Joseph
Smart and Jane Hawkins
Parents : George
Smart and Jane Smart (Nothing more
known) Francis and Mary
Hawkins (80%)
Joseph Smart (b 1808 Bristol , m Jane Hawkins 1847 St James
Sydney, d 1895 Bethanga Vic)
Jane Hawkins (b 1821
Saint Patricks York Road-Roman Catholic, Leeds, Yorkshire, d abt 1858?)
Sarah Jane Smart
( b
1845 Sydney, m John Clarkson
Rowley 1874
Beechworth Vic, d 1928 Bethanga)
Joseph
Smart Rowley (b 1875
Yackandandah Vic, m Eircell
Broome 1909 Albury NSW, d 1957 Bethanga)
Jane Hawkins
Nothing definite is known about Jane before her
marriage, or
after the birth of Sarah. We believe Sarah was an only child. No death
has been found for Jane, but she died when Sarah was 10, from family
oral history. Did she and Sarah go to California with her husband in
1849? . Reading Joseph Smart's obituary, he
was chasing gold all over the place from 1849 to perhaps even 1858. You
have to wonder where Jane and Sarah were.
At one stage we thought she was the child of David
Hawkins and Jane
Cooling, but this appears not to be so. The entry in the pioneer
register seems to be wrong. The 1826 child is James, not Jane
(refer to death certificate, and letters (Hardcopy only on file).
Family search yeilds nothing but the incorrect entry. FamilySearch
comes up blank on her death. The death index Vic,
1854 to 65 has
been searched. 4990 is not her
Update 18 Oct 2007
Found a Jane Hawkins in the 1837 Convict Muster.
Convicted Leeds
(Quarter Session) 7 January 1837 (Alias Mary Ann Thompson). Given
7 years. Convicted with Eliza Stephenson . Arrived on the
Henry Wellesley (Barque of 404 tons, departure Woolwich 17 July 1837
125 days via the Cape), aged
16. She was listed in the Pardons 1842-45, but the record doed not
seem to say which year Found Jane Hawkins, Female Christening: 12
Aug 1821 Saint Patricks York
Road-Roman Catholic, Leeds, Yorkshire,. Bateson's convict ships
(P354 , 290) had 140 female convicts (no
males), one relanded, the rest made it to Sydney
Is this our Jane?
(1) We have not found anyone else born or arriving. But disconceringly
we have two different Jane Smart deaths about the right time.
There is a convict, Jane Mary
Hawkins arriving on the Minstrell in 1821 (Ancestry). The
younger one looks more likely
(2) She is about the right age (25) to be the Jane marrying Joseph
Smart in 1847
(3) Sarah Jane is born a year after the end of Jane's sentence in
1844.
(4) When we find her family in Leeds, they are Catholic. Her daughter
Sarah Jane was raised a Catholic in Beechworth, in spite of her father
being Protestant.
(5) Joseph Smart's obituaries never mention his wife and daughter.
Perhaps in his respectable old age, he never talked much about the wife
who had been a convict
(6) I will get the exact wording next time I am in Yackandandah, but
Joseph Smart's headstone on his grave does not mention his wife
Flimsy evidence, but the fact that she was Catholic is encouraging, and
I
would put it as an 80% chance this is her
Email from Maree Woods on
Jane's Death
I have been
through my dusty records and beside certificate of Jane Smart that died
in 1857 age 41 I have cerfiicate for Jane Smart that died
1858 aged 26...all it tells you aside from that is
that she resided at the infirmary and
it is a record from the register of burials at St Mary,s (Roman
Catholic)....I am going to apply for last possibility...Jane Smart died
1858 aged 28 .I looked in
Victorian indexes again ..seems
to be
nothing there.
In a followup Maree obtailed the death
certificate for the Jane Smart aged 28 who died in February 1858.
