5 St John Street
The two John Smiths
No. 1 St John Street
No. 1A St John Street
No. 3 St John Street
No. 5 St John Street
No. 7 St John Street
No. 9 St John Street
No. 11 St John Street
No. 13 St John Street
No. 15 St John Street
No. 17 St John Street
No. 19 St John Street
No. 21 St John Street
No. 23 St John Street
No. 2 St John Street
No. 4 St John Street
No. 6 St John Street
No. 8 St John Street
The deeds of this house confirm that one occupant was John Smith. The 1871 census gives more details. The house was split into two households: one occupied by the family of John Smith, carpenter and the other by the family of his son, also John Smith, a tailor. John Smith (senior) was aged 58 and born in Bristol. His family consisted of his wife, Eliza aged 50 from Thornbury and his children; Annie a dressmaker aged 16, James a carpenter aged 14 and Benjamin aged 12. A nephew, Thomas Slade, a blacksmith aged 17 was also living with them.
John Smith (junior) was aged 27 born in Thornbury. His family comprised his wife, Mary Ann aged 29 born in Gnosall, Staffordshire, and Clara M aged 5, John William aged 3, both born in Walsall and Mary Ann aged 2 born in Gnosall.
The earlier censuses told us more about the origins of the Smith family. The 1841 census shows John Smith (senior) as a young man of 28 with his wife Eliza aged 20. They were living in High Street with John's parents, Thomas a carpenter aged 61 and Mary aged 55. They had Thomas, a baby a few months old.
In 1851 the Smiths were living in Castle Street near the Castle, presumably at Pound House Cottage where they were living in 1861. They had Thomas aged 10, Mary aged 8, John (junior) aged 7, Eliza aged 3, Harriet aged 1 and George aged 11 months.
In 1861 the Smiths were living at Pound House cottage near the Church. John and Eliza had nine children there. Thomas aged 20 was a carpenter like his father, Mary aged 18 was a dressmaker and John (junior) aged 17, was starting his life as a tailor. The six other children were: Harriett and George both aged 12, Louisa aged 9, Anne aged 7, James aged 4, Benjamin aged 2. Nephew, Thomas Slade was also living there.
In 1881 John (senior) was living in number 6 Pullins Green. Eliza seems to be working as a monthly nurse in Marylebone, London. John had two grandchildren living there, George and Ellen Keniston. John Smith (junior) had moved to live in Hockeys Lane, Stapleton, Bristol. He and Mary were living there with five children and two nieces.
By 1891 John and Eliza were re-united, both living in number 2 Pullins Green with a grandson, Thomas Smith aged 13 who was born in Birmingham. John (senior) died in Thornbury in 1900 aged 88 years. Eliza had died in 1893 aged 73 years.
Click here to read about the other occupants of number 5 St John Street.
This page was last updated: 29/10/2008