CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameMary STARMER [27], [4385], [6889], [7207], [8137], [8320], GG Grandmother
Birth Date11 May 1826 [186], [432], [434], [818], [1581], [4385]
Birth PlaceHarpole, Northamptonshire, England
MemoAbode was Harpole, church was in Kislingbury (Calvanistic Baptist)
Census Date6 Jun 1841 [551] Age: 15
Census PlaceHarpole, Northamptonshire, England
MemoLarkhill Lane
Census Date30 Mar 1851 [2384] Age: 24
Census PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
MemoBridge Street, All Saints Parish
Census Date7 Apr 1861 [760] Age: 34
Census PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
Memo7 College Street, All Saints Parish
Census Date2 Apr 1871 [818] Age: 44
Census PlaceSt. Sepulchre, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
Memo10 Princess Street
Census Date1881 [432]
Census PlaceNorthampton St. Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England
Memo10 Princess [sic] Street (aka Princes St.)
Census Date1891 [804]
Census PlaceHastings, Sussex, England
Memo13 Hornly Rd [spelling?]; present-day East Sussex
Reside Date19 May 1900 [8130] Age: 74
Reside PlaceColwyn Bay, Denbigshire, Wales, United Kingdom
MemoPlas Y Coed (possibly a hotel at the time?)
Death Date19 May 1900 [462], [8127], [8128], [8320] Age: 74
Death PlaceLlandrillo yn Rhos, Colwyn Bay, Denbigshire, Wales, United Kingdom
MemoPlas Y Coed
Burial PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England [8129]
Memo36 South Terrace, Billing Road Cemetery: Grave No. 12130
FatherJohn STARMER (1790-1835)
MotherSarah MAIN (1793-1872)
Misc. Notes
The 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 censuses were all taken in April of those years, so her reported age of 34, 44, 54 & 64, respectively, is consistent with birth in May, 1826. And in 1851, she had just turned 15 the month before the census, so that fits also.

In 1891 she was listed as a “visitor” (and a widow) in the household of Thomas Starmer, age 53, in Hastings, Sussex (present East Sussex). Also on this occasion, she is described as “Living on own means.” Relationship of Thomas is unknown; possibly a cousin or nephew. Seems unlikely that he was a brother. [804] It could be the Thomas Starmer, born 1-Feb-1838, son of John Starmer and Mary Ann Chamberlain. [823] John & Mary Ann were married 05-DEC-1831 at Northampton St. Sepulchre C of E. [479]

At the time of her death, Mary was living at the Plas y Coed Hotel in Colwyn Bay, Denbigshire, Wales. I'm not sure if it was actually called a hotel at the time (1900); it was later known as the Plas y Coed Methodist Guild Guest House. The building was demolished circa 2002-2003. It is not known why she was in Wales.

When Mary’s will was probated, 03-OCT-1900, her estate was valued at £2857 7s. 10d. [8127], [8128] According to www.in2013dollars.com/UK-inflation, that amount would be worth about £353,474.05 ($477,189.97) in 2020.

In her will, Mary left £5 each to: Baptist Foreign Missions, The Zenana Missions and the College Street Band of Hope. £10 was left to her niece, Ann MAIN (relationship as yet to be determined; so far it doesn’t seem possible she could have had a niece with the surname MAIN). The will reveals that she was in posession of two large portraits of herself and her late husband, which she left to her son, William Starmer SMITH, but if he didn’t want them they were to go to her daughter, Kate SMITH HALL. She also had “family Portraits and views of his [William Starmer SMITH] house and ground in British Columbia, which also were left to William. There was a set of alabaster figures left to daughter Kate HALL and son-in-law W. E. PEBODY [“Edward William PEBARDY ” in this family tree]. Kate also inherited Mary’s watch, silver and plated goods, jewelry, linen and wearing apparel. All other personal estate and real estate was to be sold and converted to money by her her Trustees and Executors, and after expenses, divided into four parts: one each to son William and daughter Kate (or their children). If William, specifically, died before Mary, his 1/4 was to be given to his wife and children. The other two quarter shares were to be invested, and the interest or income to be used for the maintenance, education, apprenticeship or otherwise for the benefit of the children of her late son, John Alfred SMITH and the children of her late daughter, Sarah SMITH PEBODY, until they reach the age of 21. Upon turning 21, those children were to be given their "presumptive shares." If any of those grandchildren died before the age of 21, their share would be added to the remainder for the others. Mary appointed her friends, William Clayson RUSH and Richard TIMMS, as Trustees and Executors of her estate and left payment to them in the amount of £40 each.
[8128]
Research

The district Conway spans the boundaries of the counties of Caernarvonshire and Denbighshire, but Llandrillo yn Rhos, was within Denbighshire.

