According to his granddaughter Denise Anne Michael née Laidman, James Harper Laidman was a ship’s architect working for John I. Thornycroft in Southampton (Vosper Thornycroft since the merger in 1966). Thornycrofts built corvettes, frigates and fast patrol craft. This is borne out by the presence of the company at his funeral (see below). However, he was born in Northumberland, and he must have moved to the South of England sometime after 1891 (after a stay in Belfast, where his daughter Norah Kathleen was born in 1889). The marriage certificate to Hannah Head shows his age as 22, putting his birth in 1851. His profession is here already mentioned as "Iron Ship Builder". Witnesses to the marriage were James Sharpe and his sister, Jane Laidman.

1851 Census Returns HO107/2412 folio 228 page 14
Town of Hartley, Northumberland
William Laidman, head, married, 41, Master Taylor 2 Apprentices, born Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Mary Laidman, wife, 37, born Hartley, Northumberland
Thomas Laidman, son, 11, scholar, born Hartley, Northumberland
William Laidman, son, 10, scholar, born Hartley, Northumberland
Jane Laidman, daur. 6, scholar, born Hartley, Northumberland
J. Harper Laidman, son, 4, born Hartley, Northumberland
J. Glensly Laidman, son, 2, born Hartley, Northumberland
James Harper Laidman, son, 2 months, born Hartley, Northumberland
Elizabeth Softly, servant, unmarried, 15, House Servant, born Hartley, Northumberland

1861 census return: RG9/3840 folio 23 page 41
7 Sidney St, Tynemouth
William Laidman, Head, Mard, 51, Tailor, born Northd. Newcastle
Mary Laidman, Wife, Mard, 47, do’s wife, born Northd. Hartley
Jane Laidman, Daur, Unmd, 16, born Northd. Hartley
George Laidman, son, Unmd, 12, Scholar, born Northd. Hartley
James Laidman, Son, Unmd, 10, Scholar, born Northd. Hartley
Ann Isabella Laidman, Daur, 8, Scholar, born Northd. Hartley
Margaret Laidman, Daur, 3, born Northd. Hartley

1871 census return: RG10/5114 folio 50, page 75.
23 William Street, North Shields
William Laidman, head, married, 61, Tailor, born Newcastle upon Tyne
Mary Laidman, wife, married, 57, born Northumberland, Hartley
Jane Laidman, daughter, unmarried, 26, born Hartley
George G. Laidman, son, unmarried, 22, Printer/Compositor, born Hartley
James H. Laidman, son, unmarried, 20, Iron Ship Plater, born Hartley

The 1881 census shows him living at 21 Denham Terrace, Wallsend, occupation "Iron Ship Plater" with the word "Builder" added on! At the birth of his son John Edwin, however, he was living at 4 Naylors Row, Drypool, Hull. He certainly moved a lot, for the 1891 census return shows him living with his family at 36 Stanley Street, Blyth, Northumberland, occupation "Ship Builder". On Tyneside, he may have worked for Swan Hunter (at Wallsend) or Vickers Armstrong (at Walker).

1881 census return: RG11/5071 folio 4 page 5
21 Denham Terrace, Wallsend, Northumberland
James H. Laidman, head, married, 27, Iron Ship Plater (Builder), born Hartley, Northumberland
Hannah Laidman, wife, married, 27, born Walker, Northumberland
Mary F. Laidman, daur. 4, born Walker, Northumberland
William Laidman, son, 2, born Wallsend, Northumberland
[Note: Next door at no. 23 Denham Terrace were living Elizabeth Robson, née Head, and her family]

1891 census return: RG12/4237 folio 7 page 10
Northumberland, Blyth, 36 Stanley St.
James H. Laidman, Head, M, 40, Shipbuilder, Employed, born Northumberland Hartley
Hannah Laidman, Wife, M, 37, born Northumberland Walker
Mary F. Laidman, Daur, S, 14, Scholar, born Northumberland Walker
William Laidman, Son, S, 12, Scholar, born Yorkshire, Hull
Ethel Laidman, Daur, S, 4, born Yorkshire Hull
Norah K. Laidman, Daur, S, 2, born Ireland Belfast
John H. Laidman, Son, S, 2mo, born Northumberland Blyth

