Cleeve

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 and they had four sons.

Joseph's sister Ann married John Rock of Cleeve Prior and later Joseph's great grandson Joseph (b.1857) lived and farmed in Cleeve Prior.

Ann Smithin (1749-1814). The daughter of Joseph and Sarah. She was christened at Birlingham on the 16th April 1749.[1]

Ann married John Rock of Cleeve Prior on the 6th January 1771 at Norton and Lenchwick.[2] Her father left her three guineas in his Will of 1780; he died in 1785.[3]

I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Ann (Wife of John Rock of Cleeve Prior) three Guineas to be paid to her within Six Months next after my Decease.

John Rock was born in about 1746. John and Ann had at least one son John Rock christened on 19th June 1781 at Cleeve Prior.[4] There may also have been daughter Anne Smithin born on the 6th June 1770 (before they were married).[5]

We think that John and Ann Rock owned and farmed what was later called 'Top Farm'. The farm passed to their son John Rock (b.1781) and later to his daughter (born about 1815) who possibly married a Matthew Lunn. She must have inherited the farm when John Rock (junior) died in about 1869. The farm seems to have had several names over the years.[6]

Ann died on the 30th July 1814 aged 61 and her husband John died several years later on the 2nd February 1828, aged 82. They are buried together at St. Andrews, Cleeve Prior.[7]

The next Smithin we know of in Cleeve Prior was Joseph Smithin (1857-1930) who was the great grandson of Ann Rock's half brother Joseph.

Joseph Smithin (1857-1930). The son of Joseph and Charlotte. He was born on the13th August 1857[8] and was baptised on the 7th September 1857 at Birlingham.[9] [10]

His father died in 1875 when he was about 18. Joseph was listed Kelly's directory for 1878 as a farmer and landowner in Birlingham.[11]

At the 1881 census, age 23, he was living at Lower End farm, Birlingham and helping to run the farm with his mother.

Joseph married Laura Baker at St Andrew's Pershore on the 24th January 1883.[12] Laura Jane Baker (1856-1940) was christened on the 26th December 1856 at St Thomas, Portsmouth. Her parents were John and Ann Baker.

In 1883 Joseph left home and rented 'Top farm' in Cleeve Prior.[13] He probably did not have any idea that he was renting a farm originally owned by his great Aunt Ann!

Farm - Cleeve Prior, the Vale of Evesham Worcestershire - To be LET, with immediate possession, a most desirable farm consisting of 160a. 2r. 16p. of very rich and productive Arable, Meadow, Orcharding and Pasture Land. A capital Residence, two good new Fold Yards and thirteen cottages on the farm, which is in a good state of cultivation, five miles from Evesham, two miles from Bidford, and about 1 mile from Salford Priors Station on Midland Railway. For further particulars apply to Jonathon Slatter Esq. Solicitor, Stratford-upon-Avon.

You will no doubt see Mr Deer who will tell you something of the work yesterday at Cleeve. I think that the enclosed letter of Mr Smithin looks like business. I have written to say I shall see you on Monday and we can then give him a more definite reply. I will thereupon come to the office about 1/4 past 2 o'clock.

Robert Lunn was a local solicitor in Cleeve Prior and he and Jonathan Slatter were Landlords for various parts of the farm. Robert was probably a relative of the Mrs Lunn who owned the farm and he seems to have inherited part of the farm at some point. In the 1950's there were several prominent families named Slatter in the Cleeve Prior / Alcester area.

The reply from Robert Lunn to Joseph apparently arrived while Joseph was away on Honeymoon and his mother Charlotte replied saying he is away on his honeymoon and she is sure he will take the farm.

Joseph married Laura Baker at St Andrew's Pershore on the 24th January 1883. Laura Jane Baker (1856-1940) was christened on the 26th December 1856 at St Thomas, Portsmouth. Her parents were John and Ann Baker.

