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| Name | SMITH – Thomas |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 41st Regiment |
| Regiment Number (s) | 1248 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 13th January 1840 / 22 years / Coventry Warwickshire England Stocking weaver |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 5¼ in Sallow / Dark / Brown / None |
| Overseas Service/Duration | India – 3 years 2 months Jamaica – 3 years |
| Length of Service | 21 years 43 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Sergeant / 26th February 1861 / Aldershot Hampshire England |
| Campaign Medals | Afghan Medal |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Not yet known |
| Pension Districts | 1861 Jersey 1862 Bermuda (in transit) 1863-1872 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 2/0d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 30th October 1862 Gravesend England (via Bermuda) |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | MERCHANTMAN 15th February 1863 |
| Date/Place of Birth | 1818 Lutterworth Leicestershire England |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | Not yet known |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Siblings | Not yet known |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | ARCHER Frances 1829 England |
| Date/Place of Marriage | Not yet known |
| Children by 1st Wife | Thomas B 1844 Not yet known M BRIDGEMAN Sarah (possibly) 1867 Greenough Western Australia D 20th September 1889 Geraldton Western Australia bur Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia William Robert B 1851 Ireland M CREAM Mary Ann 4th February 1869 Western Australia D 20th June 1894 Geraldton Western Australia bur Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia Henry Hill B 1850 Not yet known M1 STEIN Mary Esther Strutt 29th November 1875 Fremantle Western Australia M2 GALLOP Elizabeth Emily 23rd May 1885 Fremantle Western Australia D November 1905 Western Australia bur Presbyterian Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia Sarah (Ann) Esther B 1853 Ireland M JOSE William John 5th August 1874 Geraldton Western Australia D 24th March 1935 Highgate Western Australia bur Wesleyan Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia Emma B Not yet known M HAMILTON Not yet known |
| Land Grants Western Australia | None Purchased Geraldton Lot 38 / 39 and 40 Acreage Lot 40 3 acres Town lot 262 Geraldton |
| Occupation after Arrival | Warder |
| Newspaper Articles | Victorian Express Geraldton Wednesday 22nd March 1882 |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not applicable |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | 11th April 1872 Geraldton Western Australia Not yet known |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | 20th March 1882 Geraldton Western Australia Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia |
| Will or Probate | SROWA Cons 3458/1875/230 letters of Administration SROWA Cons 3403/1882/643 Probate Frances SMITH |
| Further Information | British Army Worldwide index 1841 Thomas Smith 1248 Private 41st Foot location Karrachee 1851 Thomas Smith 1248 Sergeant 41st Foot location Cork, Ireland and at sea, Castlebar Ireland Discharge at own request after 21 years service 1861 Census: Thomas Smith age 43, married, a Chelsea Pensioner, born England is living at 8 Newgate Street, St. Helier Jersey with his wife Frances age 42 also born England and their children William age 14 and Sarah age 8 both born Ireland.The Surgeon Superintendent of the Merchantman rated the conduct of both Thomas and Frances Smith as Very Good. Thomas received medical treatment during the voyage for depression and it may have been responsible for him being suspended on 22nd November 1862 as Sergeant Major of the guard in consequence of his incapacity in the management of the guard and Sergeant Callaghan appointed Acting Sergt Major, Thomas was reinstated Sergeant Major 25th December 1852. Children William, Henry and Sarah travelled with them on the voyage. In his will dated 6 April 1872 Thomas wrote “I give to my wife Frances Smith the whole of and every part of my property and estate real and personal, that is now, or hereafter become mine, or be bequeathed to me; including my four grants of land in Geraldton, numbered respectively 38,39, Suburban allotments 40, Suburban allotment, and 262 town Lot together with all houses, buildings and improvements thereon, whatever and everything that I can by law dispose of, for her sole and separate use, her receipt alone being sufficient discharge.” Frances Smith bequeathed her entire estate to her 5 children: Emma wife of Sergeant Major Hamilton of the 41st regiment, Son Thomas now in England, sons William and Henry and daughter Sarah divided equally with the proviso “In the event of my son William not living soberly and steadily at the time of such division I desire that the Executors retain in their hands his fifth share until such time as he shall amend and prove himself worth of confidence.” Dated 12th September 1872. |