37. James and Harriett Larard of London and Canada

James Larard was born in 1810 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex in 1810. His parents were Francis and Elizabeth Larard.

Harriett Cassandra Little was born in in 1806 in Lambeth, Surrey. Her parents were William and Charlotte Little.

For the first time, I'm able to add a photo of our ancestors (thanks, Helen).

James Larard

Harriett Larard

James and Harriett were married in 1836 in Brentford, Middlesex.

They had seven children:

• 51.1.1 - Helen Larard (1838)
• 51.1.2 - Francis Larard (1840)
• 51.1.3 - Henry Larard (1841)
• 51.1.4 - Reginald Larard (1843)
• 51.1.5 - Laura Larard (1844)
• 51.1.6 - Frederick Larard (1846)
• 51.1.7 - Sydney Larard (1848)

More on these individuals in Chapter 51.

In 1841, they are at 7 New Bridge St, Kennington (now Upper Kennington Lane), Lambeth. At this time, Lambeth was still in Surrey but soon to be incorporated in the Metropolis. James is described as a watchmaker. The low number of this address might suggest that it was close to the old Vauxhall Bridge and the river. That is one bridge down from Lambeth Palace, and St Mary's Church, already mentioned in Chapter 10 and Chapter 12.

Bridge St, Kennington (credit)

Lambeth Palace and Church of St Mary (my photo)

By 1851, James has taken on an apprentice. By 1861, they are still in Kennington but are at 7 Stockwell Terrace, which is quite grand, and still there. James is listed in modern and contemporary directories. I couldn't find an example of his work but I'm told (thank you!) that we do have one of his clocks in the family (see photo below).

In 1868, James caught the SS Bellona to New York, bound for Canada. The Bellona, incidentally, was wrecked in Georgia, carrying cotton to Bremen, in 1889.

Oshawa (credit)

James set up shop in King St, Oshawa. Oshawa started as a transfer point for the fur trade. What was a village of 1000, surrounded by farms, in 1841, became an industrial centre. A carriage works opening in 1876 became the MacLaughlin Motor Car Company, which became General Motors Canada in 1918.

In 1872, two burglars, who were sent to Penitentiary for breaking into Larard’s Jewellery store. The 1869-70 Ontario County Directory carried this ad:

JAMES LARARD from London, England. At King Street, Oshawa.
IMPORTER AND MANUFACTURER OF CLOCKS, WATCHES AND JEWELRY 

London made Lever Watches of the Best workmanship, IN GOLD AND SILVER CASES. 18 & 22 Carat Gold Wedding Rings and Keepers. London made Gold Chains, Alberts, Lockets, Brooches, Earrings, Scarf Pins, &co. Extensive assortment of  Spectacles and Eye Glasses, also Colored Glasses. A large stock of Double Crystal Watch Glasses, first imported into Canada. French and American Clocks. Every Description of Chronometers, Duplex Lever and Verge Watches repaired in a superior manner. 

The Public are Invited to Inspect the $20 Lever Watch, in Stout Sterling Silver Cases, the Cheapest Watch in Canada.

At some point, James returned to South London. But in 1871 Harriett is shown as 'married' at 20 Somerleyton Road, Brixton, Lambeth with her children, a servant, lodger and two visitors. From the coming of the railway in the 1860s, Brixton had been transformed from an undeveloped area into a middle-class suburb. This part of Brixton was redeveloped in the late C20.

James Larard (London) Clock

Harriett died in 1879, somewhere in Lambeth. James re-married in 1882 in Gravesend, to Martha Pattison. They were together at 75 Singlewell Road, Gravesend in 1891, with James having retired. This is a more modest terrace. After Martha died, James went into lodgings; he died in Gillingham, Kent in 1903.

In 1906, Geraldine Mitton in her Fascination of London perambulation observed that: "Clerkenwell has always been the centre of the watchmaking trade, of late years, owing to the introduction of machine-made watches, a decaying trade."

Next (Siblings of James Larard)