Part 2 - Landlords Robert Lunn the elder, Jonathon Slatter and Robert Lunn the Younger

House, Outbuildings and Gardens with orchard and 2 cottages in the occupation of J Taylor, J Collins, 0a. 2r. 13p

Part 4 - Landlords, Robert Lunn the elder, Jonathon Slatter and Robert Lunn the Younger

In all there were 13 cottages attached to the farm. Joseph apparently chose to rent two cottages close to the farm house and another cottage in the centre of the village. The yearly rent was about �485 per annum - a significant sum of money in those days.

Top Farm seems to be the combination of several different small farms sold at various times. It is sometimes called Mr Rock's Farms but there were also farms called Cleeve Farm, Slatters farm, and Silvester's farm, whether these are completely separate farms or renamings of various parcels of land as they changed hands is not clear. The Archer family who rented the farm from 1922 recall that the farmhouse had a stained glass window with the name of the Reverend Matthew Lunn (late Vicar of Kempsey died in 1857).

It is suprising that Joseph did not stay in Birlingham with his widowed mother Charlotte and run the family estate, but since his father's death in 1875 very large debts had built up and it was probably not a going concern in the depressed times for farming in the UK in 1880's. The Smithin estate was eventually sold in 1890 by public auction and there was not much money left after the various mortgages had been paid off. So although Joseph's father had left the estate to him (at market value) when his mother died, in practice he had virtually no inheritance.

Joseph and Laura had five children Laura (b.1884), Alice Maud (b.1885), Edith Margaret (b.1886), Mary Josephine (b.1887) and Joseph Arthur (b.1892).

As the following letters show Joseph was a dedicated farmer and he also had quite a lot of market garden land for cherries and strawberries. He apparently took over the farm when it was in poor condition and there is a list of the building works that needed doing when he moved in. The Dakins family had farmed it in the early 1880's.

On the front lawn of the Farm house there are two huge conifers which were apparently the first two Christmas trees they planted in 1883 and 1884 or perhaps a bit later.

Over the years there were repairs and maintenance to be done and Joseph gradually established himself in Cleeve Prior.

We have done the few repairs Mr Smithin wanted done, it was not nothing to do with the repairs done last year it was the cottage roofs and chimneys. Some struts that wanted repairing.

Will it be convenient for me to come and pay my rent on Friday July 15th 1887. I should have fixed this week only I have not finished Hay making and I do not like to leave home while it is about.

Many thanks for your kind invitation to dinner on Friday for my Wife and self which we shall be pleased to accept. Will you be at your home at 1.30 if that time will suit you. With my kind regards to Mrs Lunn and yourself.

I find that the Highway Rate is not quite the same as I stated but the two poor rate receipts exactly correspond so if you will alter it to Poor Rate in your accounts shall feel obliged and I will keep the Highway receipt till next settling. Have on hand your receipt for 18s 3d. It rained all the way home on Tuesday night but we did not get very wet.

I will call upon you next Friday afternoon if convenient to you. My wife joins me in kind regards to Mrs Lunn and your self.

I have enclosed forms for remittance of duty overpaid, shall be obliged if you will fill them up and post to the Surveyor of Jane & Co, Worcester.

Received of the trustees of Mr Charles Lunn the sum of three shillings being church rate at 1-1/2d in the pound on Cottages. Paid.

In the period from 1889 to 1891 Joseph was kept busy helping his mother with the sale of the Smithin estate.[15]

He was apparently first involved on the 26th March 1889 when he went to visit a Solicitor (A R Hudson, of Worcester) that his mother Charlotte had consulted earlier and in general seems to have been rather doubtful about the sale - but it took some time for the true size of the debts to become apparent and eventually there was no other option but to sell the estate and pay off all the debts.

It took more than 5 years for everything to be finally settled and his mother retired to Cheltenham (she was about 60 or even a few years older in 1890). The sale of the Smithin estate is described in a separate document. As part of the process Joseph had to sign away his right of first refusal on the Smithin estate.

