Joseph Smith (2 Apr 1854 - 30 Jun 1834) ROBERT AND LUCY SMITH'S CHILD
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| Joseph Smith (2 April 1854 - 30 June 1834) |
Joseph Smith was born on 2 April 1854 in Burghfield (pronounced Berf-field), Berkshire, England to Lucy Dore (nee Smith) and Robert Smith. Joseph was baptised on the 30 April 1854 at Saint Mary's Church, Burghfield, Berkshire, England.
English census' at show the following:
1871 - Aged 16 working at the Sulhamstead Abbotts Post Office as a servant/apprentice.
The day after his 21st birthday, Joseph Smith married Eliza Rowlinson, aged 20, on 3 April 1875 at the Parish Church of Sulhamstead Abbotts, Berkshire, England. Eliza's residence is listed as Saint George's Pimlico, probably where she was working for the Erskine's at the time. Joseph is listed as a Baker. Both of their fathers were listed as labourers and one of the official witnesses to the marriage was Agnes Rowlinson, Eliza's sister.
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| Joseph Smith and Eliza Rowlinson's marriage certificate |
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| Inside the Sulhamstead Abbotts Church |
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| Inside the Sulhamstead Abbotts Church |
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| Hespirides ship |
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| Passenger List of Hespirides with Joseph and Eliza's name on it. |
They arrived in Adelaide on 3 August 1875. When they arrived at Port Adelaide, Joseph's brother, Henry, met them with his dray and a big black horse called Ted.
Henry had immigrated previously and bought land from the South Australian Company for 2 shillings per acre at Sellick's Hill, south of Adelaide.
Extract from "The Advertiser" 4 August 1875 - Arrival of the Hesperides with Immigrants
"The arrival of the Hespirides, which took place on Tuesday August 3rd has been a matter of expectation during the last few days and although the passage has scarcely equalled Capt. Upton's anticipation, head winds and calms being antagonists against which seamanship is powerless, the result under adverse circumstances proves what the craft could do when winds are more propitious. The light breeze which brought her up the gulf deserted her altogether when abreast of Glenelg and she dropped anchor in about 7 fathoms with the Union Jack half masted at the fore.
Harbourmaster Dagwell put off immediately with a boats crew and a boarding, the melancholy news was obtained that when two days sail from the line the doctor (Dr. Blood) died.
Although thus deprived in a great measure of medical assistance, the Hespirides has brought out as healthy and as well selected a set of immigrants as any ship has landed on these shores. Some few deaths have occured, but nothing on the bill of health will prevent a speedy transfer of the immigrants from their present home to the more congenial atmosphere of shore. As the vessel lay off the Bay a finer craft in appearance could not be desired, and with the exception of the usual weather worn appearance of her hull which a brush of paint will soon rectify, everything below and aloft seemed in as good preservation as if she had only just left port.
On board care and discipline were evident and the courteous demeanour of Captain and Officers was an assurance that the time had not been spent unhappily during the voyage. The Matron also, Mrs. Rodgers much credit is due.
At sunset the Hespirides again was underway for Port Adelaide with a very light wind, Mr. Dagwell remaining on board.
The Hespirides said from Plymouth on the 14th May having on board 396 emmigrants, assisted and free.
There were 38 married couples, 146 single men, 121 single women, 17 boys under 12, 26 girls under 12 and 10 infants. The occupations are classified as follows:
57 agricultural labourers, 2 bricklayers, 6 bakers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 bootmaker, 2 coachbuilders, 7 carpenters, 9 cooks, 1 charwoman, 1 coachpainter, 101 domestic servants, 3 engine fitters, 1 engineer, 1 file cutter, 5 gardeners, 1 groom, 1 hairdresser, 1 harnessmaker, 1 iron moulder, 72 labourers, 4 mechanics, 2 masons, 3 miners, 5 nursemaids, 1 printer, 1 tinman, 2 tailors, 1 slater, 1 storemen, 1 laundress."
Extract from "The Advertiser" 6 August 1875
"The Hespirides was towed up to the Port on Thursday afternoon when quite a sensation was created by the crowd of persons assembled on the wharves. The single woman had been previously transferred to the tug and as soon as the vessel was moored the steamer came alongside the wharf and the passengers proceeded to the Railway Station and from thence to town by the 6.45 train."
