James Smith
| Town/City | Reynella |
|---|---|
| First name | James |
| Last name | Smith |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Date of Birth | circa 1814 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | Before 185 |
| Submitted by | Heather Rayner |
Story
James Braid Smith emigrated from Kirkcaldy, Scotland sometime before 1850. On 15 May, 1850, he married Selina McPharlin at the Union Chapel, Morphett Vale, South Australia. He was 35 and she 19 years of age. Their first child, a son, also named James Braid Smith, was born at Morphett Vale but it appears they went to Victoria for several years where a second son, John Brodie Smith, was born in 1853 and a daughter Selina Ann in 1855. About 1856 they returned to South Australia and settled in the Yankalilla district where James worked as a labourer. Five more children were born, namely – Daniel Row, Agnes Crufford, Robert Sutie, Emma Sutie and Jessie Eliza Braid Smith. In 1864 their two youngest sons, Daniel and Robert, died of scarlet fever just six days apart, aged 6 and 2 years respectively.
Selina died in childbirth on 31 January, 1870 aged 37 and it appears that after her death, James’ health began to deteriorate until he was no longer able to care for the two youngest children, Emma and Jessie, who were only 5 and 2 years of age when their mother died – consequently Emma was fostered by Mrs. Curl of Normanville and Jessie was placed in an orphanage in Adelaide but was later fostered by a Mr. and Mrs. Clifford.
Emma married George Hamilton Smith on 4February,1885 and they lived on a property called ‘Wissanger’, at Yankalilla. Here they ran a mixed farm in which Emma played a large role, especially with milking the cows as George was involved with his father’s (Alexander Smith) storekeeping business. George died on 14 November, 1939 and Emma on 1 December, 1956 aged 92.
Jessie married Leonard William Martin on 26 October, 1885. They lived in Adelaide where Leonard worked as a plumber. Jessie died on 7 November, 1913 aged 46.