Biography of Thomas Smith

Malcolm Smith's Family History Archive

Biography of

Thomas SMITH

[Ref. P.42]

Thomas was born on 5 January 1850 at Shoreham, Kent, the ninth child in a family of ten. The birth was registered by his mother at Shoreham on 23 January. In 1861 the family were living in Romney Street in Shoreham.

The entry for Thomas in the census of 1871 shows him lodging with the family of his sister Fanny and her husmand Kipps Baldwin at High Street, Eynsford. At that time his occupation was given as a Gardener. Thomas married Mary Humble at the parish church of Sutton-at-Hone on 27 September 1873 at which time his occupation was a gardener. They had nine children, all born at Eynsford between 1874 and 1894.

In 1881 Thomas and Mary were living at 3 New Row, High Street, Eynsford and his occupation was shown as fishmonger. According to verbal testament, Thomas worked as a porter in Billingsgate market. The colloquial name for that job was bummarree, the name originating from bum-boats in which purveyors took vegetables, meat, fish etc to sell to ships in the river. Whether or not he sold fish in Eynsford is not known.

In 1891 they were living at 7 High Street, Eynsford and Thomas' occupation was still fishmonger. The 1901 census showed them living at 6 Gibsons Cottages, Eynsford, but by this time he was a Wood Dealer, most likely employing sons William and Ernest, both of whom were still living at home.

It is reputed that Thomas liked his 'pint of beer' and it was also thought that he was landlord of the Malt Shovel public house. However, research does not support this and it is more likely that he either served there or was a regular customer. His family were friends with the Brice family, farmers and publican of the Five Bells public house.

Thomas died on 16 January 1911 at Eynsford at which time he had been living at Malt Shovel cottages in Eynsford. His son Sydney James Smith had been present at the death and registered it the following day at Farningham.

Top of page