Rushden Research Group: William Wilson Smith

W W Smith - farmer and corn merchant

John Smith was born at Riseley BDF in 1817 and he was butcher. He married Ellen (born at Cransley or Broughton). Their daughter Emma was born at Riseley about 1844, but they soon moved to Higham Ferrers, where their sons were born: Alfred in 1847, John in 1850, Walter in 1854, and William W. in 1859. The family soon moved to Rushden.

William Wilson Smith, son of John and Ellen, was born at Higham Ferrers in 1859. He married Annie Woodward in May 1892 at St Mary's Church. Their son Jack (John William Wilson) was born in 1895 and daughter Muriel Wilson in 1899, and son Walter Wilson in about 1903.

In 1889 the farm suffered a serious fire when cottages and farm buildings were destroyed. A new farm house was built at the foot of Griffith Street, and called Leamington House.

Photograph taken in the farm yard in about 1906
l-r: Muriel Smith, Jack Smith, Mr Church (cowman), W W Smith junior

Smith's Farm at the foot of Griffith Street called Leamington House (now Windleberry Lodge)

Rushden Echo, 10th November 1911, transcribed by Kay Collins

A Trap Accident occurred in the High-street on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. W. W. Smith was being driven up the street towards the Church by his daughter Muriel, accompanied by his son Wilsey, and when passing the Post Office the horse was startled, evidently by a street piano, and swerved to the off-side, the wheel colliding with a wagon and snapping both shafts. The occupants were precipitated into the road in all directions, but happily escaped with a few bruises and a shaking.

At a County Tribunal 30th June 1916:

Rushden Farmer's Appeal

Mr. W. W. Smith, farmer, of Rushden and Wymington, appealed for exemption for Henry Horlick, aged 31, horse-keeper and general smith.

Applicant said that seven of his men had enlisted.

The application was adjourned for 14 days for inquiries.

Rushden Echo, 27th July 1917 Wymington - Mr. W. W. Smith has this week taken up his residence at the Poplars Farm, Wymington, for the duration of harvest.
	Poplars Farm

Rushden Echo, 23rd November 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins

Wymington - Motor Ploughing, by lamplight was a war-time novelty to be seen on Tuesday night from the Bedford-road, the driver being Mr. Jack Smith, son of Mr. W. W. Smith, farmer, Wymington and Rushden.

Extract from a Study of the Village of Wymington:

Only two of the plots were not sold on the Rushden Road; they were at the foot of Rectory Hill, next to Manor Farm paddock. Mr. W. W. Smith of Poplar Farm owned the fields, and after selling the rest of the frontages for the building, he gave one plot to the Boy Scouts in Wymington for the erection of a hut. This was done and its use was shared later by the Girl Guides, but when both organisations disbanded, the hut became derelict and was taken down in 1965.

The other plot was given by Mr. Smith to the Wymington Branch British Legion, and although it was discussed over a long period, their hut was never built. Although a thriving branch at its inception, the Wymington British Legion became inactive and was later amalgamated with the Irchester branch. Legion officials tried to sell their land as a building plot, but the County Planner refused to grant building permission, and the rather amazing reason given was that the building of a house there ‘would constitute ribbon development’. The two plots remain vacant and overgrown, with no foreseeable future, and no-one feeling responsible for clearing them.

Obituary 1944

WWII Prisoners

Wedding of Mr. J. W. Smith

Index of All Traders