Biography of Henry James SMITH
[Ref. P.71]
| Profile |  |
Index for SMITH |
Biography of Henry James SMITH
[Ref. P.71]
| Profile | |
Index for SMITH |
Henry James Smith was born in Shoreham, Kent early in 1839 and was baptised in the parish church on 28 April that year. He was one of the ten children of James and Mary Ann Smith.
The census of 1841 shows the family being one of two occupying the Pig and Whistle public house in Shoreham. According to the census of 1851, the family are living in Romney Street in Shoreham and Henry, at the age of 12, is working as an agricultural labourer.
In 1861, the census records that Henry was living in the household of William Keeley in Eynsford. William was a plougman as was Henry so Henry would have been working for or with him.
Henry married Mary Ann Dalley at St.Martin's church in Eynsford on 1 March 1862. His sister Ellen was one of the witnesses to the signing of the register. Son Henry James was born in 1861. Daughter Alice was born in Farningham around 1865, then Rosina in Swanley in 1866 and Emily around 1868 in Farningham.
By 1871 the family were living in 3 Pedham Court cottage in Wrotham Road, Crockenhill, Eynsford. Henry remained as an agricultural labourer. Son Joseph Thomas was born in Farningham around 1875 then Albert in Crouch, Wrotham in 1876. Their last child, Sidney, was born in Eynsford in 1880.
The census of 1881 shows the family living at Upper Austin Lodge cottages. Children Emily, Joseph, Albert and Sidney were in the household as were two lodgers, shepherd Charles Couchman and agricultural labourer Frank Clarke. By the time the census was taken in 1891, the family with children Rosina, Joseph, Albert and Sidney were living in West Yoke in Ashford.
Henry passed away in 1896 and his death was registered in Dartford. He was buried at St.Peter and St.Paul's church in Ash on 20 June that year.