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Harben Family Chart #1.
Last Updated April 2008.

Biographical Details:

Emily Harben
Born, 26 September 1814, Grove Road, London.
Christening, 28 March 1832 (at the same time as her sisters, Caroline, Ellen, and Charlotte)
Married, Andrew Davidson Young, 26 June 1838 at the Carter Lane Chapel, London, UK
Died, 13 May 1888, Westport, NZ

On her marriage entry in 1838 her address, and witness P H Harben, is recorded as being 9 John Street (presumably in London) and the other witness Ellen Harben as living at Camberwell.

She appears on the 1841 UK Census as living at 3 Springfield Terrence

See Andrew Davidson Young for details of their children

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Biographical Details:

Henry Harben
Born 1770, Lewes.
Married, Mary Woodgate, 28 November 1791, Lewes.
Died, 11 October 1831.

Given the number of (and later prominence of their descendants) it is surprising that little is known of Henry Harben. What is known is that he was a brewer in Mile End, London and later a wholesale cheesemonger (and maybe a grocer) in Whitechapal, London.

According to "The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland: Being a History of the House of Commons" (available in full from Google Books), we learn, while describing the 'disgusting scene of profligacy' of Thomas Harben (Henry's father), that "his next care was to procure the office of warehouse-keeper of the stamp office in London, with a salary of 200 (pounds) per annum for his second son, which he was allowed to hold as a sinecure, and to continue his residence at Lewes."

Henry grew up in Lewes, and sometime between 1798 and 1803 relocated to London. The reason for the move is unclear; his father was still very much alive, successful, and as politically active as ever. Henry at this stage would have been in his late twenties / early thirties and already had five children and presumably was quite settled in Lewes.

Once in London, Henry Harben showed little of his fathers interest in politics. Although he did have some form of relationship with the London Hospital.   He appears in 1818 as a member of the House Committee (The Times, 23 Oct 1818, page 2), and again in 1828, as a Steward of the London Hospital Accumulating Fund on the occasion of the Friends of the London Hospital dinner - which I assume is some kind of fund raiser activity  (in the Times, 2 June 1828).

We can follow his cheese-mongering career from the records of the Old Bailey, London, as prosecutions for the theft of his cheeses (and other small goods), reached court many times from 1813 to 1828 (and of his son's trading from the same premises in 1832).

• 1813, theft of three cheeses being the property of William Larking and Henry Harben - cheesemongers in Whitechapel. (ref: t18130407-136)
• 1825, theft of a cask of butter (80lbs), the goods of Henry Harben the elder, and Henry Harben , the younger. They are listed as "cheesemongers, and live in High-street, Bloomsbury." (ref: t18250113-41)
• 1825, theft of 2 lbs of bacon. (ref: t18250915-203)
• 1825, theft of 3 lbs of bacon, the shop is described as "Mr. Harbens' shop, opposite to St. Giles church" (ref: t18251208-117)
• 1826, more bacon
• 1828, bacon again (it appears it's displayed in the front window and easy to grab).

Henry dies 'in business' (which I assumes means he did not retire) on 11 October 1831. He was buried at the Hackney Parish Churchyard.

Henry & Mary Harben had 18 children

Mary Elizabeth Harben Christened 17 September 1793, St Anne's, Lewes, Sussex

Henry Harben, Born about 1793, christened 17 August 1795 at St Anne's, Lewes, Sussex. Married Sarah Andrade (1798-1870), the daughter of Benjamin da Costa Andrade, a Whitechapel merchant of Portuguese Jewish descent. He continued in his father's cheese trade, and was his partner in a cheesemonering firm in the 1820s. By 1830 he was in a partnership with William Larking. Around 1830 Henry left the family to live with Mary Anne Roberts, with whom he had two more children. He went bankrupt in 1835. He died in 1868. More on this branch can be found here. They had seven children of which four survived childhood, including:

