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Sixth Generation
Family of Thomas GROSSMITH (G5) and Sarah SMITH
G7 Thomas GROSSMITH
Born in 1819 in Bletchingley Surrey. Thomas was baptized in Bletchingley Surrey on 2 May 1819.
Recorded residing in Scarbrook Place, Croydon in 1840; at 45 Surrey Street, Croydon in 1845; and at 13 Surrey Street, Croydon in 1861.
Thomas died in the City of London on 15 April 1877, at the age of 58. He was buried on 28 April 1877 in Queens Road Cemetery, Croydon.
Occupation: Master Glover and Gaiter Maker.
Picture 39 - Prince Albert pub in Bletchingley, once the home of Thomas Grossmith
Thomas lived in a cottage in Bletchingley and paid £4 10s annual rent to Matthew Russell, Lord of the Manor. The cottage is now the Prince Albert public house. Thomas is believed to have had a brother Albert who lived in Fulham. His wife Ann was a milliner to Queen Victoria. However this relationship has not been found yet.
On 26 August 1840 when Thomas was 21, he married Amelia Jane BROOKS (Z3), in St Johns Church, Croydon.
Amelia Jane was the daughter of William Thomas James BROOKS (2 January 1784-26 May 1843) and Elizabeth BANKS (1783-1865) She was born in 1818 in Lambeth or Kennington. Amelia Jane was baptized in St Luke Old Street Finsbury, London on 22 November 1818.
Amelia Jane died in Workhouse Infirmary, Croydon on 6 January 1900, at the age of 82. She was buried on 15 January 1900 in Queens Road Cemetery, Croydon. Cause of death: Senile decay.
Occupation: Milliner.
Amelia's birth is not recorded on the IGI, but it is probable that she was baptised as Jane Amelia Brooks on 22 November 1818 at St Luke, Old Street, Finsbury, London.
Amelia was well-educated and grand daughter Ellen (Nell) remembered her as being "very stately and ladylike". She kept a private girls school in Croydon at one time.
Amelia had a private income from America that ceased after her death. The source of this income has never been established. She was thought to have lent money to other Surrey Street traders. She also owned some property, which was sold when she died and divided amongst her children.
Witnesses at marriage - Elizabeth Brooks and Isabella Brooks
They had the following children:
G11 William Thomas (1841-1916)
James (1843-1847)
Maria Sarah (1849-1909)
Edwin (1859-1865)
Catherine Hannah (1852-1865)
Thomas is listed in the 1841 Census living in Scarbrook Hill, Croydon aged 22, with wife Amelia 22. Not clear whether the same house or neighbours to William Brooks and Sarah Plowman.
In the 1851 Census he is living at 45 Surrey Street, aged 31, with Amelia, 39 and children William, 9, Thomas, 5, Amelia 1 and Maria 1.
In the 1861 Census he is living at 13 Surrey Street, aged 41, with Amelia, 42 and children William, 13, Thomas, 11, Maria Sarah 11, Elizabeth 9, Isabel, 7, Teresa 5, Arthur 3, Edwin 1 and Amelia's mother Elizabeth Brooks, 78.
In the 1871 Census he is still living at 13 Surrey Street, aged 51, with Amelia, 52 and children Elizabeth 19, Isabel, 17, Teresa 15, Arthur 13.
Thomas is listed in Croydon Street Directories trading as a Glover and Gaiter Maker at 45 Surrey Street, Croydon between 1851 and 1859. In 1861 and 1864, he is listed as a Glover and Show Warehouse at 13 Surrey Street, then as a Glover at that address from 1869 until 1877.
After he died, ‘Mrs. A Grossmith’ is listed as a Glover at 13 Surrey Street from 1878 to 1884. The business then traded under William Grossmith in 1885 at 16 South End and 1887 at 35 South End.
The daughters appear to have been well educated for the times. Elizabeth could speak French and went abroad as a governess before she married. Isabel was a teacher. The Grossmith family was very talented.
At this time there was a George Grossmith a well-known actor and writer, who wrote the famous book "Diary of a Nobody". See the section on George Grossmith – the actor and writer.
Family members believed that a very long time ago the family was Jewish and came from Germany.
