HARRIS, Henry ‘Len’
Born 15 March 1877; Died 18 November 1918; Buried 20 November 1918; age 40
Henry was born on 15 March 1877 in Greytown, Wairarapa, eleventh child of James William HARRIS and Mary Jane SHEWBRIDGE. Henry’s birth was registered as Henry Harris, but through the records there are a number of variations, including Henry Lenza Monty or Henry Lenza Monk Harris.
His father James was born in 1839 in Somerset, England and died in 1877 in Greytown. He married Jane on 24 May 1855 in central Wellington. Jane was born around 1834 and died in 1922 in Carterton.
Their children were Sarah Jane (b1859); Jonah b1861; Stephen b1863; Charlotte b1864; Elizabeth Eleanor b1870; William Joseph b1871; Katie b1872; John Thomas b1873; Eliza Phoebe b1874; Walter Le Burn b1875; Henry b1877; Frances Mary b1878.
Their son Henry married Judith Sarah LEPPER (known as Julia Sarah) on 23 September 1903, in Newtown. His wife was born in 1882 in Wellington, daughter of John Thomas Lepper and Suzannah Elizabeth HARVEY. She had 6 siblings. (Judith’s parents are buried in Karori Cemetery.)
Henry and Julia’s first daughter, Doris Evelyn, was born in 1904 but died in 1912; another daughter, Ida Violet, was born in 1905 but died at the age of 14 weeks. Their first son, Henry Leonard, was born in 1908 and died in 1988; another son William John was born in 1910 and died in 1930. Their third daughter, Eileen May, was born in 1913 and died in 1985.
In 1905 the family was living at 26a Vivian Street, later they moved to Rintoul Street, and then Adelaide Road. In the electoral rolls of the time, Henry Snr is listed as a driver, possibly working with his brother Walter, another driver.
Sons Henry and William were enrolled at Berhampore School on 2 May 1916, transferring from Newtown School.
In the 1917 New Zealand Army Reserve Roll, their father is listed as a driver living at 5 Palm Grove, Berhampore. He did not see active service and became unwell with influenza in 1918, dying at his home on 18 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 20 November.
The Evening Post on 19 November published the death notice:
HARRIS – On the 18th November, 1918, at his residence, No 5 Palm Grove, Henry (Len) Harris, beloved husband of Julia Harris; deeply regretted.
Also the Wairarapa Age on 3 December 1918 published a notice:
The death occurred at "Palm Grove," Wellington, on November 18th, of Mr Len Harris, a brother of the late Mr John Harris, of Greytown. Deceased resided in Greytown for many years.
Henry’s nephew Walter William James Harris also died of influenza a month later, on 16 December 1918, and was buried in Karori Cemetery. Walter was the son of Walter Snr, brother of Henry Snr.
In 1925 Julia married Charles GOODAY and they lived in Petone, along with Julia’s son William. Julia died in 1948 and was buried in Karori Cemetery with Henry. Charles lived until 1972 and was buried in Levin.
The family headstone reads:
William 'Bill' beloved son of Julia and the late Henry 'Len' HARRIS
died 3 Feb 1930 in his 20th yr.
In Loving Memory of Henry 'Len' beloved husband of Julia HARRIS
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 40 yrs.
Also of Doris dau of the above died 18 Feb 1912 aged 8 yrs.
Judith Sarah HARRIS beloved wife of Charles GOODAY
Widowed 22 Jul 1948 aged 65 yrs.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Henry’s grave information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 151 N
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand New Zealand Army World War 1 records – www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Index for school records
Born 15 March 1877; Died 18 November 1918; Buried 20 November 1918; age 40
Henry was born on 15 March 1877 in Greytown, Wairarapa, eleventh child of James William HARRIS and Mary Jane SHEWBRIDGE. Henry’s birth was registered as Henry Harris, but through the records there are a number of variations, including Henry Lenza Monty or Henry Lenza Monk Harris.
His father James was born in 1839 in Somerset, England and died in 1877 in Greytown. He married Jane on 24 May 1855 in central Wellington. Jane was born around 1834 and died in 1922 in Carterton.
Their children were Sarah Jane (b1859); Jonah b1861; Stephen b1863; Charlotte b1864; Elizabeth Eleanor b1870; William Joseph b1871; Katie b1872; John Thomas b1873; Eliza Phoebe b1874; Walter Le Burn b1875; Henry b1877; Frances Mary b1878.
Their son Henry married Judith Sarah LEPPER (known as Julia Sarah) on 23 September 1903, in Newtown. His wife was born in 1882 in Wellington, daughter of John Thomas Lepper and Suzannah Elizabeth HARVEY. She had 6 siblings. (Judith’s parents are buried in Karori Cemetery.)
Henry and Julia’s first daughter, Doris Evelyn, was born in 1904 but died in 1912; another daughter, Ida Violet, was born in 1905 but died at the age of 14 weeks. Their first son, Henry Leonard, was born in 1908 and died in 1988; another son William John was born in 1910 and died in 1930. Their third daughter, Eileen May, was born in 1913 and died in 1985.
In 1905 the family was living at 26a Vivian Street, later they moved to Rintoul Street, and then Adelaide Road. In the electoral rolls of the time, Henry Snr is listed as a driver, possibly working with his brother Walter, another driver.
Sons Henry and William were enrolled at Berhampore School on 2 May 1916, transferring from Newtown School.
In the 1917 New Zealand Army Reserve Roll, their father is listed as a driver living at 5 Palm Grove, Berhampore. He did not see active service and became unwell with influenza in 1918, dying at his home on 18 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 20 November.
The Evening Post on 19 November published the death notice:
HARRIS – On the 18th November, 1918, at his residence, No 5 Palm Grove, Henry (Len) Harris, beloved husband of Julia Harris; deeply regretted.
Also the Wairarapa Age on 3 December 1918 published a notice:
The death occurred at "Palm Grove," Wellington, on November 18th, of Mr Len Harris, a brother of the late Mr John Harris, of Greytown. Deceased resided in Greytown for many years.
Henry’s nephew Walter William James Harris also died of influenza a month later, on 16 December 1918, and was buried in Karori Cemetery. Walter was the son of Walter Snr, brother of Henry Snr.
In 1925 Julia married Charles GOODAY and they lived in Petone, along with Julia’s son William. Julia died in 1948 and was buried in Karori Cemetery with Henry. Charles lived until 1972 and was buried in Levin.
The family headstone reads:
William 'Bill' beloved son of Julia and the late Henry 'Len' HARRIS
died 3 Feb 1930 in his 20th yr.
In Loving Memory of Henry 'Len' beloved husband of Julia HARRIS
died 18 Nov 1918 aged 40 yrs.
Also of Doris dau of the above died 18 Feb 1912 aged 8 yrs.
Judith Sarah HARRIS beloved wife of Charles GOODAY
Widowed 22 Jul 1948 aged 65 yrs.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Henry’s grave information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 151 N
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand New Zealand Army World War 1 records – www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. New Zealand Society of Genealogists Kiwi Index for school records