SMITH
SMITH is the most common surname in England arising from people who worked as blacksmiths and although it is not very common in the Trunch records, there are one or two interesting characters. In 1817 the Times newspaper offered a reward for the apprehension of a David SMITH who had absconded from Trunch leaving a wife and child chargeable to the parish. It went on - "He is about 24 years of age, 5 feet eight inches high, has lost the fore finger of his right hand ..... He is by trade a brazier (worker in brass) and is supposed to be travelling with a company of gypsies. He goes by the name of Young Gypsy, Will or Bill Johnson."
Ezra Duncan a notorious Trunch criminal also used the alias of William SMITH at times.
Ezra Duncan a notorious Trunch criminal also used the alias of William SMITH at times.
Thomas SMITH a farmer and cattle dealer from Buxton married Elizabeth AMIES in Trunch in 1819 and their children, Samuel Wortley and Sophia were born here. In later years they lived in Aylsham. In the late 1800s Edward (Ted) SMITH (1864-1939) an agricultural labourer lived in Trunch after marrying Sarah Ann BULLEY. They had 9 children in Trunch, all with two christian names which were sometimes used interchangeably. Their eldest child James Edward was born before the marriage and in later life took his mother's maiden name - Bulley.
The other intriguing Smith is William SMITH who with his son George Cartwright, was staying at the New Inn in Trunch at the time of the 1861 census. William gave his profession as a lecturer from Leicestershire and in 1851 he was a school master there living with his wife Elizabeth and 5 children. I haven't been able to trace him in 1871 or 1881 but in 1891 he was a 71 year old retired teacher living with Elizabeth in Derbyshire. George meanwhile became a blacksmith and wagon repairer.
Another William SMITH of Trunch appeared in the newspaper in 1900. He was a baker and he was accused of not carrying scales on his cart. He said that the scales were in a drawer on the cart but that his son Walter didn't know that. He was fined 1 shilling with 20 shillings costs.
In the 1930s a Reverend W. SMITH is mentioned in the records and I think he must have been a visiting rector. Other SMITHs took part in sports and fund-raising in the 1900s.
Click here for more information and if have anything to correct or add, please contact me.
In the 1930s a Reverend W. SMITH is mentioned in the records and I think he must have been a visiting rector. Other SMITHs took part in sports and fund-raising in the 1900s.
Click here for more information and if have anything to correct or add, please contact me.