Harpers would make up corsets for customers with the materials bought from Robert Sayles next door. Sayles imported silk from Singapore and had a wide choice of fabrics. The Harper, Sayles and Gray families all worshipped at St Andrews church. (according to 2021 email from G.Worth)
1841: unnumbered
Joshua Harper, 30, stay maker
May, 35
Rosina, 11
Emily, 10
Harriet, 5
Charles, 7
Henry, 3
Clara, 2
Mary Ann, 6m
Read Harper, 4
Ann Paul, 25, stay maker
Mary Sheppard, 20 stay maker
Grace Hopson, 20, servant
1851: unnumbered
Joshua Harper, 44, staymaker, b London
Mary, staymaker
Rosina, staymaker
Emily, 20, staymaker, b Cambridge
Harriet, 18, staymaker, b Cambridge
Charles, 17, carver, b Cambridge
Rosa, 14, b Cambridge
Henry, 12, b London
Clara, 11, b Cambridge
Mary Ann, 10, b Cambridge
Joshua, 8, b Cambridge
Ann Paul, wifes sister, 39, stay maker, b March
Anne Sheppard, 32, staymaker, b London
Mary Ann Plum, servant, 18, b Balsham
Charles West, lodger, 24, scholar Emmanuel College, b Oxon
1861:
Joshua Harper, master staymaker, 1 man 24 girls
Mary, 60, staymaker
Rosina, 30, staymaker
Henry W, 22, printer compositor
Clara A, 21, staymaker, b Cambridge
Mary Ann, 20, staymaker, b Cambridge
Joshua, 18, homeopathic chemist, b Cambridge
Florence Oliver, grand daughter, 1, b Dominica
Sarah Moss, 30, servant, b Kneesworth
1871:
Joshua Harper, 64, staymaker employing 20 women and 2 girls, b London
Mary, 70, stay maker, b March
Rosina, 41, stay maker, b Middlesex
Clara, 34, stay maker, b Cambridge
Florence Oliver, grand daughter, 11, b Boston USA
Mary Ann Burbush, 37, assistant stay maker, b Cambridge
Elizabeth Burbush, 29, assistant stay maker, b Cambridge
Louisa S Brown, 29, assistant stay maker, b Suffolk
Louisa Andrews, 26, cook, b Suffolk
Harriett Radford, 18, housemaid, b Oakington
1881:
Joshua Harper, 74, corsetmaker, b London
Mary, 80, corsetmaker, b March
Rosina, 51, daughter, corsetmaker, b London
Constance Olliver, 19, granddaughter, apprentice staymaker, b London
Florence Brown, 26, apprentice staymaker, b Sussex
Susan Clayton, 26, cook, b Horningsea
1891:
Emily Oliver, 60, ladies outfitter, b Cambridge
Mabel Oliver, 22, artist sculptress, b Cambridge
[signed her work M Oliver Rae to disguise the fact she was a woman. produced a number of etchings of Cambridge.]
Mary A Wade, 45, housekeeper, b Warboys
Maud F Gregg, 22, assistant, b Cambridge
Jane Laurie, 20, servant, b Cambridge
1901: ?
1911:
Henry Wiles, 72, retired fine art sculptor, b Cambridge
Clara Louisa, stay corset and dress maker, b London
Ruth, 38, stay corset and dress maker, b London
Rosina Mary, 26, musician teacher, b Cambridge
Louisa Eva, niece, 37, dressmaker, b London
Elizabeth Ann, sister visitor, no occupation, b Cambridge
Olive Mary Parker, 24, confidential clerk miller, b Cambridge
Gertrude Northrop , 21, servant, b Harlton
Mabel Bessie Smith, 18, servant, b Cambridge
http://histonroadcemetery.org/graves/cambridgelives/johnandhenrywiles/
1913:
Harper and Oliver, corset maker
A monograph by Gill Rushworth on Harper and Oliver:
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