Harriet appears to have two children before marrying (Herbert and Jane Crossland in 1863 and 1866 respectively). In June 1868 Harriet married Thomas Robinson, who was a painter, and seven months later she gave birth to their daughter, Ann Robinson. Two years later they had another daughter, Harriet, in January 1871. Apparently Harriet claimed that Jane should have been called Robinson, not Crossland, so it is likely that Thomas was the father. It is not clear who fathered Herbert.

Thomas Robinson died of consumption on 13 July 1873 at the address they shared with her parents (14 School Street). He was a 27 years old father of two or three. The following census 8 years later in 1881 records Harriet as a 'pauper' and she still lives with her parents on School Street. The household was a big one and consisted of; John and Ann Crossland (Harrient's parents), Harriet herself, Jane, Ann, Harriet and Elizabeth (Harriet's children), Sam and Eliza Crossland (Harriet's brother and his wife) and Andrew Crossland (their child and Harriet's nephew.) It is expected that these living conditions were responsible for the many deaths the family suffered to consumption.

In October 1888 Harriet married George Emms who was from Diss, Suffolk. The 1891 census records Harriet and George living at 29 Grace Street, Barnsley with Harriet's 13-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Ann Robinson. George was also a widow, his first wife being Rebecca who died in November 1887, aged 53.

George died before the 1901 census as Harriet is living on Rock Street, Barnsley, with her grandson, James Crossland. I assume he is a son of Harriet's son, Herbert. She records her occupation as Linen Yarn Winder. Harriet died on 2 November 1924 and intriguingly was buried 4 days later in the same grave as her first husband, Thomas Robinson, who had died fifty-one years earlier (Grave Q854, Barnsley Cemetary).