G7a Elizabeth Harriet GROSSMITH
Born on 25 November 1821 in Bletchingley, Surrey.
Elizabeth died in Australia on 31 August 1892.
On 25 November 1849 when Elizabeth was 28, she married Henry EVEREST, son of Henry EVEREST and Rebecca WICKENS. Henry was born on 8 July 1827 in Croydon and died on 12 March 1894 in Australia.
The
couple emigrated to Australia, about 1850.
They had the following children:
Elizabeth Rebecca (1854-1855) Henry Grossmith (1856-1920) Henry married Barbara Shaw SHARP in 1877 and had 8 children Elizabeth Mary (1858-1929) Elizabeth married Frederick William UPTON in 1880 and had 5 children Sarah Anne (1861-) Thomas Grossmith (1863-) Thomas married Annie SPEARS in 1891 and had two children.
Henry Everest built a house in Australia. They lived at Grossmith Villa, 30
Jackson Street, Toorak, Melbourne. The villa has now been demolished to make way
for a car park.
Picture 40 - Grossmith Villa, Toorak, Melbourne
G8 James GROSSMITH
Born in 1824 in Merstram, Surrey. James was baptized in Merstram, Surrey on 7 November 1824. Recorded residing in Bridgwater Gardens in 1849.
James died in Holborn, Middlesex, London on 13 July 1878, at the age of 54.
Occupation: Labourer.
On 21 January 1849 when James was 25, he married Sarah BRADFORD, daughter of John BRADFORD, in City, London.
They had the following children:
Sarah Elizabeth (1856-)
Jesse John (1857-1903)
Jessie John Grossmith was born on 1857 in Bermondsey, Surrey. Recorded living at 29 Central Street, London EC1 in 1877, St Helena Place, Clerkenwell and Islington in 1901. Jessie John died in 1903 aged 45. Occupation: Silversmith and Engine Driver.
On 30 September 1877 he married Charlotte Perry at St Lukes, Old Street EC1. Witnesses at marriage: Jospeh Norton and Elizabeth Sarah Grossmith. They had the following children: Jesse John (1877-1922), Margaretta (1879- ) Ellen (1880-1958) Charlotte (1888- ) And Sarah (1891- ).
Nick Cooper (nick8ascot@blueyonder.co.uk), the Great Great Grandson of Jessie John is researching this branch of the family.
James (1860- )
Thomas (1862- )
Eliza Ellen (1863- )
G8 Eleanor GROSSMITH
Born in 1826 in Mertsram Surrey. Eleanor was baptized in Merstram Surrey on 18 March 1826.
Eleanor died in Islington, London on 1 September 1890, at the age of 64.
On 14 March 1847 when Eleanor was 21, she married Jacob SMITH (1829-1884) in Lambeth.
They had eight children:
Jacob born 1847
Eleanor (1849-1851)
Thomas (1852-1905)
Frederick born 1855
Louisa born 1858
Emma born 1859
Amelia born 1861
Alfred (1865-1903)
One of Eleanor’s sons, Alfred Smith married Emma Maria AUSTIN (1864-1947) on 6 December 1883. They had one son Alfred (1883-1954). Alfred married his cousin Florence Mary GROSSMITH (1884-1867) on 3 August 1912.
G9 Jesse GROSSMITH
Born in 1828 in Bletchingley Surrey. Jesse was baptized in Bletchingley Surrey on 28 December 1828. Recorded residing at 7 Bridgwater Gardens in 1853.
Jesse died in Brighton Sussex on 31 July 1887, at the age of 59.
Occupation: Waiter.
On 18 December 1853 when Jesse was 25, he married Ann MARTIN (1828-1853), daughter of Charles MARTIN. She was recorded residing next door at 5 Bridgwater Gardens in 1853. It is believed that she died giving birth to her daughter.
They had the one child:
Ellen (1864-)
My Family Tree is a 60 minute documentary that I have made with my digital camcorder and edited into a video production.
This documentary is the story of four families. It is the story of my father's parents, Brigden and Chapman, and my mother's parents, Crowhurst and Plowman.
The video can be purchased for £5 plus £2 postage and packaging. To order a copy click here