The birthday book of Kathleen Harmer, born Kathleen James, identifies Rufus William Harmer as her step-father.

In the 1861 census for Upper Sheringham, Norfolk, England, Rufus W Harmer 9, b ca 1852, scholar, was with his parents Thomas and Mary A Harmer and his siblings Samuel 21, Joshua 13, Hannah 11,Robert 7, Adam 5 and Thomas 13 months, all born in Sheringham and living in Workhouse Yard, Upper Sheringham.

In the 1871 census for Stretton, Cheshire, England, Rufus was a 20 year-old servant , b ca 1851 in Sheringham, in the home of William and Mary Tickle. Also presentin the farm were the couple’s 1 month old daughter Mary, William’s sister Ann. William was a farmer of 65 acres and employed four men and a boy. These servants were present on census night: Thomas Beasley 19, William Hardey 21 and Rufus Harmer 20, all farm labourers and general labourer Thomas Stubby 14. 100

The marriage of Rufus Harmer and Elizabeth Annie Wilkinson was registered in the Oct-Dec qutr 1880 in Erpingham, Norfolk Vol 4b P 167

In the 1881 census for Sheringham:
Rufus HARMER who was an agricultural labourer, aged 29, head of a household in Sheringham. He was born in Sheringham ca 1852 and had a wife Elizabeth aged 35, no occupation, born in North Elmham, Norfolk.

In 1891 census there were two families in Ivy Lodge in Upper Sheringham. One dwelling in the lodge had Rufus W Harmer, 40, head, an agricultural labourer, Elizabeth A Harmer, 46, his wife and William J Harmer their 8 year-old nephew, a scholar. Rufus and his nephew were born in Upper Sheringham, Elizabeth was born in Holt, also in Norfolk.

Elizabeth died in late 1895 having given birth to a son called Arthur who also died.

Rufus married Katherine Couchman on 22 Dec 1898 in Sheringham and her 5 year-old daughter Kathleen took the surname Harmer.

In 1901 census: for Upper Sheringham, Norfolk.
Rufus Harmer, head, 50, Ordinary Agricultural Labourer, b Sheringham, Norfolk ;
Kate Harmer, his wife, 48, b India;
Kathleen Harmer, daughter, 7, b Hoxton, London 33