Rushden Research Group: Intro

Transcribed by Kay Collins from a privately held photocopy, 2007

Joseph Enos Smith's Notes on Rushden

Joseph Enos Smith made many notes, between 1908 & 1928, on the history of Rushden, with the intention to write a book.

The 30 note books into which he wrote all he could find out about Rushden are now deposited at Northamptonshire Record Office with the Church Records [NRO Ref: 285P/272-301]. Sometimes he wrote about a talk he'd had with one of the older inhabitants of our town and the information he'd gained from them, or he'd write extracts from newspapers, or his observations as he toured the town and neighbouring villages. Extracts from parish registers, details from wills of local gentry and farmers, farm sales and extremes in the weather are also written up.

So these books give us a wealth of information about the people and the town during the late 19th and the early part of the 20th century. Some of the more interesting items have been transcribed.

Farmers & Millers 1813-1860	Tollgates	Storm 1916
St Mary's Church	The Round House	An Interesting "Week" - 1916
Early Schools	May Pole music	Grange Farm Sale 1916
Rushden Hall Sale 1836	Interesting Notes	Church Service - 17th Sept 1916
1863 - Prince of Wales' wed	Historical Notes 1916	The Brook
Diary Notes 1869-70 E. Knight	Rushden Feast	Choirboys Outing 1916
Miscellaneous Church Notes	Bedford Road
Choir, Organ & Organist	More notes	Ditchford Bridge 1924
The Church Clocks	Memories of The Hall	Blackberrying 1926
Illuminated Address 1900	Teaching	Notes 1927/8 - including Outing
To Stamford by Motor 1915	Street Names	Notes discovered!

Joseph Enos Smith - by Edgar Linnitt captioned:
'Organist of Rushden St Mary's Church,
1875-1930
Died August 30th, 1930, in his 80th year'.

From ‘R22’ Note Book of J E Smith, transcribed by Kay Collins

Page 62 - extract from the weekly paper Jun 19 1914
Mrs M A Smart of Ringstead late of Rushden.
Born at Rushden June 13 1817. Died June 18th 1914. She lived under 6 Monarchs, Born when George III was on the throne. She remembered the Stage Coaches thro’ Rushden, she remembered Rushden St Mary’s Church being draped in Black at the death of King George IV. At Coronation of Queen Victoria they had legs of Mutton, pieces of Beef & Cherries for Dessert. At that time population was about 1,200.

June 25th 1914 “Airship”
An Airship passed over Rushden on Thursday between 12 & 2 o’clock. It came over Rushden Hall Park about 12.30 (during the SALE of Furniture at Hall) it went towards Wellingboro Station, turned back to Park, curved round again towards Sanders’s Lodge & grounded near Wymington Ballast-hole, he ascended again about 1.30 for Higham & Raunds. I had a splendid view from up the Park. J E Smith

J Enos Smith