A-Z of Entries

SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION: George Smith of Bloomsbury Square proposed member 14.12.1792 by Joseph Jennings 2nded Charles Sinclair

His father was Nathaniel Smith 1730-1794 MP for Rochester (historyofparliamentunline 1754-1790 & 1790-1820) and a wealthy East India director of Bloomsbury Square, who had married 0n 4.12.1764 his first cousin Hester Dance, sister of George Dance the younger (DNB 1741-1825). George Smith was admitted to Lincolns Inn 23.5.1787 and studied at Cambridge with Joseph Jennings who proposed him for SCI. He married Sarah Hardman…

21.10.1801 Jas Smith breakfasts

I differ from the GD website, in the editorial notes on George Smith, where it is said that the main Smith of 1801 onwards was almost certainly a different person from the "Sunday breakfaster" of 1793-1796 (see Smith, George) on the grounds that the Smith from 1801 was more sociable and appeared at other venues, attended the theatre, and dined rather than breakfasted. But this could easily have been because his life had changed, as Godwin's life certainly had. In fact there were only three theatre visits, one call on Perry, one on Nicholson &…

13.3.1794 dr Smith at Wedgwood's / 28.6.1794 dr Smith at Alderson's, adv Mr & Miss Smiths / 5.7.1794 at John Gurney's, adv Smiths (these last two in Norfolk) / 28.8.1799 dr Smith at Fordyce's

Sir James Edward Smith DNB 1759-1828. Deacon of Octagon congregation. Born in Norwich and his family lived there, didn't move back there from London till 1796 after his father's death, but gave a course of 18 lectures on zoology & botany there in summer 1794 (C B Jewson, Jacobin City p,137, 155). His father James Smith Unitarian and merchant (will PCC 1795) was probably the Mr Smith at…

17.7.1788 at Shields' in a very musical gathering. A cellist and violinist James Smith (fl 1773-1809) is listed in Highfill, Burnim & Langhan's Biog Dict of Actors &c. On 27.11.1794 Godwin supped at Shield's with Crosdill, adv Collick & Smith, and on 1.3.1795 he supped at Holcroft's with Shield, Smith musn & Thelwall. He could also have been the Smith at Thelwall's on 2.2.1795 and/or the Smith at Holcroft's on 22.4.1795, but see Smith, George. The will PCC 1823 of James Smith, musician of Woolwich may have been his. See also Smith, James who was probably not the same person…

call on Smith 2.10.1804 / John Sm adv 29.5.1805 at Jo(seph) G(odwin)'s / 12.7.1805 Jno Smith adv at Jo G's

Joseph Godwin (qv) Godwin's brother was four times noted in Godwin's diary in connection with Primrose Street, where the houses were that produced income for the siblings of Godwin's first wife, Mary Wollstonecraft (10.12.1804, 12.12.1804, 24.6.1805, 6.1.1808). For which reason I suspect this John Smith may have been the John Smith, appraiser of 13 Primrose St (Holdens 1805) who was listed in Land Tav assessments for Primrose St from 1800 to 1807. For the call of 2.10.1804 (…

John Smith at Uwins' 5.10.1830 / 5.2.1835 Smith at Uwins'

30.9.1798 call on mrs Foulkes adv Smiths. see Foulkes, Philippa.  In the Foulkes' divorce proceedings of 1802 John  Raphael Smith (DNB 1751-1812) testified that he had known the Foulkes' for 10 or 11 years and had been very intimate with them in the last 6 years, that Mr & Mrs Foulkes had nearly parted in 1798 and that Smith and his wife had interfered to settle disputes, usually at Mrs Foulkes' entreaty

J R Smith's family were clearly involved at 7 meals, reciprocal between Smiths, Nicholsons, Foulkes, Godwins, Holcrofts and Heywoods / at Nicholsons on 19.7.1802 where the name …

call on Smith 25.2.1804 (in Lewes) / 21.3.1804 letter from Smith / 23.3.1804 write to Smith  / 27.3.1804 letter from Smith

