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Archiver > ISLE-OF-WIGHT > 2005-05 > 1117254382


From: "Janice Doughty" <>
Subject: Brading-Isle of Wight.
Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 14:26:22 +1000


Good morning Listers,

This is a long story I know, though it is a good read and covers a lot of history on the Isle of Wight and of the times the Harrison family lived. If you read through it, you may find the names of ancestors that you are researching, as the Harrison family ran an Academy at Brading on the Isle of Wight, and took in boarders. Many of their boarders went on to Sandhurst, into the Ministry, and Medical fields.

Since I last posted a query to the List some time back, regarding the Harrisons of Brading, I have found out so much more. I am hoping that someone on the List may be able to throw some more light on this family, as in their time on the Isle of Wight, one would think they were well known.

James and Ellen Harrison (nee Beaver), moved from Manchester either in the late 1830s or early 1840s to "Hill House" Brading, with their children who had not yet married and left home.

In March of 1846, the 3rd daughter of James and Ellen Harrison, young Frances Esther Harrison of "Hill House"Brading, married Major Samuel Tolfrey Christie at Brading on Isle of Wight, the marriage was performed by the groom's brother, the Rev. John Frederick Christie the Vicar of Badgeworth, Gloucestershire. Back in July of 1835, Samuel's brother Major William Harvie Christie and Frances's older sister Ellen Harrison, had married in Manchester Cathedral and sailed to Australia.

In February, 1848, another daughter of James and Ellen Harrison, Emily Mary Harrison of "Hill House" Brading, married the Rev. Dunbar Isadore Heath, the brother of Admiral Sir Leopold George Heath.

James Harrison, with his youngest daughter Margaret Harrison, established an Academy on the Isle of Wight, instructing students in Ancient and Modern Languages at their home "Hill House" and took in students as boarders. It appears they were mostly children of Military men of the 80th Foot Regiment and the students were in their mid teens. The majority of the children were born in India.

In the 1851 Census at their home and school at Brading, are James and his wife Ellen Harrison, their daughter Margaret a teacher at the college and unmarried, also with them was another daughter Ellen Christie (nee Harrison) visiting from Australia, with her 13 year old son William Beaver Blayney Christie, born Liverpool, Sydney Australia (a British subject) and a student at his grandfather's Academy, and there were also two other students and two servants.

Sadly, Ellen Christie (nee Harrison), never returned to Sydney, Australia to her husband, retired Major William Harive Christie and their three other children, as she died at Alton in Hampshire at 39 years of age. William Beaver Blayney Christie, Ellen's eldest son at the time of her death, had been accepted into Sandhurst Military College, where we would continue on with the Christie tradition, after passing his exams, being accepted into the 80th Foot Regiment, the Regiment of his father and his uncle.

Ellen Harrison, James' beloved wife, died in the September quarter of 1855 and is buried in the church graveyard at Brading. In letters that survive today, James wrote to his nephew Dr.James Bower Harrison at Higher Broughton in Manchester, telling him of his broken heart and how he felt the great loss of the love of his life, his dear wife Ellen.

At the time of the 1871 Census, the widower, James Harrison was 70 years of age, and Margaret his daughter was 41 and still unmarried. They are still taking in students as boarders, and their granddaughter Ellen Francis Christie 15, was born on the Isle of Wight in the same year her parents, Samuel Tolfrey and Frances Esther Christie (nee Harrison) where married in 1846.

Also, attending the Academy where four Moberly brothers all born in India,
Arthur b. 1846,
Herbert b. 1855 (went on to become a Surgeon at Altershop, Hampshire),
Henry and
Walter maybe twins both b. 1857
and there are also Julia Erassman and
Paul B Duff.

I was wondering if the Moberly brothers are related to George Moberly, in some way. Maybe he was their uncle, as their father would have had to be in the Military or working for the East India Company for the boys to have been born in India:-

"...George MOBERLY:- Headmaster of Winchester until 1866, when he became Rector of Brightstone, Isle of Wight, and soon afterwards a Residentiary Canon at Chester Cathedral. No more than a year passed before he was consecrated Bishop of Salisbury, where he remained until his death in 1885..." George Moberly was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1803 were his father was Minster of Religion.

James Harrison, the Head Master of the Academy at Brading, Isle of Wight died in the June quarter of 1867 and he is buried with his dear wife Ellen at Brading. Margaret Harrison, their still unmarried daughter continued to run the Academy, after moving out of "Hill House", to her new home "Audley" at Sandown on the Isle of Wight.

In the 1871 Census, Margaret, still a Spinster aged 51, and is living in High Street, Brading at "Lyndey House", with her pupils. Her occupation is given as Receiver of Private pupils and she is aged 51. She has six scholars as boarders and they are,

Lucy H Butcher born Newport Isle of Wight,
Alice M L and Matilda E.J. Fox, both born NK, India,
Annalph S, Evelyn F and Thomas B A Montgomery, born Almondahd, Burid Chee and Poomak, respectively in India.

Margaret Harrison eventually did marry. She married in 1875, the local curate Charles Dearsley. Charles was at least 16 years younger than Margaret. In the 1881 Census, Margaret is living with her husband, the Rev. Charles H Dearsley and her 30 year old unmarried niece Francis CHRISTIE (the daughter of Samuel Tolfrey and Frances Esther Christie) at the Vicarage House, in Bishopstone, Sussex, England.

If there is anymore information regarding this family I would very much appreciate any snippets. Also, if the graveyard where the Harrisons are buried is still in existance and if so, what condition are the gravestones?

Regards,
Janice
Belrose - Sydney
Australia





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