Clement Smeed was the fourth child of Thomas Smeed & Sarah Dray born March 11th, 1855 at Farningham, Kent.
The whereabouts of Clement’s parents at the time of the 1861 census are unknown but Clement, with 3 of his brothers & a sister, was boarding with Hannah Sale, a school mistress living in Farningham.
In 1871 Clement was living with his aunt Elizabeth & her husband Richard Dunmall in St Pancras, London & he was working as a house decorator. Presumably Clement was learning the trade from his uncle Richard who was also a house painter.
Clement married Eliza Mansfield Mills in July-September 1878 at Bromley, Kent. Eliza was born July 27th, 1860 & christened August 15th, 1860 at St John’s, Horselydown, Southwark, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth & Richard Mills, a butcher.
In 1881 Clement, a house decorator, & Eliza & their 2 young children (Ellen Elizabeth aged 2 & an unnamed, 1 week old daughter) were living at Sidcup May’s Villa, Sidcup Hill, Chislehurst. Visiting them were sister Clara & brother George, a paper hanger.
By 1891 Clement & Eliza were living at 38 North Rd, East Grinstead, Sussex & Clement continued to work as a house decorator. They had 3 daughters – Ellen, Kathleen (10) & Marie (8) & 2 sons – Richard G B (5) & Clement (2).
Clement & Eliza had moved to Rock Villa, Foots Cray, Bromley, Kent by 1901 & Clement was now described as a house decorator, employer. Daughter Kathleen was still at home as were sons Richard, Clement, Gordon (9), John (6), Alfred (6 months) & another daughter Irene (4). Daughter Ellen was working as a general domestic servant for 73 year old widower Samuel Day at Sunnyside, Foots Cray.
In 1903 daughter Kathleen married Percy Thomas Hills, a solicitor’s clerk.
Daughter Ellen emigrated to the US in 1910 & came to live in Minnesota with her husband Richard Theodore Hartman, an express messenger for the steam railroad.
In 1911 Clement & Eliza were living at 47 Birkbeck Rd, Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent with daughter Marie, a monthly nurse, Clement, a house painter & builder, Gordon, an engineering clerk, John, a plumber’s mate & Alfred, a scholar. It was noted that Clement & Eliza had had 9 children and all were living.
Son Gordon served as a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1 when he served in France & Salonica. His occupation on enlisting was mercantile marines. Son John also enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment & while serving caught malaria.
Clement died on February 4th, 1916 at 47 Birkbeck Rd, Foots Cray, Sidcup, & was buried on February 8th at Sidcup Cemetery. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Eliza & his effects were £296.7s.6d.
Son Richard married Alice Cecilia Cowell in 1919.
Daughter Irene married Archibald George Perrin in 1920.
Son Clement married Mary Reid in 1925.
Son Alfred married Gladys Jones in 1926.
In 1929 daughter Marie married Eric W J Woodcock.
The 1939 register shows widowed Eliza living with her brother-in-law George Edward Smeed at Horne Park Farm, Lingfield, Surrey. With them was Eliza’s son Richard who was working on the farm & his wife Alice.
Eliza, of 66 Hansul Rd, Bexleyheath, died on May 9th, 1952 aged 91. She died at 4 Blackheath Park, Blackheath & was buried on May 14th, 1952 at Sidcup Cemetery. Probate was granted to son Alfred Leslie, a textile wholesaler’s clerk & her effects were £1372.11s.4d.
The children of Clement Smeed & Eliza Mansfield Mills were:
sm.3.4.1 Ellen Elizabeth Smeed born August 14th, 1878 in Foots Cray, Kent; died June 6th, 1965 in Los Angeles, California
sm.3.4.2 Kathleen Elsie Smeed born March 26th, 1881 in Foots Cray, Kent; died Oct-December 1963 at Sidcup, Kent
sm.3.4.3 Marie Clarissa Smeed born March 23rd, 1883 in Bromley, Kent; died March 28th, 1951 at 66 Hansol Rd, Bexley Heath, Kent
sm.3.4.4 Richard George Benjamin Smeed born June 5th, 1885 in East Grinstead, Sussex; died July-September 1976 at Cuckfield, Sussex
sm.3.4.5 Clement Onslow Smeed born October 11th, 1888 in East Grinstead, Sussex; died April 2nd 1951 at Flat 24/26 Mansfield St, Marylebone, London
sm.3.4.6 Gordon Thomas Smeed born July-September 1891 in East Grinstead, Sussex; died October 25th, 1923 at Cottage Hospital, Sidcup & buried October 30th, 1923 at Sidcup Cemetery
sm.3.4.7 John Harold Smeed born May 17th, 1894 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died April-June 1979 in Wrekin, Shropshire
sm.3.4.8 Irene Isabel Smeed born September 2nd, 1896 in Sidcup, Kent; died July-September 1971 in Reading, Berks
sm.3.4.9 Alfred Leslie Smeed born September 16th, 1900 in Sidcup, Kent; died March 19th, 1981 at 94 Harland Ave, Sidcup, Kent