Whereas under the Codicil dated the 8^th day of September 1872 to the Will of my late Father Joseph Smithin (which Will and Codicil were proved in the Worcester District Registry on the 20^th day of October 1875) I am authorised to take to at a valuation in the usual way on the death of my Mother Charlotte Smithin the Freehold house and premises in which my said Father formerly resided together with the freehold land and cottages in Birlingham which my said Father inherited from his later Father. And whereas my said Mother as Executrix of the said Will and in virtue of my said Father having by his said Will charged his real estate with the payment of his debts some of which are still unpaid has agreed to sell to you the freehold messuage known as ‘Avonside’ in which my said Father resided at the time of his death and certain lands adjoining containing together 15a. 1r. 5p at the price of (including timber) of One thousand five hundred and twenty seven pounds seventeen shillings. Now I hereby assent to the said sale and waive my right to purchase the said premises under the authority contained in the said Codicil. Dated this eleventh day of October One thousand eight hundred and ninety.

Another aspect of dealing with the Smithin estate was that Joseph's Aunt Sarah had lent her brother (Joseph's father) �2,000 at interest but had subsequently gone into the County Asylum at Barnwood in Gloucester. Joseph and his Aunt Mary became Trustees of the money that was paid back to Sarah when the estate was sold and used it to look after Sarah in the Asylum.

Beatrice E Hare, Governess, single, age 26, Governess School, Llanguicke?, Glamorgan

Ellen Riley, servant, single, age 21, Servant domestic, Binton, Worcestershire

Elizabeth Rowland, servant, single, age 13, Servant Housemaid, Hampton, Worcestershire

At the 1901 census they were living at 'Right hand side main street' Cleeve prior.[17]

Daisy K Joynes, servant, single, age 17, Housemaid Domestic, born Dorn Gloucester

In later years Joseph became a Councillor and School Governor in Cleeve Prior and was a well known and distinguished member of the community and quite a character. At one point he refused to allow a reading club for men to learn or read at night saying he thought it did not do to educate the working classes! At another time he is identified but not by name as having the ancient parish chest in his kitchen with potatoes in it![18]

Joseph was also the Chairman of Evesham Rural District Council. Kelly's directory for 1900, 1904 and 1908 shows Joseph Smithin, farmer at Cleeve Prior.[19]

In October 1903 Joseph was involved with his brother Hubert and his Aunt Mary in dealing with the Administration for his Aunt Sarah who died on the 11th October, that year.[20]

In September 1921 Joseph acted as Executor of his Aunt Mary's will. She died in Cheltenham on the 25th September. Her estate was quite substantial �1,741, and was left equally between her nephews and nieces, including Joseph and Hubert.[21]

Joseph must have decided to retire from Farming in about 1922 as the Archer family took up the tenancy then and Don Archer later bought the farm. Joseph would have been 65 in 1922.

In 1925 he wrote on behalf of the Govenors to Miss Roberts the head teacher expressing thanks for her work.[22]

We do not know where Joseph lived in Cleeve Prior for the last eight years of his life.

Joseph died on the 17th April 1930, aged 73, and is buried at Cleeve Prior.[23] His will was proved by his son Joseph Arthur and his effects were valued at �5,514 6s 11d.[24] The Executors were originally his son Joseph and Cyril Goode his son-in-law which was set up in 1926 but a Codicil in 1928 replaced Cyril Goode as he had 'recently died' with the other sons-in-law William Lionel Moore and Hedley Spitall. Joseph left his estate in Trust for his surviving children (Joseph, Laura, Edith, Alice) equally after his wife Laura's death.

" ...I bequeath the use and enjoyment of my furniture pictures prints plate linen china glass and other household effects to my dear wife Laura Jane Smithin ..."

Laura died at Highfield, Blackwell near Bromsgrove on the 24th February 1940, aged 84.[25] [26] Highfield was possibly a hospital for the elderly at Bromsgrove. Probate was granted to her son Joseph Arthur and William Lionel Moore. Her effects were valued at �1,276 18s. 2d.[27] She was buried at Cleeve Prior.

Laura Smithin (b.1884). Laura Charlotte. The daughter of Joseph and Laura. She was born at Cleeve Prior in 1884; registered at Evesham in the March quarter.[28]

Laura married William Lionel Moore, a batchelor, aged 34, at St Andrew's Church in Cleeve Prior on the 9th November 1911. Lionel Moore was a hop grower of West Worcestershire who was well known in country circles at the time. His father was William Moore a farmer from Shelsey Beauchamp, Worcestershire. The witnesses to the marriage were Joseph Smithin and Felicia M Moore who was probably William's mother.[29] [30]

In 1930 William Lionel Moore was living at Church House, Shelsey Beauchamp, and was described as a Farmer.

