Hi- I really appreciate all your help and it has been brilliant to have another pair of eyes to look at this research. i already have all the tithe maps as well as lists of owners and tenants paying rent right the way through the period in question and I have done my best to follow the tenants in the different properties but have still been unable to reach a decisive conclusion.
The main problem areas are the fact that I am dealing with such a commonsurname- Smith- and that there seemed to be several william Smiths in the area at the same time- each with their own families. My problem is exasperated by the premature death of Robert smith's father prior to his birth. I also cannot find any reference to Robert smith being a direct rent paying tenant to the land owners in Englesea Brook which implies to me that he must have been a sub tenant in which case records will probably not be held anyway!
I think the simple answer at this stage is to close this thread in very grateful appreciation of all your help- it has certainly given me a few alternatives to consider!
I only have the Probate for the william smith who died in 1817 with probate granted in 1818- but i will look again at the document to see if it is actually a Probate or a Grant of Administration- which if it is, would mean there was no will and under the laws of intestacy, the grant would have been given to his eldest son to administer his affairs as his wife had already died. so that is another avenue probably closed off!
Once again, many many thanks for all your help- I really do appreciate it!
Kindest regards
Caroline
