Eliza was born about 1839 at Shepperton, Middx, and registered in the Staines district (which includes Shepperton) in the December quarter 1839. Her father was Caleb Searle and her mother was Elizabeth formerly Fory.
She married George Smithers in the September quarter 1863 in the Kingston district.
In 1871, in London Road South, Kingston on Thames, Eliza was aged 31 and born at Shepperton, Middx. Her husband, George, was aged 29, a corn dealer born at Kingston. Their children were George aged 6, Caleb T. aged 4 and Agnes M. aged 2. All were born at Kingston.
In 1881, at Byam Villa, Victoria Road, Kingston on Thames, Eliza was aged 41 and born at Shepperton, Middx. Her husband, George, was aged 39 and born at Kingston. He was a general carrier employing 10 labourers. Their children were George aged 16, a pupil teacher, Caleb T. aged 14, Agnes M. aged 12, Emma aged 9 and Kate E. aged 7, all born at Kingston. There was also a domestic servant, Mary Grant, aged 14, born at Croydon.
In 1884 the family decided to emigrate to America. They left England from London on board the ship ‘France’ and arrived in New York 3 April 1884 en route for Decota (sic). The adults in the family were George, married, a carman, Eliza, wife, George, married, a carman, Caleb, single a labourer, Bessy, wife, Agnes, a spinster, and children Emma aged 12 and Kate aged 10. The next family listed were Harry and Clara Plumbridge and their children (see Clara Agnes Plumbridge formerly Searle).
In the 1910 American Census in South Dakota, George was aged 68 and arrived in America in 1884. With him were Eliza aged 70 and Caleb T. aged 43.
George and Eliza’s children were:
1. George Smithers, born about 1864 at Kingston, and registered in the December quarter 1864 in the Kingston district. He may have married Eliza Stephenson in the Kingston district in the March quarter 1884.
2. Caleb Tilliard Smithers born about 1866 at Kingston, and registered in the March quarter 1867 in the Kingston district. He married Laura Melvina Agnes Hoffman in America.
In the 1920 American census
Caleb T. was aged 53, born in England and arrived in America in 1887. With him were Laura M. aged 54, born in
Indiana and Jessie E. aged 21, born in South Dakota. They could all read and write. Caleb died at Alameda, California.
Caleb and Laura’s children
were:
a)
Ethel Laura Smithers, born 18 February
1891 in co. Walworth, America.
b)
Jessie E. Smithers, born about 1889
in South Dakota.
3. Agnes M. Smithers, born about 1868 at Kingston.
4. Emma Smithers, born about 1871 at Kingston.
5. Kate E. Smithers, born about 1873 at Kingston.
Posted April 2012