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I looked at your reply and thought : “Wow this is going to be easy. There were three John Smith’s born in 1840 in Lothersdale and you suggest I discount 2 of the families. That means there’s one left. BINGO”

I was wrong. I did a search in the 1851 census for John Smith born within 2 years of 1840 in Lothersdale and found that there were 4 John Smiths listed not three as I had expected.

The first 2 are the ones that are easy to discount:

John SMITH aged 11, born 1840, working as a Bobbing Winder, born Lothersdale the son of Joseph &  Dinah Smith. Living at Dalend, Carlton, Lothersdale.

John SMITH aged 13, born 1838, born Lothersdale the son of Henry & Sarah Smith. Henry was an Innkeeper & Farmer Of 17 Acres. Living at Dalend, Lothersdale.

The third might be the son of Thomas and Anne. Listed living at 80 Woodhead Lothersdale are:

SMITH,     Thomas,   Head, Married, M, 34, 1817, Power Loom Weaver   
SMITH,     Jane,        Wife, Married, F, 33, 1818      
PICKLES, Sophia,     Daughter, F, 13, 1838, Power Loom Weaver   
PICKLES, Benjamin, Son, M, 12, 1839,   Weaver
SMITH,    John,         Son, M, 11, 1840
SMITH,    James,       Son, M, 7, 1844,
PICKLES, Isabella,    Daughter, F, 10, 1841, Weaver
PICKLES, Simon,      Son, M, 6,   1845
PICKLES, Elizabeth,  Daughter, F, 0 (6 MOS), 1851

All the above were born in Lothersdale except for Simon who was born in Cowling. This might just make sense if this John Smith was the son of Thomas and Anne’s son, and Anne had died and Thomas had re-married to Jane (nee Pickles.)

The 4th John Smith was living at Mount, Kildwick in 1851 with 3 Uncles:

SMITH, John, Head, Unmarried, M,52, 1799, Hand Loome Weaver, born Cowling
SMITH, Christopher, Brother, Unmarried,   M, 44, 1807, Hand Loome Weaver, born Cowling
SMITH, George, Brother, Unmarried, M, 41, 1810, Hand Loome Weaver Wors, born Cowling
SMITH, John, Nephew, M, 11, 1840, Errand Boy, born Lothersdale

The three elder Smith’s can be found on the 1841 Census with Mary aged 70 (their mother) living at Cowling Hill, Kildwick, Cowling.

I think you are right and I will have to track down birth & marriage certificates before I can be certain of anything. Although I’m not expecting a lot of joy for, as you point out, the Smith name is very difficult to research.  Still my wife’s mother was an Evans who married a Jones and we have made progress there so miracles do happen. Onward and upward.

Thanks again for you help.

My Grandfather was Ernest Smith born 1875 and, when I was very young,  lived in Eastburn. My father wrote that:

"I never knew any of my grandparents Grannie Smith apart, who was Squeaky Jack’s second wife. All four grandparents must have been type specimens comparable to my parents. Squeaky Jack was born in Lothersdale, a Quaker, who would allow no quarter in the Meeting House – he left the Society of Friends in order to become a Primitive Methodist Local Preacher."

I have found John Smith, Ernest's father, on the Census and he was born in 1840 in Carlton, Lothersdale. However,  when I look on the 1841 census I find 3 John Smiths born with 2 years of 1840 and all living in Dale End, Carlton.

I would be ever so grateful for any help in identifying whether John's parents were: Robert & Hannah, Josh & Dinah or Henry & Sarah. 

Muffti