Smith Genealogy

The SMITH family were yeoman and farmers of Gt. and Lt. Waltham. John & Jane are the earliest known ancestors; they were non-conformists and did not baptise their children in the parish church, but at least six children are known, born around 1700-1710.

The eldest son John-8 lived at Forth End, a hamlet some 4 miles from the Walthams, while the youngest son, Peter, occupied an ancient farm called Stonage in Lt.Waltham which is still there today.

After Peter’s death in 1784, occupation of Stonage was inherited by his nephew John-7 as he was the eldest son of Peter's eldest brother.

John-7 left the farm to his youngest son Samuel but bequeathed other property (Little Stonage?) to his eldest son John-6

John-6 married Martha SPEAKMAN from another farming family and farmed in the neighbouring parish of Gt.Leighs, but their son Frances Speakman SMITH became a shoemaker and grocer and eventually moved to East Ham where he was appointed a customs officer in 1851 and gatekeeper at the new Victoria Dock in 1858.

Francis’ daughter Susannah Speakman SMITH married Samuel KILBOURN in 1848 and lived and died in Bethnal Green.

INDEX OF MARRIAGES ON THE SMITH FAMILY TREE

SURNAME DATE/PLACE MARRIAGE TREE MARRIED TO:

BEDWELL John 5Apr1768 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Ann

BEERMAN Jane 1695 Brentwood ESS SmitT0 SMITH John

BETTS Elizabeth 21Mar1750+Gt.Bardfield ESS SmitT0 SMITH John

COOK (COOTE?) Joseph c1785 SmitT8 SMITH Mary

CORNHILL Sarah 1733 Lt.Sampford ESS SmitT0 SMITH Thomas

CORNELL Susanna 9Oct1827 Finchingfield ESS SmitT0 SMITH Francis Speakman

DARBY John 2May1798 Lt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Sarah

DOWSETT Sarah 29Jan1818 Lt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Samuel

FRANKLIN Mary 6Dec1750 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH Abraham

JOSLIN Samuel 9May1724 Thaxted Quaker ESS SmitT0 SMITH Jane

JOSLING Jane 9Feb1773 Lt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH John

KEMP William 1Aug1756 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH Judah

KILBOURN Samuel 18Jan1848 Haggerstone St Mary MDX SmitT0 SMITH Susannah Speakman

KNIGHT Elizabeth 28May1751 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH Abraham

MEAD Benjamin 14Jun1778 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH Judith

PETTIT Thomas 18Aug1728 Thaxted Quaker ESS SmitT0 SMITH Mary

SADLER Ann 19Jul1775 Lt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH John

SAMS Joseph 23Oct1759 Gt.Leighs ESS SmitT8 SMITH Sarah

SHELTON Joseph 1Oct1772 Witham Quaker ESS SmitT0 SMITH Elizabeth

SIMONS Sarah 1810 Lt.Leighs ESS SmitT0 SMITH Jonathon

SKINNER Judith 25Aug1754 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Abraham

SNOW Simon 22Dec1768 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Hannah

SPEAKMAN Ann Martha 17Apr1799 Boreham ESS SmitT0 SMITH John

SPEAKMAN Elizabeth 27Sep1803 Terling ESS SmitT0 SMITH Peter

STOCK James 15Jan1765 Gt.Waltham ESS SmitT0 SMITH Mary

STRUTT J 9Aug1769 Lt.Waltham ESS SmitT8 SMITH Abigail

SULLINS Hannah 29May1744 Writtle ESS SmitT0 SMITH John

OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS

1) B9. Origin of John & Jane SMITH and birth of their six children John, Thomas, Abraham, Jane, Mary, & Peter, born about 1700-1710. Almost certainly from a dissenting congregation but not quakers; baptisms not found; the girls married quakers, but the the sons married in church, while burials are at the quaker burial ground. Did they marry at Brentwood – Jane BEERMAN

2) B7. John SMITH witnessed marriages at Gt.Waltham church in a good hand from at least 1772 to 1799. There were other John SMITHs, so these signatures should be compared with the signature on the two marriages of John in 1773 and 1775 and with the signature on John-7's will.

3) B9-B6 Four generations named John SMITH gives ample opportunity for error. There were other SMITH families in the Walthams, particularly the Quaker family. There is probably a connection (or confusion) between the families. The Quaker tree needs to be researched from the Quaker records and various wills

4) B5. Francis Speakman SMITH married in 1827 and died in 1862 but he has not been found in the 41, 51, nor 61 census. Only two possible baptisms for his family found: Susannah and Alfred but no trace of Alfred in 81 index