It looks
like the same person as the age 26 one, as the death is 3 days before
the burial, and she died in the infirmary of "disease of brain". Born
England, parents unknown, place of marriage = unknown, to whom =
unknown "at the diggings" (Hard to read, but that is probably
what is says)
There is also a Jane Smart who died in May
1857 aged 41 in Durands Alley
Sydney from "natural causes accelerated by habits of intemperance". It
would be very sad if that was her She was buried in the Presbyterian
Cemetry. Everything else unknown
Update 1 Nov after AIGS search
Yorkshire sentence records
Found record for Jane - Age 16 Kitchenmaid, Stole 2 Shawls
NSW/VDL REF 730/227
TNA REF HO27/54
Single, Previous conviction 2m
Petition see HO17/48 Gx23 LR - visit
this disk again and follow up references
Conclusion
That 1858 death could well be her. Again she
is Catholic. Joseph Smart settled down in the Yackandandah Beechworth
area in 1858 according to his obituary. Family oral history has it that
Sarah was brought up by a Catholic family in Beechworth from about
1858. So perhaps JS settled down in Beechworth/Yackandandah when given
the responsibility for his daughter. Given the obvious lack of
information about the deceased, her age
is obviously a guess. And "at the diggings" fits? So this could even be
the death of both both the
bride in 1847
and the convict who arrived in 1837 aged 16. Revisit
to GR and Ancestry found
nothing new re birth or death
Joseph Smart
Joseph Smart's death certificate is the only
information we have about
his parents. The certificate explicitly says that his mother's maiden
name was Smart. His age then would give his dob as 1808. His age is
stated as 37 when he married, which puts his marriage at 1845ish,. Also
using a stated 20 years in NSW and 49 in Victoria,
which suggests he came to Australia in the 1820s. (This contrasts
with his obituary where he "settled down" in the 40s). Our Sarah Jane
Smart was born to Joseph and Jane Smart 13 July 1845, baptised 12
April 1846, abode Brickfield Hill, Joseph was a Corn Dealer. I have the
marriage as 1847 in my records, but can't find a document.
Check
of
Ancestry.com.au convict records yeilds the following
(1) Joseph Smart was convicted in Bristol 27 Oct 1827, along with John
Snell, Richard Chinn and John Cork. All were sentenced to 14 years
transportation. Image
Not sure what if anything the entry states about what he was convicted
for. Another record from
Ancestry records his conviction (October 1827) for Burglary, and
sentence (death). Sentence was with George Hill, William Stone, John
Snell, Richard Chinn and John Cork (all sentenced to death)
(2) He arrived on the Eliza in
1828, Residence and Employment
given as "Depart of Public Works". His age is given as 20 and his
sentence is 14 years. Image
(3) The Ancestry record is confused, but he seems to be aged 27 in a
convict Muster of 1835. Image
(4) Searching the list of Pardons and Tickets of Leave 1834-59 does not
find him
This is definitely our Joseph. The age is exact to the year, and
Bristol is specified in later documentation. It also tallies pretty
well with the later "20 years in NSW"
Other odds and
ends found trawling the files, in the Salisgury and Winchester Journal,
probably not our Joseph
(1) Seven years
transportation : Joseph Smart, for stealing a quantity of cheese
and bacon from Joseph Scott, at Tisbury- Salisbury,Monday, Jan
17, 1825., in the general quarter sessions for the peace for this
county
(2) Salisbury, Jan.28, 1825.
The following prisoners
were on Thursday last removed from Fisherton
Gaol, and put on board the York hulk, in Portsmouth harbour. viz.
George
Weakley, William Sanger, and James Johnson,
convicted of various offences at our late city sessions, and sentenced
to seven years transportation; also Joseph Smart, Walter
Angel, George Bull, Ezek. Lovegrove, and Nathan
Shuttle,
convicted of various offences at the late quarter sessions of the peace
for the county of Wiits, and sentenced to seven years transportation.
