Eliza Sarah Challis was born 6 July 1853 at Ousden, a daughter of George Challis and Sarah formerly Crack. Her baptism was not at Ousden and has not yet been found.
In the 1881 census of Erin House, Atkins Road, Clapham, Surrey, Eliza was aged 27, unmarried and a domestic servant (one of four), born at Ousden, Suffolk, in the household of John Hopgood, a solicitor.
She married Robert Smart at Depden, on 30 July 1882 after banns. He was aged 29, a bachelor and a gardener of Owksmouth (not legible), father Richard Smart, gardener. She was aged 29, a spinster of Depden. George was a shopkeeper. The witnesses were George Challis (X) (father) and Annie (sic) Challis (sister).
In 1891, Post office Directory, a Robert Smart was the publican at the Cock Inn, Hargrave. This was previously run by his aunt Eliza and her husband Robert Wright.
In the 1901 census, of Guiles Farm Cottage (civil parish of Hargrave but ecclesiastical parish of Ousden) she was aged 46, born at Ousden. Robert her husband was aged 49, an agricultural labourer (worker) born at Connington, Cambs. Their children were Percy 16, horse keeper on farm (worker), Herbert G. 13, Harold R. 11, all born at Hargrave and William H.C. 9, born at Depden. With the family was a boarder, Frederick W Sargent, 43, an agricultural labourer, born at Hargrave.
In 1911, in 6 rooms at Hargrave, in the Bury St Edmunds district, Eliza Smart was aged 56, Robert was aged 59 and their son Harold was aged 21. Robert and Eliza had been married for 28 years and had had 7 children of whom three had died. Robert was a jobbing gardener, working on his own account at home and was born in Connington, Cambs. Eliza and Harold were born at Hargrave. Harold was a horseman on farm. Also with them was a boarder, Frederick Sergeant aged 55 and a farm labourer, born at Hargrave.
Eliza’s death was registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the December quarter 1911. She was aged 55. She (of Knowles Green, Hargrave) died early on Saturday morning of pneumonia at West Suffolk General Hospital and appeared to have been much better after her recent operation. She was well known in the area and had a kind-hearted and generous disposition (Bury Free Press 30 September 1911). She was buried at Depden in the churchyard and mourners present included her husband, Robert, sons Percy, Herbert and Harold, mother, sisters Susan, Lizzie, Annie and husband and Kate and brothers John and Fred and their wives. Her niece, Miss Vena Challis was also present. (Bury Free Press 7 October 1911).
Robert Smart’s death was probably registered in the March quarter 1922 in the Bury St Edmunds district, aged 70.
Eliza Sarah and Robert Smart’s children were:
Percy Smart (1884 – 1943), born about 1884/5 at Hargrave and registered in the Thingoe district in the June quarter 1884. He was alive in September 1911 and present at his mother’s funeral. In 1911 he was a boarder with the Codling family at 56 Raingate Street, Bury St Edmonds, single, aged 27, a porter (coal merchant) and born at Hargrave. He married Fanny Randle in the Bury St Edmunds district in the December quarter 1911. In the 1939 register he (born 1884) was living in Bury St Edmunds with Fannie Smart and no one else. He died in the December quarter 1943 aged 59.
Percy and Fanny’s children were
William R. P. Smart, birth registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the March quarter 1913, maiden name Randle.
Harold G. Smart (1915 – 1962), birth registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the March quarter 1915, maiden name Randle. He probably died in the December quarter 1962 in the Bury St Edmunds district aged 48.
Herbert George Smart (1888 – 1977), born about 1888 at Hargrave and registered in the June quarter 1888 in the Thingoe district. He married in the December quarter 1909 in the Bury St Edmunds district but the spouse is not in the index. (Herbert was alive in 1948 and apparently married to Kate, and with family, floral tribute at Kate Challis’ funeral). He married Kate Mary Phillips at Hargrave. The witnesses were Eliza Mable Nunn and Harold Richard Smart. Herbert died in 1977 and he and Kate are buried at Hargrave. He obtained a passport to visit his brother in Canada.
Harold Richard Smart, born about 1890 at Hargrave, registered in the March quarter 1890 and in the Thingoe district. He was apparently living at Hargrave in 1948 and married to Eliza, and with family. There is a suitable marriage to Eliza M. Nunn in the December quarter 1914 in the Bury St Edmunds district. Eliza Nunn and Harold Smart were witnesses at Herbert’s marriage. In 1939 (register) Harold R Smart (born 1890) was living in the Thingoe RD with Eliza M. Smart and one other whose record is closed.
William Henry Challis Smart (1892 – 1974), baptised at Depden 31 January 1892 (of Depden, labourer). His birth, as William Harry C. Smart was registered in the Thingoe district in the March quarter 1892. He married Florence Ethel Pettitt (baptised 5 August 1894 at Ousden) 12 November 1918 at Ousden Parish Church. The witnesses were Alice Pettitt and Robert Smart. In WW1 he was a private 25th battalion Canadian Infantry. He was married to Florence and died 20 February 1974 aged 82 at Deer Lodge Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Posted December 2016