“Billing Road Cemetery
Mary Smith aged 74, of Plasy Coed, Colwyn Bay, Llandrillo yn, Wales died 19 05 1900 buried in same grave as Thomas her husband No. 12130”
— from “Sandy Hall” on Facebook.
The Northamptonshire Record Office have the cemetery records on microfilm.
“The Northampton County Council Cemetery Office have them too.
No records are held at any of the actual cemeteries in the town.”

From wikipedia: “Llandrillo yn Rhos is the name of an electoral ward in Conwy County Borough, Wales.”
Spouses
Birth PlaceHarbury, Warwickshire, England
Bapt Date3 May 1829 [764]
Bapt PlaceHarbury, Warwickshire, England
Census Date6 Jun 1841 [2438]
Census PlaceKislingbury, Northamptonshire, England
MemoHog Lane, Nobottle Grove Hundred
Census Date30 Mar 1851 [2384]
Census PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
MemoBridge Street, All Saints Parish
Census Date7 Apr 1861 [760]
Census PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
Memo7 College Street, All Saints Parish
Census Date2 Apr 1871 [818]
Census PlaceSt. Sepulchre, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
Memo10 Princess Street
Census Date1881 [432]
Census PlaceNorthampton St. Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England
Memo10 Princess [sic] Street (aka Princes St.)
Death Date20 Dec 1886 [843], [6889], [7207]
Death PlaceNorthampton St. Giles, Northamptonshire, England
Memo17 (or 15) Earl Street. Age 58 on death certificate
Burial Date25 Dec 1886 [8130]
Burial PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
Memo36 South Terrace, Billing Road Cemetery: Grave No. 12130
OccupationGrocer [100], [2384]
OccupationGinger Beer Maker [27], [2924]
OccupationAdvertising News Agent Bill Poster [432], [468], [843], [818], [7207], [8320], [8360]
OccupationPrinter [7965]
FatherWilliam SMITH (ca1800-1885)
MotherCatharine CROSS (ca1799-1891)
Misc. Notes
Thomas was a witness at his sister Ann’s marriage in 1854. [2399] He was also a witness for the birth registration of his grandson, William, in Paris, France. [7965]

Probate records state that Thomas’ estate was valued at £281 5s. [6889] This would be worth about £34,765.91 in 2020.

The “will proved” statement attached to Thomas’ will gives his last residence address as 15 Earl Street, Northampton, whereas the death certificate says 17 Earl Street. [7207] [843] At the time of his wife’s death in 1900, her stated home address was also 17 Earl Street, Northampton (though she died in Wales). [8128]
Research
Did Thomas say he was born in Harbury only because his mother was? In 1841 when the answer was most likely given by one of his parents, they said Northamptonshire.
Have not found a Thomas SMITH born/baptized 1827-1831 in Northamptonshire whose parents were William & Catharine.

In 1871 census, Harbury, there was a Thomas SMITH b.1829, Harbury, with wife Mary and daughter, Elizabeth. So maybe our Thomas really wasn’t born in Harbury? Was there a Thomas born same time in Kislingbury?

There was a Thomas SMITH b.1829, Harbury, living in Harbury, 1851, with parents Thomas & Elizabeth, so not the son of Catherine.

Possibly buried at Billing Road Cemetery ?
“Billing Road Cemetery
Thomas Smith aged 58, of 17, East Street, Northampton died 20 12 1886, buried 25 12 1886 in grave no No. 12130.”
— from “Sandy Hall” on Facebook
Marr Date13 Feb 1851 [100]
Marr PlaceNorthampton, Northamptonshire, England
Marr MemoCollege Street Chapel (Baptist); witnesses Eli Starmer and Esther Starmer
ChildrenWilliam Starmer (1854-1901)
 John Alfred (1856-1892)
 Sarah (1859-1897)
 Kate (1861-1939)
Last Modified 18 Feb 2022Created 23 Jun 2022 using Reunion for Macintosh
First Published 22 Sep 2013. Revised 23 Jun 2022
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