• Sir Henry Harben

  Henry Harben, Sir, (b., 24 August 1823. d., 2 December 1911)
  Known as the Napoleon of insurance. Developing the British Prudential Insurance Company into one of the pioneer commercial marvels of the 19th century. In 1885 the company had 12,096,885 policies in force (nearly a third of the total population in the UK) along with 14,000 agents and 3,400 medical referees.
  He worked for his uncle, Charles Henry Harben, in the Whitechapel stores for several years, after which he was articled to a surveyor. On 1 August 1846 he married Ann (d. 1883), daughter of James Such; his two surviving children:
  • Mary Woodgate Harben born 1874. Married name Wharrie,
  • Henry Andrade Harben, born 1848, director and chairman of the Prudential, and author of A Dictionary of London (1917), married Mary Frances James, he died 18 August 1910. Their son, Henry Devenish Harben, 1874-1967) supplied much of the Harben family information in Sir Austen Chamberlain's 1915 book Notes of the families of Chamberlain and Harben.
• Benjamin Harben, who ran a wholesale business, Harben & Co, Swan Lane, London.
• Two more children

Robert Austen Harben: (2nd son). Christened 4 January 1797, St Anne's, Lewes, Sussex. Died of consumption on 16 August 1820, age 23. Source: The Times of London newspaper (18 Aug 1820 page 4)

above, Caroline Harben, drawn at the time of her marriage in 1835

above, Caroline Harben, in 1859

above, Camberwell Grove

above, Charlotte Augusta Harben, painted around 1846

Susanna Maira Harben, Born 16 June 1785, Christened 27 June 1785, St Thomas in the Cliffs, Lewes, Sussex. It is assumed she died before 1803

Louisa Harben Christened, 4 May 1798, St Anne's, Lewes, Sussex.

Frederick Harben, Christened 14 September 1803, Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London

Susanna Maira Harben, Christened 14 September 1803, Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London

Edward Harben, Christened 14 September 1803, Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London

Charles Henry Harben born about 1805 in London (based on his age given in the 1851 and 1861 Census returns), married Anne, 26 April 1837 in Derby. He is listed as a Cheesemonger of Whitechapel in 1842 (London Gazette, 25 January 1842) and as a Provisions Merchant in the '51 & '61 census returns. Known to have had four children:

• Frederick Harben (b, abt 1845)
• Alfred Harben (b, abt 1846)
• Catherine Harben (b abt 1847)
• Lucy Harben (b, abt 1849)

Caroline Harben, (the ninth child) born, 25 July 1808, Christening 28 March 1832 (yes, 1832 - not a typo). Died, 20 August 1875, married 26 March 1835, to Joseph Chamberlain (1796-1874).
Joseph Chamberlain was the master of the Cordwainers' Company and father to:

• Joseph Austen Chamberlain, Sir Austen, (1863-1937), Chancellor of the Exchequer, Leader of the Conservative Party, Foreign Secretary, Finalised the Locaino Treaty, a mutual agreement between GB, Germany, France, Italy and Belgium to settle disputes by peaceful means - for which he shared a Nobel Peace Prize with the US Vice-president. The Locaino Treaty, while totally ineffective in preventing WW2, served as a foundation for the United Nations.
• Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) English Prime Minster.
  

Sophia Harben, born before Charlotte Augusta Harben and died about 15 or 16 years of age.

Cecilia Harben, died in childhood

Charlotte Augusta Harben, Born 23 July 1810. Christening 28 March 1832 (yes, 1832 not a typo). Married Edward Bailey. More on this branch can be found here.

Susan Harben, married Edward Bailey (she died and he re-married Charlotte Augusta Harben - her sister)

Emily Harben, born 26 September 1814 and died 1888. Married Andrew Davidson Young.

Ellen Harben, Born 19 November 1816, Christened 28 March 1832. Died 1879. Married, about 1845, Stanton William Preston. According to census returns 1851,61,71 & 81 he was a wholesale druggist. Known to have had three children:

• Ellen Preston, (b, abt 1847)
• Edith Preston (b, abt 1849)
• Jessie Preston (b, abt 1851)

Thomas Henry Harben

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Biographical Details:

Thomas Harben
Born, 1736, Lewes, Sussex
Married, 1766, Elizabeth Playstead (of Jevington)
Died, 1803, Isleworth

Watchmaker, Silversmith, Maltster, Shopkeeper, Banker, Bankrupt, Agent and advisor to the Duke of Newcastle, Bailiff of Seaford, Jurat, Magistrate for the County of Sussex, and Ironmonger.

