So good to hear from you. I calculate that we are fourth cousins once
removed. I have a fairly full history from Isaac (b 1791 or 1792). I
also have down as far as Sidney Harrington, your grandfather, but there
my information stops. I have been researching for three years and I now
have just over 600 in my tree, but of course not all of them would be
close enough to interest you.
The connection to Camilla has been a great help as there has been a
lot of professional research into her ancestors, much of which was
published on the web. Unfortunately the main site has now been removed
but I had the foresight to take a paper copy before it went. Camilla's
grandmother, Margot Harrington and my father Charles Harrington were
first cousins - their fathers were brothers - so Margot was my first
cousin once removed. Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand who died in
2006 was my second cousin, which makes Camilla my second cousin once
removed.
I. too, have visited Great Maplestead. I know of Theophilus Harrington
but can't find the connection. But given that Harrington's lived in the
area for hundreds of years they are all inter-related in some way. The
situation with the vicarages in GM was confusing because there were two
parishes. St. Giles was the parish church of GM parish and it had a
vicarage next to the church. However, there was another vicarage in GM
and this was where the Harringtons lived. Within GM stood the "Diocesan
House of Mercy for Fallen Woman", a home set up by the diocese of
Rochester, Kent, where single mothers could be sent away to the wilds
of Essex to have their babies. Often they would remain there as inmates
for years. Because it was owned by Rochester diocese it did not form
part of the surrounding St. Giles parish. Instead it had its own
church, St. Mary's, with its own vicarage. This building still remains
as Vicarage House. The old House of Mercy has long since disappeared
but the Coach House, next door to Vicarage House remains. It was here
that Isaac Harrington (b. 1791/2) worked as coachman.
I will happily share with you all that I have discovered and hope that
you will return the favour. There is far too much to pass through this
web site. If you want contact me direct at
duncanharrington@tiscali.co.
uk
