James Smith (buried 1943)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Smith
First name: 
James
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
No
Burial number: 
1760
Born: 
30/5/1864
Died: 
16/05/1943
Buried: 
20/05/1943
Occupation: 
Sheep Farmer
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
WB
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
52
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/oiled.began.drip
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of Hannah Smith aged 70 "Sweet is the fragrance of remembrance" James Smith died 16th May 1943 aged 78 years.

Life story

Life story

James Smith was born on 30th May 1864 in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

On 24th August 1893, aged 29yrs, he married Hannah Small, 26yrs, (born Bristol) in Port Stanley, where he was a sheep farmer.

In 1899 Hannah's youngest brother, Albert Edward Small, aged 21yrs, joined them in Port Stanley to work as a shepherd on their sheep farm. In 1908 Albert married Agnes Pitaluga and had a daughter in 1909, Agnes Bessie Small, who was known as Bessie. In 1912 Albert's wife died and 3-year-old Bessie was apparently taken in by Hannah and James who had no children of their own.

The family of three lived in Port Stanley until 1920, and on their return to England they lived in Bristol, at 246, Fishponds Road, before moving to Worthing, Sussex, where they lived at a property they called The Falklands, 98, St. Lawrence Avenue, West Tarring.

James was widowed when Hannah died, aged 70yrs, on 16th September 1937 but he continued to live in Worthing, and in the 1939 register, 2 nieces, Hannah Lavinia Jefferies, and Agnes Bessie Franks, nee Small, were living with him in St. Lawrence Avenue.

At some point James moved to 74, Park Avenue, Orpington, Kent where he died, aged 78yrs, on 16th May 1943, he was buried at Heene Cemetery on 20th May.

Probate was granted to Humphrey Norman Gwynn, solicitor, and Ainslie Newton Lovell, accountant, effects, £6043 11s 4d. value 2022 - £293,500.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
30/05/1864
Parents
Mother
Mother's name: 
Martha
Mother's maiden name: 
Watson
Mother's year of birth: 
1844
Mother's year of death: 
1869
Father
Father's name: 
David Smith
Father's burial key: 
1760
Father's year of birth: 
1864
Father's year of death: 
1943
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Hannah
Spouse one last name: 
Small
Marriage one date: 
24/08/1893
Marriage one address: 
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
16/05/1943
Age (at time of death): 
78
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
74 Park Avenue, Orpington, Kent, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Humphrey Norman Gwynn status: Solicitor: Ainslie Newton Lovell status: Accountant
Probate pounds: 
£6,043

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1921 census: 

Living at 246, Fishponds Road, Eastville, Bristol, Gloucestershire. James Smith, 57yrs, Retired Sheep Farmer, wife, Hannah, 54yrs, niece, Bessie Small, 11yrs.

1939 register: 

Living at 98, St. Lawrence Avenue, Worthing, Sussex.

James Smith, retired sheep farmer.

Elizabeth Stevens, housekeeper (paid)

Agnes B. Franks, Certified Midwife, retired.

Hannah L. Jefferies, domestic duties, ARP voluntary motor driver.

Miscellaneous information

James, Hannah & Bessie Small
Hannah, James Smith and their niece Agnes in 1920

Extract from the Falklands Islands Press 1920

"Mr & Mrs James Smith, late of Great Island, have decided to settle down in Bristol, where they will be near neighbours of Mr & Mrs Wm Atkins, Snr. Many of us have reason to be grateful to Mr & Mrs Smith for acts of kindness displayed without a trace of ostentation. The farmers on the West, in particular, have asked the Editor to record their gratitude to Mr Smith for the help given them on innumerable occasions by placing the "Gleam" at their disposal and thus extricating them from difficulties, when the ordinary means of transport have for various reasons been suspended." [FIM Sep 1920]