Some
more information from Maree Woods, from the History Services Database
1834 - Absconded from Phoenix
Hulk,
Sydney Harbour
1834 - Apprehended after
abscondment
from Phoenix Hulk
1837 – Employed at Dockyard,
Sydney,
aged 27
1843 - Certificate of Freedom,
11/4/1843 (43/577)
Link to story of the Phoenix
Hulk
Joseph Smart Testimonial from the Beechworth Ovens and Murray
Advertiser
Testimonial to Joseph Smart, ESQ., M.M.B.
OMA 2nd Jan 1869
On Wednesday evening last the friends of Joseph
Smart., esq., M.M.B., assembled at the Reefer’s Arms, Hillsborough, to
present him with a gold watch, value ₤25, as a mark of their esteem on
the occasion of his leaving them.
Mr John Brown was called to the chair, and in a few
appropriate remarks, eulogized Mr Smart, who, he said, had done much
not only for the local institutions and interests of Hillsborough and
Yackandandah, but had likewise greatly exerted himself on behalf of the
institutions of the Ovens; he then called on Mr Rodgers to present the
testimonial.
Mr Rodgers said: - “The duty allotted to him was a most pleasing one,
and that if Mr Smart was not present he should feel more at liberty
than he now did, to dilate on that gentlemen’s very valuable public
career; but he disliked praising a man to his face. As a member
of the Beechworth Mining Board Mr Smart’s probity and attention were
recognized by all, and his continuing to represent the Yackandandah
division for seven years is an undeniable truth, affirming the high
estimation in which he is held. The New Era Quartz Crushing
Company, which it was hoped would prove very advantageous to
Hillsborough, was greatly indebted to Mr Smart for the time and
attention he had bestowed in endeavoring to bring it to a successful
issue, and this too without his possessing a large stake in the
venture. The Hillsborough Common School is likewise much
beholding to Mr Smart for the interest he has taken in founding it, and
establishing it on a firm basis. Indeed, no matter how great or
how insignificant the matter might be, Mr Smart has ever been ready
with head and hand to forward it. It was on the occasion of Mr
Smart’s leaving Hillsborough, that the people here determined on
evincing their high approval of his conduct”. Mr Rodgers, then
turning to Mr Smart continued: “Sir, I am deputed by your friends,
which means every inhabitant of Hillsborough, to present you with this
watch, as a mark of their high esteem of you in every walk of life,
whether public or private; and I do not doubt that you will regard it
as such, and so hand it down to your children, who, when we that are
now present are mingled with the dust, will look on this inscription,
remember their ancestor, and emulate his deeds. Inscription:
“Presented to Joseph Smart, Esq., M.M.M., by the inhabitants of
Hillsborough, as a mark of their esteem of his useful public services
during his residence among them. – Christmas, 1868.” In the name
of your friends, Sir, I wish you success in every capacity and place.
Mr Smart: Mr Chairman and gentlemen, - “I should
violate my inmost feelings did I attempt to conceal from you my high
sense of the very handsome manner in which you have recognized my past
career in your midst; I can never forget this day whilst I live; I
cannot say that I feel myself to be deserving of this tribute of your
respect, for I know that I have only done my duty, and that we all
ought to do without pay or reward. It is satisfactory to me to be
able to say that in times of fiercest dispute, when I have had occasion
to differ from many of you in matters of public policy, that I have
never been insulted or upbraided by a man of Hillsborough or
Yackandandah. I shall indeed treasure up this memorial, and hand
it down to my children as a proof that to do one’s duty is the surest
way to win the regard of honest and honorable men. You may be
sure that though my body be absent from you, my heart will remain here,
and that wherever I am my services, still as heretofore, will be at
your disposal.”
Generously supplied by Anthony Bigelow. Anthony is writing a book
on Hillsborough. If you are interested in this project, contact us.
