Harbour or Cooper Mystery
William Harbour was Baptised on the 15th Jan 1837 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex, England. Parents recorded as Richard and Amelia Harbour.
The 1841 Census has William recorded as a 5 year old, with a 6 year old sister Amelia and parents, Richard and Amelia Living in High Street, Battle and Richard's occupation as Baker. Ten years later when William was a baker boy, we find in the 1851 Census that Richard Harbour had married a Mary Smith and 2 more girls had been added to the family. I lose sight of William for the next 15 years.....not until 1865 in the marriage Banns he is found with the names William Frederick Harbour Cooper and Tanner by trade, solemnized at St. Mary Magdalene, in the Parish of Bermondsey, to Mary King. Witnessed by his sister Amelia and her husband Richard Peeke and Father - Richard Harbour recorded as Baker.
We conclude that William had for some legal reasoning added the Sir name Cooper after finding out his family background, but retained his Harbour name. We are unable to find a marriage record for parents of William and sister Amelia. The Frederick name is possibly a brother or his biological Father, lost and forgotten to us, as we come down through the ages.
The 1841 Census has William recorded as a 5 year old, with a 6 year old sister Amelia and parents, Richard and Amelia Living in High Street, Battle and Richard's occupation as Baker. Ten years later when William was a baker boy, we find in the 1851 Census that Richard Harbour had married a Mary Smith and 2 more girls had been added to the family. I lose sight of William for the next 15 years.....not until 1865 in the marriage Banns he is found with the names William Frederick Harbour Cooper and Tanner by trade, solemnized at St. Mary Magdalene, in the Parish of Bermondsey, to Mary King. Witnessed by his sister Amelia and her husband Richard Peeke and Father - Richard Harbour recorded as Baker.
We conclude that William had for some legal reasoning added the Sir name Cooper after finding out his family background, but retained his Harbour name. We are unable to find a marriage record for parents of William and sister Amelia. The Frederick name is possibly a brother or his biological Father, lost and forgotten to us, as we come down through the ages.