Edith Smithin (b.1885). Edith Margaret. The daughter of Joseph and Laura. She was born in 1885 at Cleeve Prior; registered at Evesham in the June quarter.[31]

Edith married Cyril Frederick Goode, a batchelor, aged 30, at St Andrew's Church. Cleeve Prior on 11th July 1911, only a few months before here sister Laura. Cyril was a manufacturing jeweller from Moseley, Birmingham, as was his father Albert Conrad Goode. The witnesses were Joseph and Laura and Marion? C Goode who was probably Cyril's mother.[32] [33]

Alice Smithin (b.1886). Alice Maud. The daughter of Joseph and Laura. She was born in Cleeve Prior in 1886; registered at Evesham in the June quarter.[34]

At the 1891 census, aged 5, Alice was at home in Cleeve Prior. Alice married Hedley Spitall in 1906.[35]

In 1930 Hedley Spitall was living at Hampsted Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham and is described as a Jewellery Manufacturer.

Mary Smithin (b.1887). Mary Josephine. The daughter of Joseph and Laura. She was born in Cleeve Prior in 1887; registered at Evesham in the June quarter.[36]

Josephine did not marry and suffered from Tuberculosis. She was a patient for several years at the specialist Warneford hospital, St Clements, in Oxford. She died at the Warneford Hospital, Headington on the 12th March 1925; registered at Headington (near Oxford) in the March quarter.[37] She is buried at Cleeve Prior with her parents. Joseph was present at the death and registered it.

Joseph's younger brother (Sidney b.1862) lived and worked in Oxford but we do not know if he had any contact with Josephine at that time.

Administration was granted to Joseph Smithin, farmer and her effects were valued at �86 15s 8d.[38]

There is some confusion between Mary Josephine and Josephine Mary in the records but we think they only refer to one person.

Joseph Smithin (1892-1970). Joseph Arthur. The son of Joseph and Laura. He was born at Cleeve Prior in 1892; registered at Pershore in the June quarter.[39]

Joseph joined the Warwickshire Yeomanry on the 10th March 1911; a part time Cavalry regiment.[40] On the application he described himself as a Farmer employed by his father. He gave his age as 18 years 9 months; in fact he was 17. On the medical report his height was given as 5 feet 9 inches. Between 1911 and 1914 he did annual training at Warwick or Bulford Camp (in Wiltshire). He started as a Private and was then a Lance Corporal and promoted to Corporal on the 5th Septmeber 1914 and to an Acting Sergeant on the 6th April 1915.

He was discharged from the Yeomanry on the 11th September 1915 to take up a temporary Commission in the 4th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment on the 12th September 1915; published in the London Gazette on 27th November 1915.

He applied for his Commission from Chatby Camp, Alexandria, Egypt where he had been posted with D Company of the Warwickshire Yeomanry as part of the Expeditionary Force, Egypt from the 11th April 1915.

The Worcestershire Regiment and Warwickshre Yeomanry had been in Egypt and then in Gallipoli, Turkey and arrived back in Egypt on the 26th February 1915.

Joseph was accepted and had the rank of 2nd Lieutentant; the 4th Battalion had left for France in March 1915 and Joseph joined them there.

In 1916 Joseph suffered from severe case of Impetigo and was sent from France (Havre) to England, Osbourne on the Isle of Wight. He left his unit on the 19th July 1916 and embarked on the Galika for England on 25th July 1916 arriving at Southampton on the 26th July 1916.

The illness had cleared up by the end of August. A Medical report of 23rd August 1916 reads:-

After serving in Egypt and Gallipoli he went to France and was invalided for Impetigo which was followed by a severe spreading dermatitis involving the face and neck and had now practically recovered.

He would be fit for duty in another 2 months and seems to have returned to his unit around 26th October 1916.