Right, a portrait of Thomas Harben, painted about 1770.

Oldest son of Thomas Harben, a clockmaker of Cliff, near Lewes. Thomas Harben followed his father's profession - although he advertised his services as a watchmaker and silversmith (described as such in 1764).

The book, 'The Spanish Prize', by Joan Astell states; "As a younger man he was on intimate terms with the Duke of Newcastle who had considerable property in and around Lewes, and acting as his confidential agent and adviser involved himself actively in borough elections."

He married in 1766, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Henry Playstead, a yeoman of Jevington. She is described in the Sussex Advertiser’s notice of the marriage as ‘a very agreeable young lady with a handsome fortune.’ She was born in 1746, she died in 1805.

Below: Elizabeth Harben (nee Playstead) painted around 1770.

The Duke of Newcastle died in 1768. But, Thomas continues the same relationship with his successor, Thomas Pelham - who dies in 1805.

By 1773 he is advertising to buy light gold coin. This suggests that he was successful and either making more expensive time-pieces or other precious metal items or simply trading in such items.

Around 1782 he went into banking in partnership with Thomas Pelham and Bannister Flight to form The Lewes Bank. This is followed by the Brighton and [in 1791] Horsham Banks.

Around 1782 he pays the Land Tax on Corsica Hall - which is still in Wellingham. At this stage Corsica Hall has probably been empty for around a decade. I guessing that this purchase is really only for the building materials - perhaps an irresistible bargain?

Listed in 1784 (although, this entry could have been purchased several years previously) in the Bailey's British Directory as "distributor of stamps, duty & taxation agent, silver smith, and jewellery & precious metals manufactory."

It is unclear when he buys land in Seaford, but to participate in the local politics he rents West House (still standing, in Pelham Road) and on 29 September 1785 he is elected a Freeman of Seaford.

It is assumed that that process of dismantling Corsica Hall, then transporting the bricks and building materials to Seaford, and then reassembling them takes much of the period 1782 to 1786. It is unlikely that the work was done continuously as the laborers appear to have a dual role in this period - completing the work and as votes controlled in local politics. It is quite possible that there was a financial (and certainly a political) benefit to Thomas Harben in when laborers were employed.

Below, drawing of Corsica Hall, after being relocated to Seaford

On 18 September 1786, the Sussex Advertiser and Lewes Journal reports:

“Last Friday Mr. Harben of this place gave an election dinner at his new house in Seaford to the electors of that town in the interest of the Government and who supported, in the latest contest, Mr. Flood. A fat buck was dressed on this occasion and the restoration of harmony and friendship was celebrated by several songs suitable to the cause of the meeting”

In 1790 Thomas took the oath of Jurat and on 29 September 1790, elected as the town's Bailiff (roughly equivalent to role of a town's Mayor).

In 1793 all three of his banks stop payment. Thomas places all his assets with the receiver and with the assistance of some major lenders to the banks all debts are paid in full.

In November 1794, Thomas Harben is 'commissioned' Bankrupt in the London Gazette. This is not supported by his creditors and is superseded.

I have not yet resolved the exact circumstances of Thomas Harben’s “reversal of fortune.” His banks did stop payment. It appears that this was a cash flow problem and that the bank assets where larger than liabilities – leading to the bank’s creditors eventually being repaid. Of Thomas’s personal bankruptcy things are, however, less clear and appear disputed.

Later (undated) he is described in Christian Life Exemplified:

"The Mr. Harben whose reverse of fortune is here referred to, [his bank's stopping payment in 1793] was in the early part of his life considered a man of strictly religious character; but rising afterwards to affluence and a more elevated station in society, his habits and pursuits underwent that change which is too commonly attendant on worldly prosperity, though in consequence of his generous disposition, his dignified person and pleasing affability of manners, he was still looked up to and beloved by many. He was at one time on terms of intimacy with the Duke of Newcastle, who had considerable property in and about Lewes, and during a part of the year resided at a seat of his in the neighbourhood.
‘The interest that the Duke felt in political affairs induced him to take an active part in the borough election, in which Mr. Harben was his confidential agent and adviser; and though this sometimes created him enemies, it secured him a degree of patronage and influence which he occasionally turned to good advantage for the public as well as himself."

