The Apprenticeship Indenture 1796

William Smith was baptised at Marston Mortaine BDF on 20^th Ocober 1782, son of Thomas Smith and Martha (nee Mann).

In 1796 he came to Higham Ferrers and 'put himself' to an apprenticeship with John Woolston, a cooper, for the term of seven years.

William Smith married Sarah, born Wilby c1785. In 1841 they lived in Walnut Tree Row, where they had Aimey born 1815, Thomas born 1818, Jeremiah born 1820 (died 1831 aged 11), John born and baptised 1822, and Charlotte born and baptised 1826. In 1830 William had moved to High Street, and is listed in Pigots Directory trading on his own behalf.

William died in 1847 aged 66.

John Smith followed his father’s trade, and worked as a cooper. He married Eliza Hewitt, daughter of James of Rushden, at Rushden on Dec 25^th 1844. Eliza had been working for William Adcock, farmer, at Higham.

Three years later John’s father died. In 1851 John and Eliza were living with his mother Sarah, and his sister Charlotte, and they now had three children, Priscilla, William Thomas, and Eliza. Henry was born in 1855 and Ann in 1857, and Charles in 1864. The family lived at North End. John's mother died on the 29th January 1869 aged 83.

William was a clicker, and had married by 1871. Henry followed his father and became a cooper.

Market Square home of John and his family in 1881. Photo by C F Chapman c1920

The family had moved to the Market Square in Higham by 1881. Here they opened a grocery shop, and Charles was working as a dispenser to surgeon Dr. Crew who lived next door but one to the Smiths.

John died in 1895 aged 72, and Eliza continued the business. Eliza died in 1911 aged 90.

Bertha	Charles

Charles Smith travelled around for a few years training and gaining experience. He moved back home by 1891, and opened a pharmacy in High Street Rushden, thus making him the second experienced chemist and druggist to open in the town after Wallis Wilkerson.

At Higham Ferrers he met Bertha Pickering who was living with her sister, Letitia, wife of Wesleyan minister, James Lawrence, at Higham Ferrers. Bertha was born in 1868 at Selby, YKS.

Charles and Bertha were married in 1891. They had two sons, Eric Desautis in 1893 and (Wilfred) Gordon in 1898, who both emigrated to America.

Eric returned briefly to Rushden in 1916, and joined the Canadian Contingent.

Rushden Echo, 21st January 1916, transcribed by Kay Collins Rushden Man's Long Journey Seven Thousand Miles — In Order to Join The Colours Mr. Eric Smith, elder son of Mr. Charles Smith, chemist, of High-street, Rushden, has joined the Electrical Signalling Department, Cable Company, Canadian Contingent. He has travelled 6,000 or 7,000 in order to join the Colours. He was electrical engineer on the Santa Fe Railway, and was at New Mexico, U.S.A., and the journey, which was via Toronto, occupied nearly three weeks. Reaching Rushden on Saturday night, he had to leave again on Sunday night to join his company.

Cousins Charles Smith (left) and William F J Hewitt - c1935

Charles was a founder of the Adult School, and a keen Temperance worker. He died in 1947.

Bertha died the following year aged 79. They were buried at Higham Ferrers cemetery.