HARRISON, Walter Evans
Walter Evans Harrison was born at St Pancras, London in 1864, son of Robert Harrison (1834–1877), a draper’s assistant, and his wife Juliana née Chapman, who married at St Pancras in 1861. In 1871, 6 year old Walter was living at 26 North Street, Taunton, Somerset, with parents, 37-year-old Robert and 28 year old Juliana and three siblings Arthur Chapman 8, Jessie 4 and Edith Marion 2. In 1881, Walter was a 16 year old bookseller, living at 2 Park Villa, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset with his widowed mother and siblings Arthur, Edith and another sister Alice Elizabeth 5 and were still living there in 1891 when Walter is described as a stationer. He left a bookselling business in Abergavenny to take over as manager of the Ipswich bookselling business for Frederick Pawsey at The Ancient House, 34 Butter Market, Ipswich and, on Pawsey’s bankruptcy in June 1897, Harrison, in October that year, purchased the business from the trustees. In 1901, a bookseller & stationer, living at 15 Park Place, Ipswich with his mother and his grandmother and his sister Edith. He married at the Congregational Church, Boston, Lincolnshire on 10 October 1903, 31-year-old Jessie Porter (31 May 1872-20 December 1945) youngest daughter of William Porter, a bank manager, and his wife Mary Elizabeth née Jackson. In 1911, 46-year-old Walter was living at 51 Fonnereau Road, Ipswich with his 38-year-old wife Jessie, born in Lincolnshire with their two sons Cedric Evan (14 August 1904-1993) and Leslie Ivor (9 April 1909-1987), both born at Ipswich but by 1921 they had moved to Horley, Crane Hill, London Road, Sproughton just outside Ipswich. Walter was an honorary member of the Ipswich Art Club 1909-1933 but does not seem to have exhibited. Walter Evans Harrison was of Horley, London Road, Sproughton when he died in his office at the Ancient House on 1 November 1933, leaving a widow and two sons, his estate was valued at £23,816. (Copsey-Ipswich Book Trades. 2010).