The first entry above was probably Josias Smith (Jacksons Oxford Journal 31.3.1827) died at Lewes age 90, attorney of Lewes for many years. In 1774 he drew up articles of separation between Thomas Paine DNB 1737-1809 and his wife. The three letters above may have been a correspondence with him concerning Godwin's niece who eloped with a married man to Lewes (see Godwin, Harriet), but perhaps more likely they were to the Smith who saw Godwin regularly between…

Smith (Liverpool) calls 1.7.1824

Long Smith calls 16.5.1821

see work notes below

Mary Smith calls 25.9.1811 (& Curran) / 1.10.1811 M Smith calls / 31.10.1811 again / 1.11.1811 again / 2.11.1811 again / 4.11.1811 M Smith calls ppc (pour prendre conge = to say goodbye)

No idea yet who this was but it should emerge in time

miss Smith 7.4.1796 at Saloman's concert / 13.11.1798 meet miss Smith / 28.3.1801 miss Smith calls / 10.6.1802 again / 22.6.1802 L Hobby & miss Smith dine / 1.10.1803 miss Linnee Smith / 27.3.1804 miss Smith calls / 15.8.1804 miss Smith, m(adam)e Volsey & Jas W(ollstonecraf)t at tea / 17.6.1805 miss Smith adv at tea / 18.7.1805 call on miss Smith with M(ary) J(ane) / 20.7.1805 Luzena Smith dines adv tante / 23.7.1805 Sadler's Wells w. miss Smith, Luzena, Hooley &c / 8.9.1805 miss Smith at Pitchford's in Norfolk / 19.9.1805 miss & W Smith at tea / 20.9.1805 miss Smith dines…

mrs P Smith 4.3.1806 at Rowan's

Godwin didn't note Peter Smith in his diary till 17.6.1810 (see Smith, James) so this person was probably not his wife. At present I have no other idea who she was

N S Smith calls (monument M(ary) W(ollstonecraft) G(odwin) 5.3.1834

N S Smith translated Tacitus in 1820s (Allibone, Watt). Will PCC 1856 Nicholas Skottowe Smith assistant surgeon of Cork

Smith (New Inn) breakfasts 9.9.1814 / 10.9.1814 Smith (New Inn) au soir / 20.9.1814 Smith (New Inn) calls

From Law Lists directories and newspapers, Robert George Smith solicitor of New Inn, he died 15.3.1880 age 75 (Standard 20.3.1880) and his widow Lucinda died 1882. Robert George baptised at St Clement Danes son of Robert & Christiana Smith 3.3.1805 born 31.8.1804. It was presumably his father Robert that Godwin saw. Law List 1800 Robert & James Smith attorneys 36 Basinghall St

call on Smith, organist 6.5.1813

Most likely John Stafford Smith DNB 1750-1836 organist of Chapel Royal. Or perhaps Charles Smith DNB 1786-1856 organist of Croydon. Or Dr Clement Smith, organist of Richmond 1824 will PCC1827. Or Felix Smith organist of Watford 1816

call on Smith, printer 7.9.1828

From British Book Trades Index I reckon there were nine or ten different Smiths, printers in London 1825-30

5.7.1796 call on Smith, schoolmaster (in Norfolk), 6.7.1796 Smith dines

James Smith, master of the free Grammar school at Holt, Norfolk, will PCC 1794 left lands in Hindolveston and Foulsham (near to Wood Dalling, Godwin's family home) to his son James, who was not mentioned in the will of his mother Ann Smith PCC 1813, so quite likely dead by then

Sophia Smith at  Hume's 31.3.1811

No idea yet who this was but it may emerge later

rev T Smith calls 3.10.1809 / 20.4.1810 Dulwich College, Smith librarian / 15.1.1835 rev Smith calls

Perhaps Thomas Jenyns Smyth son of John of London gent fellow of Brasenose Oxford 1782 till death, Senior Fellow of Dulwich College died 11.6.1830, Fellow of Dulwich for 47 years