Christian Smith 1832-1925

Heather's 4th great grandparents, Paternal Line
Our Smith Line to Nina Lumbard

Christian Smith

son of (parents born in Germany)

Born April 1832

Died 03 Dec 1925 in Audubon NJ 

Married Nov 20 1853

Mary Gregson

daughter of Nicholas & Mary [Bowles] Gregson

Born 1833 in England

Died  in New Jersey

Children:

Henry Snyder Smith 1856- m. Mary Jane Headly

Samuel Sheetz Smith 1858 – m. Carolina Rosetta Ellis

Mary Elizabeth Smith 1861 –  m. John Burton McAndrews

Anna Eliza Smith  1864- m. Samuel Noel

 Amanda Getz Smith 1866 Married Philip Linderborn

Martha G. Smith 1870 –  m. Bruce Baer

Joseph Gregson Smith 1873 –  m. Elizabeth Talley
John G. Smith - 1875- m. Susan Andrews

Note: It was actually his niece, Annie Gregson, who was the first white child born at Sutters Fort.

In 1850-1900 Christian's occupation is "glass blower", and he resides in Kennsington, Philadelphia. The Dyottville Glass Works were located in Kennsington in 1850. This page has more details about the glass works, and makes me fairly confident that this was where Christian was working. http://dyottville-glass.com/  In 1910, Christian is a widow, living with his son Samuel Smith, who owns his own shop.  No employment is listed for Christian, who would have been 78 years old that year.

Christian and Mary's children mostly married across the river in New Jersey, and then resided there.  An exception is Ann, who remained in Philadelphia.  She married Samuel Noel, who worked in the shipyard.  Even though she lived in Philadelphia, she was buried in Camden NJ, according to her death certificate.
Henry Snyder Smith married Mary Jane Headly.In 1910 he was a scourer in a wool mill.
Samuel Sheetz Smith was a musician in the Spanish American War.  Company M, 3rd, NJ Infantry.  In 1920 he was a machinist for Faulking Machine Company.  He married Carolina Rosetta Ellis.
Mary Elizabeth Smith married John Burton McAndrews.
Ann Eliza Smith married Samuel Noll, he worked in the shipyard.  Earlier census' list him as a barber in the shipyard, later that changes to wood carver, still in the shipyard.
  Amanda Getz Smith married Philip Linderborn, they are Heather's 3rd great grandparents.  They lived in Baltimore, Md.  
Martha G. Smith married Bruce Baer, a Steam R.R. Conductor.  They moved to Baltimore briefly, but returned to Philadelphia. In 1920 Martha was a widow, she ran a boarding house at 2309 15th st in Philadelphia.  In 1930, at age 60, she is living in Norfolk VA, and her occupation is a "perfume demonstrator".
Joseph Gregson Smith was a deputy sheriff in New Jersey in 1910, & in 1918 he was a constable. Then in 1920 he was the proprietor of a saloon. In 1930 he was a constable.  Sometime before September 1918 when he filled out his draft card, he lost his right arm, right below the elbow.  He was married to Elizabeth Talley, they had no children.
John G. Smith married Susan Andrews.  In 1900 & 1910 John is a machinist in the shipyard.  In 1920 & 1930 he has moved up to  foreman. He owned his home at 509 Chestnut St, Audubon, Camden NJ. 

Christian's obituary tells us Christian Smith peacefully passed away at the home of his son, John G. Smith in Audubon yesterday morning. He was a retired glassblower, being one of the oldest in the United States. He cast his first vote for President Millard Fillmore in 1852 and was a brother in law of James Grayson, one of the first discovers of gold in California. He is survived by two other sons, Samuel, of Merchantville, and Joseph of Camden, also four daughters, Mrs. Martha G. Blair, of Norfolk, Va., Mrs. Phillip Lindeborn of Baltimore, Md., and Mrs. William Knoll and Mrs. Horn Andrea. Of Philadelphia. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2o’clock from the ____ of John Crawford Company, Westfield Ave, Camden. Interment will be made in Evergreen Cemetery

From the article in March 1925 to the article in December 1925, Christian appears to have went from waiting for his 93rd birthday to celebrating his 94th...

