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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Bedfordshire => Topic started by: Terri Smith on Monday 02 April 18 12:07 BST (UK)
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I am a descendant of William Smith (b 1823) son of James & Ann of Eversholt. Williams son was born Sidney Smith Sharp (1845) mother Caroline Sharp. Caroline married shortly after his birth to a William Valentine and went on to have more children, etc etc. Sidney changed his name to Sidney William Smith around, definitely before, his marriage. The certificate states his father as William smith occupation currier. And for many many years my branch of the Smith family has not known his fathers identity.
Through a DNA match on MyHeritage I have managed to locate William. My DNA matchs ancestor was Emma Smith of Eversholt, another of James and Ann’s children. She married a BErwick and the 1851census has Emmas daughter Ann (granddaughter) listed in the household of James and Ann Smith, Gwyn st, Bedford. William is also residing with them. The same address as on Sidney’s birth certificate.
It appears that William never married and ended up living in Westoning according to later censuses. I cannot see any death record for him.
I am wondering if anyone is willing to share info on this family. Especially pre James and Ann.
There appears very little in the ways of records online. Sidney and family immigrated to New Zealand so there is no chance of me looking up the actual records.
Any info would be gladly received.
I note that Pedros and Bedfordshire boy are related to me?
Thanks heaps
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Hi Terri
Welcome to Rootschat!
Tell me more! How are we connected? I'm not sure I'd be prepared to admit that I was connected to me!
Bedfordshire is very well covered on www.familysearch.org with virtually all baptisms and marriages pre 1813 having been extracted.
I can't see baptisms for either William or Emma in Eversholt, nor for Elizabeth, another daughter in 1851, nor an obvious marriage for James Smith and Ann. Ann was a widow aged 62 in 1851, born Kempston.
Have you found the family in 1841? (later: I think I've found them in Gwyn St, James 55 and Ann 50)
David
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There is a burial at Bedford Cemetery of William Smith, 33, of Gwyn Street, on 7 November 1856.
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As per Bedford Mercury 4 Oct 1862
Bedford Charity - Marriage Portions...
Following maidens & intended husbands...
Elizabeth Smith, 33, Gwyn Street - W J Robinson, 29, printer, Silver Street
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I reckon James and Ann had another daughter, Mary, born 1816 or earlier, who married John Adams in 1833 in Ridgmont, and their daughter Ann Adams' birth was recorded at Ridgmont Baptist Church. This Ann was in the same house in Gwyn St in 1841 as the Smiths, and Emma Smith was living in Ridgmont with the Adams in 1841, prior to marrying Mr Berwick;
If Mary Smith was Baptist it might explain why there aren't any baptisms in the Established Church for children of James and Ann.
David
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A Joel Smith, son of James and Ann, born 16 Oct 1818 (in Eversholt per 1851 census), was baptised in Leighton Buzzard on 6 Nov 1844. Either his parents were very lax about baptising their children or else they were non-conformist.
David
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Various Bedford Cemetery burials:-
31 May 1842 James Smith, 61, Gwyn Street
5 Jan 1845 James Smith, 59, Gwyn Street - take your pick of these two
19 Nov 1861 Ann Smith, 73, Gwyn Street
12 Sep 1866 Elizabeth Robinson, 38, Silver Street (see John P's post. There is no marriage in Bedford, but a possible in Wokingham Registration District in Sep Quarter 1862. William John Robinson is married to someone else in 1871.)
31 Oct 1842 Sarah Smith married a Philip Smith at Bedford St Paul's
26 Sep 1869 Annie Smith Berwick married Frederick Norman at Bedford St Paul's
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I read somewhere online that the first five children of James & Ann were baptised at westoning Baptist.
In the 1861 census there is a William Smith born at Westoning and boarding with a family of Sharps in Clophill. Sharp being Sidney’s original surname. I am waiting on his mothers marriage certificate in the post to tell me her fathers name so I might track her family down.
In the 1881 census, there is a William Smith born and living at Westoning. I assumed that these were my William Smith but maybe not!
That Burial sounds like him Steveng.
So I’m imagining they are all baptists hence the lack of records. Surely the records of the Baptist churches are available somewhere?
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Baptists don't do infant baptisms so it can be difficult to trace families.
Many Baptist church books have been transcribed and are available from Beds FHS/Bedford Archives
David
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A Joel Smith, son of James and Ann, born 16 Oct 1818 (in Eversholt per 1851 census), was baptised in Leighton Buzzard on 6 Nov 1844.....
I saw that on FamilySearch; interestingly the Beds Surname Index CD (from Beds FHS) has a baptism for Joel Smith in 1844 at Leighton Buzzard with abode = Bedford. That same CD has a baptism of Joel Smith in 1818 at Westoning with abode = Eversholt. What's more, there's a baptism of a Mary Smith also in 1818 at Westoning with abode = Eversholt. It'd be good to check out the original Westoning baptism register.
That same Joel Smith, father James Smith, got married at Eversholt on 5 May 1840 to Mary Bonest
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I can't see ...... an obvious marriage for James Smith and Ann. Ann was a widow aged 62 in 1851, born Kempston.
David, Howabout this marriage at Kempston on 6 Nov 1810 of James Smith of Eversholt to Ann Chalton/Charlton. An Ann Charlton was baptised 13 Nov 1788 at Kempston, daughter of Samuel & Mary Charlton. That'll tie up nicely with her age in 1851 & her age at death in Nov 1861
Take care John
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1841 census living in Gwyn Street, Bedford is James Smith age 55 occupation Currier, & wife Ann 50 & children William 18, Sarah 16 & Elizabeth 14.
Sarah Smith of Gwyn Street, father James Smith, currier, married Philip Smith at Bedford St.Pauls on 31 Oct 1842
James Smith age 59 of Gwyn Street buried at Bedford Cemetery 5 Jan 1845
Beds Archives have the will ref ABP/W 1845/32 of James Smith, of Eversholt, currier & farmer.
That'll make an interesting read.
Cheers John
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Nice one John. That will do nicely!
Have you seen Family Search at Westoning where there are entries for 5 children of James and Ann Smith? Joel, Daniel, Samuel Mary and a fifth which I saw earlier but which I can't find now! All births from the database England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes The entries are odd as they have no dates, just 00 0000. They may be the five to which Terri refers.7
David
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We've been here before David..... twice !
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=715351.msg5589624#msg5589624
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=491736.msg3492326#msg3492326
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As you know John, I struggle to remember what I did last week, let alone years ago!
But you're right. We've reinvented the wheeL
And Terri, I assume you must have seen these threads if you know Petros is connected to you, but I have no connection to these families
David
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Yes David, I did locate those threads and somehow gleaned, incorrectly, that you were related to this family.
I’m sorry I should have mentioned them and not just expected that you would remember this family.
Thank you to all for your efforts and info. Especially on where to look.
Terri
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There is a burial at Bedford Cemetery of William Smith, 33, of Gwyn Street, on 7 November 1856.
Hello again. Pls excuse my lack of knowledge here but I have tried in all sorts of places to find this record. Ie bedfordcemeteries.org and burials in bedsarchives, familysearch etc.
Can you pls tell me where I might find this and be able to request a copy if available StevenG?
Thanking you in anticipation.
Terri
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Terri, StevenG has transcribed various parish registers and made them available on his personal website. William Smith's burial is in Steven's transcriptions...
#341 William Smith
http://stevengibbs.me.uk/Bedford-CemeteryBurials-1.htm
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Thank you so much cuffie