Smithin - Eckington

This is a summary of the information we have discovered about the branch of our family that came from Eckington; descendants of John Smithin and Harriet Harris.

All modern Smithins are descendants of Joseph Smithin (1761-1807) and Margaret Rickets who lived and farmed in Birlingham,Worcestershire. Joseph and Margaret had four sons. Joseph the eldest inherited the family farms and estate at Birlingham and married Anne Proctor and their descendants lived in Birlingham until about 1890; there are several modern descendants of this branch. Thomas did not marry and lived all his life in Birlingham. William may have married late in life but we do not think he had any children.

Benjamin (1791-1861) married Elizabeth had four sons one of which was John Smithin who married Harriet Harris.

John Smithin (c.1830)

John Smithin (1828-1867). The son of Benjamin and Elizabeth. He was christened on the 13th April 1828 in Stoulton.[1] He married Harriet Harris (1821-1920) at St Andrew's, Worcester on the 22nd December 1846. The witnesses were Thomas Harris, a farmer (Harriet's father) and Mary Ann Harris (Harriet's mother).[2] [3]

Harriet was christened in Pirton, Worcestershire on the 15th July 1821.[4]

John and Harriet had four children; Henry (b.1847), Benjamin (b.1848), Margaret (b.1850), John (b.1854). They must have moved about a fair bit in the early years of their marriage because the second child Benjamin was born in Pirton, Margaret in Chaddesley Corbett and John Alfred was christened at Hill End, Eastnor, Herefordshire.

At the 1851 census John's father Benjamin was about 60 and was described as a farmer of 500 acres at Wadborough House, Wadborough, employing 20 labourers. Also living at Wadborough house were Kezia Harris aged 21, House servant and Esther Harris aged 16, House servant; possibly relatives of Harriet.

John was mentioned in the Will of his father Benjamin who died in 1861.[5]

And Upon Trust to pay and divide the residue of the said trust monies unto and amongst my four children the said Benjamin Smithin and Mary Horniblow the wife of the said William Thorneloe Horniblow and Joseph Smithin and John Smithin share and share alike. The share of the said Benjamin Smithin and Mary Horniblow to be paid retained assigned or transferred to them respectively as soon as conveniently may be. And the shares of the said Joseph Smithin and John Smithin to be paid assigned or transferred to them respectively at their respective ages of twenty one years.

In about 1862 John was taken very ill and gave his brothers control over his farm to carry on his business and so keep his wife and children reasonably well provided for. A legal document was drawn up on the 2nd Decemebr 1862 and signed by all three brothers.

John Smithin of Fibden farm in the Parish of Hampton Lovett

Benjamin Smithin of Sherrif's Lench

Joseph Smithin of Wadborough

Whereas the said John Smithin being unable from ill health properly to manage and attend to his Farming business and being desirous of making some provisions for his wife Harriet Smithin and her children hath proposed and agreed to assign to the said Benjamin Smithin and Joseph Smithin his furniture, farming stock and other his personal effects.....

John died, aged 38, in 1867; registered at Droitwich in the March quarter.[6] In 1877 he was referred to as the 'late John Smithin of Fibden'.

At the 1881 census John's wife Harriet was described as a Widow, aged 61, and she was staying with her brother Edward Harris in Pershore.

Abbottswood Farm, Holy Cross, Worcestershire

Edward Harris, Head, unmarried, age 74,  Holy Cross, Worcester, Farmer of 250 Acres Employing 6 Men and 3 Boys

Ann Harris, Sister, unmarried, age 66, Holy Cross, Worcester,  Housekeeper Domestic    

Harriet Smithen, Sister, widow, age 61, Holy Cross, Worcester     

'Holy Cross' refers to 'Pershore Holy Cross'.

At the 1891 census Harriet was still living at Abbotswood farm.

Ann Harris, Head, Single, age 70, Farmer, born Pershore Holy Cross

Harriet Smithin, Sister, Widow, age 66, Living on own means, born Pershore Holy Cross

Elizabeth Yeomans, Servant, Widow,  age 43, servant domestic, born Hereford, Street Court

Harriet's age should be 71.

