Good Morning All, I have been contacted by someone who wants to find out if one of his ancestors, Joseph Kingsnorth, attended Melrose House School/Academy under William Smeeth. This ancestor's son was taught by Smeeth as a private pupil in 1871 after Smeeth gave up the school. Unfortunately Joseph was born in 1820 so the 1841 census will be too late for him. I have suggested that he look in the local paper at Ashford Library for a possible report of Smeeth's funeral in1873, on the grounds that mourners are sometimes listed in funeral reports, although I realise this is a long shot. However, I'm sure I remember reading an article somewhere about old boys of the school praising Smeeth for his work there, but my mind has gone blank about where I read it. ...parish magazine? ....old issue of Kent Life??? Has anyone else read the same article and knows what I'm talking about? And has anyone got any ideas of any other suggestions? Best wishes, Josie

Dear Josie Monumental Inscriptions show the following for Wiiliam Smeeth Schoolmaster; 'William Smeeth, Schoolmaster, who died August 19th 1873, aged 73 years. Also his wife Sarah who died February 9th 1845 aged 57 and his only daughter Mary Jane March 23rd 1847 aged 16. (The older memorials being decayed, these were placed here by a few pupils conscious of what they owed to him. A.D. 1907)'. Too late (1907) probably for Joseph Kingsnorth born 1820. He would have known Sarah Smeeth and may have attended her funeral. He may have known Mary Jane when she was a small girl and may have attended her funeral. Best wishes - Bob Chown Josie Mackie <josie.mackie@tesco.net> wrote: Good Morning All, I have been contacted by someone who wants to find out if one of his ancestors, Joseph Kingsnorth, attended Melrose House School/Academy under William Smeeth. This ancestor's son was taught by Smeeth as a private pupil in 1871 after Smeeth gave up the school. Unfortunately Joseph was born in 1820 so the 1841 census will be too late for him. I have suggested that he look in the local paper at Ashford Library for a possible report of Smeeth's funeral in1873, on the grounds that mourners are sometimes listed in funeral reports, although I realise this is a long shot. However, I'm sure I remember reading an article somewhere about old boys of the school praising Smeeth for his work there, but my mind has gone blank about where I read it. ...parish magazine? ....old issue of Kent Life??? Has anyone else read the same article and knows what I'm talking about? And has anyone got any ideas of any other suggestions? Best wishes, Josie ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-KEN-WOODCHURCH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you, Bob, I now know I didn't imagine it! I think what I read may have been in a Parish magazine of that time. Pity it was 1907; as you say, it was probably too late for Joseph Kingsnorth who would have been 87...but there may be something in the Local Paper for that year. Thanks again, Josie