Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas SMART (1786-1844)

and Harriet OLDER (1796-1862)

Thomas Smart and Harriet Older married by licence on 3 November 1819 in Brighton, Sussex.  Thomas was then a bachelor from Horsham and Harriet was a spinster of Brighton.  (Who were the witnesses to their marriage?)  (They were not my direct ancestors.  Harriet was most probably the sister of my 3x Great Grandmother, Sophia Older.)

Thomas Smart was baptised on 17 October 1784 in Horsham, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Smart (c1761-1823) and Elizabeth Older (1753-1817).  The death of a Thomas Smart was registered in the first quarter of 1844 in the Horsham registration district, although his burial does not appear in a transcript of the Horsham parish registers.  (A tree at Ancestry.co.uk notes he died on 8 March 1844 aged 59 years, which fits nicely with his baptism.)

Harriet Older may have been baptised on 7 August 1796 in Pulborough, Sussex, and have been the daughter of Allen Older (c1775-1842) and Sarah Brooks (1775-1862).  In the 1851 and 1861 census she gave her place of birth as Billingshurst, Sussex, which borders Pulborough.  I have checked a transcript of the Billingshurst baptism register and could not find a baptism for her there.  Her death may have been registered in the first quarter of 1862 in the Horsham registration district, as Harriet Smart, although her burial does not appear in a transcript of the Horsham parish registers.  (A tree at Ancestry.co.uk notes she died on 28 February 1862, aged 65 years, which fits nicely with the August 1796 baptism.)

When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and their daughter Elizabeth were living in North Parade, Horsham.  Thomas was then said to be 55 and Harriet 45.  His occupation was given as independent.

The 1851 census records that Harriet was a 56 year old widow and proprietor of houses.  Her place of birth was given as Billingshurst.  She was living in North Parade and with her was her son-in-law John Lawman, daughter Elizabeth, their daughter and 25 year unmarried house servant, Miriam Hills who had been born in Petworth.

In 1861 Harriet was a 64 year old widow and proprietor of houses, living in North Parade. Also with her was widower son-in-law John Lawman, a relieving officer, and 3 granddaughters.  Harriet again gave her place of birth as Billingshurst.

Thomas Smart and Harriet Older had 3 known children:

1. Eliza Smart was baptised on 4 February 1821 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a brazier.  She died between 1855 and 1861.  (A tree at Ancestry.co.uk gives that she died on 22 September 1857 at North Parade.  The same tree also notes that she was the daughter of Thomas (?-1844) and Harriet (?-1862).)  In 1841 she was 20 year old Elizabeth Smart.

   Elizabeth married John Lawman on 4 November 1843 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  (Who were the witnesses?  Names and occupations of fathers?  John and Elizabeth's addresses and occupations?)

   A tree at Ancestry notes that John had first married Mary Holland on 13 October 1836 in Horsham.  Mary was born in 1811 and was the daughter of John Holland  and Elizabeth.  She died on 12 March 1837 in Horsham.  The same tree notes he was the son of William Lawman and Elizabeth Ley.

   In 1851 John was 40 years and in 1861 he was 50 years old.  At both times he said he was born in Kislingbury, Northamptonshire and he was a relieving officer and registrar of births and deaths.

   John next married Ann Smart on 4 August 1863 in Hove.  Their fathers were named as William Lawman and William Smart.

   The tree at Ancestry notes John died on 8 August 1884 at 21 Bedford Place, Bedford Square, Brighton.  The same tree also gives that Ann was born in 1824 in Horsham and was the daughter of William Smart and Charlotte Coomber.  She also died at 21 Bedford Place on 24 March 1912.

   When the 1871 census was recorded, John was 60 years old and a retired relieving officer and registrar.  He was living in Denne Road, Horsham with his 46 year old wife Ann, 2 daughters Harriet and Elizabeth and 4 year old son Arthur John Lawman.

   In 1881, 71 year old John and 56 year old Ann were living at 2 Denne Road, Horsham along with his 2 daughters and 17 year old general domestic servant Emily Jupp.

   When the 1891 census was recorded, Ann was a 66 year old widow and living at 2 Denne Road along with her step daughter Elizabeth, son Arthur who was then an unmarried 24 year old solicitor's clerk and 19 year old domestic servant Ellen M. Muggeridge.  Ann was living on her own means.

   John and Elizabeth had the following children:

   1. Harriet Lawman was baptised on 13 September 1846 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a registrar.  (A tree at Ancestry notes she died on 22 May 1933 at 205 Elm Grove, Brighton.)  She was 5 years old in 1851 and living with her parents and maternal grandmother.  In 1861 she was a 14 year old scholar.  The 1871 census records she was an unmarried 24 year old annuitant and she was living with her father and step mother.  She was an unmarried 34 year old annuitant in 1881.  In 1901 she was an unmarried 54 year old boarder in the home of 70 year old widow Harriet Heasman in the High Street, Lindfield.

   2. Margaret Smart Lawman was baptised on 17 April 1853 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a relieving officer.  She died aged 12 years and was buried on 28 June 1865 in Horsham.  In 1861 she was an 8 year old scholar.

   3. Elizabeth Lawman was baptised on 22 July 1855 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a relieving officer.  (A tree at Ancestry notes she died on 9 March 1940 at Villa Adastra, Keymer Road, Hassocks, Brighton.)  She was a 4 year old scholar in 1861.  In 1871 she was 15 years old.  She was an unmarried 25 year old annuitant in 1881 and living with her father and step mother.  In 1871 she was 35 years old an living with her step mother.  By 1901 she had moved to 17 Castle Street in the parish of Great Torrington in Devon.  She was then said to be an unmarried 40 year old, living on her own means, and with her was 20 year old general domestic servant Rhoda J. Westaway from Cornwall.

2. Harriet Smart was baptised on 15 September 1822 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that her father was a tinman.

3. James Older Smart was baptised on 25 April 1824 in Horsham.  The baptism register noted that his father was a whitesmith.  He died aged 3 years and 4 months and was buried on 22 July 1827 in Horsham.  (Might he have been named after his possible grandfather?)

HOLDER          SMART