Zillah Stainsby was the first child of William Stainsby & Adah Stephenson born at Swine, Yorks & christened October 3rd, 1847 at Brompton-by-Sawdon, Yorks.
In 1851 Zillah was living with her parents & brothers at Westgate, Pickering. Head of the household was her grandmother, Elizabeth Stainsby, aged 77.
By 1861 the family had moved to Price St, York & with Zillah were her parents & 3 brothers & a sister.
They were still living at Price St, number 59, in 1871 but without mother Adah who had died in 1864. Zillah was now housekeeper & grandmother Elizabeth (92) was again living with them.
In July-September 1873 Zillah married Edwin Smithyes at York. Edwin was christened July 8th, 1849 at St Mary Bishophill Junior, York, the son of Sarah & Thornborough Smithyes, a painter & paperhanger.
In October 1875 Edwin of 18 Dale St, York claimed his right to freedom of the city by birthright, being the son of Thornborough Smithyes, painter deceased.
In 1881 Zillah & Edwin were living at 47 Victoria St, York where Edwin was a painter. They had a 6 year old son George & with them at the time of the census was Elizabeth H Stainsby, Zillah’s sister, a 21 year old dressmaker. They also had a boarder, Charles Jackson (28), an engine fitter.
Zillah & Edwin were still in York at the time of the 1891 census, now living at 1 Falconer St, Holgate. Edwin was now a painter for the North Eastern Railway, & son George was also working for the NER as a joiner.
In August 1896 son George of 59 Russell St, York also applied for the freedom of the city of York by birthright like his father. This was inherited from his father Edwin, son of Thornborough Smithyes, son of Christopher Smithyes who was a deceased innkeeper.
In 1901 Zillah & Edwin (Smethers in Ancestry.co.uk index) were living at 59 Russell St, Micklegate, York. Son George was still living with them & was now a railway carriage painter like his father.
By 1911 Zillah & Edwin had moved to 77 Lindley St, Holgate, York & Edwin was still a coach painter. Son George had married Isabel Berry in 1902 at York & they were living at 73 Murray St, York in 1911 & George was secretary for a friendly society.
In 1913 Edwin became a member of the National Union of Railwaymen & was described as a coach painter.
Edwin died on March 3rd, 1918 at Dunnington, Nr York, & was buried March 7th at Dunnington, York. Probate was granted in York on March 22nd, 1918 to widow Zillah & son George, secretary of a Friendly Society. His effects were £293.16s.7d.
Zillah died at 5 Claremont Terrace, York on July 7th, 1920 & was buried on July 10th at Dunnington, York. Administration of her will was granted in York on July 22nd, 1920 to son George, a Friendly Society’s secretary. Her effects were £190.2s.6d.
The children of Zillah Stainsby & Edwin Smithyes were:
sb.10.1.1 George Smithyes born August 6th, 1874 at 18 Dale St, Bishophill Junior, York; died Jan-March 1952 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire