Sue Buttimer

Towards the bottom is a post by a Doug Harris who's apparently related to you. He's not been on the forum for a year or two, but his blue envelope icon is still displaying as "active", so if you wanted you can send him a private email message direct into his computer's inbox, in case he doesn't visit the forum to see your posts.
http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=user&show_user=21707

There is an excellent website about the history of the Glos Police, it shows several James Harris' as having served over the years. I think this one MAY be yours, but please browse the various lists and check for yourself, especially if you have more proof regarding his age and place of birth, as Mike's Census' transcriptions aren't conclusive. This one was born abt 1834 in Ruardean;

Warrant; Joined; Name; Age; Height; Occupation; Where born; Highest rank; Reason for leaving Force.

1652; 1-5-1859; HARRIS James; 25; 5ft 10; Miner, Ruardean, Coleford, Glos; Sergeant 11-2-1869; Superannuated 1-10-1875 on 10d per day.

see http://gloucestershirepolicearchives.org.uk/content/finding-your-police-ancestors/archi...

http://gloucestershirepolicearchives.org.uk/

Another mention of James on the Dursley history forum, maybe this is from Doug as well.
http://ccgi.dursleyglos.plus.com/forumdg/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83

That Dursley site also has some history and pictures of Dursley Police Station.
http://www.dursleyglos.org.uk/html/dursley/public/police/police_station.htm

If you're wondering why he served in Dursley, it's not that far away from the Forest. In those days the County force was managed as eight Districts, including one for Bristol. Immediately across the Severn from the Forest was the Dursley District, see this map
http://gloucestershirepolicearchives.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/early-glos.jpg

The early history of the County Force is here
http://gloucestershirepolicearchives.org.uk/content/how-it-all-began/in-the-beginning

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You may have seen that Nehemiah Harris is also mentioned in this prior forum thread, it shows you're not the first to struggle to find him in the earlier Census'.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/fodmembers/index.php?mode=thread&id=5245#p5247

Occupation of James Harris: Police Constable.

1871 Census;
Police Station, Dursley.
Household schedule number Given Name Surname Relationship Age Estimated Birth Year Gender Birth City Birth County Birth Country
138 James Harris Head 37 1834 Male Ruerdum Gloucestershire England
138 Fanny Harris Wife 39 1832 Female Telbury Gloucestershire England
138 Wilson Harris Son 15 1856 Male Ruardean Gloucestershire England
138 Herriah Harris Son 13 1858 Male Ruardean Gloucestershire England
138 George Harris Son 11 1860 Male Gloucester Gloucestershire England
138 Ellen Harris Daughter 8 1863 Female Dursley Gloucestershire England
138 Albert Harris Son 6 1865 Male Berkeley Gloucestershire England
138 Walter Harris Son 4 1867 Male Berkeley Gloucestershire England
138 Henaersth Harris Daughter 2 1869 Female Berkeley Gloucestershire England
138 John Harris Son 3 Months 1871 Male Dursley Gloucestershire England
139 John Thomas Prisoner 31 1840 Male Ireland

Occupation of James Harris: Sergeant of Police.

Mike

Hope this helps.

Peter Preece

Sue Buttimer nee Wade