From a transatlantic friendship to a global family

UK Branch

The United Kingdom branch of the Harmer Family Association was established in 1977 alongside the US branch, the two coming into being through the remarkable transatlantic correspondence between co-founders Dale Harmer in Washington State and Stanley John Harmer in England. The first Harmer family reunion was held on 9 September 1978 at Haremere Hall in Etchingham, East Sussex — a landmark gathering of some 120 Harmers that set the association on its way. Following the untimely death of Stanley John Harmer shortly after that first reunion, a dedicated group of researchers — Brian and Tony Harmer of London and Michael and Ronald Harmer of Worthing, West Sussex — stepped in to keep the fledgling association alive, accomplishing an immense amount of research into the Harmer family at a critical moment in its history.

From those Sussex origins, the UK branch's research has expanded considerably, now encompassing the Harmers of Norfolk, Gloucestershire, and many smaller family branches from across the country and beyond. Working alongside its sister branches in Australia/NZ and the United States, the UK branch contributes to a shared body of knowledge that continues to grow. A computerised database now holds upwards of 50,000 Harmer records, built up over decades through the collective efforts of members across all three branches.

The UK branch produces the HFA Newsletter, which has been the lifeblood of the association since its earliest days. Gill Price, the current secretary of both the association and UK Branch, has been involved in the newsletter for over 20 years and is currently the editor. She has brought dedication, warmth, and continuity to a publication that connects Harmer descendants across the globe.

Australian and New Zealand Branch

The Australian and New Zealand branch of the Harmer Family Association was formed in May 1983 with nine foundation members, bringing together descendants of one of the most distinctive chapters in Harmer history.

Over the years, a substantial historical records collection has been built up, much of it contributed by members who have generously shared their family stories and precious memorabilia with the association. This unique archive includes over 1,200 documents — among them newspaper clippings, certificates and photographs that paint a vivid picture of Harmer life across the region.

A database detailing over 4,000 Harmers in Australia and New Zealand is available to members, with entries spanning from the Harmer convicts who arrived in the early 1800s through to contemporary Harmers contributed by members today. This rich regional collection sits alongside, and complements, the extensive records held by the UK and US branches — a testament to what the three branches can achieve together.

USA Branch

The American branch of the Harmer Family Association was established in 1977, its roots stretching back to the English county of Sussex and forward across generations of Harmer descendants who made their lives in the New World. From its earliest days, the US branch has played a central role in the association's story — and today it remains a vital and active part of the global HFA family.

The American branch has continued to grow steadily in the years since. Under the stewardship of Secretary Deborah Dalton, who has led the branch since 2009, membership has expanded with the strongest representation in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.

The Harmer families found across the United States trace their origins almost entirely to England. The Pennsylvania Harmers — the largest known Harmer family in the US — descend from George Harmer, a Quaker from Wiltshire who arrived in Philadelphia before 1690, with recorded descendants now numbering upwards of 3,550 individuals. The majority of other US Branch members are descended from a Sussex family, rooted in Matthew Harmer of Brightling, who emigrated to America in 1849 and whose descendants spread across Minnesota and beyond.

The American branch remains an active and cherished part of the global HFA family, connected by shared English roots and a passion for uncovering the stories that the Harmer name carries with it.