Colour Sergeant James Smith 52nd Light Infantry Regt. No 591 Beginnings & Enlistment. My great-great-grandfather, James Smith, was born around 1812 in or around Leicester, the son of Thomas Smith.
His early life shows that he was a "Framework Knitter" from the village of Croft near Leicester.
"Framework knitting" was a very common trade for Leicestershire folk but this industry was in decline in the
1830's so it is not perhaps surprising that an illiterate James elected to sign up to the army at the age of 18 and on
13th December 1830 he was recruited into the 52nd Light Infantry at Coventry and
embarked upon a 24 year military career that would carry him across the world. Ireland (Jan. 1832 - May 1836).
At the turn of the new year, the 52nd Regiment was posted to Ireland, and was to be the start of an extensive
overseas posting that would last 15 years. (REG) , (MR) Gibraltar (May 1836 - October 1838). The regiment was posted for a quiet spell at Gibraltar, puncuated by regular inspections, and James was fortunate to be able to bring his family along with him (presumably because James was already on foriegn service) and in 1836, his daughter Mary Ann was born at Gibraltar. (GRO) The West Indies (Nov. 1838 - March 1842).
The 52nd Regiment set sail for the West Indies, in October 1838 and after nearly a month at sea, arrived at Barbados. Towards the end of 1839, the regiment suffered greatly from yellow fever and on 4th December, the Barbados barracks had to be evacuated to allow it to be thoroughly fumigated. It was fortunate that the Smith family did not appear to have suffered from this outbreak. On 1st May 1840, whilst on St Vincent, James was promoted to Corporal, and on 1st Feb 1842, he was further advanced to Sergeant. (MR) Canada (April 1842 - July 1847).
In March 1842 the regiment was on the move once more - this time heading for North America;
garrisoned first at Frederickton, New Brunswick, and latterly in Montreal. Home Again (August 1847 - January 1851).
After 17 years away from home, the 52nd Light Infantry received orders to return home in August 1847.
The regiment landed in Portsmouth where they stayed for a couple of months. During this time, James is recorded as having 9 days
leave to Leicester - possibly the first time he has been home since he enlisted ? Militia Life (1851+). In January 1851 the regiment returned once more to Ireland and in May 1852 James was pensioned out of the regiment, citing chronic rheumatism. James was not finished with military life however and in 1852-54 he took up a position on Staff Sergeant in the Leicestershire Militia. In 1853, another son Charles Walter was born in Leicester town, and in 1854 a further son, Joseph Samuel was born in Liverpool. Retirement? After this time, the trail goes cold on James and his family - thus far he has managed to evade all Census Returns having been overseas for all occasions. However it is believed that he and Eliza (and presumably some or all of the family) moved to Ireland at some time in the 1860s and settled at Enniskillen - perhaps this was the home town of Eliza ? Enniskillen had close ties to the Fusileers and James lived in street adjacent to the town barracks so it is possible that his Militia career led him to this town. Enniskillen records list the death of an Eliza Smith in 1870 and it is possible that this was James' wife. There is also the marriage record of James Smith (widower) marrying Anne Britton in 1871. James was listed as 55 years of age and Anne was very much his junior at 35 years old. In 1879 Anne gave birth to Dina Marian Smith in Enniskillen, but when Dina was only 3 years old James passed away, leaving Anne to fend for herself. James' will, however, indicates that she will not be unsupported as he leaves "two houses in Queen Street" to Anne, in trust for Dina. This trust was well timed as only 3 year later in 1885, Anne herself died, a few years after marrying James Harrison (who also died shortly soonafter) leaving Dina in the care of friends...(PRONI) His Legacy. Despite the common nature of the Smith surname, I have been fortunate to have been able to trace the lives of James' children...not without considerable help from others of James' descendents...!
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