The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Big One!
Family History Research Report
Smith Family
Introduction - Bower/Collier Family Tree
When I set out to study the Bower/Collier Family Tree, my initial aim was to identify my 8 Great Grandparents (Bower) and my wife Chris’ 8 Great Grandparents (Collier). Though I have tended to study the Family History of the 16 Great Grandparents, I have also sought to find out the additional 16 Great Great Grandparents’ family names, and any 3 x Great Grandparents along the way!
The names that I have identified to date are:
Bower/Brecht Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Bower
Jones
Hayes
Gardner
Brecht
Walland/Worland
Saunders
Seabourne(e)/Saban
2 x Great Grandparents
Pitts (Bower)
Counter (Jones)
Bradbrook (Hayes)
Tunstell/Tunstill (Gardner)
Somes/Piper (Brecht)
Hutley (Walland/Worland)
Neville (Saunders)
Holbrook (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
3 x Great Grandparents
Pinnion (Pitts)
Spence (Jones)
Mason (Hayes)
Robinson (Bradbrook)
Shocke (Brecht)
Reynolds (Walland/Worland)
Hunt (Piper)
Howard (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
4 x Great Grandparents
Bates (Pitts)
Smithers (Pinion)
March (Jones)
Venice (Robinson)
Juliane (Brecht)
Adamson (Neville)
Siggins (Walland/Worland)
5 x Great Grandparents
Cook/Cock (Jones)
Wyat (Robinson)
Jahns (Brecht)
Odell (Walland/Worland)
6 x Great Grandparents
Amears (Robinson)
7 x Great Grandparents
Amore/Mills (Robinson)
Collier/Hunt Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Collier
Gardiner
Peryer/Perrier
Smith
Hunt
Farrow/Pharoah
Marjoram
Ransome(e)
2 x Great Grandparents
Adams (Collier)
Goodchild (Gardiner)
Mitchell (Peryer/Perrier)
Nye (Smith)
Sheldrake (Hunt)
Smith (Farrow)
Rookyard (Marjoram)
Aldous or Alhous/Ollis (Ransome(e))
3 x Great Grandparents
Mason (Collier)
Ridett (Adams)
Sly (Nye)
Snelling (Peryer/Perrier)
Spall (Hunt)
Shepherd (Farrow)
Allen (Ransome(e))
More (Aldous/Aldis or Alhous/Ollis)
4 x Great Grandparents
Trigg (Peryer/Perrier)
My research has included a One-Name Study into the name Brecht, my mother’s maiden name.
Names Index
The additional surnames in this Report have been listed in the Names Index below.
Smith Family
Progress To Date
Great Grandparent: Martha Smith
- Her Parents: Elisha Smith & Mary Ann Nye
- Her Grandparents: Thomas Smith & Sarah (Smith)
Mini Family Tree (Direct Ancestors)
The Smith family tree to date may be summarised:
Thomas Smith b c 1770
Married c 1795
Sarah (Smith) b c 1770
Elisha Smith b 1805 bp 14.7.1805
Married 27.10.1836
Mary Ann Nye bp 31.10.1819
Martha Smith b 1850/1
married West Clandon 14.11.1869
James Peryer bp 09.03.1836
d 18.04.1907 (Age 72)
Mary Peryer/Perrier b 02.12.1869
d 10.02.1949 (Age 79)
married St Luke’s, Hackney 13.05.1894
Walter James Collier b 09.06.1862
d 10.2.1942
Leonard Stanley Collier b 30.11.1909 d 9.5.1988
Married 6.06.1936
Phyllis Marjoram Hunt b 6.06.1912 Died 1991
Christine Elizabeth Collier
Married 15.10.1966
Colin Bower
Summary of research undertaken to date
Martha Smith, who married James Peryer in West Clandon, West Surrey in 1869, was Chris great grandmother. James Peryer was a Labourer/Carpenter at Clandon Park (the Onslow estate).
This is a summary relating to the Smith family in West Clandon; Smiths in other parts of the country have been encountered during research into other family names.