In May 1917 he was with the 1st Battalion and was involved in an action at Bouchavesnes on the Somme in France. The description of the 11th May reads:[41]

"The attack was immediately successful. The German Front line, 'Pallas Trench', was entirely overrun and the attack swept onward to their further objective, 'Fritz Trench', the German second line. Led by Captain N H Stone, Lieutenant R A O'Donovan and 2nd/Lieut. J A Smithin the Worcestershire platoons charged 'Fritz Trench'. There was a short but desperate struggle."

Apparently they then held the position for the rest of the day under very heavy bombardment and there were over 200 casualties. He and the other two officers were later awarded the Military Cross for this action. His award of the Military cross was listed in the London Gazette on the 11th May 1917.

For conspicuous gallanty and devotion to duty. He led his platoon in a most gallant manner and personally reconnoitred an enemy trench. Later he, single handed, attacked and captured two enemy. He was subsequently wounded.

Joseph was already a temporary Captain and was promoted to Captain on the 15th August 1917.

There was a strong German counter attack over a wide front in March 1918 (the great German counter offensive) and Joseph was with the 1st Battalion in a defensive action at Pargny in France. He was wounded along with several others on the 24th March 1918.

A later medical board (possibly on April 19th) described that he was hit in the foot by a bullet but the injury was not serious and he was almost recovered.

Please accept this my application for a gratuity in lieu of my wound. I was hit through the right foot on March 24th. The result being the tendons of the foot were strained. Through not being able to walk much I have been put to considerable inconvenience and expense. Also there is every likeness that I shall have periodical pain for some considerable time.

Paperwork and medical checks went on until the case appears to have gone to the Ministry of Pensions on the 22nd October 1919.

Joseph was released from the Army on the 12th April 1919. He was listed as in the 4th Battalion in October 1919 serving with the service Battalions with the Rank of Acting Captain. He may finally have left the Regiment as a Major.

Along with the Military Cross he would also have received the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.

Joseph married Emmeline L C Mayer 1920; registered at Evesham in the March quarter.[42] This is probably the Emmeline Mayer who was born in Walsall in 1892. Joseph and Emmeline had one son who died as an infant on the 23rd May 1929. There is a memorial in Cleeve Prior.[43]

In 1930 Joseph dealt with the probate for his father's Will and in 1940 dealt with the probate for his mother's Will. In 1930 Jospeh Arthur was living at Marcliff Farm, Bidford on Avon and is described as a Farmer.

In 1940 Joseph was described as a Hotel Propietor and later (probably after 1947) he moved to Norton and ran a hotel there and was also working as an Agricultural salesman.. He attended the funeral of his cousin John Smithin in January 1953.

Emmeline suffered from rare form of cancer and in later years was quite ill. Diana (John Smithin's daughter) remembers visiting her and seeing her often laid up in bed; this would have been in the mid 1940's. Emmeline donated her body to medical science. She died on the 14th February 1947, aged 55. There is a memorial at St Andrews, Cleeve Prior.

Joseph died on the 6th January 1970; registered in Wells in the March quarter.[44] He was living at 11 King's Castle Road, Wells, Somerset and was described as a Farmer (retired). He died of a Coronary Thrombosis aged 78. The informant was Douglas Hedley Spital of Truro Cornwall; his nephew.[45]

In about 1928 Hubert Smithin and his wife Ethel retired to Cleeve Prior. Hubert was the younger brother of Joseph (b.1857); the uncle of Joseph Arthur. Hubert and Ethel lived in a cottage in the centre of the village called 'The Thatch', which had a thatched roof. This might have been one of the cottages originally rented by Joseph; possibly the one in the centre of the village occupied by a John Smith in 1883.

Hubert died in 1942 and Ethel went to live with their son John (b.1908) in Bidford on Avon. Hubert and Ethel's older son Charles (b.1906) moved into the village with his wife Alma Lloyd[46]. Charles and Alma were married in 1947. They bought cottage and it was renamed as Woodbine cottage. Charles was an Antiques dealer and furniture restorer and is well remembered in the village. He had a small workshop at Bengeworth, Evesham. They had one daughter Charlotte born in Cleeve Prior in 1952.

