The mystery of Sidney Smith

Subject: The mystery of Sidney Smith Mon 3 Sep 2007 - 15:03

Sidney Smith was born 13 September 1874. In L'pool Lancs.

In 1881 he was living at 23a Roscommon St with his parents and family.
In 1891 his parents had died and he was living with his brother Hugh in Everton, L'pool and is described as a 'telegraph messenger'. The information passed down to me is that he died in 1900 in Ceylon but I believe that to be incorrect. I have found someone else in the family who died there and then but can find no death certificate which fits Sidney.

I have found a Sidney Smith in 1901 census at Aldershot barracks in RAMC but need more evidence that this is my Sidney because it was a common name at the time.

If anyone can shed any light on this mystery I shall be most grateful.
Thanks Gillian

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Wed 17 Oct 2007 - 10:49

MikeS wrote:

I to have a Sidney in my line as well. He is -

SIDNEY SMITH
born 1857? unknown location (This date may be wrong)
Married 28 May 1877, St Lukes, Brierfield
Died in 1950s location unknown UK

He had a son - SYDNEY SMITH
born circa 1875
Married 1900

Searching for a Smith in Lancs in the 1800s is a very difficult proposition as we all know and this is why I have little information on these two.

Hi Mike S!

I have a brother called Mike (Smith) as well! It doesn't really sound as though our Smiths are closely related because my Sidney's father was George b Cheshire m. St Bride's Liverpool to Mary Lightfoot b. Cheshire.

I am not sure where Brierfield is? Please can you clarify that for me Mike ? Your Sidney lived to a grand old age didn't he? Do you know whether Sydney was born in Liverpool or not?

I think you avatar is wonderful! I won't ask whether it is a portrait! Whereabouts in New Zealand are you? I have visited both islands and think it is an amazing country with a huge variety of scenary and climate.

I am aware that this reply poses more questions than answers! However, if you think I can help you at all let me know. I am out here in Spain for 3 more weeks but once I return to the UK I am in a better position to help you.

Anyway keep chatting and eventually we may both find a 'lost cousin'. I have found one in America recently so it does happen.

Cheers :cheers: Gillian

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''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Thu 18 Oct 2007 - 12:18

MikeS wrote:

Brierfield is near Burnley in Lancs. Personally I have not been to the UK as can never afford such luxuries.

My location is in the central North island and our town is currently calling itself HOBBITON since part of the Lord of the Rings was made here a few years ago.

Yes My SYDNEY lived to a ripe old age but was a bit of a funny character me thinks, as he left his wife of many years in a work house on the IoW where she died in 1930 (Burried in Shankland) so that he could go have a good old time in Scotland for the rest, or most of the rest of his days. I have only one small image of him from those days in Sco. I know that he was a veteran of the Boer War of 1899-1902 as he served with the Duke of Wellington Regiment there.

His father SIDNEY, the one we speek of, I have very little on except to say that he was a Railway Porter in Lancs. I understand that in the 19C there were some privatised railway companies that operated and he worked for one of them, not sure which one though

So in the end SIDNEY is my GGfather on my fathers side.

Other names that I am researching include KILBURN of Yorkshire, PROBYN of London, MASON of Lancs, FARMER, PRESTIDGE

Hi Mike!
My Sidney was a younger brother of my GGfather on my father's side!

I note that Sydney served in the Boer war and have wondered whether my Sidney might have been there because he is reputed to have died abroad in 1900. Have you found a website with info about that war anywhere Mike?

The Lord of the Rings was filmed just before I visited NZ. Having read the books, including The Hobbit, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the trilogy at the cinema and have the DVDs out here in Spain. Hobbiton looked wonderful on the film and I must look at it again one day soon.

When we were on N Island we landed at Aukland and then went slowly north to Bailey's Bay. then south and east, west and south until we reached Wellinton for the museum and the ferry to Picton. I have a daughter in law who was born in NZ.

:cheers: Cheers Gillian

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''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Fri 19 Oct 2007 - 16:16

Hi Gillian and Mike,

In view of Brierfield, Nr Burnley, East Lancs -
Have moved Mike's original posts from this thread with copies of Gillian's replies - to create a new Topic on our East and South East Lancashire Board here....
>>Sidney Smith b.c1857 Married 1877 Brierfield Nr Burnley>>

Mike - copies of your posts also kept on this Topic above,
as you can see good stuff!!

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin www.smithfamilies.org.uk
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Fri 19 Oct 2007 - 16:30

Hi Mike!

I think Carole will be able to help you more than I can because of the location. However if anything relevant comes my way I shall pass it on. If you uncover a Liverpool SW Lancs connection please come back to this board.

Have you had a look at Don's Beagle log? Perhaps chat to you on there some time!

Cheers Gillian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Sun 9 Nov 2008 - 16:34

Sidney Smith b 1874 in Liverpool is no longer a mystery! I have found his death through http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/ where he appears on The Register of the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902.
Private 5612 S.Smith was serving in 1 Battalion The King's (Liverpool Regiment).
He was a caualty of the war and died of his wounds on 9.1.1901 at Balmoral. This was a farm in the South African Republic, Amersfoot District; Mpumalanga, where troops led by Lt-Col M.F.Rimington were bivouacked.

Gillian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Tue 11 Nov 2008 - 9:49

Information on The King's Liverpool Regiment can be found at:

King's Regiment (Liverpool)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
''What will survive of us is love.''Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The mystery of Sidney Smith Tue 11 Nov 2008 - 15:59

Gillian, That's great news!! well done for finding the information you wanted about your Sidney Smith.

and thanks for the link to the Wiki page about the Kings Regiment, Liverpool. There are some great images on there too aren't there.

Carole