In 1879, Harriet’s father left England for America, settling in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. Curiously, the 1881 England census shows him living with the family on Rugeley Road in Burntwood, Staffordshire, where he worked as a coal miner. The household included Harriet’s mother (enumerated as Bessey), Harriet herself (aged 6, scholar), Sarah J. (aged 4, scholar), Emily (aged 3), and Annie (aged 1). It is unknown whether Thomas briefly returned from America before embarking on his voyage once more.
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1881 England census |
Harriet’s grandparents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Smallman) Gutridge, lived two doors away in Burntwood on a 20-acre farm. William Richardson, a 15-year-old farmer boy, lived in the home with Samuel and Elizabeth.
On May 17, 1882, Harriet, along with her mother and sisters Jane, Emily, and Annie, embarked on a voyage from Liverpool aboard the S/S British Prince. They arrived in Philadelphia on May 28. Notably, this voyage was only the third for the ship, which had launched on February 4, 1882, and had its maiden voyage on April 12. The family settled in the Hawk Run community of Morris Township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. In March 1883, Harriet’s brother Samuel was born, making him the first child in the Gregory family to be born in America. Hawk Run, located just beyond Philipsburg (where Harriet’s father Thomas settled upon arriving in America), was an area settled by immigrants coming to America in the early 1900s. Coal mining became the primary source of employment, consistent with Thomas’ occupation. Interestingly, an unknown family member recounted that the Gregorys crossed the seas accompanied by friends. Additionally, they resided in a six-sided home on the outskirts of the town. Harriet’s parents completed their naturalization process in 1885.
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S/S British Prince ship manifest |
In 1893, Thomas relocated his family to Patton, a borough situated in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. There, he engaged in the coal mining industry until his retirement around 1921. Following the move, the family joined Trinity Episcopal Church in Patton.
Harriet and John Joseph Randall, son of John Joseph Randle and Charlotte Jones, were married by James Mellon, Justice of the Peace, on October 16, 1894 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
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Randall-Gregory marriage certificate |
The Randall family was blessed with seven children: Charlotte Mae Randall, Ernest Randall, John Thomas Randall, Ethel Randall, Samuel Randall, Wilfred James Randall, and Robert Clair Randall.
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List of Harriet’s children, as recorded by Harriet herself |
Trinity Episcopal Church played a central role in their lives. Except for Robert, six of the children were baptized there between 1895 and 1905. Mae and Ernest were confirmed in 1908, but later, in 1910, they departed from the congregation.
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Trinity Episcopal Church baptism records |
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Trinity Episcopal Church confirmation records |
On June 20, 1900, Harriet and her family resided in Carroll Township, Cambria County. Harriet, along with her husband John (aged 32, born in England in August 1867), had been married for five years. The census enumerator noted that Harriet was the mother of three living children. John worked as a coal miner, having immigrated to America in 1893 and became a naturalized citizen in Pennsylvania. Both Harriet and John were able to read, write, and speak English. The Naturalization Docket in Cambria County confirms that John was indeed naturalized on August 28, 1900.
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John Randall in the Cambria County, Pennsylvania naturalization docket |
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Harriet |
On April 25, 1910, Harriet and her family lived in a rental home in Blandburg Village, situated in Reade Township, Cambria County. Their family had grown, with six children in total. The youngest, Wilfred, was just five years old. The oldest three children—Mae, Ernest, and John—were able to read and write. All except for Wilfred were attending school. Meanwhile, John had risen to the position of foreman at the coal mine.
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Harriet’s son John and her daughter Mae |
On May 11, 1915, Harriet gave birth to their sixth child in Sonman, a community within Portage Township. They named him Robert. Sadly, at just seven months old, Robert passed away on January 4, 1916. His cause of death was acute gastric dilatation, an exceptionally rare condition where gas and fluid accumulate rapidly in the stomach, causing it to expand significantly. This condition, which he endured for two days, put immense pressure on his organs and affected blood flow. The family laid Robert to rest at Prospect Cemetery in Portage on January 6.
Harriet’s sister, Anna, passed away in East Carroll, Cambria County, on May 11, 1918, due to lobar pneumonia. She had been suffering from the illness for eight days. Anna was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Patton, Cambria County on May 14.
During World War I, Harriet’s son, Ernest, served his country from March 12, 1918 to June 12, 1919. His service took him overseas, where he spent just over ten months amid conflict. When Ernest returned home near the end of the war, Harriet was the designated emergency contact on the passenger list. She resided in Sonman at the time.