Harriet died, aged 80, on the 27th May 1902; registered at Pershore. She was living with her son John Alfred in Eckington. Probate was granted to John Alfred Smithin farmer's agent (her son) and William George Andrews, farmer, Here effects were valued at £78 9s 5d.[7]

Children of John and Harriet c.1850

John and Harriet had four children. Henry, Benjamin and Margaret and their descendants are covered in the document on Smithin family - Leeds & Nottingham.

John Smithin (1854-1912). John Alfred. The son of Benjamin and Elizabeth. He was born at Eastnor, Herefordshire in 1854; registered at Ledbury in the September quarter.[8]

John Alfred married Annie Andrews on the 24th of April 1877;  registered in the June quarter at Bromyard.[9] Annie was born in Bodenham, Herefordshire in 1841. There was a notice of the wedding in Berrow's Journal.[10]

28th April 1877 - Married. April 24th at Whitbourne John Alfred, youngest son of the late Mr John Smithin of Fibden, near Droitwich, to Ann, eldest daughter of Mr Henry Andrews, Longlands, Whitbourne, Herefordshire.

At the 1881 census John and family were living at Farm House, Eckington.[11]

John Smithin, Head, age 26, born Eastnor, Hereford, Farm Bailiff, 180 Acrses Employing 3 Men 4 Boys 1 Mason and 2 Carpenters    

Annie Smithin, Wife, age 40, born Bodenham Worcestershire

Annie Smithin, daughter,  age 2, born Eckington

M Smithin, daughter,   age 1, born Eckington

Elizabeth Andrews,   Sister In Law, unmarried, age 28, born Knightwick Worcester, Visitor    

John was described as a Farm Bailiff in Eckington in 1882.

Annie Smithin (fomerly Andrews) along with her daughters Annie and Margaret was left a bequest in the will Mary Anne Andrews of 36 Porchester Sq. London (possibly a cousin). Mary's cousin Charles Andrews lived at the Croft, Whitbourne. He was possibly the brother of Annie Smithin. Charles had two daughters Ruth and Joyce. Ruth at one time ran the Post Office in Whitbourne.[12]

At the 1891 census John and Annie were at Upper End, Eckington.[13]

John A Smithin, head, age 36, farm agent, born Herefordshire, Eastnor

Anne Smithin, wife, age 50, born Doddenham, Worcestershire

Annie Smithin, daughter, age 12, scholar, born Eckington

Maggie Smithin, daughter, age 11, scholar, born Eckington

Benjamin J Smithin, son, age 8, scholar, born Eckington

Ronold A Andrews, Nephew, age 4, born Whitbourne

At the 1901 census they were living at Upper End, Eckington.[14]

John A Smithin, head, age 46, born Eastnor Herefordshire, Farm Agent, Market Gardener

Anne Smithin, wife, age 60, born Dodenham Worcestershire

Maggie Smithin, daughter, age 21, single born Eckington

Benjamin Smithin, son, age 18, single, born Eckington, Mechanical Engineer

Harriet Smithin, mother, age 79, widow, born Pershore

Mildred J Andrews, niece, age 18, single, born Luckley Worcestershire

John Alfred died, aged 57, in 1912; registered at Upton.[15]

Children of John and Anne Andrews (c.1880)

John and Anne had three children.

Annie Smithin (1878-1953). The daughter of John and Anne. She was born in Eckington in 1878.

At the 1881 cenus, age 2, she was living at Farm House, Eckington.

At the 1891 census, age 12, she was living at home at Upper End, Eckington

At the 1901 census, aged 22, she was living at 84 Aston Road North, Aston Brook, Warwickshire.[16]

Frederick W Moorcroft, head, age 44, born Southwick Surrey, Merchant's manager

Mary S Moorcroft, wife, age 45, born Houghtwick Worcestershire

Annie Smithin, niece, age 22, born Eckington

Ele G Drinkwater, boarder, age 17, single, born Gloucester, Corn Merchant's Assistant

In later years she lived at Whitbourne. She died aged 75; registered at Croydon in the December quarter 1953.[17]

Maggie Smithin (1879-1971). The daughter of John and Anne. She was born on the 21st July 1879 at Eckington.

At the 1881 census, age 1, she was living at Farm House, Eckington.

