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March Tree

WILLIAM SMITH and MARGARET (12)

 

WILLIAM SMITH was the second son of William and Ann Smith of the NW Kent parish of Brasted.

Baptism. St Martin, Brasted.
1664 Nov 20  William the son of William Smyth

Two younger sisters died in infancy, leaving William with an older brother and two younger siblings.
We have been unable to find his mother’s maiden name. His father may have been a miller, though this is not certain.

Brasted stands on high country on the edge of Kent Weald. The east-west road from Sevenoaks to Westerham runs through it.

If William’s father was indeed a miller, then William would have grown up at the mill on the River Darent, or one of its tributaries.

He was born four years after the monarchy was restored under Charles II, following Cromwell’s republican Commonweatlth.

William came from a family of skilled craftsmen. He became a millwright. This is a highly skilled carpenter who builds and repairs mills, in this case watermills.

 

MARGARET. No marriage had been found for William and Margaret, so we do not know her maiden name or whether she came from Brasted or elsewhere.

We know her name only from the baptism of one of her children. Most give just the father’s name, but at Robert’s baptism in 1696 he is said to be the “son of William and Marg. Smyth”.

 

The marriage is likely to have taken place in 1686 or thereabouts.

Baptisms. St Martin, Brasted.
1687 Jun 3  Anne
1688 Nov 16  Susannah
1690 Dec 11  Elizabeth
1692/3 Jan 14  William and John

In 1695, a census of Brasted carried out by the rector shows William Smyth with his wife and six children. Either he made a mistake, or there was another child baptised in a different parish.[1]

1696 Oct 31  Robert
1699 Aug 7  Richard.  He was buried four days later, on 11 Aug.

 

Margaret died the following year.

Burial. St Martin, Brasted.
1700 Nov 5  Smyth Margarite

It was over eight years before William remarried. This time it was a “clandestine” marriage in London.

Clandestine Marriage, London.
1709 Aug 25  William Smith of Braysted in Kent Millwright. Clement Symonds of ye same. W W. (Widower and Widow)

This was a popular way of marrying in or near the Fleet Prison more cheaply than at the parish church.

Clement was said to be a widow when she married, but we have not found her previous husband.

The couple had another four children.

Baptisms. St Martin, Brasted.
1710 Mar 30  Mary. She was buried on 3 Mar 1712, aged just two.
1711 Jun 18  Sarah.
1717 Mar 7  Anthony, He too died the following year and was buried on 1 Nov 1718.
1720 Jan 3  Clement.

In 1717, we find William Smith recorded as overseer of Brasted. This would be one of the Overseers of the Poor, charged with distributing the Poor Rate to those in need.

 William died in 1734, in the reign of George II.

Burial. St Martin, Brasted.
1734 Jul 24  William Smith.

He made his will on 26 Oct 1733.

Will of William Smith, Millwright of Brasted, Kent
In the Name of God Amen
I William Smith of the parish of Brasted in the County of Kent Millwright being in sound and perfect mind memory and understanding Praised be God therefore revoking all former wills by me made either by Word or in Writing do hereby make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following Item I give and bequeath unto the Daughter of my Daughter Ann Smith alias Green one shilling Item I also give and bequeath unto my Daughter Susana Smith one shilling Item I also give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth now Wife of Geo[rge] Cole one shilling to be paid unto them and each of them respectively within three months time next after my decease by me Executrix hereafter named if demanded Item I also give and bequeath unto my Son William Smith and to my Son John Smith and unto my Son Robert Smith to them and each of them respectively the like Sum of one Shilling apiece to be paid unto them and each of them within three Months next after my decease by the Execretrix hereafter named if demanded Item all the remaining part of my Goods and Chattles and Cattles Reall or personal Estate whatsoever of what kind or nature so ever or to me belonging or in any wise appertaining or herewith I shall dye seized invested or interested in and not before hereby by me bequeathed I do hereby give and bequeath the same unto my loving Wife to be and remain to her own proper use and Behoof and at her disposing when and how she shall think fitt and proper after my decease And to this my last Will and Testament I do make constitute and ordain my said Wife to be my full whole and sole Executrix desiring she should fulfill the same according to the true Intent purport and Meaning thereof In Witness whereof I William Smith Testator do hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty sixth Day of October in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred thirty three in the seventh Year of his present Majestyes Reign over Great Britian &c Ano Dm William Smith. Signed Sealed published and declared to be the last
Will and Testament of William Smith Testator in the presence of us Elinor Baker Jacob Couchman Edward Seaman

This Will was proved at London on the Commisary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Examined by me … Patten Notry Publik constituted on the twenty seventh Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty four by the Oath of Clement Smith Widow of the Relict and Executrix named by the said Will to whom was granted Administration of all and singular sworne only to administer the same.

 When William’s grandson Robert Smith died in 1789, he left legacies of hundreds of pounds. William’s bequests are all of one shilling. This would be a little short of £10 today. The rest of his estate went to his wife Clement, whom he made his executrix.

From 1729-42 Smith the millwright paid tithes to the rector. It would appear from this that at least one of his sons kept the business going.

Clement Smith was buried in Brasted on 18 Apr 1756. She had survived William by more than 21 years.

 

[1] For details other than the parish registers, I am indebted to Lionel Cole’s intensive research. https://www.stamboomonderzoek.com/parkhoward/getperson.php?personID=I31071

 

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