Fanny (Blackford) Smith (1856 - 1939)

Born 11 Jun 1856 in Tidebrook, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Wife of George Rose Smith — married about Apr 1877 in Tidebrook, Sussex, England

Descendants

Died 16 Aug 1939 at age 83 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peter Cogan [send private message]

Biography

Fanny Blackford was born in Tidebrook, Sussex on 11 June 1856 and baptised on 7 December 1856. Her parents were Joseph and Hannah Blackford.^[1][2]

Fanny Collins married George Rose Smith at Tidebrook, Sussex on April 1877. Her father is identified as Joseph Collins but her siblings Benjamin and Charlotte, who were witnesses, signed as Blackford.

Marriage of George Smith and Fanny Collins

Fanny Blackford

George Rose Smith and his wife Fanny arrived in the Colony of Victoria, Australia on 15 September 1878 on the ship "Melbourne".^[3]

George and Fanny had nine children. For all children except for firstborn Joseph, Fanny stated her maiden name was Blackford. For Joseph she nominated Collins.

Fanny's husband George died on 21 December 1921 at 152 Raglan street, Preston, Victoria.^[4]

Fanny Smith died on 16 August 1939 at 6 Madden Grove, Glenhuntly. Her father is identified as George Blackford. ^[5]

Death registration of Fanny Smith

"SMITH.—On the 16th August, at her son-in-law's residence, 6 Madden avenue, Glenhuntly, Fanny dearly beloved mother of May (Mrs. J. W. Price), and loving grandma of Marjorie, Jack, Neil and Yvonne aged 83 years. —Sweet rest."^[6]

"SMITH.— On August 16, at 6 Madden-avenue, Glen Huntly, Fanny, beloved wife of the late George Smith, and loving mother of Leo, and grandmother of Norman and Leo. aged 83 years. At rest."^[7]

Fanny Smith was buried at Springvale Cemetery on 18 August 1939.

"SMITH The Friends of the late FANNY SMITH are informed that her remains will be interred in the Springvale Cemetery. The funeral will leave the residence of her son-in-law Mr J. W. Price, 8 Madden avenue, Glenhuntly THIS DAY (Friday), 18th August, at 2 p.m."^[8]

Fanny Smith

Blackford/Collins Name Use Possible Explanation

The likely explanation of the Blackford/Collins names is that Fanny's grandfather, Benjamin Blackford Collins was born out of wedlock, "spurious son" is stated on the baptism registration^[9], his mother being Mary Collins. Mary named her child Benjamin Blackford Collins and proceeded to, apparently successfully, take a maintenance order naming a Benjamin Blackford of Burwash as the father. It then follows that Benjamin Blackford Collins, if paternity had been accepted, should have been named Benjamin Blackford and his son Joseph Blackford and so on. Why the Collins continued to use the name Blackford over three generations is a mystery but perhaps the Blackfords were of a higher social status (which the oral history would suggest but description below is labourer so doubtful).^[10]

Oral Family History

There was a story passed down in the family that Fanny Smith/Blackford/Collins was the daughter of Lord Blackford of Tunbridge Wells. As you can see from this tree the Blackford name comes from the alleged father of illegitimate child born to Fanny's Great Grandmother. If anyone knows the origins of this story I would love to know more. The story was recorded in the McConachy family history, "One Man's Family" on page 50 where Fanny's daughter Daisy is stated to be the "grand-daughter of Lord Blackford of Tundbridge Wells, England".^{[11] [12]}

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism Register Tidebrook, Sussex
2. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:265T-CZ1 : 1 October 2014), Fanny Blackford, 1856; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Ticehurst, Sussex, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
3. ↑ Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923
4. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 15538/1921
5. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 7957/1939
6. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1939 'Family Notices', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 August, p. 10. , viewed 17 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11237636
7. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1939 'Family Notices', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 18 August, p. 1. , viewed 17 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204933077
8. ↑ National Library of Australia, TROVE, Historical Newspapers Online, 1939 'Family Notices', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 August, p. 10. , viewed 17 Feb 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11237636
9. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DYQS-5ZK?i=150
10. ↑ Maintenance order in the East Sussex Record Office. The Keep, https://www.thekeep.info/esro/ Search Term - Benjamin Blackford, Reference PAR492/34/4/7. Description

    Benjamin Blackford of Burwash, labourer; 4s 6d expenses and 1s 6d per week for the illegitimate son of Mary Collins of Ticehurst, singlewoman, who was born on 28 Mar 1782 at Ticehurst poorhouse, she to pay 6d per week

11. ↑ Oral Family History as remembered by Peter Cogan.
12. ↑ Family History Book One Man's Family ISBN 0 9589608 0 1