At the 1891 census, age 11, she was living at home at Upper End, Eckington

At the 1901 census, age 21, she was living at home at Upper End, Eckington

She later lived at Whitbourne. In later years she looked after her sister Annie until she died and then moved to West Wickham to live with her brother Benjamin and his wife Margot. She died aged 90; registered at Bromley in 1971.[18]

Benjamin Smithin (1882-1966). Benjamin John. Known as Ben. The son of John and Anne. He was born at Eckington on the 27th May 1882.[19]

At the 1891 census, aged 8, he was living at home at Upper End, Eckington

At the 1901 cenus, aged 18, he was single, living at home at Upper End Eckington. His trade was described as a Mechanical Engineer.

He married Clara Saville in Lewisham in 1912; registered in the December quarter.[20] Clara died in 1946 and Benjamine married a second time to Margot on the 2nd February 1949. Margot was born on the 20th November 1913. Margot knew Ben's sisters Annie and Maggie when they lived at Whitbourne and it was there that she met Ben. Ben and Margot later lived in West Wickham.

Ben was an Engineer with the London Passenger Transport Board responsible for plant maintenance and he retired in 1947 with over 40 years service. He was a Bowls enthusiast and played at competition level. He was captain of his local club and later Vice President of the Beckenham, Bromley and District Bowling Association. He was also a keen gardener and was nationally renowned as a grower of African Violets, winning many successes at Royal Horticultural Society shows.

He collapsed and died whilst watching a match at the Temple Bowling Club in Dulwich in the first week of July 1966. He was aged 84 and his death is registered at Lambeth in the September quarter 1966.[21]

Clara Saville (1876-1946) was born Clara Harvey on the 22nd December 1876. Benjamin was her second marriage and Edward and Leslie were sons from her first marriage. Edward, who was about 12, when his mother remarried chose the name Saville Smithin and Leslie who was younger took the name Smithin.

Edward Saville Smithin (b.1900) married Dorothy Rice and they had two children; Cynthia (b.1924) and Edward (b.1926). There are three grandchildren Martin Saville Smithin, Michael Saville Smithin, Shelagh Saville Smithin.

Leslie Smithin (b.1906) married Kathleen Lowry in 1930 and they a son Frank Smithin. Frank married Barbara Perkins and they have two children; Peter Smithin and Susan Smithin.

Clara died aged 70 in 1946; registered on the Isle of Wight in the June quarter.[22]

Notes [23]

List of names

Andrews Charles

Andrews Elizabeth (b.1853)

Andrews Joyce

Andrews Mary Anne

Andrews Mildred J (b.1883)

Andrews Ronold A (b.1887)

Andrews Ruth

Drinkwater Ele G (b.1884)

Harris Ann (b.1811)

Harris Edward (b.1806)

Harris Esther (b.1835)

Harris Kezia (b.1830)

Harris Mary Anne

Harris Thomas

Horniblow Mary [nee Smithin]

Horniblow William

Lowry Kathleen

Moorcroft Frederick W (b.1857)

Moorcroft Mary S   [nee Andrews] (b.1856)

Perkins Barbara

Proctor Anne (1800-1850)

Rice Dorothy

Saville Clara (1876-1946)

Saville-Smithin Cynthia (b.1924)

Saville-Smithin Edward (1900-1968)

Saville-Smithin Edward (b.1926)

Saville-Smithin Martin

Saville-Smithin Shelagh

Saville-Smithin Michael

Smithin Annie [nee Andrews] (b.1841)

Smithin Annie (1878-1953)

Smithin Benjamin (1791-1861)

Smithin Benjamin John (1882-1966)

Smithin Elizabeth (1796-1875)

Smithin Frank

Smithin Harriet [nee Harris] (b.1822)

Smithin John (1828-1867)

Smithin John Alfred (1854-1912)

Smithin Joseph (1761-1807)

Smithin Joseph (1789-1851)

Smithin Joseph (1828-1872)

Smithin Leslie (1906-1972)

Smithin Maggie (1879-1971)

Smithin Margaret [nee Rickets] (1768-1807)

Smithin Margot [nee Robinson] (b.1913)

Smithin Peter

Smithin Susan

Smithin Thomas (1797-1843)

Smithin William (1793-1851)

Yeomans Elizabeth (b.1838)