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| Brothers Henry and Joseph Smith |
The brothers were short men and so Joseph, who went first to live with Henry and work the farm, found it too hard pushing the large heavy equipment and so decided to move closer to the city.
Soon after arriving Eliza had become pregnant with their first child Lucy who was born on 27 June 1876.
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| Joseph Smith |
- Lucy Catherine Ashmeade (nee Smith) (1876-1948)
- Robert Stewart Smith (1878-1908)
- Eliza Agnes Smith (1880-1881)
- Charles Henry Smith (1883-1960)
- Ernest Smith (1885-1966)
- Horace Joseph Smith (1887-1976)
- Leonard Rowlinson Smith (1889-1968)
- Edith Emeline Doubtfire (nee Smith) (1891-1977)
- Ruby Myrtle Doubtfire (nee Smith) (1893-1974)
- George Clarence Smith (1895-1962)
- William Rufus Smith (1898-1898)
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| Joseph and Eliza's family with step mother Jane Back - Robert, Len, Charles, Ernest, Horace Front - Edie, Lucy, JOSEPH, George, Jane, Ruby |
Joseph became a grocery shop proprietor. The ownership of the shop was transferred to him in 1900. It was described as a shop and house of five rooms built of stone and brick. Certificate of Title 261/71.
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| The shop at Parkside - Photo taken about 1890 |
Alfred James Rowlinson Smith in 1993 reminisced about the old shop - "We used to come up on the train, I think it was Friday night. We never got a meal at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's at Leicester Street, at the shop. Don't know why. Anyway, we seemed to come up there and get our groceries and walk back right down Young Street to catch the train to Wayville. Of course, I was so big and Doris was small. I used to have to piggy back her half the time and Dad [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] had a big kit bag on his shoulder going back again with the groceries. When we went back on the Friday night quite often Joseph would walk nearly down to the Wayville train with us and then turn around and come back and go along Unley Road. Every night he used to go onto the Billiards Salon on Unley Road and play billiards. Everybody knew him in there.
But we didn't have electric light. Gas lamps I think, in the shop. It was open Friday nights you see. And in the back room, the shop was built on the front of the house first and the front window was still there that shone into the shop. They didn't have a light in there because they never used it; because you had to go in and get used to the light and all the family would be in the sitting room. But you had to find your way because the light down in the shop. They didn't have a light in that room so you had to see your way down there. Everybody came to get their groceries on Friday night. And the shop was open until 9 o'clock Friday night and 1 o'clock Saturdays. Only Joseph and Grandma [Janie] served in the shop - just the two of them.
Joseph had kind of a box on two wheels with a seat behind him and he used to deliver on that. But when he lost his first wife he had a stroke, then he had a stiff hand.
If you needed any nails on the roof, up the ladder Janie went. Well, she did that, 12 months before she died, I think, she was doing something on the roof. Used to make her own soap. She was a hard worker. She's the one who ran the shop. Poor old Grandpa would say "If you haven't got the money, don't start"
He had a horse down the backyard. And a cart. Jammed down the back corner. And he also had all his poultry, the Indian game, he used to import those. And fox terrier dogs, I think he used to import them. He imported a lot of stuff. He was tangled up with the Royal Show for years and years.
According to Joseph's grandson Alfred, Joseph played football for the Sturt Football Club.
On 7 August 1897, Joseph won prizes for his Orpington Cock and Hen at the Dog and Poultry Society.
On 4 February 1898, Eliza Smith (nee Rowlinson) died. It is believed she died from blood poisoning after childbirth (William Rufus Smith's birth).
Joseph had a stroke after Eliza died. He took it very hard after Eliza died. The stroke affected the use of his left hand by making it very stiff. A Frenchman called Masooey??? in Hindley Street treated Joseph, and kindly never charged him.
On Wednesday 9 February 1898, "The Advertiser" of Adelaide wrote: "SMITH - On the 4th February, at Leicester Street, Parkside, Eliza, the beloved wife of Joseph Smith, aged 43 years. A fond wife, a loving mother."
