Thomas Harmer1

M, #5541, b. 22 February 1835, d. 24 August 1892
FatherRobert Harmer1 b. 13 Mar 1803
MotherMargaret Cable1 b. 11 Mar 1809, d. Mar 1886
Relationship1st cousin 4 times removed of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited19 Sep 2022
Baptism*22 February 1835 Brinton, Norfolk;son of Robert & Margaret Harmer, Chandler1 
(Son) Census 18416 June 1841 Brinton, Norfolk;Robert Harmer, 35, Labourer, In County
Margaret Harmer, 30, In County
John Harmer, 8, In County
Thomas Harmer, 6, In County
Mary Harmer, 3, In County;Wife=Margaret Harmer, Head=Robert Harmer2 
Marriage Bann*17 September 1854 Brinton, NSW, Australia;
Banns of Marriage between
Thomas Harmer Single man of this Parish
and Alice Matilda franklin of this Parish
1st Time, Sunday Sepr. 3d 1854 by Augustus Dashwood
2nd Time, Sunday Seprt 10th by Augustus Dashwood
3rd Time, Sunday Sepr. 17 by Augustus Dashwood1 
Marriage*1854 Brinton, Norfolk;Principal=Alice Matilda Franklin1 
Immigration*7 March 1855 "Norman", Port Adelaide, SA, Australia;
“Norman” from Southampton 4 Dec 1854, arrived Port Adelaide 7 March 1855
Thomas Harmer, 19, Agr. Labourer, Erpingham Norfolk
Alice Matilda (Franklin), 21,, Erpingham Norfolk
;Immigrant=Alice Matilda Franklin3 
Death of MotherMarch 1886 Brinton, Norfolk;age 78;Principal=Margaret Harmer4 
Will*29 April 1892 Bundoora, VIC, Australia;
The last Will and Testament of Thomas Harmer of Janefield in the Colony of Victoria Farmer.
I will and direct that all my just debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses be fully paid and satisfied.
I will and bequeath to my Dear Wife Alice Matilda Harmer the whole of my Worldly estate for her sole use and benefit subject to the payment of the sum of Two hundred pounds Sterling to my son Franklin to give him a start in life as given his two brothers the said Two hundred pounds not be paid him should he have received it or its equivalent from me or my estate for that purpose during my lifetime
I hereby appoint my wife Alice Matilda Harmer and my son Thomas Harmer to be executrix and executor respectively of this my last Will and Testament
Witness my hand this 29th day of April 1892
Thos Harmer
Signed in our presence at Bundoora on the above date
Wm Emms
My Emms
Witnesses5 
Death*24 August 1892 Janefield, VIC, Australia;
Name: Thomas Harmer
Date of Death: 24th August 1892
Place of Death: Janefield, Shire of Whittlesea, County of Bourke
Occupation: Farmer
Sex: Male
Age: 57 years and 28 weeks
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Brinton, Norfolk, England
Time in Aust Colonies: 2 years in South Australia and 24 years in Victoria

Father: Robert Harmer
Occupation: Laborer
Mother: Margaret Harmer M. N. Cabel

Place of Marriage: Brinton, Norfolk, England
Age at Marriage: 20
Name of Spouse: Alice Matilda Franklin
Children of Marriage: Mary Ann Franklin 36, Celia 32, Maria 31, Thomas 29, Robert George 26, Franklin 24, Margaret Alice 23, Charlotte 21, Edith 19, Anne 17, Alice dead, Eliza dead, George dead
Informant: Thomas Harmer, Son, Janefield

Cause of Death: (a) Apoplexy (b) Coma
Length of Illness: 6 months
Medical Attendant: Dr W. C. Wilkinson
Date Last Seen: 6th August 1892

