Thomas Harridge was christened at St Clement's Church, Leigh on Sea on 1st September 1740 (according to the Rochford Baptism Index held by the Essex Society for Family History).
On 15th October 1765 he married Susanna Gurnett at St Clement's Church.
In 1782 Thomas was admitted as a copyhold tenant of land known as Portmeed in Paglesham.
He was a very wealthy man when he died in 1827 and his will records that he left his many possessions to his surviving eight children. His properties were sold after his death and the Catalogue of Sale has survived in the Essex Record Office (reference D/DTO/E162). The sale by Messrs Chalk, Meggy & Beadel took place at the Lion Inn, Rayleigh on 16th July 1827 at three o'clock in the afternoon. There were five lots, the first being Thomas' main residence, sold for £890 to G N Prentice, described thus:
The Genteel, Modern, Brick-built residence of Thomas Harridge, Esq. deceased, situated in the most pleasant and respectable part of the Town of Rayleigh, the direct thoroughfare from London to South-End, distant from the latter about nine Miles, and from the former thirty-five Miles.
The House is upwards of 40 Feet in Front, and is Paved the whole Length; it has also a Carriage and Foot Entrance. The Ground Floor is elevated, and the Approach is by Stone Steps to a roomy Vestibule, which contains a Principal Staircase, and leads to a Drawing-Room, Dining-Room, Study, and excellent Kitchen; Butler's Pantry, Store Closet, and Dairy. Upon the First Floor are two airy Bed-Rooms in Front, and three others; upon the Upper Floor four commodious Bed-Rooms and a Store Closet.
The Principal Rooms are finished in a handsome manner, with Cornices, 6 Panelled Doors, numerous Closets; and the Whole is in a most substantial State of Repair, calculated for immediate Reception of a genteel Family.
The Out-Offices, which are also built with Brick, include a Brew-House, with Oven; a Coach-House, 3-stalled Stable, with Harness-House, and Chamber over; Coal-House, Wood-House, and Granary; a detached 3-stalled Stable, with Floor over, and a Laundry. Yard, excellent walled-in Garden, clothed with Fruit-Trees; a Kitchen Garden, Pumps of Spring and Soft Water, and every other Convenience.
In addition to the main residence, and a short distance away, there was a 2.5-acre field of pasture with a pond known as Chequer Mead; a 4-acre field of pasture a short distance from the Crown Public House in Rayleigh called Little Sweetdowns; there was a half share in a 33-acre farm known as Jackards, which was opposite the Gun Public House (in the parishes of Bowers and Pitsea); the final lot was a half share in a field known as Twelve Acres (part of Jackards Farm).