In 1951 John Smithin (the son of John Smithin) was given a christening Bible by Margaret Slatter of Cleeve Prior who was a good friend of Ethel Oxley.[47]

John Smithin
from Margaret Slatter
his Grandmother's friend
Christmas 1951

Alma had died in 1979 and Charles died in 1984.[48] This was the final link between Cleeve Prior and the Smithin family.

[1] IGI Ann Smithin, christening, Birlingham 1749

[2] IGI Ann Smithin, marriage, Norton & Lenchwick, 1771

[3] WRO: Will of Joseph Smithin (1761-1807)

[4] IGI John Rock, christening, Cleeve Prior 1781

[5] IGI Anne Smithin, christening, Norton, 1770 (Father Smithin, Mother Anne ?)

[6] Family information from Elizabeth Newman

[7] Memorial St Andrews, Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire

[8] WRO: 705:358 2193 31 (iii) - (v)

[9] IGI Joseph Smithin, christening, Birlingham 1857

[10] GRO Births, Joseph Smithin, Sep. 1857, 6c

[11] Kelly's Directory, Birlingham, Worcestershire 1878

[12] GRO Marriages, Joseph Smithin, Mar. 1883, Pershore 6c 403

[13] WRO: WRO 705:870 803 4 (i) - (ii)

[14] Kelly's Directory, Worcestershire 1884

[15] WRO: WRO 705:358 32 (i)-(v)

[16] 1891 Census UK, Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire

[17] 1901 Census UK, Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire

[18] Family information from Elizabeth Newington

[19] Kelly's Directory Worcestershire, 1900,1904, 1908

[20] National Index of Wills from 1858, Sarah Smithin 1903

[21] National Index of Wills from 1858, Mary Smithin 1921

[22] WRO: 705:118 10665 (xxvii)

[23] Memorial at St Andrew's Cleeve Prior, 1930

[24] National Index of Wills from 1858, Joseph Smithin 1930

[25] Memorial at St Andrew's Cleeve Prior, 1940

[26] GRO Deaths, Laura J Smithin, Mar. 1940, Bromsgrove 6c 796

[27] National Index of Wills from 1858, Laura J Smithin 1940

[28] GRO Births, Laura C Smithin, Mar. 1884, Evesham 6c 337

[29] Marriage certificate, Laura Smithin 1911

[30] GRO Marriages, Laura C Smithin, Dec.1911, Evesham 6c 601

[31] GRO Births, Edith Smithin, Jun. 1885, Evesham 6c 358

[32] Marriage certificate of Edith Smithin 1911

[33] GRO Marriages, Edith M Smithin, Sep. 1911, 6c 561

[34] GRO Births, Alice Smithin, Jun. 1886, Evesham 6c 332

[35] GRO Marriages, Alice Smithin, Sep. 1906, Evesham 6c 517

[36] GRO Births, Mary Josephine Smithin, Jun. 1887, Evesham 6c 33

[37] GRO Deaths, Josephine M Smithin, 38, Mar. 1925, Headington, 3a 1313

[38] National Index of Wills from 1858, Josephine Smithin 1925

[39] GRO Births, Joseph Arthur Smithin, Jun. 1892, Pershore 6c 365

[40] PRO: WO 339/44596

[41] History of the Worecestershire Regiment

[42] GRO marriages, Joseph Smithin, Mar. 1920, Evesham 6c 329

[43] Memorial, St. Andrews, Cleeve Prior Worcestershire, 1929

[44] GRO deaths, Joseph Smithin, Mar. 1970, Wells 7c 1475

[45] Death certificate of Joseph Arthur Smithin, 1970

[46] GRO births, Charles Smithin, Jan. 1907, Evesham

[47] Family information from John Smithin

[48] GRO deaths, Charles Oxley Smithin, Apr. 1984, Evesham 29 241

[49] Notes:-

GRO - General Register Office Index for Births, Marriages, Deaths

IGI - International Genealogical Index

WRO - Worcestershire Record Office