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:
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The Following census records show “a” Christopher Smith but as yet not conclusively “my” Christopher Smith:
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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.
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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”:
Wigston Advertiser 3 Aug 1912 – Inquest
One elusive fact remains……how did Christopher lose his arm???
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 