George s/o Joseph Smith and Ester Harris, christened at Stratford on Avon 7 May 1817.
He was only 17-years-old when he married Eliza Harris at St Mary, Warwickshire on 25 DEC 1834. As they were both from Stratford, it seems likely that neither of their parents approved of the match. She was five years older than George and, as the 1841 census suggests, may already have had a child.
1841 CENSUS From PARKES STREET, ST MARY
Little Eliza must have died, for Eliza gave that name to another daughter on 16 Feb, 1842. She was baptized at St Phillips Birmingham on 9 MAR 1842.
They decided to baptize John and Charles the following year. The family was living in St Thomas Birmingham parish by then and both boys were baptized on 31 Dec 1843.
The family wsa still living in that parish, on the corner of Taylor and Granville Streets, when the 1851 census was taken. Three of their children (Jane, Eliza and Charles) had either moved on or died. John was still there, but now appears to have been born about 1841. He also has a two-year-old sister.
1851 CENSUS FROM TAYLORS WHARF ON GRANVILLE STREET, ST THOMAS BIRMINGHAM
John Henry Smith was a compositor (type setter) boarding with a couple in West London by the time the 1861 census was taken. His sister Mary Ann was still at home and the Smiths had a new child, Richard, who the census records suggest was born about 1855. (In fact, his christening record says Richard s/o George & Eliza Smith christened at St Thomas Birmingham 04 Nov 1853.)
1861 CENSUS FROM ESSINGTON STREET, ST BARNABUS BIRMINGHAM