Harrisons - Birmingham

[DaveJvu]

Good evening

I am interested in finding information on a company of Birmingham Jewellers and Silversmiths.

As an avid Birmingham Silver collector for some years it is hugely amusing to discover since recently looking into my family history that my Mother's Harrisons were Birmingham Jewellers, Silversmiths, Goldsmiths, Gem setters, etc...

My 4x great Grandfather, Henry Harrison (1786) and his sons Henry (1813) and Joseph (1815) had their business at 4 Howard Street, Birmingham. Listed in the business directories of the period as "Manufacturing Jewellers and real Jet ornament manufacturers" - They also appear in the "Gilt Toy Makers" catagory as well..

My 3x great grandfather John (1820) was also a Jeweller, and various nephews all took up the trade, but I can find no hallmark identifying them - although following various marriages by female siblings, I find links to other well known Birmingham Silversmiths.. So they certainly moved and married in the Jewelry Quarter circle... and viewing the Census Reports they often lived next door to well known silversmiths, etc...

Sadly my more immediately related Harrisons took very diferent vocations - although my grandfather did work metal as a cooper and blacksmith... and I have this previously inexplicable afiliation with silver and chose to collect Brummie... Something in the genes!

Unfortunately I have not found any manufacturers hallmark, etc. to identify the Harrisons in reference books, on-line, or from a discussion with the Birmingham Mint...

I would love any pointers that would help me in this area and ultimattely would love to find something I could identify as a Harrison piece...

I wonder if ther is anyone out there who could guide me in this quest - Am I too focused on the silver side of things? Is there another system of "hallmarks" for Jewelery?

I would be extremely grateful for any advice.

Best regards

David Farrell

[dognose]

Hi David,

Welcome to the Forum.


H. & J. Harrison - Birmingham - 1858

Trev.

[DaveJvu]

Good evening Trev

Thank you for your welcome - and thank you for your response.

I had found an 1848 and 1863 Directory on CD Rom.... So you have something bang in between the dates!

The beauty of this though is that it is more of an "Advert" rather than the general single lines within the pages that I have found previously - Is this how it appears on the page you discovered?

As I posted, I would certainly be interested in learning more about the Harrisons and Jewelry marks, etc.

Any advice from this aspect would be great, as I am a complete novice regarding jewelry, other than buying bits'n'bobs for my wife on high days and holidays.. I would love to learn more relating to the art, what manufacturers of the early 1800's were producing, etc. I am a blank canvas on the subject...

Best regards

David

[silverly]

Henry Harrison was listed as a manufacturing jeweler and goldsmith at Howard Street in the 1828 Pigot's Directory.

In the 1841 Census for Birmingham on Howard St, Henry Harrison is listed as a jeweler, son Joseph is listed as a jeweler and sons John and George are listed as jeweler's apprentices.

In the 1851 Census for Handsworth, Staffordshire at 113 Mayfield House, Henry Harrison is listed as a retired jeweler and Joseph and George are still in the household and also listed as jewelers.

I don't know if this is the brother George in this advertisement, but it seemed worth adding in case someone else knows something about this business:

[dognose]

Hi David,

Yes, that was an advertisement. It was taken from 'Cornioh's Guide to Birmingham - 1858'

Trev.