed as John Harris.

·       Probate: December 11, 1906 London (S6).  Listed as John Harris of 16 Creffield Road, Ealing, Middlesex with effects £17,058 to Sydney John Harris gentleman and Ernest Meteor Martin engineer.

·       Children:

1.     Sydney John Harris (1860-1941). - See Harris Generation 2

2.     Kate Almena Harris (1863-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1863 Kensington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Kate Almena Harris with mother’s maiden name Melliship.  1871 Census: with parents: listed as Kate A. Harris age 7 born in Paddington.

3.     Frank Harris (1864-1865).  Born: 4th QTR 1864 Kensington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Frank Harris with mother’s maiden name Melliship.  Death: 2nd QTR 1865 Kensington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Frank Harris age 0.

4.     Minna Margaret Harris (1866-??).  Born: 3rd QTR Kensington 1866 (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Minna Margaret Harris with mother’s maiden name Melliship.  1871 Census: with parents: listed as Marine M. age 4 born in Paddington.

5.     Charles Harris (??-??).  Born: not found.  1881 Census: with parents: listed as Charles Harris age illegible born in Paddington. (Note: the census incorrectly lists his age as 19 although it is illegible.  Also a search of GRO Online Index from 1860-1880 was done and no person named Charles Harris with a mother’s maiden name Melliship or Strout was found).

 

Harris Generation 2:  Sydney John Harris (1860-1941) and Amy Mary Highland (c1861-1886) and Elizabeth Wylde (c1861-??)

·       Born: 3rd QTR 1860 Kensington (S=GRO Online Index), listed as Sydney John Harris with mother’s maiden name Melliship. 

·       1861 Census: with parents: listed as Sydney Harris age 10 months born in Paddington. 

·       1871 Census: not found.

·       1881 Census: with parents: listed as Sydney J. Harris age 20 born in Paddington.

·       1st Marriage: April 23, 1885 St. Matthew, Bayswater (S8m).  Listed as Sydney John Harris age 26 a bachelor and stationer who resided in Hanwell whose father was John Harris a stationer and Amy Mary Highland age 24 a spinster.

·       1st Wife’s Death:  March 8, 1886 Brentford (S8d).  Listed as Amy Mary Harris age 25 the wife of Sydney John Harris a stationer who died of phlegmasia dollus at Park View, Hanwell with her husband Sydney J. Harris the widower of the deceased present at the death.

·       1st Wife’s Burial: March 13, 1886 Hanwell Cemetery (S1burial).  Listed as Amy Mary Harris of Park View, Hanwell age 25.

·       1st Wife’s Probate. not found.

·       1891 Census: 175 Park View, Hanwell, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Sydney John Harris a widower age 31 a stationers assistant worker born in Paddington with 1 child: Constance A. M. age 5 born in Hanwell and 2 servants.

·       2nd Marriage: April 25, 1891 St. Matthew, Bayswater (S6m).  Listed as John Harris age 32 a widower and stationer who resided at 111 Westbourne Grove whose father was John Harris a stationer and Elizabeth Wylde age 25 a spinster.

·       1901 Census: 4 Inglis Road, Ealing, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Sydney J. Harris age 40 a stationer’s manager worker born in Paddington with wife Elizabeth age 35 born in Chelsea and 4 children: Constance A., Muriel, Dorothy and Stanley J .and 1 servant. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists two of the children’s forenames as Carsten and Hanley).

·       1911 Census: 4 Inglis Road, Ealing, Middlesex (S4).   Listed as Sydney John Harris age 50 a fancy goods and stationery dealer employer born in Paddington with wife Elizabeth age 45 born in Chelsea and 1 child: Muriel Grace and a visitor and 1 servant.  Indicated they were married 20 years and had 3 children all still living.

·       1939 Register: 95 Kingsley Avenue, Ealing, Middlesex (S9).  Listed as Sydney J. Harris born June 8, 1860 a retired stationer with wife Elizabeth born February 8, 1861 and 2 children: Muriel G. born June 25, 1892 a clerk Met Wales board and Stanley J. born April 19, 1898 a tennis coach.

·       Death: January 11, 1941 Brentford (S8d), listed as Sydney John Harris age 80 a proprietor of a fancy goods store who died of chromic myocarditis at 95 Kingsley Avenue, Ealing with his on Stanley J. Harris in attendance.  January 11, 1941 (S=Death Notice).

·       Burial: January 15, 1941 Hanwell (S1burial).  Listed as Sydney John Harris of Kingsley Avenue, W. Ealing age 80. (Note: the burial index incorrectly lists the burial date as January 14, 1941).

·       Death Notice: Middlesex County Times newspaper dated January 18, 1941 (S=Death Notice-Obituary available at aancestry.com).  Listed as Sydney John Harris of 95 Kingsley Avenue died on January 11, 1941 at age 81.

·       Probate: not found.

·       2nd Wife’s Death: not found.

·       2nd Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       2nd Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       Children:

1.     Constance Amy Mary Harris (1886-??).  Born:  1st QTR 1886 Brentford (S=GRO Online Index, listed as Constance Amy Mary Harris with mother’s maiden name Highland.  1891and 1901 Censuses: with father (S4).

2.     Muriel Grace Harris (1892-??).  Born:  3rd QTR 1892 Brentford (S=GRO Online Index, listed as Muriel Grace Harris with mother’s maiden name Wylde.  1901 and 1911 Censuses: with parents (S4).  1939 Register: with parents (S9).

3.     Dorothy Edith Harris (1895-??).  Born:  4th QTR 1895 Brentford (S=GRO Online Index, listed as Dorothy Edith Harris with mother’s maiden name Wylde.  1901 Census: with parents (S4).

4.     Stanley John Harris (1898-??).  Born: 2nd QTR 1898 Brentford (S=GRO Online Index, listed as Stanley John Harris with mother’s maiden name Wylde.  1901 Census: with parents (S4).  1939 Register: with parents (S9).

 

 

Avery Needle Cases with the “Melliship & Harris 111 Westbourne Grove, London” Name Stamped on Them

1.      Quadruple Golden Casket - Butterfly on Leaf: Mechanical Patent #3517 dated November 19, 1868 registered by William Avery, needle manufacturer, and Albert Fenton, machinist, from Redditch (S=British Library - Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London).

 

Designs registered and drawings and photograph copyrighted with the “Melliship & Harris 111 Westbourne Grove London” name (S=The National Archives, Key website at https://discovery. national archives. gov.uk/)

1.     Seven Class 1 metal, Class 2 wood or Class 4 earthenware design registration dated in 1882-1883: #379766 pipe rack cigar stand, #384923 for a pipe rack, #390287 for a stick rack, #403657 a front for a leather stationery case, #407278 for a tennis letter card and newspaper rack,  #407279 for a tennis ink stand, and #407381 cigar stan, spirit lays and ash tray.

2.     Five copyrighted drawings dated from December 1872 – February 1876.

3.     One copyrighted photograph dated 1873.