1901 census return: RG13/1074 folio 53 page 5
The Avenue (St. Johns Villa), Shirley, Southampton
John [sic] Harper Laidman, head, married, 50, Ship builder (Manager), born Northumberland, Hartley
Hannah Laidman, wife, married, 47, born Northumberland, Walker
Mary F. Smith, daur. widow, 24, born Northumberland, Walker
James H. Laidman, son, 17, Ship Draughtsman, worker, born Yorkshire, Hull
Ethel Laidman, daur. 14 born Yorkshire, Hull
Norah Laidman, daur. 12 born Ireland, Belfast
John H. Laidman, son, 10, born Northumberland, Blyth
Thomas Laidman, son, 6, born Hants. Southampton
Richard Laidman, son, 3, born Hants. Southampton
Margaret Holden, serv. single, 16, General Servant Domestic, born Lancs. Liverpool

The family home in Southampton appears to have been "Claremont," The Avenue, the first mention of which we find in Kelly’s Directory of Southampton residents, 1904. He was witness to his son John Head's marriage on 16 June 1916 where his occupation is stated as "Ship Builder". The Avenue would have been a grand place to live at this time. Claremont is today (2004) a cheap pizzeria, downstairs anyway.

From ‘100 Years of Specialized Shipbuilding and Engineering’ K.C. Barnaby. Hutchinson & Co. Ltd., London 1964, for the John I. Thornycroft centenary 1964, pp 55-56: Drastic changes had to be made in the management. Hugh Callaway took over the General Managership from J. H. Laidman, who became Repairs Manager in the increasingly important Docks Branch.

The Woolston yard on the Itchen at Southampton had been acquired by Thornycrofts in 1904. It was founded by T. R. Oswald, a Sunderland shipbuilder, in 1876. The following year the title of the firm was changed to Oswald, Mordaunt & Co. and a reputation was soon established for building large iron sailing ships which were efficient deadweight carriers, the only type that could still earn a profit in the closing years of sail. By the time Thornycrofts bought the yard, it was owned by Messrs. Mordey, Carney & Co.

The following obituary is from an unknown newspaper:
DEATH OF MR. JAMES LAIDMAN.
Well Known Southampton Shipbuilder.
The death took place this morning, at his residence, Claremont, The Avenue, of Mr. James Harper Laidman, in his 70th year. The deceased gentleman, who passed peacefully away in his sleep at dawn, had been suffering for several weeks from an internal complaint. His passing will be regretted by a wide circle of friends, for he was one of the best known figures in local shipping circles. His reputation as a shipbuilder was practically international. A Northumbrian by birth, he came to Southampton in the early nineties, being first associated with the firm of Messrs. Day, Summers & Co., Ltd., Northam Ironworks, and later with Messrs. John I. Thornycroft, Ltd. During the war his expert knowledge was turned to valuable account from a national standpoint by the conversion of many steamers into troopers and hospital ships. Mr. Laidman, who was also well known in Masonic and yachting circles, was a member of the Institute of Naval Architects and the royal Southampton Yacht Club. He possessed a most genial temperament, and was of a very generous disposition. He leaves a widow and seven children to mourn his loss.

His funeral sounds quite a grand affair. It was reported in the SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO, Monday November 15, 1920:

THE LATE MR. J.E. [sic] LAIDMAN
_______________
Funeral at Southampton
_______________

The funeral of Mr. James Harper Laidman, of “Claremont,” The Avenue, who died on Thursday last, took place at the Southampton Cemetery this morning. The chief mourners were Messrs. Jack, Tom, Dick, and Jim Laidman (sons). Others present were: Tom Bailey, Mr. Gascoigne, Mr. Holden, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Sellers, Dr. Foote, Mr. Allen, Mr. Winishurst, and Mr. Cottier.
The following members of the Boilermakers’ Society, some wearing their regalia, were present [there follows a long list of names...]. The Shipwrights were represented by Messrs. W. Tee, R. Childs, and C.E. Thompson, T.A.; Fitters by Messrs. A. Bennett and A. Baldwin; the Joiners by Messrs. A. Jones and A. Holloway; the Electricians by Messrs. G. Mead and T. Barrett; and the Plumbers by Messrs. W. Angel and S. Fry.
The service was conducted by the Rev. W. Bates, of St. Mark’s, and the remains were enclosed in a polished oak coffin with brass furniture. The plate bore the inscription “James Harper Laidman, died 11th November, 1920, aged 70 years.”
Wreaths were sent by the following:- Mrs. Laidman; Mr. and Mrs. James Laidman, junior; Mr. and Mrs. John Laidman; Mr. and Mrs. R. Laidman; Mr. and Mrs. T. Bailey and family; Mr. and Mrs. P. Tinn, and grand-daughter; Mr. Tom and Miss Norah Laidman; Mr. and Mrs. Head [there follows a long list of other people]... Troupe Curtis Ltd...; the Boilermakers’ Society; Shipwrights’ Dept. (Thorneycroft’s); Joiners (ditto); the Staff of Messrs. Thorneycroft’s Repair Department; the Royal Southampton Yacht Club...


