Francis Harris

Posted by E Cooper on Wednesday 19th of June 2024 14:37

The Gunner Francis Harris married a widow called Sarah Bindon and had young Francis Harris in May 1797. Baptised at Chatham in June 1797. On HMS Temeraire he was entered as being 13, but was actually 8 years old. Sarah was very much alive in 1805, as she died in 1824.

Posted by Christine Williams on Thursday 29th of September 2022 23:35

D'oh. It pays to read the entire post...apologies.

Posted by Christine Williams on Thursday 29th of September 2022 23:33

Thanks very much, Cy. Most appreciated. Thing is, I know that the Francis born in 1771 was the gunner on Temeraire, and my 4xgt gf. We have his complete service record. However, there's a grave in Gorleston cemetery of the second Francis, which states that he also served on Temeraire as a boy, aged 9, born 1796. It was restored and unveiled for the bicentenary. However, as you have written, the Navy records state that he was 13. Either way, he could have been the son of Francis number 1. Had his father been widowed, which I suspect, would he have encouraged the kid to join up to serve with him? I don't know the RN protocols from back then. Cheers

Posted by Cy on Thursday 29th of September 2022 14:52

The Trafalgar Ancestors site from the National Archives give the following for the younger Francis

Francis Harris aged 13 born in Chatham, Kent, England.
Ship: HMS Temeraire

So if your date of birth of 1796 is correct for your ancestor, it ain't him.

Posted by Christine Williams on Thursday 29th of September 2022 02:47

It's long been family lore that my 3x or 4x grandfather served on the Temeraire at Trafalgar. However, the crew list in "The Fighting Temeraire" shows two Francis Harrises. One was born in 1771, listed as "gunner", the other in 1796, listed as "volunteer 1st Class". The ages suggest they could be father and son. Is that a likely scenario? I would appreciate anyone's knowledge about whether fathers and sons served together on the same ship. Very many thanks for any ideas.