first families 2001

Smith 'Family Stories'

By Martyn Smith, 23 March, 2010

Details
First Family Member Details
Family Stories
Family Contact, including related links

First Family Member Details

Surname:

SMITH
Given Name(s): William Henry
Occupation(s): compositor

Birth Details
Birth Town: West Teignmouth
Birth County,
Region, Province:
Devon
Birth Country: England
Birth Date: 1862

Death Details
Death Town: Melbourne
Death State/Territory: Victoria
Death Country: Australia
Death Date: 1939

Immigration Details
Air/Port Landed: unknown
Ship/Plane: Arawa
Year Arrived: 1886
Surname: BREWER
Given Name(s): Blanche Bessy Martha Mary
Occupation(s): unknown

Birth Details
Birth Town: West Teignmouth
Birth County,
Region, Province:
Devon
Birth Country: England
Birth Date: 1860

Death Details
Death Town: Parkville
Death State/Territory: Victoria
Death Country: Australia
Death Date: 1916

Immigration Details
Air/Port Landed: unknown
Ship/Plane: Arawa
Year Arrived: 1886

Family Stories

Life in Australia:

The last four of William and Blanche SMITH's six children were born in Australia.  These children were

  • George John (b1889, South Melbourne, Victoria),
  • Harriet Elizabeth (b1891, Albert Park, Victoria),
  • Elsie Maude (b1893, Albert Park, Victoria) and
  • Sydney Redvers (b1900, Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, Victoria).

First father William Henry SMITH married again following his wife Blanche's death on 10/5/1916.  In 1918 he married spinster Jessie FIELD at Geelong.  They had no children. 

Also in 1918 (15th March), Charles Henry SMITH, oldest son of William and Blanche, was killed in action in France.  Next oldest son, George, also served in the First World War.  'Related Links' below contains links to information regarding the war service of Charles and George.

Life Before Australia:

First family William and Blanche SMITH (nee BREWER) were married at Archway Road Wesleyan Chapel (Islington, Middlesex, England) on 24th December, 1881.  Two of their six children were born in England before the family migrated to Australia.  These two children were

  • Olive Blanche (b1882, The Old Quarry, West Teignmouth, Devon) and
  • Charles Henry (b1885, Tudor Road, Newton Abbot, Devon).

The contents of a 1963 letter from Shaw Savill & Albion Co. Ltd. to William's and Blanche's daughter-in-law, Eva SMITH (nee TILL), suggest that William and Blanche originally may have been destined for New Zealand.

Family Contact
Surname: SMITH
Given Name: Martyn
Email: mgswebaus@yahoo.com
Related Links: Directory of Helen and Martyn Smith's FF2001 Webpages | Official WW1 Casualty Details - Charles Henry Smith (includes link to memorial Certificate) | Charles Smith's official WW1 records. | George Smith's official WW1 records.

Last updated by Martyn SMITH on 23 March 2010.

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