Thomas Henry Smith 1835 - 1926

Thomas Henry Smith

1835 - 1926

Photos are from private family collection, graciously shared.

Thomas Henry Smith was born October 14, 1835 in Kandy, Ceylon, to Sgt. Thomas Henry Smith and Elizabeth Mary Butcher Smith.  He was the youngest of 5 children, two boys and 3 girls:   Mary Isabella, Sydney John, Frances Lenetta, Martha Ann and Thomas Henry.  Sydney and Martha both died and are buried in Ceylon, as was their father, who died in 1838.

Elizabeth and her 3 surviving children, Mary, Frances and Thomas, would have returned to England.  I can find no records so far of them from 1838 until their arrival in New York in 1849.

According to census records, he is living in New York with his mother in the 1850 and 1860 Federal census records and is also listed in the 1855 New York State census, also with his mother.  In 1855 his occupation is sailor and in 1860 his occupation is listed as boatman.  In 1850, at age 14, he has no occupation listed.

His obituary states that he came to Washington, DC during the Civil War to work in the Commissary Department.  The war ended in April, 1865 and he married Mary Ann Tinkler June 20, 1865 at the Union Methodist Episcopal Church.  This implies that they met during the war, possibly in connection with his job in the commissary department.  Mary Ann’s occupation during the war was as a huckster (a retailer of small articles, especially a peddler of fruits and vegetables) at the 24 Western and 379 Centre markets (according to city directories during the war years).  Check out my post of September 12, 2018 for updates on thoughts of how they may have met.

Thomas and Mary Ann had two children, Ida May, born March 30, 1867 and Samuel Thomas, born March 27, 1869. 

Following are city directory entries for where they lived and worked.  None of the residences are still in existence, unfortunately.

Mary Ann died January 5, 1887 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Thomas died November 3, 1926 and is also buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Their Find a Grave memorial numbers are 55103164 and 55103144 respectively.  I do not have death certificates for either one.

I still have lots more research to do, but at least I am making progress!

From Washington, DC city directories, accessed on Ancestry.com

Year    Home Address                      Work Address                       Occupation               

1867    332 18^th w                               24 west mkt                             huckster, produce

1868    332 18^th nw                                                                             huckster

1870    923 18^th nw                                                                             huckster

1871    923 18^th nw                             c and w mkt                             huckster

1873    923 18^th nw                             554 and 555 Center mkt         fruit

1874    923 18^th nw                                                                             huckster

1875    923 18^th nw                                                                             huckster

1876    923 18^th                                         Westn mkt                               huckster

1877    923 18^th nw                             24K Street mkt                        huckster

1878    923 18^th nw                                                                             huckster

1879    1134 18^th nw                           46 Westn mkt                          produce

1881    1624 16^th nw                           46 Western and 663 Centre mkts  produce

1882                                                    46 Western mkt

1883    1624 16^th nw                           46 Western mkt                      produce

1886                                                    18 Western mkt

1887    1624 16^th nw                          

1888    1624 16^th nw                           6 Riggs and 32 Western mkts            produce

1892   

1898                                                    29 Western mkt

1899                                                    106 Western                           produce

1900                                                    106 Western mkt

1901    904 22^nd nw                             106 Western mkt                    produce

1904                                                    106 Western mkt

1905    904 22d nw                             106 Western mkt

1910                                                    106 Western mkt

1912    entered John Dickson Home according to obituary               5000 14^th St. NW

1917    John Dickson Home               Resident

1921    John Dickson Home               Resident

1922    John Dickson Home               Resident

There are online photos available of the John Dickson Home at the location it occupied at the time Thomas resided there.

Western Market, 21^st and K Street, NW  photo taken 1960-1970

https://www.loc.gov/item/2006682426/

accessed 9/10/2018

Center Market as it appeared during the Civil War.  See http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2010/05/center-markets-chaotic-exuberance.html for a good article.

Possible Civil War Records to check out:

Smith, Thomas

·         Side: Union

·         Location: New York

·         Battle Unit: 43rd Regiment, New York Infantry

·         Function: Infantry

·         Alternate Name: Thomas H./Smith

Smith, Thomas

·         Side: Union

·         Location: Veteran Reserve

·         Battle Unit: Unassigned Veteran Reserve Corps

·         Alternate Name: Thomas H./Smith

Smith, Thomas

·         Side: Union

·         Location: New York

·         Battle Unit: 43rd Regiment, New York Infantry

·         Function: Infantry

·         Alternate Name: Thomas H./Smith

Smith, Thomas H.

·         Side: Union

·         Location: Other Volunteers

·         Battle Unit: 1st Regiment, US Veteran Volunteer Infantry

·         Function: Infantry