Benjamin Smith

[K Rees]

Need help for 1841 whereabouts of Benjamin Smith. b. 1788 Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

Benjamin and Mary Smith had a daughter bp. Jemima 18 Jul 1830 Datchworth (Benjamin was a tinker) and son George Henry Smith 17 Feb 1833 All Saints, St. John Hertford.

I can not find this family in 1841 Census. This is where I need help. Maybe son Moses Smith b. 1815 bp. Wheathampstead (Benjamin a brazier) was the same named later as a gypsy.

1851 Census Butcherley Green, I am confident that Benjamin Smith was about 63, a brazier, born Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, with son George 20 also a brazier and grandson Benjamin Smith about 9.

1861 Census Butcherley Green, also confident that 73 year old Benjamin Smith living with daughter Jemima Mansfield and husband Edward Mansfield.

Also confident that this family were travellers.

In 1841, son William, alias Tinker Smith (about 20) was found guilty with friends of highway robbery at Bengeo. Sentenced in 1842 - 15 years to Hobart

[rosie99]

In case it is relevant, there are some missing census for Northants in 1841
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/census-for-england-wales-and-scotland-missing-pieces

[K Rees]

Thank for the information of missing Census data. Yes, it is possible that Benjamin Smith took his family back to Northants, where he was born.

Benjamin and Mary Smith may have had other children in Hertford and I can not find them (such a common name) in 1841 as well.

Just in case, some helpers need further clues, then their POSSIBLE known children were:
Thomas Smith bp. 7 Feb 1808 Datchworth, father trampers;
Moses Smith bp. 12 Feb 1815 Wheathampstead, father brazier;
Sharlender Smith b. 1816; bp. 27 Jul 1828 Datchworth, father tinker;
James Smith bp. 28 Sep 1817 Aspenden, father strangers,
maybe William Henry Smith b. c1820 or 1822 Hertford, alias Tinker Smith sent to Tas 1842;
Sylvester Smith bp. 1 Jul 1821 Bengeo, father labourer
Caroline Smith 9 Oct 1825 Graveley father's details not given
Jemima Smith bp. 18 Jul 1830 Datchworth father tinker
George Henry Smith bp. 17 Feb 1833 All Saints, Hertford, father brazier; address Liberty of Brickendon ?

[K Rees]

Additional information found today:

Silvester/Sylvester Smith. bp 1 Jul 1821 Bengeo to Benjamin and Mary Smith married Joseph Bennett 6 Mar 1842 All Saints, Hertford. Her father was confirmed as Benjamin Smith, a smith (my opinion tinsmith, tinker, brazier, tramper, stranger and labourer) and her abode was recorded as Butcherley Green.

I have been through each page of 1841 Census details for Butcherley Green; however, no evidence still of Benjamin Smith or daughters Silvester and Jemima Smith living there.

Their brother William, alias Tinker Smith, was also sentenced in March 1842 Hertford, about the same time his sister Silvester walked down the aisle.

Silvester married a second time in 1874 to a Thomas Cranfield, St. Andrew, Hertford.

[rosie99]

It is very likely they 'avoided' the census taker if they were tinkers