THE HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER COUNTY NEWSPAPER, November 20th, 1920

has a similar report of the funeral, but with details of the wreaths:

...wreaths were sent by the following:- To my dear husband, from his loving wife; in ever loving memory of dear father, from Jack, Lilian, and little Denise; in loving memory of dear father, from Norah and Tommy; to dear father, with love from Ethel, Percy, and granddaughter Peggy; to father, from Mamie, Tom, and his grandsons Arthur and Douglas; in ever-loving memory of father, from Dick and Marjorie; in loving remembrance of dear father, from Jim and Bella; to our dear brother-in-law, from William and Rose; in loving remembrance of dear uncle, from his two nieces, Sally and Emily; in loving memory, from Harry and Lizzie, and his nephew, Canon Robson [...and many many others, including Thorneycroft’s, and:] to Uncle Jim, in fond remembrance, from Dick and Annie...

1851: Hartley, Tynemouth, Northumberland
1873: East Terrace, Low Walker, Northumberland
1881: 21 Denham Terrace, Wallsend, Northumberland
1883: 4 Naylor's Row, Dryport, Kingston upon Hull, Yorks
1891: Blyth, Tynemouth, Northumberland
1895: Not mentioned in Kelly’s Directory of Southampton residents.
1898: Southampton, 4 Britannia Road (Kelly’s Directory of Southampton & Neighbourhood, 1898)
1900: Southampton, 52 Denzil Avenue (Kelly’s Directory of Southampton & Neighbourhood, 1900)
1901: The Avenue (St. Johns Villa), Shirley, Southampton
1901-1903: St. John’s Villa (Kelly’s Directory of Southampton & Neighbourhood, 1901-1903)
1904: Claremont, The Avenue (Kelly’s Directory of Southampton & Neighbourhood, 1904)
1904: St. John’s Villa (Kelly’s Directory of Southampton & Neighbourhood, 1904)
1904-1920: Claremont, The Avenue, Southampton

In September 2003 a visit to the disused Old Southampton Cemetery revealed James Harper Laidman’s monument after a very long search. It consists of a stone cross with a relief of an anchor in the crux, standing on a three stepped pedestal, bearing the following inscriptions:

Front face

In Loving Memory of
James Harper Laidman
Dearly Loved Husband of Hannah Laidman
Entered Rest on the Great Day

Also William Laidman
Oldest Son of the Above
Died Kingston Jamaica
May 22, 1901 Aged 22 Years

Back Face

Also of Their Sons
John Head Laidman, MC Major RA Died Jan 19,1953
Aged ---Years

And Richard Laidman
Died Jan 25, 1953

Right Face

Also
Hannah Laidman Who Died Nov 21, 1936 Aged 84 Years
So When Breaks the Glorious Dawn

Left Face

And of
Middle Stone Mary Francis Bailey
Mamie
Beloved Eldest Daughter
Died Sep 2, 1946

James Harper is also mentioned on his father’s monumental inscription in Preston Cemetery, North Shields:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM LAIDMAN
OF NORTH SHIELDS,
WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS JULY 23rd 1871
AGED 61 YEARS.
ALSO OF WILLIAM, SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED AT HAVANNA JUNE 21st 1861,
AGED 21 YEARS.
ALSO ANN ISABELLA, HIS DAUGHTER
DIED APRIL 18th 1864 AGED 11 YEARS.
ALSO JOHN HARPER, HIS SON
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 28th 1867,
WHILE ON HIS PASSAGE CRONSTADT
AND IS INTERRED THERE,
AGED 21 YEARS.
ALSO MARGARET, HIS DAUGHTER
DIED AUGUST 29th 1869,
AGED 12 YEARS.
ALSO MARY, HIS WIFE
DIED JUNE 7th 1875, AGED 61 YEARS.
ALSO GEORGE GRAHAMSLEY, FOURTH
SON OF THE ABOVE, DIED AT HEATON MERSEY
MAY 29th 1882, AGED 42 YEARS.
THOMAS, ELDEST SON OF THE ABOVE,
DIED AT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
MAY 29th 1902, AGED 63 YEARS
JAMES HARPER LAIDMAN, YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE
DIED NOV. 11th 1920, AGED 69 YEARS.