Harriet Purkis, born 18th February 1787 at Portsea, Hampshire

[ElizabethHerts]

I'm trying to find more information on this woman. According to a family register, she died in November 1854.

She was the child of John and Sarah Purkis and was baptised at St Mary, Portsea on 21st February 1787.

There is another Harriet Purkis born a couple of years later, but my Harriet could have married William Brook or Brooks in 1807:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=s2%2fgbprs%2fportsmouth%2f007907178%2f00 054&parentid=gbprs%2fportsmouth%2fmar%2f00024582%2f2

This couple had a couple of sons:

William Henry Brooks bapt. 19th May 1809 at St Mary Portsea
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=s2%2fgbprs%2fportsmouth%2f007907183%2f00 182&parentid=gbprs%2fportsmouth%2fbap%2f00076355
George Brooks bapt. 9th June 1811 at St Mary Portsea
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=s2%2fgbprs%2fportsmouth%2f007907183%2f00 241&parentid=gbprs%2fportsmouth%2fbap%2f00079246

I need to find them to confirm or disprove the connection to my Harriet Purkis.

[kiterunner]

There is no Harriet Brook/e/s of the right age coming up in the Oct-Dec 1854 deaths on the GRO site.

[kiterunner]

There is a William Henry Brooks marriage 2 Feb 1868 at St Mary Lambeth to Julia Anne Mitchell:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1623/31280_198718-00364/3938615?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fgst%3d-6&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

He is 56, a widower, shipwright, father William Brooks, shipwright. She is 46, a spinster, father Peter Mitchell, deceased, mariner. Witnesses Sarah Margaret Archer and W R Goldsmith.

[kiterunner]

But that doesn't look like the right William Henry, since his birthplace on the 1861 census is New Brompton, Kent:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/8767/SRYRG9_388_389-0272/6525716?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fgst%3d-6&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks for looking. I had noted those entries. I'm wondering if the family emigrated.

[Merry]

Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973:

Charles Robey married 11 Nov 1829 at Soberton, Hampshire to Harriet Purkis or Curtis.

1851 Census:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbc%2f1851%2f0006647227

Charles Robey Head Married 58 1793 Small Farmer b Soberton, Hampshire
Harriet Robey Wife Married 62 1789 - b Portsea, Hampshire, England

ROBEY, HARRIET aged 66
GRO Reference: 1854 D Quarter in DROXFORD Volume 02C Page 82

[ElizabethHerts]

Ooh, thanks, Merry! I'll have a look (just popped in from the kitchen).

[ElizabethHerts]

I knew I had a reason for doubting the marriage to William Brooks was her.

When her brother Samuel Purkis married in 1826 Harriet was a witness and she was unmarried:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=s2%2fgbprs%2fportsmouth%2f007907187%2f00 165&parentid=gbprs%2fportsmouth%2fmar%2f00051816%2f1

[ElizabethHerts]

1841 Census:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbc%2f1841%2f0387%2f0401&parentid=gbc%2f1841%2f0013507499

and Charles and Harriet Robey have a Sarah Purkis with them.

[ElizabethHerts]

This Sarah Purkis is one I was looking for! She is the daughter of Harriet's brother Charles Purkis and was baptised 25th March 1827. She is missing from the census with her parents and brothers in 1841.

[Merry]

This Sarah Purkis is one I was looking for!

Oooh, that's good! :)

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks for your help, Merry. Charles and Harriet didn't have any children, but Charles was a widower so Harriet would have been busy with his children by his first wife Sophia.