James Smith

     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


James was born on Tuesday, 11 October 1881 at the Adelaide suburb of Gilberton.¹ He was the son of Walter Thomas Smith and Lucy Deane. James Smith was baptised at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, 11 December 1881 at Adelaide.² He presumably lived with his parents at Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, in August 1898.³

The Smith family hosted a social evening at their house at Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, for the Cape Borda Christian Endeavor Society, and the three girls and two of the men contributed songs and recitations.⁴

We can't know how James and Elsie met, but it may have been through a family association. James's father was a lighthouse keeper and Elsie's cousin John Darby was Secretary of the Marine Board; both men had met Arthur Searcy and John Darby must have known him well.

He married Elsie Florence Darby, daughter of George Leonard Darby and Patty Miller, at Elsie's parent's home at "Kiliora"(?) Stanley St. on Thursday, 22 December 1904 at North Adelaide. He was 23 and his wife Elsie was 20. Elsie was 5 months pregnant when she married; the effect of this on Elsie's strict Wesleyan Methodist mother isn't known however it is notable that Elsie and James married at Elsie's parent's Adelaide home, far from the town of Mylor where they grew up, and not married in the Congregational church that her sisters were married in. It's also notable that Elsie's mother and her mother's mother were pregnant when they married too.. Elsie was the daughter of a public servant. The wedding certificate was also signed by Mabelle Gertrude Darby. Others who may have attended the wedding include Patty Miller as mother of the bride, George Leonard Darby as father of the bride, Lucy Deane as mother of the groom and Walter Thomas Smith as father of the groom. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Edward Smith, Lillian Smith, Lucy Smith, Arthur Smith and Edythe Mary Darby. James and Elsie went on to have four children together, one of whom died young.⁵ James lived in 1904 at Adelaide.⁶ At this time his occupation was given as a clerk.^7,8 Jim and his brothers Edward and Arthur had their photos taken together c1905.

James, aged 23 and Elsie Florence Darby, aged 21 became the parents of Heba Gwendolyn Smith on Tuesday, 11 April 1905 at North Adelaide.^9,10,11 James and Elsie lived in March 1907 at 137 MacKinnon Parade, in Adelaide. This house was built by 1880 as it appears in the Smith Survey of Adelaide of that date. Made from South Australian bluestone with rendered quoins and facings to windows and doors, verandah with cast iron decorative bracket and frieze elements, and eaves brackets.^12,13

James, aged 25 and Elsie Florence Darby, aged 22 became the parents of Margery Jean Smith on Sunday, 31 March 1907 at Adelaide. This house was built by 1880 as it appears in the Smith Survey of Adelaide of that date. Made from South Australian bluestone with rendered quoins and facings to windows and doors, verandah with cast iron decorative bracket and frieze elements, and eaves brackets..^12,14 At this time his occupation was given as an accountant.⁷

James and Elsie Florence Darby became the parents of Walter Leonard Smith circa 1911 at South Australia.^15,16 A picture was taken of Heba and Margery Smith, their parents and their grandmother. It was almost certainly taken at Adelaide. James was apparently enlisted in the AIF but the details aren't known.

James's brother Arthur began military service on Thursday, 14 October 1915 with the Light Horse at age 21.¹⁷

James, aged 34 and Elsie Florence Darby, aged 31 became the parents of Mavis Constance Smith on Saturday, 11 March 1916 at Adelaide.

James's brother Edward began military service on Monday, 17 April 1916 with the 2nd Depot Battalion at age 31 His service number was 2031.¹⁸ Taken on strength.^19,20,21,22 News was received on Thursday, 17 May 1917 that his brother Edward was missing, and had been missing since 11th April.^23,21,24 News was received on Wednesday, 20 June 1917 that his brother Edward was severely wounded and was a prisoner of war in Germany.^23,21 News was received in February 1919 that his brother Edward had been returned to England.^23,21 James's younger brother Edward was discharged from military service on Thursday, 27 November 1919 at age 35.²⁵ James Smith and Elsie Florence Darby moved with their three daughters to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, circa 1923. However, they only stayed there a year before moving to Sydney.²⁶

His youngest daughter Pattie recollects that he was not much of a family man and that he drank too much.^26,27

James lived in 1929 at the Sydney suburb of Randwick.²⁸

James, as the father of the bride, along with Elsie may have attended the wedding of Margery and John Hill, a section head at General Motors Holden, at Sydney Church of England Grammar Chapel on Saturday, 2 November 1929 at North Sydney. Margery was 22 and her husband John was 23.. Others who may have attended include Mary Alberta MacCallum Bourke as mother of the groom and Joseph William Hill as father of the groom. Aunts, uncles and grandparents who may have attended include Walter Thomas Smith, Lucy Deane, Donald Hugh Aloysius Bourke and Argyle Michael Bourke. John and Margery went on to have only one child together.²⁹ James lived in March 1930 at Sydney.³⁰

His father died 19 March 1930 at the age of 78. James was aged 48 when this happened.³¹ 25 September 1931 there was a determination in a Worker's Compensation hearing between 'Patricia Smith and her next best friend James Agincourt Smith', and Anne Matheson. This probably related to Pattie being emplyed by Anne Matheson but was represented in some capacity by her father.³² He was manager of the Metropolis Realty Development (NSW) Co Ltd in July 1932 at Sydney.³³ James was involved in a court case where an employee George Brewer was charged with false pretences in connection with the sale of some land. James said the Brewer was only employed on commission.³³ He was a salesman in 1933.³⁴ James and Elsie lived in 1933 at at Cliveden Flats on Roslyn Street in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst.³⁴

His mother died May 1943 at the approximate age of 84. James was aged 61 when this happened. Jim and Elsie had a photograph taken together c1945. In the middle of his life, James seemingly adopted 'Agincourt' as his middle name.^35,36,32 James and Elsie lived in 1949 at at Kanimbla Hall in Tusculum St. in the Sydney suburb of Potts Point.³⁵

James lived in 1950 at Potts Point.³⁷

James died on 16 June 1950 at at St. Vincent's private hospital in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst at age 68 of prostate cancer.³⁷ His body was interred at Eastern Suburbs crematorium on 19 June 1950 at the Sydney suburb of Matraville.³⁷

In later years, his daughter Margery never talked about her father, and never expressed affection for her mother who she wasn't close to.³⁸