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Ernest’s wife Bessie (Simmers), Harriet, and son Ernest |
On January 2, 1920, the Randall family resided in a rental home on Official Row in Portage. The census enumerator noted that Harriet immigrated in 1892 (it was 1882) and John in 1893; both were naturalized in 1890. Four of their children still lived at home—Mae (aged 24), Ernest (aged 22), Ethel (aged 18), and Wilford (aged 14). Everyone in the household was able to read and write, with only Ethel and Wilford attending school. John served as the foreman in the coal mines, while Ernest held the position of assistant foreman. Samuel, the rope rider, had the essential yet dangerous task of riding coal cars into and out of the mine. Meanwhile, the two daughters, Mae and Ethel, were both rural school teachers.
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Harriet’s son Samuel, Harriet, and Samuel’s wife Anna (Johanna Stager) |
By April 25, 1930, Harriet and John found themselves as empty nesters, their children having left home. Yet, family remained close by. They resided in a rental home at Patton and Reiley Roads. Their neighbors were Harriet’s brother, Henry, along with his wife Sarah, and their sons, Harry and Thomas. Next door to Henry lived Harriet and Henry’s parents, Thomas and Betsy (Elizabeth) Gregory. A short walk away (seven houses), resided Harriet’s other brother William, along with his wife, son, and daughter. The census enumerator noted (correctly) that Harriet immigrated to America in 1882 and John in 1893. At age 63, John continued to work as a foreman in the coal mine.
Tragedy struck just under a year later. On March 7, 1931, Harriet’s mother, aged 76, succumbed to a stomach hemorrhage, the result of a gastric ulcer. Her death was sudden, occurring within 24 hours of onset. Betsy was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Patton, Cambria County on March 10. Tragedy struck once more on March 23, 1934 when Harriet’s daughter, Ethel, aged 33, passed away in DuBois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The cause was volvulus of the ileum—a condition where part of the small intestine twists upon itself, causing a blockage. Ethel’s life was cut short, her death occurring at Maple Avenue Hospital in DuBois within two days of onset. She was laid to rest at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on March 26, leaving behind her six-month-old son, William Jr. The decade came to a somber close with the passing of two important figures in Harriet’s life: her brother William, and her father, Thomas. William’s death eerily mirrored their mother’s—gastric hemorrhage resulting from a gastric ulcer claimed his life on June 2, 1939. He had battled the illness for two weeks before succumbing. William was laid to rest on June 5 at Fairview Cemetery in Patton. Meanwhile, Harriet’s father, Thomas, passed away on October 31, 1939, while staying at Ella’s (Nellie’s) home in Akron, Ohio. Like his wife and son, Thomas was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Patton. His obituary hailed him as a pioneer in the coal mining sector of Northern Cambria County.
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Harriett and her sisters Nellie (Ella), Lucy, and Florence |
On April 5, 1940, Harriet and John resided in East Carroll Township in Cambria County. Thomas had finally retired from his work at the coal mine. Harriet’s brother, Henry, lived next door with his wife, Sarah, and their son, Harry. Both Henry and Harry worked as laborers in the coal mine. Tragically, within two months, Harriet became a widow on May 30, 1940. John’s death occurred in East Carroll Township due to cerebral apoplexy, which resulted from chronic inflammation of the myocardium (heart muscle) over a 10-day period. Harriet served as the informant on John’s death certificate. He was laid to rest at Prospect Cemetery in Portage on June 2.
After John’s passing, Harriet relocated to Nutter Fort, where she resided on Maryland Avenue alongside her daughter Mae. Her time was divided evenly: six months in Nutter Fort and the remaining six months in Pennsylvania with her other children.
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Harriet’s daughter Mae (Randall) Dudley, Harriet, and Harriet’s granddaughter, Jean (Dudley) Murphy |
On April 11, 1950, the census enumerator discovered Harriet residing with Mae and James on Maryland Avenue in Nutter Fort. James held the position of a grocery store manager, while Mae was his partner.
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Harriet and Mae |
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Mae and Harriet |
Harriet’s brother, Henry, passed away at Miners Hospital of N.C. in Spangler, Cambria County, on October 7, 1952. Like his mother and brother William, the cause of death was acute gastric hemorrhage contributed by a gastric ulcer. Henry had suffered from this condition for one year before his passing. Harriet’s other brother, John, passed away in East Carroll, Cambria County, on April 19, 1955, due to chronic bronchial asthma compounded by chronic myocarditis. John had battled this illness for 19 days before his passing. Both were laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Cambria—Henry on October 11, 1952, and John on April 22, 1955.
