1793 - Joseph

Joseph Smith and his wife Ester Harris apparently come from Salford Priors, a rural, agricultural village and civil parish about eight miles from Stratford upon Avon, The first indication I have of their union is this christening of their son George on 7 May, 1817. He was married and living in Birmingham when the 1841 census was taken and we find:

1841 census Sheep Street, Stratford on Avon

• Joseph Smith, 45, Cooper,WAR,(1796 - 1801)
• Esther Smith, 45, WAR, (1796 - 1801)
• Emma Smith,15, WAR, (c 1826)
• John Smith,14, WAR, (c 1827)
• William Smith,12, WAR (c 1829)
• Mary Smith, 2, WAR, (c 1839)
• Henry Smith,1, WAR (c 1840)

The ages were recorded more accurately a decade later.

1851 census Great William Street, Stratford on Avon

• Joseph Smith, 58, Cooper, WAR, ( c 1793)
• Esther Smith,50, WAR, (c 1800)
• John Smith, 29, WAR, (c 1822)
• William Smith, 25, WAR (c 1826)