Surprisingly, reasonable progress was made in investigating a name like Smith, because the family lived in the West Clandon area for some years. Having said that, extraordinarily there were two Elisha Smiths born in West Clandon about the same time!
During a visit to West Clandon, we found gravestones in the Parish churchyard but have as yet not been able to link the individuals with other records held:
Birth Marriage & Death Certificates Held (see Appendix 1 below)
- Births: 1 (Fanny Smith – Martha’s sister)
- Marriages: 1 (Martha Smith & James Peryer)
- Deaths:
Census Records Obtained (see Appendix 2 below)
- 1841
- 1851 Elisha & Mary Ann Smith & family
- 1861 Elisha & Mary Smith & family
- 1871 Elisha & Mary Smith & family
- 1881
- 1891
- 1901
-1911
- 1939 Register
Other Research Undertaken
- IGI (see Appendix 3 below)
- Parish Records - St Peter & St Paul, West Clandon (see Appendix 4 below)
- Wills
- Businesses
- Correspondence – with a member of Send& Ripley History Society
- Visits - West Clandon
- Photographs – Martha (Smith) Peryer and West Clandon
Martha (Smith) Perrier outside the Butt & Ben Cottages, West Clandon
- Misc Info/Documents – information from Send & Ripley records (see Appendix 5 below)
Progress in Early Years
On 27 September 1987, I drove my wife Chris, her father, Len Collier, and our son Steve for a memorable visit to West Clandon and Clandon Park. We found the Butt and Ben Cottages in West Clandon where Martha Smith lived.
Len Collier remembered going by train with his mother Mary (Perrier) Collier to see his grandmother Martha (Smith) Perrier. He slept in a bed that was pulled down when yoiu opened a cupoboard - the sort of thing a small boy would remember!
We also found a number of grave stones in the graveyard of the local church - St Peter and St Paul:
- William John Smith d 10.01.1891 (age 50) b c 1840
(Parents could be William & Sarah per Parish Records)
- Esther Smith d 12.01.1929 (age 71) b c 1858
(Could be William’s wife)
In February 2000, I obtained the birth certificate of Fanny Smith, Martha’s sister, which gave her mother as Mary Ann Nye.
In September 2000, I published a summary of my progress to date in the journal of the West Surrey FHS, Root and Branch.
This produced a really useful response from a member of the Send & Ripley History Society including a chronological sequence of the family via the 1841-1871 censuses.
Progress 2008
Entries from the 1861 and 1871 Censuses were added.
Progress 2009/10
-
Progress 2011
I wrote this report as part of the Big One! project.
Progress 2012-19
-
Progress 2020
Elisha Smith married Mary Ann Nye in 1836.We knew from the 1861 and 1871 that Mary Ann was born c 1819 in Godalming.
Searches of Ancestry provided more information:1. Mary Ann Nye bp 31.10.1819 in Godalming
(Parents James Nye Labourer of Bridge Street and Jane)
2.James Nye
married 22.6.1819 in Godalming
Jane Sly
3. 1841 Census
Bridge Street, Godalming
James Nye (50) Ag Lab
Jane Nye (47)
James Nye (19) Ag Lab
John Nye (16) Ag Labn
Henry Nye (11)
Jane Nye (6)
Charlotte Nye (2)
Samuel Walkford (65) Pensioner
Elizabeth Walkford (59)
William Nye (60) Ag Lab
I added the Census entry and updated the individual records inclding Mary Ann Nye:
While updating my records, I tried again to trace Elisha& Mary in the 1841 Census and found them despite the enumerator mis-spelling Elisha's name:
1841 Census
West Clandon, Surrey
(?)Elijah Smith (30)
Mary Smith (20)
John Smith (3)
Mary Smith (2 months)
All born in County
I updated the Census entries
Things we wish we knew
Who the following were:
- John and Mary Smith, witnesses at Martha Smith's wedding
- William John and Esther Smith buried at St Peter & St Paul's, West Clandon
Martha Smith's birth certificate 1850/1
Also see Summary of Records Held (Completed & To Do) – attached.