Harriet passed away at Mae’s home in Nutter Fort on December 21, 1957. Her burial took place at Prospect Cemetery in Portage on December 23, 1957, following a service at Bethany Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church, officiated by Reverend James A. Woomer. Harriet was survived by her daughter Mae, sons Ernest, Sam, John, and Wilfred, brother Thomas, and sisters Emma, Jenny, Nellie, Florence, and Lucy. Additionally, she left behind 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
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Funeral card for Harriet |
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Photo by B. Felix, Find A Grave member 48565277 (permission granted on Find A Grave profile) |
The photos of Harriet and her family were taken by my husband’s uncle, Ralph Murphy. To see others from his collection, click here.
References
- Betsy Gregory, Certificate of Death no. 27934, E. Carroll Township, Cambria County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1931.
- Burntwood, Staffordshire, England census, 1881.
- Clarksburg, West Virginia, City Directory, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955.
- Ernest Randall, Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917–1919, 1934–1948.
- Ernest Randall, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910–1939.
- Ethel Randall Walthour, Certificate of Death no. 27174, DuBois, Clearfield County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1934.
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94975115/thomas-gregory: accessed May 27, 2024), memorial page for Thomas Gregory (18 Mar 1851–31 Oct 1939), Find a Grave Memorial ID 94975115, citing Fairview Cemetery, Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by Albert Ledoux (contributor 46511171).
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94974850/betsy-gregory: accessed May 27, 2024), memorial page for Betsy Gutridge Gregory (13 Feb 1855–7 Mar 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 94974850, citing Fairview Cemetery, Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by Albert Ledoux (contributor 46511171).
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94975124/william-gregory: accessed May 28, 2024), memorial page for William Gregory (13 Jan 1886–2 Jun 1939), Find a Grave Memorial ID 94975124, citing Fairview Cemetery, Patton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by Albert Ledoux (contributor 46511171).
- Gregory/Randall family tree, handwritten by Harriet Gregory Randall, provided by Jean Dudley Murphy.
- Harriet E. Gregory and John Randall, 1894, Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1852–1968.
- Harriet Eliz Randall, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669–2013.
- Harriet Elizabeth Gregory, Staffordshire, England, Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes, 1837–2017.
- Harriet Elizabeth Randall funeral card, 1957.
- Harriet Elizabeth Randall, West Virginia, Deaths Index, 1853–1973.
- Harriet Gregory, Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1798–1962, Philadelphia, 1800–1882.
- Henry C. Gregory, Certificate of Death no. 84776, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1952.
- John B. Gregory, Certificate of Death no. 31443, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1955.
- John Randall, Certificate of Death no. 48408, E. Carroll Township, Cambria County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1940.
- John Randall, Naturalization Docket, Cambria County, vol. 9, Court of Common Pleas (Cambria County) Pennsylvania.
- Mrs. Anna Simmons, Certificate of Death no. 56051, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1918.
- Mrs. Ethel Walthour, obituary, The Indiana Gazette, Indiana, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1934.
- Mrs. Harriet Randall obituary, newspaper unknown, 1957.
- Robert Clair Randall, Certificate of Death no. 6696, Portege, Cambria County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1916.
- Rope Riders Mining Footage, ScholarWorks, CWU Libraries; https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/roslyn_history/90/.
- S/S British Prince, American Line, Norway-Heritage Hands Across the Sea; https://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=brpr1.
- Thomas Gregory, obituary, Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1939.
- Thomas Gregory, Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1798-1962, Philadelphia, 1883¬1945
- Throwback Thursday: Hawk Run: A Long-Ago Railway Thoroughfare, Clearfield County Historical Society, September 2, 2021; https://gantnews.com/2021/09/02/throwback-thursday-hawk-run-a-long-ago-railway-thoroughfare/.
- U.S. Federal Census, Carroll Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 1900.
- U.S. Federal Census, East Carroll, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 1930, 1940.
- U.S. Federal Census, Nutter Fort, Harrison County, West Virginia, 1950.
- U.S. Federal Census, Portage, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 1920.
- U.S. Federal Census, Reade Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 1910.
- William Gregory, Certificate of Death no. 55279, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1939.
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