Andrew Smith Watchmaker of Tranent

[zumaro]

I am a little lost as to how to proceed here - not helped by trying to track down a Smith!  To an extent I have a lot of information about Andrew Smith. He was born 22 August 1814 in Prestonpans, son of Andrew Smith, a watchmaker and his wife Marjory Smith. He married Christian Kent on 5 January 1834, and then moved to Tranent, where he is listed in the 1841 and 1851 censuses as a watchmaker.  I can't see him in trade lists for Tranent, although his father is clearly listed in them for Prestonpans, but the censuses, and his marriage certificate make it clear he is a watchmaker.

In the 1841 census the family is
Andrew Smith   27
Christian Smith   27
Andrew Smith   7
Jane Smith    4
Thomas Smith   2
Janet Ransay   15

whereas in 1851 Christian had died a few months earlier on the 20th March 1851, leaving father with a large family
Andrew Smith   36
Andrew Smith   16
Jane Alston Smith   13
Thomas Smith   11
Charles Smith   9
Robert Smith   6
Alexander Smith   3

What happens next in 1861 I am not sure. Andrew Smith Jr is married and living in Peebles, I think  I have found Thomas in lodgings in Edinburgh, with his brother Charles visiting him, but the rest have disappeared off the map.

Searching through scotlandspeople I see no plausible entries for Andrew Smith's death registration between 1855 and 1920 in East Lothian. In short he seems to disappear - the family has fractured and I am not sure where he ends up.

Any suggestions on how to proceed and where to look would be appreciated.

[tidybooks]

 Hi zumaro,

I was searching for his obituary in the Scotsman, and came across the wife, Christian Kent's, language is very quaint,

" At Tranent on the 16th inst, after a protracted illness which she bore with Christian patience and resignation, Christian Kent, wife of Andrew Smith, watchmaker, much regretted. Friends at a distance will please accept this intimation."

Tom

[isobelw]

Scotlandspeople have a will or testament for Andrew Smith, Watchmaker, Prestonpans dated 23/10/1857
Isobel

[isobelw]

Also a death for an Andrew Smith in Prestonpans in 1857
Isobel

[MonicaL]

Isobel, I wonder if the death (and will?) entry you found may be for Andrew Snr. From just the SP index, the death in 1857 is for an 82 year old Andrew Smith.

Monica 

[isobelw]

You are right Monica. Didn't check the age.
Isobel

[MonicaL]

Andrew may well have died between 1851 census and the start of official registration in 1855. There is a good and detailed family tree here on subs site http://person.ancestry.co.uk/tree/86056322/person/34538079616/facts

They show son Andrew b. 1835 marrying Helen Bertram in 1860 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTGN-D73. His marriage cert would hopefully show whether father Andrew Snr was still alive or deceased by 1860.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Not clear who of the children you are linked to, zumaro. From the children showing in the censuses and up to the death of Christian Kent you have:

Andrew b. 1835 married Helen Bertram and died in 1909 in Peebles.

Jane Alstone b. 1837 - nothing further so far after 1851 census? Some possibilities though. In 1861 there is a domestic servant working in Edinburgh, Jane Smith born c. 1838 in Tranent.

Thomas Swanstone b. 1839 - moved down to England it seems http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=128979580

Charles Kent b. 1841 married Ellen Thomson and looks to have died in 1929 in Edinburgh.

Robert b. 1844 - nothing further so far after 1851 census?

Alexander b. 1847 - nothing further so far after 1851 census?

This all needs to be confirmed and verified through certficates etc....

Monica

[tidybooks]

Hi All,

On that tree that you linked there was a marriage certificate image on line, it showed Andrew Smith Senior to be alive on 02 July 1860. Andrew Junior was an Excise Officer, address was at "Foot of Old Town, Peebles"


Tom