Christopher Smith was the second child and eldest son of Barthwell & Charlotte Smith born about 1834, he was baptised 23rd February 1834 at Brothertoft in Lincolnshire.
Baptism records as follows:
Brothertoft in Lincolnshire
Page 31. No.248: Feby 23rd 1834, Christopher son of Bathwell & Charlotte Smith, abode Kirton Drove, Trade: Tinker, ceremony performed by W. Robinson
He can be found in the following census records:
1851 Census:
Double Street, Spalding Lincolnshire head of house is an Edward Worth:
————————————————————————————————————
The Following census records show “a” Christopher Smith but as yet not conclusively “my” Christopher Smith:
1871 Census
No. 221: Dig Moor (Band Of Gipsies)
Parish Upholland: Town Hall Green: County Lancashire, England: Reg District Wigan Upholland
Christopher Smith: Head: Mar: 40: Occupation: Licensed Hawker, West Ardsley No.319
Mary Smith: Wife: Mar: age 30: Christopher Smith: Son: age 14: Thomas Smith: Son: age 12
Claress Smith: Daughter: 11 or 10: Chearlot Smith: Daughter: age 6: Henry Smith: Son: age 4
Catherine Smith: Daughter: age 3;
Notes: Band of Gipsies could not get proper information from them.
1881 Census
No.227: Shields Road (1 Caravan & 1 Large cart)
Parish Earsdon: County Northumberland: Country England: Reg District Tynemouth, Blyth
Christopher Smith: Head: Mar: age 46: Occupation Licensed Hawker: Born Yorkshire, West Ardsley
Mary Smith: Wife: Mar: age 43: Born Worcester, Worcester
Christopher Smith: Son: Unmarried: age 22: Born Stafford, Burslem
Tom Smith: Son: Unmarried: age 22: Born Stafford, Burslem
Cornelius Smith: Son: Unmarried: age 21: Born Stafford, Tunstal
Charlotte Smith: Daughter: Unmarried: age 17: Born Stafford, Stoke
Edingale Smith: Daughter: Unmarried: age 17: Born Stafford, Longton
Henry Smith: Son: age 12: Born Lincoln Eagle
James Smith: Son: age 10: Born Lancashire, Blackpool
John Smith: Son: age 8: Born Lancashire, Barrow in Furness
Isabella Smith: Daughter: age 4: Born Lancashire, Barrow in Furness
1901 Census
Schedule No. 208a: Roll CSSCT1901_52
Registration District: St Nicholas: Parish Aberdeen South: Aberdeenshire
Address Travelling Caravan (The inches)
Christopher Smtih: Head: Age 60 (abt 1832): Occupation Hawker: Born England
Patience Smith: Wife: age 65 (abt 1835): Born England
John Smith: Son: age 26 (abt 1875): Occupation Hawker: Born England
Thomas Smith: Grandson: age 18 (abt1883): Occupation Hawker: Born Glasgow, Lanarkshire
James Smith: Grandson: age 15 (abt 1886) Occupation Scholar: Born England
————————————————————————————————
Terence Lee author of “The Lee Family Tree: Volume 1: The Lee and Smith Gipsies” written in 1992 writes that following on from an extract in the JGLS (3) 3:18-19 “throws light on the possible origin of our Smiths by referring to a Christopher Smith who is not known to be related to our family” the extract from the Journal Gypsy Lore Society (JGLS) is transcribed below. This is of interest because Terence Lee refers to Rodney “Gipsy Smith” the evangelist and his (Rodney’s) relatives including a Christopher Smith but goes onto state that “One Armed” Christopher Smith is NOT known to be related to this family.
The reference to the JGLS referred to states “Instead of a circle of ribbons, some English Gypsies use a round sod. The woman sent to lay out Piramus Gray, following his death at Louth, Lincolnshire, in 1886 found that a green turf, circular in shape, had already been placed on his chest. A similar object was noticed lying on the breast of “One Armed” Christopher Smith, when his body was awaiting burial at Wigton, Cumberland, in 1912. Mr J W Halton, the district coroner says it was about four inches in diameter, and Vanessa Smith, daughter of Shandres, described it as resting in a saucer when she saw the corpse. With her at the time was her brother in law, James Allison, whose maternal grandfather was closely akin to the deceased, and according to him the custom is a common one in this particular Smith family, its avowed object being to prevent the body swelling. He instanced its observance on the death of Batholomew Smith, a cousin of Christopher’s:”
The extract from the JGLS would suggest there is a relationship between Batholomew Smith and “One Armed” Christopher, cousins, does this also mean a relationship between Rodney “Gipsy” Smith and Christopher.
Christopher Smith is also shown in the book “The Family Tree of Major and Susanna Lovell” by Josephine Tombs. In it, it shows Christopher Smith with Patience Lovell, no date for any marriage is shown. It shows the children of this “marriage/union” as: Christopher b. Burslem Sts c 1856: Thomas b. Burslem Sts c1856: Elvira b. Lin 1858: Cornelius b. Hanley Sts 4 Jan 1860: Charlotte b. Stoke on Trent c1862: Edingale b. Longton Sts c 1864: Henry b. Eagle Lin c1866: Catherine b. c1868: James b. Blackpool c1871: John bp. Coppull c1871: Isabella b. Stank Dalton 5 Jan 1876
The author of this book shows the above as children of Christopher Smith and Patience Lovell, although the 1871 and 1881 census looks to show these as the children of Christopher Smith and Mary. One point of interest in the book referred to the author states Patience Lovell was baptised 8th Feb 1835 at Cropthorne Worcester. The 1881 census shows Mary was born in Worcester abt 1838. Is Patience Lovell using the name Mary in these census records.
This front cover of “The family tree of Major and Susanna Lovell” contains a picture of One Armed Christopher Smith and Patience Lovell, and inside the front cover it states Christopher is definitely the son of Barthwell and Charlotte.
————————————————————————————————
England & Wales deaths 1837-2007
Christopher Smith: Male born 1837: age 75: Death Qtr 3: Year 1912: District Wigton: County Cumberland: Volume 10B: Page 594 Country England:
An extract taken from “The Courier, Thursday August 1, 1912” states:
Served Lifetime On The Road:
The East Cumberland Coroner held an inquest at Wigton upon Christopher Smith (75), a travelling salesman.
Deceased a native of Liverpool, had been “on the road” all of his life, and, with the exception of an attack of influenza at Edinburgh fifteen years ago, had never had a day’s illness. Shortly after reaching Wigton, however, he fell from a van, and almost immediately expired.
Medical opinion was that death was due to a stroke, and not to the fall, and a verdict was returned accordingly.
One elusive fact remains……how did Christopher lose his arm???
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 