Wednesday 15th January 2014
Dear Danny,
I am Alister Smith from Wellington, New Zealand and was wondering if you or anyone here have any information on Stephen Payne Smith’s parents or siblings.
Stephen Payne Smith was baptised at St. Denys Church, Warminster on 14th August 1805, and the baptism papers has his middle name spelt as ” Pain” instead of Payne. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Smith, but Elizabeth’s maiden name is not on the record.
Stephen Payne Smith married Jane Rebecca Hedgeland at St. Georges Church, Hanover Square, Westminster, London on 17th November 1839, and they had nine children :-
Jane Susannah 20th July 1830,
Stephen Thomas 1832,
Samuel Richard 1834 – 1839,
Elizabeth Harriet 1835,
Mary Ann 1837,
Clarissa Emma 1839,
Louisa Hedgeland 1842 and Maria Payne 1842 (both twins),
William Samuel 1845.
Samuel Richard died on January 1839 (age 5 years old) and is buried at St. John the Evangelist Church, Westminster, London, England.
Both Stephen Thomas & Samuel Richard were born at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire.
Elizabeth Harriet was born in Marlborough,Wiltshire
and Mary Ann was born at Crockerton Inn, Crockerton, Wiltshire,
whereas the rest were born in Westminster, London.
I think Thomas Smith (Stephen Payne Smith’s father), was a publican at Crockerton Inn at the time of Mary Ann’s birth.
Stephen Payne Smith and Jane Rebecca Hedgeland and their eight remaining children immigrated to New Zealand on board the Steadfast in 1851.
They first settled in Lyttleton, Christchurch, then lived in Kaiapoi, Christchurch for many years before eventually settling down in Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand, and that is where I was born with five other siblings.
Would be much appreciated if anyone else can add to the chapter in our family history, as our family bible has gone missing for many years.
Thanks very much,
Alister Smith.