Timeline

1832 Apr - Birth of Christian Smith
Pennsylvania 

1833 - Birth of Mary Gregson
possible baptismal record?
Name: Mary Gregson
Baptism Date: 1833
Parent 1: Geo Gregson
Parent 2: Mary AnnGregson
Parish: St. Pancras
County: Middlesex


1850  - Mary Gregson arrived from England
look for Gregson's on ship lists here:
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/tousa1850-1851.shtml


According to the 1900 Census
I find a Mary Gregson, age 17 living with a Johnson Family in Philadelphia:

1850 United States Federal Census about Mary Gregson
Name: Mary Gregson
Age: 17
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: England
Home in 1850: Blockley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Female
Family Number: 159
Household Members:
Name Age
Franklin Johnson 35
Margaret Johnson 36
Susan D Johnson 9
Margaret H Johnson 8
Laura Johnson 6
Sarah R Johnson 1
David Helkin 19
Mary Gregson 17

Christian Smith in 1850
Name Christian Smith
Age 18
Birth Year abt 1832
Birthplace Pennsylvania
Home in 1850 Kensington Ward 5, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender Male
Family Number 1181
Household Members
Name Age
John Smith 65
Elizabeth Smith 63
Mary Smith 39
Gofrey Smith 23
John Smith 20

Christian Smith 18

Dyottville Glass works 1858

In 1850- 1900 Christian's occupation is "glass blower", and he resides in Kennsington, Philadelphia.  The Dyottville Glass Works were in Kennsington in 1850.  This page has some examples of their glass.  This page has more details about the glass works, and makes me fairly confident that this was where Christian was working.   
On the same page of the census, Horace Miller age 18 is also listed as a glass blower. There are two more glass blowers on the next page of the census, and paging trhough the Census for Kensington Ward 5 in 1850, it's common to see two or more "glass blowers" per a page.  I haven't found figures for 1850, but In 1875/6 the factory was employing 90 workers, including 24 blowers and 3 pot makers.

I found this timeline:
By 1833, when Dyott purchased the Kensington Glass Works from James
Rowland, Jr., it had 5 furnaces in operation, had about 400 employees, of
which 130 were apprentices. At this point, Dyott called his works, Dyottville.
• Dyottville became a work commune, with everyone participating in morning
prayers, calisthenics, and formal education. Also, a formal apprenticeship
developed, with small children becoming indoctrinated in the glass production
process.
• Dyott started his own bank, the Manual Labor Bank, and issued own script
which was redeemable at the Dyottville store.
• With a general collapse in the economy, by November 1837, Dyott pleaded
insolvency.
• Convicted of fraudulent banking practices, Dyott was sent to jail in 1839, and
served 1 1/2 years before being pardoned by Governor Porter.
• From his release until his death at the age of 83 in January, 1861, Dyott
worked in relatives drug stores.
• Dyottville did not die with Dyott's bankruptcy. After remaining idle from
1838 until about 1842, when the fires were re-lit.
• About 1848 or so, Dyottville went wild with flask production, with the many
variation of the Washington/Taylor flask.
• Also a large part of their production during these years was soda or beer
bottles, with an enormous quantity of 'squat' sodas being produced.
• From then until 1923, Dyottville continued to be operated as a glass house by

various individuals and companies. 

1853 20 Nov - Marriage to Mary Gregson
Age: 21
First Independent Christian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
Christian Smith Of Kensington and Mary Gregson of Frankforde PA


Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 about Christian Smith
Name: Christian Smith
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 20 Nov 1853
Marriage Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spouse Name: Mary Gregson
Organization Name: First Independent Christian Church




1856- Son Henry Snyder Smith is born

1858 - Son Samuel Sheetz Smith is born

1861 - Daughter Mary Elizabeth Smith Born

St John's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia PA

1864- Daughter Anna Eliza Smith is born

1866 - Daughter Amanda Getz Smith is born

for all the other baptisms, the sponsor is "the mother".  For this one, it is Amanda Getz, and mother.  I cannot figure out who Amanda Getz is, or why Christian and Mary named a daughter after her.  