One year later on Saturday 4 February 1899, "The Advertiser" of Adelaide wrote: "IN MEMORIAM - SMITH - In loving memory of Eliza, the beloved wife of Joseph Smith, of Leicester Street, Parkside, and daughter of William Rowlinson, Pampisford, Cambridge, England, who died February 4th, 1898."He took her death very hard and became paralysed in the left arm after the stroke. A Frenchman in Hindley Street (friend of a friend) worked on it and made it much better. Joseph was never charged for this.
After Eliza died, Joseph joined the Baptist who had been very helpful. Reverend McCulloch from the Baptist Union was a great support.
Joseph couldn't care for his children so his niece Jane (Henry's daughter) came to look after them. He married her. She had worked for Everards as a maid servant? (big house still on Anzac Highway, Adelaide) and she remained friendly with them, having some of their birthdates in her birthday book.
They married on 11 June 1900 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Joseph had always walked long distances, every night to the billard saloon, to the station with the family when they returned home from visiting and around the district.
Janie had brains and strength. She paid for the shop front to add to their house in Parkside and she created the grocery business which she ran. She was still climbing up ladders, nailing things where needed and was still working very hard till not long before she passed away. She was an excellent manager and controller and is said to have had plenty of money.
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| The shop front on Leicester Street, Parkside, owned by Joseph Smith and his second wife Jane Smith |
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| The shop front on Leicester Street, Parkside, owned by Joseph Smith and his second wife Jane Smith |
These were Black Orpington Sussex fowls. Also he imported Halesbury ducks and Fox Terrier dogs (had a champion dog called Sparks - a savage dog).
He was friends with the Shanks family of Aldgate and sent Len there to work when he was young.
On Thursday 8 June 1905, "The Register" newspaper of Adelaide writes: "MOUNT BARKER. June 3.- The poultry club are pushing on with the arrangements, for their second annual show, to be held here on August 11 and 12. At a meeting of the committee last night it was decided to ask Messre. T. Blee (Payneham), Joseph Smith (Parkside), D. F. Laurie (Adelaide), and S. Cope to act as judges. A good number of special cash prizes have been offered to the club."
On Tuesday 31 March 1908, "The Register" newspaper of Adelaide writes: "BROKEN HILL - Mr Joseph Smith of Parkside, has been appointed judge of dogs and poultry at the Silver City Show."
On Tuesday 18 January 1910, "The Advertiser" newspaper of Adelaide writes: "A committee meeting of tile South Australian British Terrier Club was held at the National Hotel, Pirie street, on Saturday evening Mr J Smith presided. It was unanimously resolved to hold a puppy show for wire and smooth haired Fox Terriers in February, for which substantial prizes have been donated. It was further decided to award a special prize to the best Terrier puppy other than the above classes. No puppies will be eligible that have won either a first 0rFix this text second prize at any previous show. Messrs R Bamfield, B Serymgour, and W MacKintosh were elected members."
At some point Joseph's niece came to live in Australia. Her name was Sarah Anne Smith (Annie) and was Joseph and Henry's brother William's daughter. This photo was taken around 1910 although we are unsure of who some of the people are.
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| Sarah Anne Smith (Joseph's niece, William's daughter) came out to Australia. Standing left to right are: Len Smith, Joseph Smith, Horace Smith. |
On Saturday 13 November 1915, "The Mail" newspaper of Adelaide writes: "THE ALL-GAME CLUB - THE ALL-GAME CLUB - The first monthly meeting of the newly formed All Game Club of South Australia was held at the National Hotel last Saturday evening. when there was a large and enthusiastic attendance of members. The meeting was purely a business one, as the evening was taken up in dealing with the hundred and one details incidental to the formation of a new club. The following members were elected as a working committee: — Messrs. R. Searson, W. G. Goodenough. and J. Smith, representing the Malay section; E. Whitington and W. H. Brown. Old English and Modern Game: C. B. Coleman. Indian Game: E. Tilet. Bantams: W. H. Brown, treasurer C. H. Snow, Farrant street, Prospect. hon. secretary. The birth of this club was the funeral of the old Malay Breeders of South Australia Club, whose members, in a true sporting spirit, agreed to sink their identity in that of the new club with a view to extending their sphere of usefulness and to encourage the breeding improvement of all classes of game fowls instead of only one section as in the past, and to judge by the interest taken in Saturday's meeting the new club promises to be a live concern."
