Thomas Smith of England and Toronto, Canada (ca. 1802-1888)
Innkeeper at Norway, East York (Toronto). (info from St. John's Anglican Church, Norway East Toronto
Spouse: Eliza James (married 24 May 1827 in Town of York, Canada) (also Ann Camach 1 May, 1830)
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| Rural Ontario Farm circa 1840 |
2. Thomas may have been a Chelsea Pensioner. A record for a Thomas Smith in 1831 is a good match for him and coincides nicely with his marriage date in East York. The marriages with Eliza James and Ann Camach are both reasonable matches for Thomas.
3. Thomas Smith may have immigrated into Canada close to the time of his marriage. A 27 year old Thomas Smith, carpenter, is listed as arriving aboard the vessel, Siroc, in 1829. This is a perfect match for Thomas who by several census records appears to have been born in 1801 or 1802.
I suspect he lived in the Simcoe area until about 1840, then moved to East York. (village of Norway) I have reason to believe he might have been a tradesman in the early days (blacksmith, carpenter) but later became a farmer/innkeeper. There was a Thomas Smith, blacksmith, in the first census of Barrie in 1837 and his youngest daughter was born there. The connection with Barrie is further strengthened since Thomas was living with his eldest daughter, Elizabeth Cundle, in Barrie in 1881. His death was also recorded in Barrie.
Children:
1. Ann Smith born 1831 in Ontario d. 1848
2. Elizabeth Smith born 1833 in Ontario m. Thomas Cundle d. 8 July 1912
3. James Smith (2), b. 24 January 1838 at Toronto, Ontario, m. Ellen Loane, 16 October 1862 at Trinity Anglican, East Toronto, d. 4 February 1910; 5 grandchildren4. Richard Smith, b. 1840 at Fort William, m. Agnes Noel, 27 June 1865 at Durham, Quebec (Congressional Church), d. 19 March 1906; 8 grandchildren
5. Mary Smith, b. 1844 at Barrie, Ontario
Chelsea Pensioners
Another group of people, the Chelsea Pensioners (known in Canada as the Commuted Pensioners), were moved to the area (of Barrie) in 1835, when they were placed under the care of the Garrison. Thomas Smith is listed in the first census of Barrie taken in 1837, two years after the "Pensioners" arrived. These pensioners were British army veterans who had been awarded an annual pension by the Chelsea Board of commissioners, to compensate for disabling wounds acquired while on active service. The British government had allowed the pensioners to exchange their right to this pension by taking a lump sum of money, or a grant of land and money, if they immigrated to Canada or Australia. Many of the Canadian participants, suffering from ill health and poverty, became wards of the local governments. After seeking funds from Britain to help out, Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, decided that the worst cases in the Toronto area should be sent to Penetanguishene to be cared for by the commander of the garrison there. As army surgeon at the post Dartnell would also have been responsible for looking after the health of the pensioners and their families, who eventually did receive help from the British government, although their story essentially remains an unhappy one.
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