Summary of Records Held - Smith Family
Summaries
Where they were & what they did
The attached table summarises the name of Chris' ancestors, where they lived and their occupations
Smith - Where they were & what they did
Family Tree Maker Sheets
The family details of Thomas Smith and Elisha Smith have been summarized in the attached Family Tree Maker sheets which I may enter into the relationship database Family Tree Maker in the future.
Family Tree Maker Sheet - Thomas Smith
Family Tree Maker Sheet - Elisha Smith
Names Index
following surnames appear in this Report in addition to the names in Page 1:
Baines
Everitt
Hersey
Nash
Warren
Colin Bower
21 December 2020
Appendices
Direct ancestors have been highlighted
1. Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates Held
Full name: Fanny Smith
Born at: West Clandon (Date: 13/7/1846)
Father: Elisha Smith (Occupation: Agricultural Laborer)
Mother: Mary Smith (Maiden Name: Nye )
Full name: James Peryer (of: West Clandon)
Occupation: Labourer (Age: 33)
Father: Henry Peryer, Labourer
Married at: Parish Church, West Clandon (Date: 14/11/1869)
Spouse: Martha Smith (of: West Clandon)
Occupation: (Age: 20)
Father: Elisha Smith, Labourer
Relevant Witnesses: John Smith, Mary Smith
2. Census Records Obtained
1841 Census
West Clandon, Surrey
(?)Elijah Smith (30)
Mary Smith (20)
John Smith (3)
Mary Smith (2 months)
All born in County
Bridge Street, Godalming
James Nye (50) Ag Lab
Jane Nye (47)
James Nye (19) Ag Lab
John Nye (16) Ag Lab
Henry Nye (11)
Jane Nye (6)
Charlotte Nye (2)
Samuel Walkford (65) Pensioner
Elizabeth Walkford (59)
William Nye (60) Ag Lab
1851 Census
West Clandon
Elisha Smith Head 45 born West Clandon
Mary Ann Smith Wife 34 born Godalming
John Smith Son 12 born West Clandon
Mary Ann Smith Daughter 10 born West Clandon
Harriet Smith Daughter 7 born West Clandon
Fanny Smith Daughter 4 born West Clandon
Martha Smith Daughter 8 months born West Clandon
West Clandon families
1. Elisha 45 (b West Clandon) Mary Ann 34 (Godalming) John 12 (West Clandon)
Mary Ann 10 (West Clandon) Harrier 7 (West Clandon) Fanny 4 (West Clandon)
Martha 8m (West Clandon)..............................................................................1594 f. 299v
2. Jane 80 (West Clandon)...................................................................................1594 f. 298r
3. John 67 (West Clandon) David 28 (West Clandon)..........................................1594 f.302v
4. Richard 46 (West Clandon).............................................................................1594 f.301r
5. Sarah 82 (Ripley) Fanny 53 (Holy Trinity Guildford) Ann 13 (West Clandon)...1594 f.298r
6. Thomas 50 (West Clandon)............................................................................1594 f.299r
7. William 50 (West Clandon) Jane 50 (Elstead) Mary 21 (West Clandon)..........1594 298r
1861 Census
Village, West Clandon, Surrey
Elisha Smith (53) Agricultural Labourer born West Clandon, Surrey
Mary Smith (42) born Godalming, Surrey
Martha Smith (10) born West Clandon, Surrey
George Smith (8) born West Clandon, Surrey
Hannah Smith (5) born West Clandon, Surrey
Ellen Smith (3 months) born West Clandon, Surrey
1871 Census
West Clandon
Elisha Smith (63) Labourer born West Clandon, Surrey
Mary Smith (52) born Godalming
George Smith (17) Laborer born West Clandon, Surrey
Ellen Smith (10) born West Clandon, Surrey
3. IGI
West Clandon..........1805 (19 May)...........Elisha........s.........Thomas & Mary
West Clandon..........1805 (14 July)............Elisha........s.........Thomas & Sarah
East Clandon...........1772 or 5 (29 Oct).....Elisha........s.........William & Sarah
About 1799 or 1813....Elisha........m........Mary Nash of Chessington
1825 (15 Oct).............Elisha........m........Mary Baines,Bisley
West Clandon..........1826 (27 Oct)..........Elisha........m.........Mary Ann Nye
Send & Ripley...........1837 (14 May)..........Elisha........s.........Elisha & Mary
East Clandon............1803 (19 March)........Elijah........s.........David & Sarah
Godalming...............1819 (31 Oct).............Mary Ann Nye....James & Jane Nye (see Note)Note
If this is to be the correct Mary Ann Nye, it would have to be an adult baptism as “our” Mary Ann Nye married Elisha Smith in 1826.
