William Smart

[oldbear]

Looking for information on William Smart, born around 1824 (died in 1907 aged 83), married to Ann Grant on 24th November 1851 in Freuchie. His father was Donald Smart but I can't find any record of his birth or who his mother was. Anyone got any ideas?

[rainbowuk]

Hi, have done a quick search on the 1841 census for William..and there are 2 about the right age. One is living by himself and the others one father is not Donald. Did you get Williams death record? This should have both his parents names on it ...not that these are always correct. I have had a few where the children must be guessing their grandparents names so always check names against as many records as I can. If you have any brothers and sisters for William I am quite happy to have a look again to see if i can find him with his family.

Good luck,
Susan

[oldbear]

Thanks for your interest Susan, Williams death cert gives his father as Donald but mother unknown. The informant was his grandson so the fathers name could be a wild guess. There are a few William Smarts around (I have another one on my fathers side of the tree who is equally tricky). William and Ann's marriage entry doesn't give parents names so can I ever be sure who his parents were?

Hope you can help!

[hume]

Do you have him on any censuses? It should give you a birthplace which we can narrow down births for. 

I notice in William and Ann's children you have an Ann Smart, born 1855. Official registration began then, and the records were more detailed than the later years. It will tell you both parents' birthplaces on the certificate.

[oldbear]

William married Ann Grant in Kettle in 1851 but I don't know if he was from there originally. Have tried the 1841 census on Scotlands People without much success. Any ideas?

[oldbear]

Just treated myself to credits on SP, found out that William was born in Collessie. This backs up info I have from a kind man on GenesReunited whose wife is a Smart. I'll go and look up the 1841 census now.

[hume]

Think this is your William.

• WILLIAM SMART
  Birth: 09 DEC 1823      
  Christening: 28 DEC 1823 Collessie, Fife, Scotland
  Parents: JOHN SMART & BARBARA HOOD

Going, of course, by the fact William and Ann had a daughter called Barbara. 

[oldbear]

Thanks hume24, your help is really appreciated! This is the same info as I have already, just wanted it confirmed really!

Kindest regards,

Ruth

[rainbowuk]

Hi again,

Have found your William on 1851 census.

Barbara Smart..age47...brn Strathmiglo, Fife..

William Smart...son...age 27..brn Collessie , Fife..Ag labourer

Helen Smart...daughter..age 16..brn Collessie, fife...hand loom linen weaver

Margrt Smart..daughter..age 13..brn Collessie, Fife...scholar

John Smart..son...age 11..brn Collessie fife..scholar

they were living at Sheilds Bridge..parish of Kettle, Fife

Hope this helps,

Susan