Biography of James SMITH
[Ref. O.53]
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Profile | |
Index for SMITH |
Biography of James SMITH
[Ref. O.53]
| Ancestors | |
Profile | |
Index for SMITH |
James Smith was born in 1812 and baptised at Shoreham, Kent on 14 December that year. He was the third of five children of William and Elizabeth Smith.
James had met a girl called Mary Ann Davis in Shoreham and it is likely that he fathered the child, Mary Ann, that she bore in 1832. They decided to get married to which end the banns were read on 1, 8 and 15 September 1833. The couple were married in the parish church at Shoreham on 16 September 1833. Their next ten children were all born in Shoreham. Son William was born in 1834, daughter Sarah was in 1836 then Ellen in 1837. Son Henry followed in 1839. The census of 1841 shows the family resident in the Pig and Whistle pub in Shoreham. James is listed as an agricultural labourer.
Daughter Ann and Hannah was born in 1841 then son James William around 1845. Daughter Fanny followed in 1846 then son Thomas in 1850. The family seem to have moved around 1851 as the census of that year shows the family living with James' widowed mother in Romney Street, Eynesford. James is still an agricultural labourer. Son John was born in 1853.
James' mother passed away some time in the next decade but James and his family remained in Romney Street until his death. The census of 1861 confirms the family in Romney Street and James as an agricultural labourer. However, on the census of 1871 his occupation was given as Publican living at Romney Street Beer House. This occupation was confirmed on the marriage certificate of his son Thomas in 1873. The 1871 census also showed that Rachel, a widowed daughter-in-law of James, was at the house as well as three lodgers and a visitor.
James died of tuberculosis on 20 November 1872 at home in Romney Street, Shoreham. He was just one month short of reaching his 60th birthday. His death was registered by Margaret Richardson who was present at the death. Margaret was a 55 year old resident of Shoreham but her connection to James is not know. Thereafter, James' widow, Mary Ann, took lodgings in Eynsford. Her death certificate in 1891 stated James' occupation as Grocer and Beer shop keeper.