Hi Deb and Dawn
This will help regarding the relationship of the Shoesmiths of Toowoomba to those of Sussex and those of the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. My mother was Ethel Rose Shoesmith (married first Gray, then widowed, then married my father George Leggett) of Toowoomba. Her brothers were Campbell (who ran the gunshop) and Kevin (who inherited the saddles, camping goods and second hand goods side of my grandfather's shop). Her sister was Heather Shoesmith (married became Newton). Their father (my grandfather) was Alfred Victor Shoesmith (who founded Shoesmiths Dealers in Toowoomba, including the gunshop, the saddlery, the pawnshop and the second hand car yards, real estate etc). Grandpa was born at Taree. His father was Alfred Henry Shoesmith, originally of Taree, then of Grafton, NSW. Alfred Henry's father was Humphrey John Shoesmith, born on Jones Island near Taree, buried at Laurieton cemetery. Humphrey John's father was my great great grandfather William Shoesmith, who came to NSW as a free settler in 1838, from Bexhill, Sussex. William Shoesmith was the brother of the Edward Shoesmith you mention, who was transported for smuggling. They were both members of the Little Common Gang of smugglers, with their brother Thomas 'Boathook' Shoesmith. The Battle of Sidley Green occurred as a result of botched smuggling operation in which a militia man and a smuggler died. Ten men were arrested and tried, including both Edward and William. Edward was sentenced to be hanged, but his sentence was commuted to transportation. William was let off lightly because he gave information. But both ended up in NSW, William though as a free settler. So yes, you are related to the Shoesmiths of Toowoomba! Best wishes, Andrew