This is the last baptism I can find for Mary & Christian in St John's Episcopal Church.  In the 1880 Census there are 3 more children, Martha, Joseph & John, but I could not find records of their baptisms at the St John's Episcopal church in Philadelphia.


1880 - Residence
Age: 48
Bristol, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States 
Age: 48; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Self


1880 United States Federal Census about Christian Smith
Name: Christian Smith
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1880: Bristol, Bucks, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mary Smith
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Laborer
Household Members:
Name Age
Christian Smith 48
Mary Smith 45
Saml. S. Smith 22
Mary E. Smith 19
Ann E. Smith 16
Amanda G. Smith 14
Martha G. Smith 10
Joseph G. Smith 7
John G. Smith 5


1900 - Residence
Age: 68
Camden Ward 1, Camden, New Jersey 
Age: 68; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head


1900 United States Federal Census about B Smith
Name: B Smith
[Christine Smith] 
Age: 68
Birth Date: Apr 1832
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1900: Camden Ward 1, Camden, New Jersey
[Camden] 
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mary Smith
Marriage Year: 1853
Years Married: 47
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
B Smith 68
Mary Smith 66
Samuel W Noel 36
Annie E Noel 36
Rosetta Noel 16
Ethel May Noel 14
Emma Mary Noel 4
John G S Noel 8/12

1910 - Residence
Age: 78
Camden Ward 10, Camden, New Jersey 
Age in 1910: 78; Marital Status: Widowed; Relation to Head of House: Father Lives with his son, Joseph


1910 United States Federal Census about Christian Smith
Name: Christian Smith
Age in 1910: 78
Birth Year: 1832
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1910: Camden Ward 10, Camden, New Jersey
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Father
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph S Smith 37
Elizabeth T Smith 37
Christian Smith 78

1925 Christian Smith Died

November 1925

Glassblower, 94 Dies At the advanced age of 94 years, Christian Smith peacefully passed away at the home of his son, John G. Smith in Audubon yesterday morning. He was a retired glassblower, being one of the oldest in the United States. He cast his first vote for President Millard Fillmore in 1852 and was a brother in law of James Grayson, one of the first discovers of gold in California. He is survived by two other sons, Samuel, of Merchantville, and Joseph of Camden, also four daughters, Mrs. Martha G. Blair, of Norfolk, Va., Mrs. Phillip Lindeborn of Baltimore, Md., and Mrs. William Knoll and Mrs. Horn Andrea. Of Philadelphia. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2o’clock from the ____ of John Crawford Company, Westfield Ave, Camden. Interment will be made in Evergreen Cemetery




Research:
When the UK records were free at ancestry I searched and found the following:

Name: Mary Gregson
Birth Date: 24 Sep 1832
Birth Place: Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Gender: Female
Event Type: Birth
Father: Abraham Gregson
Mother: Grace Spencer
Denomination: Baptist
Piece Title: Piece 3516: Clayton, Queens Head Chapel (Baptist), 1776-1837

If Mary was still in England in 1851 -
Name: Mary Greyson
[Mary Gregson]
Age: 18
Estimated birth year: abt 1833
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: William Gregson
Mother's name: Elizabeth Greyson
Gender: Female
Where born: Lenton, Nottinghamshire, England
Civil Parish: Lenton
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Nottinghamshire
Country: England
View image
Registration district: Radford
Sub-registration district: Lenton
ED, institution, or vessel: 1c
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 102
Piece: 2129
Folio: 60
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
William Gregson 50
Elizabeth Greyson 50
Mary Greyson 18
Sarah A Greyson 11
Sarah Hickling 22