All the following entries are from Prittlewell, Essex.
1851 (HO107/1777)
Henry Smith, 30, blacksmith, b Stock (the 't' is slightly odd)
Eln (?) Smith, wife, 29, b Prittlewell (indexed as Elsa)
Wm H Smith, son, 5, b Prittlewell (b Jun 1845)
Eln (?) Smith, dau, 2, b Prittlewell (b ?)
1861 (RG9/1084)
Henry Smith, 40, coach smith, b Thadon (Theydon) (but the ditto marks may only apply to the 'Essex')
Anne Smith, 39, wife, b Prittlewell
Ellen Mary Smith, dau, 12, b Prittlewell
Emma Susan Smith, dau, 6, b Prittlewell (b Sep 1854)
George Smith, son, 4, b Prittlewell
1871 (RG10/1668)
Henry Smith, 50, coach smith, b Ilford
Ann Smith, 49, needlewoman, b Prittlewell
Emma S Smith, 16, dau, b Prittlewell
George Smith, son, 14, lab, b Prittlewell
Henry dies in Jun 1877; the rest of the family are still in Prittlewell in 1881
Problems:
1. Why did Henry's birthplace change? Theydon, Stock, Ilford and Prittlewell are all in South Essex but fairly spreadout. It makes finding Henry in 1841 very difficult, although some rule themselves out by being married.
2. Where is Ellen Mary's c1849 birth?
3. Did Henry have one or two wives? 'Eln' and Ann have different names, but their ages and birthplaces are the same. I cannot find a marriage for either, although the Rochford entries for Henry Smith in Dec 1843 (and, less likely, Jun 1846) have a wife missing, which I suspect is 'Eln').
4. Although there is a possible gap between Ellen and Emma when Henry may have remarried, there is no death for 'Eln'.
The relevant Prittlewell baptisms are not on IGI.
William Henry Smith (b 1845) went on to become a Baptist minister, so the family may be Baptists.
Richard