Date of Burial: 27th August 1892
Place of Burial: Coburg Cemetery
Minister & Religion: Reverend Ralph Pearson, Wesleyan
Undertaker: John Allison
Witnesses: Albert Kearney and Joseph Taylor6 
News-Arct*2 September 1892 "The Evelyn Observer", Melbourne, VIC, Australia;
MORANG.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
DEATH OF MR. THOMAS HARMER, J.P.
Death has again been busy in this part of our district, this time having claimed for its prey our esteemed and respected friend and neighbor, ex Councillor Harmer, at the comparatively early age of 57 years. As your readers will be aware of, for some time the deceased gentleman has been in failing health, and on Wednesday week last he breathed his last at his residence, Janefield, Plenty road. Mr. Harmer came to South Australia somewhere about the year 1854, and after a residence of two years in Adelaide came to Victoria, where for a time he engaged in brickmaking at Brunswick; not succeeding as well as he wished in Brunswick, he next tried his luck at the Kangaroo Ground, where he dwelt for some time, as usual gaining the good-will and esteem of the people of the district, being for some time a councillor of the Eltham Shire. After a time Mr. Harmer turned this attention to the supplying of milk to the city, and changed his abode to Northcote, where he resided for some time and carried on an extensive milk business in conjunction with a like business he also conducted at the late Mr. Cooper's farm at Bundoora. His operations as a milk producer were carried on at a substantial profit at the places mentioned. Latterly the deceased gentleman rented the Janefield estate, where he died. The increased value of land at Northcote having necessitated his giving up his farm there, and a son of Mr. Cooper's wishing to have the farm at Bundoora, Mr. Harmer was compelled to look out for a fresh home, which he found at Janefield; but in his new home he was met by considerable difficulty in making the farm pay, as it was very full of weeds and pasture that affected the taste of the milk, but with his usual pluck he put a stout heart to a "stay brae," as the Scotchman says, and would, had he been spared a little longer, have, I have no doubt, converted his present holding into a profitable farm. Mr. Harmer informed met that he lost a considerable amount of money through speculating during the land boom, and this no doubt tended to aggravate his illness and make him unable to bear up against it. Some ten years ago Mr. Harmer was elected a councillor in lieu of Councillor Willis, who retired from the Council of the Shire of Whittlesea. From the time he was elected up till the late elections he retained his seat as a councillor of the Shire of Whittlesea, and was without doubt one of the best councillors who ever sat in the above council; homely and plain spoken, with a style and manner peculiarly his own, fluent of speech, conciliatory in manner even with those with whom he differed, with a far seeing intelligence he would discuss and deal with any subject before the council, and I am sure none will be found to differ with me when I say it will be long before we meet with his like again. A better colleague, a truer friend, or more sterling neighbor it would be hard to find, and we have the testimony of his most intimate friend, the Rev. Ralph Brown, that a truer husband, a more affectionate father, or diligent follower of our Saviour was not to be found. Mr. Harmer was also a prominent and active member of the Victoria Agricultural Society, and was for some time a member of the Royal Agricultural Society, where he was very much esteemed for his good qualities and ability. He was also a very prominent member of the Wesleyan Church, being a local preacher in connection with that body, and a tower of strength to the church in this district; his loss will be severely felt by the church to which he belonged, also to the Presbyterian Church at Janefield, which he also assisted. Mr. Harmer leaves a widow and ten children to mourn his loss, the family being all grown up, the eldest son, Thomas, now being a shire councillor in his father's place. The deceased gentleman's funeral took place on Saturday last, when about 150 persons attended to pay the last tribute of respect to one whom when in life they liked so well. At the grave in the Coburg Cemetery, by the express wish of the deceased, the 23rd psalm was read and that beautiful hymn, "Jesus, lover of my Soul," sung. The Rev. Ralph Brown paid a deep tribute of respect to his intimate though now departed friend, and said that through his life he had seldom met his equal and certainly never his superior as a man and a christian. The reverend gentleman was deeply affected while delivering his address at the grave, and there were but few dry eyes among the large assemblage gathered there. Peace to his ashes! Let us emulate his career, and so meet him in a brighter and better land than this weary world of sorrow and care; let us ponder over the life of Thomas Harmer, who from humble beginning fought his way up in life, and after serving his God and his country faithfully and well died universally beloved and respected, thus showing that virtue, truth, and honor will reap their reward even at times in this sinful world of ours, and certainly it will in the world to come.7 

Family

Alice Matilda Franklin d. 23 Oct 1915
Children

Citations

  1. [S1407] Brinton Parish Registers.
  2. [S1243] 1841 Census for Brinton, Norfolk.
  3. [S1297] The Ships list.
  4. [S288] Free BDM.
  5. [S1800] Ancestry Victoria Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009, online https://ancestry.com, Thomas Harmer 1892.
  6. [S14] Death Certificate, Thomas Harmer 1892.
  7. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Evelyn Observer, Friday, September 2, 1892.
  8. [S1696] Findmypast South Australia Births 1842-1928 Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Mary Ann Franklin Harmer 1855.
  9. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Eliza Harmer 1857.
  10. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Alice Harmer 1858.
  11. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Celia Harmer 1859.
  12. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Maria Harmer 1861.
  13. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Thomas Harmer 1863.
  14. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, George Harmer 1864.
  15. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, George Robert Harmer 1866.
  16. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Franklin Harmer 1867.
  17. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Margaret Alice Harmer 1869.
  18. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Charlotte Harmer 1871.
  19. [S1712] Findmypast Victoria Births Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Edith Harmer 1873.
  20. [S9] Birth Certificate, Annie Harmer 1875.