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1932 - Joseph on his bike (note his left arm suffered from stroke), Grandma Jane and Edna Ashmeade. Two years before his death. Latest photo found of Joseph Smith. Found in 2024. |
In spite of his years, Mr Smith can be seen daily pedalling his bicycle from Parkside to the city and back.
Born on April 2, 1852, at Burghfield Common, near Reading, Berkshire, England, he began work as a shephard boy, and before he was 12 he acted as carter boy behind a team of plough horses. Later he was apprenticed to a baker and grocer at Southamstead [Sulhamstead], Berkshire. When he was 21 he left for South Australia on May 10, 1875. The trip took 80 days.
He travelled in the Hesperides (Captain Upton) on its maiden voyage. They landed to Port Adelaide on August 2, 1875. He worked successively for Messrs. A & W D Thomas, Mr P McRostie and Mr C Everett, with whom he remained for 22 years. Mr Smith then began business on his own account.
In his young days Mr Smith was keenly interested in poultry and dogs, and it was natural that he should continue this in Australia. He joined the South Australian Poultry and Kennel Club in 1881, and is now the oldest and a life member of the club.
As a foundation member of the British Terrier Club, and also the All-Game Club, his services have frequently been in request, and he has assisted as steward at the Royal Show and as a judge at Broken Hill.
Mr Smith has a family of eight children living, 29 grandchildren, and five great-grand children."
Joseph died of heart failure on 30 June 1934, aged 80, at his home at 138 Leicester Street, Parkside, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
He'd been to see Sturt play in the afternoon, having played football for them as a younger person. (Len never played for them because he couldn't get time off the railways).
According to one of Joseph's daughter's Edith (Edie), "Joseph died after he came home from his evening walk. He had been over to Bess's and he had said it was cold. We had been to see a wedding, he was a bit worn out. He had had a bit of a cold before. Anyway, when we got home, he wound the clock up, went to the toilet, came back, sat on the edge of the bed and fell dead to the floor."
Grandma Jane had heard him groan, but she couldn't see him when he fell because he was such a short man.
In "The Advertiser" newspaper dated Tuesday 3 July 1934 is his obituary. It states: "Mr J. Smith, of Leicester street, Parkside who died suddenly on Saturday night, aged 80, was bom at Burghfield Common, near Reading, Berkshire. He arrived in South Australia in 1875 and worked successively for Messrs. A. and W. D. Thomas. Mr. F. McRostie, and Mr. C. Everett, remaining with the lastnamed for 22 years, when he began business on his own account at Parkside. Until the day of his death he had regularly ridden his bicycle on his business round. In his young days in England Mr Smith was keenly interested in dogs and poultry, and he joined the South Australian Poultry and Kennel Club in 1881, being the oldest and a life member of that club. He was also a foundation member of the British Terrier Club and the All Game Club, and he was frequently judge of poultry at the Royal Show and at Broken Hill. He had a family of eight children, and there are 29 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren."
He is buried with his brother, Henry, and Janie in the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Flinders Block, Row 10, Allotment 3 East).
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| Joseph, Henry and Janie's grave |
When Joseph died, Jane his wife took over the shop. The property was valued at 530 pounds and was managed by the public Trustee. Jane SMITH became the occupier.
After Jane's death, Michael James ENGLISH bought the property for 655 pounds.
Apparently the original owner in 1880/1881 was a James SMITH, grocer. He was the owner/occupier of the property the value of which was increased from 12 pounds to 16 pounds. Although there is no description of the building, after this year J. SMITH is described as a storekeeper and in some years the buildings are described as a shop and dwelling.This information, I believe, came from the flyer which was produced when the building was sold in the early 1990s and finally demolished to make way for two town houses.
In the Advertiser of 29 April 1950, it reads "Trustee in the estate of Joseph Smith, deceased. PARKSIDE, 138 Leicester Street, Shop and Dwelling of 4 rooms, Galv, iron kitchen, wood stove etc. Outside - tank, 2 galv. iron sheds, 5 fowl pens and land 40 foot by 164 feet with right of way at rear.
Haven't been able to establish a link between James SMITH and our family but we think they made an error and it was Joseph not James.
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