James Weeks Smerdon

  General Notes:

Name Origin: Smerdon
English (Devon): habitational name from Smeardon Down in the parish of Petertavy, so named from Old English smeoru 'butter' + dun 'hill'.

Jan WOOD said (I. B.): -
James Weeks SMERDON the third child and second son of George and Elizabeth SMERDON, was born in Ashburton near the end of 1849, and was christened on 2 January 1850 at Ashburton St Andrew parish church by J E HILL, Curate of Buckland. He was named after his maternal grandfather. He moved with his family to Liverpool when he was a baby. In 1861 he was aged 11 and was a scholar living at home in Liverpool with his parents and siblings.

Shortly before his death, it was reported in the Thorold Post that James Smerdon was injured in an industrial accident at Wilson's foundry, Merritton, where he was a rope maker. His finger and arm were caught in a run a way belt.

Special thanks to Don Smerdon, Peter Smerdon, Ian Butterworth and rskyring@bigpond.net.au for their information on the Smerdon family.

Smerdon, James, Thorold, Jubilee, page 112 +3, 1897-98, Politics.

  Research Notes:

The 1861 British Census

George Murch SMERDON 41 b. Ashburton Devon
Elizabeth 42 b. Yealmpton Devon
John 15 b. Ashburton - painter and plumber
James W 11 b. Ashburton - scholar
Mary Jane 13 b. Ashburton - scholar
George Henry 9 b. Liverpool - scholar
Thomas 7 b. Liverpool - scholar
Richard 4 b. Liverpool - scholar.

1881 Canadian Census

James W. SMERDON Male English 31 <England> Cooper Church of England
Elizabeth SMERDON Female English 30 <England> Tailoress
Mary E. SMERDON Female English 8 Ontario Going To School
Arthur G. SMERDON Male English 7 Ontario Going To School
Alfred M. SMERDON Male English 5 Ontario Going To School

Source Information:
Census Place Thorold, Welland, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375889
NA Film Number C-13253
District 142
Sub-district I
Page Number 82
Household Number 390

1901 Census of Canada

Subdistrict: Thorold (Town/Ville), WELLAND, ONTARIO
District Number: 123
Subdistrict Number: l-1
Archives Microfilm: T-6503

Smerdon Jas M Head M Dec 8 1849 51
Smerdon Elizabeth F Wife M May 26 1850 50
Smerdon Alfred M Son S Mar 13 1876 25
Smerdon Gertie M F Daughter S Mar 24 1886 15
Horton Arthur M Father in Law Oct 14 1822
Horton Mary F Mother in Law Oct 14 1823

1911 Census of Canada

Smerdon James Head M Dec 1849 61 England 1868
Smerdon Elizabeth Wife M Mar 1850 61 England 1869

The Smerdons lived on Chappell St., Thorold. They lived next door to their son Alfred and his family. Both James and Elizabeth could read and write English.

James married Elizabeth Jane Horton, daughter of Arthur F Horton and Mary J Philips. (Elizabeth Jane Horton was born on 26 May 1850 in Iisington, Devon, England, died on 31 Mar 1923 in Thorold, Ontario, Canada and was buried on 2 Apr 1923 in Lakeview Cemetary, Thorold, Ontario, Canada.)