In 1796 he is elected the town's Bailiff, again. And, in the same year his eldest son, Thomas Henry Harben, becomes a Sussex Magistrate.

In 1801 he is elected the town's Bailiff, for the third time.

In 1803, he dies at the house of his son-in-law, the Rev. Edward Langford, in Isleworth.

An account of his life and in particular the public fight with Sir Godfrey Webster over his appointment as a magistrate is covered in Austen Chamberlain's "Notes on the families of Chamberlain and Harben".

An unflattering account of his political approach (and success) is covered in "The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland: Being a History of the House of Commons" which can be read in full on Google Books.

Thomas and Elizabeth Harben are believed to have had 13 children:

Thomas Henry Harben, 1768-1823. Eldest Son. Married, Jane Durrand on 29th September 1790, she was the daughter of John Durrand, the former MP for Seaford - Jane died 8 Jan 1858 aged 84 - (making 1770 her likely birth year). He managed the sale of Corsica Hall around 1812. He was a Seaford magistrate and the captain of the Seaford Cinque Port Volunteers. Listed in the Sussex Weekly Advertiser as having obtained General Certificates for killing of Game in the County of Sussex with an address of Seaford - Monday 18 September 1809. Lived at Deans Place near Seaford from early 1800s till his death in 1823. Known to have had at least four children:

• Thomas Henry Harben, Christened 11 March 1792, Seaford, Sussex.
• William Frederick Harben, Christened 14 January 1794 in Seaford and died 8 April 1815 - buried at St Clements in Hastings.
• Emma Harben, Christened, 22 June 1795, Seaford, Sussex
• Jane Harben, Born 1 May 1797, Christened 29 May 1797, Seaford, Sussex

Henry Harben. 1770-1831 - second son.
Listed (with his brother Thomas Henry Harben, above) in the Sussex Weekly Advertiser as having obtained General Certificates for killing of Game in the County of Sussex with an address of Seaford - Monday 18 September 1809.

Elizabeth Harben, born 14 August 1771, Christened 2 June 1772 at St Thomas in the Cliffs, Lewes., married Edward Harvey 1 Feb 1794, St Michael, Lewes, Sussex. The announcement of their marriage appears in the Freemason's Magazine, where Edward's occupation is described as "Adjutant-General of all the Land Forces". And, in The Universal Magazine, as Edward Harvey, esq, of Twickenham - February 1794. He was listed as 'Lieut-General Hon Edward Harvey' while in the role of Governor of Portsmouth from 1773 to 1778. I have not spent much time on this branch, but already it is clear that Edward Harvey was very senior in the military at the time of his marriage - advisor to King George III (before he went mad), he appears in works about the American Independence (as the UK based General giving orders to English troops around 1776), and his family includes Admirals in the Navy - of the same era but active against the French.

Mary Harben, born 11 April 1774, Christened 26 January 1775 at St Thomas in the Cliffs, Lewes.

Susan (Susanna) Harben, born 16 June 1785. Christened 27 June 1785 at St Thomas in the Cliffs, Lewes. Died February 1848, "dear old aunt Sue" who did not marry and became matron of the Clergy Daughter's School at Kirkby, Lonsdale. This was the school Charlotte Bronte was sent to and, according to "Notes on the families of Chamberlain and Harben", Matron Harben was apparently the model for the Matron in "Jane Eyre". The picture to the right of Susan Harben is from "Notes on the families of Chamberlain and Harben".

Sophia Harben, born 28 February 1776, Christened 29 Aug 1781 at St Thomas in the Cliffs, Lewes. Married Edward Langford at Saint Michael, Lewes, 31 December 1793. Their marriage record descibes him as a Clerk in the Eaton Company, in Bucks. According to The history and antiquities of Syon monastery, the parish of Isleworth, and the Chapelry of Hounslow, by George James Aungier, and published in 1840; Edward Langford., M.A, is appointed the vicar of the Church of Isleworth in 1801. But, before 1806 he is bankrupt and has to pass on the role of curate. Edward dies on, or before, 1822.