4. Parish Records
Extracts from the Parish Registers of West Clandon
(i) Thomas Smith son of Richard and Jane Smith bp 4.10.1762
Either (ii) Thomas & Mary Smith..............or (iii) Thomas & Sarah Smith
b c 1765, m c 1790...........................................b c 1770, m c 1795
Children.....................................................Children
William...bp 3.04.1791...............................John bp 26.03.1797
James........bp 12.08.1792..........................Sarah bp 18.05.1800
Elizabeth....bp 25.05.1794..........................George bp 01.04.1804
Thomas.......bp 29.09.1799........................Elisha bp 14.07.1805
Mary.........bp 27.03.1803
Elisha.......bp 19.05.1805
?George......bp 13.12.1807
? William....bp 20.01.1811
(iv) Elisha & *Mary Smith..........................(v) Elisha & Mary Ann (Nye) Smith (Martha’s parents)
b c 1800, m c 1825.......................................b c 1805/6, m c 1838
Children......................................................Children
Jane.........bp 26.02.1826............................John bp 24.6.1838
?Maria.......bp 07.04.1828
*Subsequently married George Hersey
For Other Parish Records see attachment:
5. Misc Information/Documents Obtained
Information from Send & Ripley Records
Entries in Censuses:
1841 – Send & Ripley
Elisha.........35......ag lab.....b Surrey
Mary.........35...................b Surrey
Mary.........10...................b Surrey
Hannah........8..................b Surrey
William........6..................b Surrey
Elisha..........4..................b Surrey
James.........1..................b Surrey
1851 Census - Woking
Elisha.......78.................b West Clandon
1851 Census - Send
Mary..........44...Widow............born Clandon
Jane...........25...Unmarried dau.born Clandon
William.......16...ag lab son.......b Send
Elisha.........13...ag lab son.......b Send
James........11...ag lab son.......b Send
Ellen...........7...scholar dau......b Send
George.......6...scholar son......b Send
Richard Woods.23..ag lab unmarried visitor.....b Send
1861 Census - ?Send
George Hersey..38.head, married ag lab.........b Send
Mary Hersey....54.wife..................................b Pirbright
Ellen Smith.......17.step dau servant...............b Send
George Smith...16.stepson farmer’s boy........b Send
1871 Census - ?Send
George Hersey..46.head ag lab.....................b Send
Mary Hersey....64........................................b Pirbright
Elisha Smith...35.stepson, unmarried farm lab..b Send
Baptisms & Burials – Send (S) & Ripley (R )
Baptisms
1836R...........Henry................s.......Henry & Priscilla
1836S...........James................s.......William & Ann
1837R...........Henry...............s.......George & Mary
1836/1837S..James...............s.......William, Sawyer & Ann
1838R..........Fredk Warren...s.......William Everett & Mary (born 1836)
1838R.........Alfred Everitt.....s.......William Everett & Mary
1839R.........James...............s.......Henry & Priscilla
1839S.........John.................s.......William & Ann
1839S.........James..............s.......Elisha & Mary
1837S.........Elisha..............s.......Elisha, lab & Mary
Burials - Send
1872 (March 19) Mary Hersey age 67
1877 (Feb 19) George Hersey age 51
