Hornby Steer Collection

This collection contains deeds, letters and papers relating mainly to the Harrison family.

This small collection, consisting of some 90 deeds and 400 letters and papers, dated 1678-1891, was presented [a gift by W.R. Hornby Steer, M.A., L.L.B., to the Central Library, Birkenhead, and transferred to this repository with Mr Steer's approval on 8th April, 1954.

The records mainly concern the family of Harrison, whose members were prominent in the affairs of the City and of the unreformed Corporation. John Harrison, who died in 1786, was a yeoman holding small leasehold properties in and near Aldford. His son, William, a grocer and ironfounder in Chester, became an Alderman and was Mayor in 1795-6. Some of the records relate to the training and the medical practice of another son, Job, who set up as "Surgeon-apothecary and man midwife" in Chester in 1777. Much of the material relates to George and William, two of the sons of Alderman William Harrison. George, joint-owner of the Roodee Iron Foundry and Paper Mills, was Mayor in 1824-5, William, curate of Holy Trinity, Chester, for nine years in the early nineteenth century, then passed through a long succession of uncongenial curacies, which he described in his letters to George. He also made pungent comments on the affairs of the Corporation.

George Harrison b. 1 April 1778 d. 1866 Mayor of Chester 1824 and 1831

George Harrison of Chester, surgeon, b. 29 March 1777 d. 24 December 1863. Mayor of Chester 1833-5

Cousins.