Biography of THOMAS SMITH
[Ref. P.42]
| Profile |  |
Photos | |
Index for SMITH |
Biography of THOMAS SMITH
[Ref. P.42]
| Profile | |
Photos | |
Index for SMITH |
Thomas was born on 5 January 1850 at Shoreham, Kent, the ninth child in a family of ten. Thebirth was registered by his mother at Shoreham on 23 January.
In 1851, Thomas and his parents were living with his widowed paternal grandmother, Elizabeth, in Romney Street, Shoreham. Also in the house were some of his uncles and aunts. In 1861 the family were at the same address and, by then, included Thomas' siblings Ellen, Fanny and John.
The entry for Thomas in the census of 1871 shows him lodging with the family of his sister Fanny and her husband Kipps Baldwin at White Hill Cottage in Shoreham. At that time his occupation was given as a Gardener. Thomas married Mary Humble at the parish church of Sutton-at-Hone on 27 September 1873 and he was still a gardener. They had nine children, all born at Eynsford between 1874 and 1894. The Family Register lists the children and their dates of birth.
In 1881 Thomas and Mary were living at 3 New Row, High Street, Eynsford and his occupation was shown as Fishmonger. According to his niece, Marie Smith, Thomas worked as a porter in Billingsgate market and he brought fish down from Billingsgate market and was met at Eynsford railway station with a trolley. He probably sold the fish from a shop in Eynsford, most likely where the family were living. The colloquial name for a Billingsgate porter was 'bummarree', the name originating from bum-boats in which purveyors took vegetables, meat, fish etc to sell to ships in the river.
In 1891 they were living at 7 High Street, Eynsford and Thomas' occupation was still Fishmonger. The 1901 census showed them living at 6 Gibsons Cottages, Eynsford, but by this time he was a Wood Dealer employing sons William and Ernest, both of whom were still living at home.
It is reputed that Thomas liked his 'pint of beer' and it was also thought that he was landlord of the Malt Shovel public house. However, research does not support this and it is more likely that he either served there or was a regular customer. His family were friends with the Brice family, farmers and publican of the Five Bells public house.
Thomas was still a Wood Dealer when he died on 16 January 1911 at Eynsford at which time he had been living at Malt Shovel Cottages in Eynsford. His son Sydney James Smith had been present at the death and registered it the following day at Farningham.