Re: Joseph SMEE - bank of England
-
In reply to:
Joseph SMEE - bank of England
12/09/99
Kristen
So far as I can tell William Randolph was actually born c1800 to Joseph Smee and Lydia Freeman.
The Baptism date is I believe a classic "Red Herring" which I have seen in other families. If my theory is correct Joseph Smee and Lydia were of the Jewish Persuasion, hence their children were not baptised at birth. I think several people have "adjusted" the dates and places over the years in an effort to make sense of them.
My Theory -
William Randolph Smee was born c1800 in Walworth, the only son of Joseph (Principle accountant of the Bank of England), he married Eleanor Mossman in Kingston upon Hull 28 Jan 1834 on their way to the ship that took them to Australia. They landed in Australia in 1836, and had 2 sons George Randolph Smee(1837-1882) and Frederick Arnold(1839-1904)
There is a christening record for William Randolph in Australia for Nov 1839 by which time he was a Schoolteacher,
had he converted from the Jewish faith or was Baptism a prerequisite to teaching in a Church school in Australia?
Far fetched?
Too much supposition?
It certainly
1) puts Bankers into your families Ascendants
2) fits in very snugly with Ian Lambert's Tree.
3) fits with the Birth dates in Australia
Feel free to mail me directly
Pete Smee