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Biographical Details:

Thomas Harben
Baptised, 1711 in Southover, Lewes, Sussex
Married twice, second marriage was to Mary Gatland, 6 March 1738, Portslade, Sussex
Died 1766, Lewes, Sussex, England

Thomas Harben was a Clockmaker in Cliff, near Lewes, in Sussex. He was apprenticed in June 1724, at the age of 14, for seven years, to Thomas Barratt, a clockmaker of Lewes.

There is reference to Mary Gatland being his second wife - with whom he had all his five children. I can find no record of his first wife. I doubt he devoiced (despite Henry the 8th this was still a very rare occurrence) and it is likely she died - perhaps of small pox as this was still common. Mary Gatland was the daughter of Gerhard Gatland, yeoman of South Malling part of Lewes].

He lived in Cliff, near Lewes, as far as I call tell he did so for all his adult life. His clock dials simply state:

HARBEN
LEWES CLIFF

Some of the Harben Clocks survive and can be viewed here. Another is in the museum of the Sussex Archaeological Society at Anne of Cleves House, Lewes.

His son, Thomas Harben, also became a 'watchmaker and silversmith" - perhaps effectively apprenticed to his father - and was listed as such in 1764 (when he would have been 28 years of age). This son soon moved into other ventures (see above) and it appears that another son continued making Harben clocks until around 1810.

In 1766 he died, and his will, proved in 1767, left to his loving wife Mary “all that my messuage or tenement and premises with appurtenances in the Cliffe aforesaid now being in my own occupation…”

It is understood that Thomas and Mary had five children:

• Thomas Harben. 1736-1803 (the oldest son)
• James Harben (alive in 1786) a 'Hatter' (literally the manufacture of hats) and is listed as such for Lewes, in the Universal British Directory / Gentry and Traders 1793 - 1798. A possible son, James Harben, appears in the records, born about 1777 and in 1790 is listed in in the Pauper Apprenticeships for the Lewes Parishes, as being apprenticed at the age of 13, to Alexander Bridges, a Mariner of Lewes.
• Probable son, Charles Harben, who marries Mary Welch, 6 March 1753 at All Saints. Lewes, Sussex

Nympha Americana and Corsica Hall
It is reported, in many places, that this Thomas Harben came into good fortune on the wreck of the Spanish ship "Nympha Americana". Which was blown ashore on the Sussex coast in December 1747 between Birling Gap and Cuckmere. And, that he used the proceeds to relocate Corsica Hall to Lewes.

The evidence collected by Joan Astell and published by the Seaford Museum as 'The Spanish Prize' in 1972, shows that it is highly unlikely that Thomas Harben had any benefit from this wreck - his will only lists Cliff property. And, that there was no Harben involvement in Corsica Hall until 1782, some sixteen years after Thomas Harben's death.

Below: A watercolour bird's-eye view of the town of Lewes in (East) Sussex and 'the Cliffe with the adjacent country taken from Baldry's Garden in the Cliffe' drawn in 1785 by S.H. Grimm.

Below, the Lewes Bridge 1782.

Biographical Details:

Charles Harben
Married, Mary Cheeseman, 4 May 1703
Died 1731

According to the Sussex Marriage Records he was a maltster, of Southover, and Mary Cheeseman was from Ringmer, Sussex. At some point after 1724 they settled in Cliffe in Lewes. Mary dies in 1723.

Charles and Mary Harben are known to have had the following children:

• Charles Harben, born about 1703/4, married Hannah Hammond, 26 October 1725, Sussex. According to their Marriage Licence he was a Maltster of Cliffe and she a spinster from Lewes.
• Mary Harben, Christened, 8 June 1705, St. John the Baptist, Lewes, Sussex
• Thomas Harben, Baptised, 1711 in Southover, Lewes, Sussex

While nothing is yet known of Charles Harben's parents, according to Sir Austen Chamberlain's 1915 book Notes of the families of Chamberlain and Harben the Harben's believed that they originated from Somerset and then migrated to Sussex in the 17th Century. It is hard to gauge the likelihood of this being correct as this book has on closer investigation not been very accurate on this generation of the Harbens. Certainly, there are appearances of Harben's and Cheeseman's in the parish records around Lewes dating back to 1596.

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