Joseph Smart Obituary from the Beechworth Ovens and Murray
Advertiser
It is with great regret we have to anounce the death of Mr. Smart,
formerly member of the mining board for Yackandandah, which took place
at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr.Rowley, M.B.B., at Bethanga on
Saturday morning last. The deceased gentleman was one of the
pioneers of the Ovens district, having first arrived here in 1852, and
after a short visit to the "lower diggings' came back to Yackandandah,
where he worked as a miner for many years. After holding the office of
mining registrar, &c., he retired last year to end his days at
Bethanga with his son-in-law. Mr. Smart always took a prominent place
in all public matters connected with Yackandandah, and especially in
mining, which he identified himself with to the last. Although of late
years unable actively to aid the cause which he had espoused, yet his
advice and assistance way always ready to those requiring it. The
following is an account of the deceased gentleman's career :-
He was born at Bristol in February, 1808, thus having attained the ripe
age of 87 years at his death. Being of an adventurous nature be visited
various parts at the world as a seaman, and settled down in Sydney in
the forties, where be carried on a store keepers business very
successfully. In the year 1849 the news from California of the finding
of gold there attracted him, and he left with many others for the
gold-fields there, and worked with considerable success at Wood's
Creek, in the Southern mines. Soon after this gold was discovered in
New South Wales, and he, like most of the colonials in California,
returned to Sydney, and visited the diggings at the Turon, Meroo,
&c. When gold was discovered in Victoria he came over here, and
want to nearly all the "rushes" in 1852-58, finally pitching his camp
at Yackandandah, where he worked with fair success for many years. He
was a member of the old Local Court of Yackandandah, and when a vacancy
occurred in the representation of that division by the retirement of
Mr. Peter Wright, who was elected as M.P. for the Ovens, Mr. Smart was
elected to the Beechworth Mining Board in February, 1862, and held that
office uninterruptedly for thirty-two years, only retiring last year
through old age and infirmity. This record is one which probably no
other man in Victoria has attained as a representative. Mr. Smart was
one of those men who might be called a "regular John Bull," blunt,
straight-forward, outspoken honest, and having formed an opinion
he was not easily moved from it. He will be remembered at Yackandandah
for these qualities and for his kind and charitable disposition to all
who were in distress or need of assistance.
Joseph Smart, Miner and Rate Collector, Yackandandah.
Born in Bristol, England in 1808, the son of George Smart and Jane (nee
Smart). Smart emigrated to New South Wales in the 1840s. Settling in
Sydney, he was storekeeping for a few years until hearing of the gold
rush in America. He went to California, returning during the early
years of Australia's gold-rush. He visited most of the large gold
centres in New South Wales and Victoria before settling finally at
Yackandandah in the 1850s. He was alluvial mining, then quartz mining
until the gold became scarce. He then received the appointment of Rate
Collector for the Shire of Yackandandah and on retiring from that
position, received the appointment of Treasurer for the Shire, a
position he held until just before his death. He was also at one time
the local Mining Registrar, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
and Electoral Registrar. He joined the Beechworth Mining Board in 1862
and was a member for over 30 years. He was also Treasurer for the local
Anglican Church. Smart was married and had one daughter, Mrs Rowley of
Bethanga. Joseph Smart died at his daughter's residence on 16th June
1895 at the age of 87. He is buried in the Church of England section of
the Yackandandah cemetery.
(Yackandandah Times, 21/6/1895.)
Research Notes
Genes Reunited checked Jane Joseph, George and Jane
Cannot find Joseph Smart in 1850 US Census
Ancestry.com have US immigration records available, but not a lot of
help. Eg three J Smarts came into San Francisco in 1851. One Joseph
Smart came into New York in 1834, aged 26 (ie born 1808)
LDS nothing. Check Australian records - NSW 1928 census, early
shipping, Vic Electoral rolls
Joseph's parents. Possibly census records to find ? - none with
Smart George and wife Jane in any census, including 1841
No record of Probate in VPRO
1856 Electoral Roll Joseph Smart Miner (Miner's right) Carisbroook
Division. Joseph Smart storekeeper miners right Daisy Hill Division
possibly Ballarat
Grant
of Probate
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Page last updated - 22 Nov 2007
14
Jun 2009 17 Aug 2009
