Elizabeth Smeed was the second child of William Smeed & Caroline Turner christened January 12th, 1817 at St Mary Magdalene, Cowden, Kent.
It is thought that Elizabeth had an illegitimate son, James, on June 9th, 1839 at Lambeth, Surrey. At the time of the 1841 census James was with Elizabeth’s parents at Brooklands Farm, East Grinstead when he was listed as “son”. James continued to live with his grandparents and in 1851 and subsequent censuses he was listed as grandson. There is a christening for James, illegitimate son of Elizabeth Smeed on October 14th, 1849 at St. Thomas, Lambeth and Elizabeth’s address was given as Isabella Street, Lambeth, and she was a servant. Christened on the same day, at the same church was the child (Ann) of Elizabeth’s brother, William and his wife and their address was also Isabella Street.
Elizabeth could not be found in the 1841 census.
In 1851 Elizabeth was working as a cook for Robert Herring, an upholsterer and auctioneer, and his family. She was living at 1 Frederick Place, Brixton Hill, Lambeth.
On January 17th, 1857, Elizabeth married Richard Dunmall, a painter, at St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey. They both gave their address as Suffolk Street and witnesses at the wedding were Elizabeth’s brother and sister Edward and Ann. Richard was christened on May 13th, 1832 at Farningham, Kent, the son of Sabra and Jeremiah Dunmall, a labourer.
Elizabeth and Richard were not found in the 1861 census but by 1871 were living at 26 Marquis Road, St. Pancras. Richard was described as a house decorator as was a nephew living with them, Clement Smeed (16), who was the son of Elizabeth’s brother Thomas. They had a 70 year old lodger Mary Ann Collins.
In 1881 Elizabeth and Richard were still living at 26 Marquis Road, and Richard was again described as painter and decorator. They again had a lodger, William Royce (64) a draughtsman. Elizabeth’s age was given as 55!
They were still living at Marquis Road, now number 65, in 1891 and Richard was still a house decorator.
Elizabeth died in January 1898 , at Maple Cottage, Clarence Crescent, Sidcup, Kent & was buried on January 19th at St John the Evangelist, Sidcup.
Richard died on May 25th, 1900, aged 68, at Maple Cottage, Clarence Road, Sidcup, & was buried on May 29th at St John the Evangelist, Sidcup, Kent. Probate was granted on June 21st, 1900 to Clement Smeed, paper hanger. Richard’s effects were £715.4s.8d.
The child of Elizabeth Smeed was:
sm.2.1 James Smeed born June 9th, 1839 at Lambeth, Surrey; died May 28th, 1933 at The Clerk’s Croft, Bletchingley, Surrey