John Henry Greville (Upton) Smyth (1836 - 1901)

Born 2 Jan 1836 in Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Emily Frances (Way) Smyth — married before 30 Jun 1884 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 27 Sep 1901 at age 65 in Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

John (Upton) Smyth was born in Somerset, England.

John Henry Greville Upton was born on January 2, 1836, a son to Thomas Upton and Eliza Way whose residence was the Royal Crescent in Bath, Somerset, England. He was baptised February 10, 1836 at Walcot, Somerset.

1841 England Census, Sedbergh, Yorkshire, Residence: Ingmere Hall

• Elizabeth Upton 9 Ind. not born in county
• John Upton 5 Ind. not born in county
• Florence Upton 3 Ind. born in county

His father, Thomas, died in 1843.

1851 England Census, Eton, Buckinghamshire

• Jno Hy G Upton Pupil 15 Ireland??

He took his education at Cheam school, Eton College and at Christchurch, Oxford. He assumed the name of Smyth by royal licence as being descended from the family of Sir John Smyth, Bart. Of 1763, whose title became extinct in 1849.

His baronetcy is remarkable as having been the subject of a trial in which an impostor named John Provis attempted to substantiate his title to the estates, & c., by an intricate series of perjuries and forgeries relating to the pedigree, which were eventually detected in 1853, and Provis was convicted and sentenced to twenty years' transportation in 1854.

He was elected Sheriff of Bristol in 1858, but refused to serve and was Magistrate for Somerset, of which he was High Sheriff in 1865.

1881 England Census, Long Ashton, Somerset, Residence: Ashton Court

• John G Smith Head Unmarried 45 Baronet Bath, Somerset
• Maria L Prior Aunt 72 Widow Denham Place, Bucks
• Edward Way Cousin Married 39 Lt. Col Retired Hensbury, Glouster
• Georgina Way Cousin Married 40 India
• Wilfred Way Cousin Married 35 Captain 5th Fusiliers Long Ashton, Somerset
• Louis John Way Cousin 5 Aldershot, Hants
• Annie L Way Cousin 3 Colchester
• Selina Way Cousin 2 Pontefract, Yorkshire
• Henry B Way Cousin 1 Worthing

John married Emily Frances Edwards nee Way in the April to June quarter of 1884 at St George Hanover Square, London, England.

He is best known for his large private collection of mammals, birds and insects. On his death, Emily, donated the bulk of the collection to the Bristol Natural History Museum.

John died on September 27, 1901 in Caithness, Scotland. He was buried at All Saints Churchyard in Long Ashton, Somerset.

PROBATE: Sir John Henry Greville Smyth of Ashton-court Somersetshire, Baronet, died 27 September 1901 at Thurso-castle Caithness, Scotland. Probate complete on January 28 to Lady Emily Frances Smyth, widow; the reverend John Hugh Way clerk and Nowell Fitz Upton Sampson-Way retired major-general in H.M. Army.

Research Notes

WHITEHALL August 21, 1852

The Queen has been pleased to grant unto Eliza Upton, of Ingmire Hall, in the county of York, Widow, and relict of Thomas Upton, of the same place, Esquire, deceased, on behalf of her second but only surviving son and heir, John Henry Greville Upton, a minor, Her royal licence and authority that he the said John Henry Greville Upton, may in compliance with a proviso contained in the last will and testament of Thomas Smyth, of Stapleton, in the county of Gloucester, Esquire, and in that of Sir Hugh Smyth, formerly of Long Ashton, in the county of Somerset, Baronet, both deceased, take and henceforth use the surname of Smyth only, in lieu of his present surname of Upton, and bear the arms of Smyth; such arms being first duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the Heralds' Office, otherwise Her Majesty's said licence and permission to be void and of none effect:

And also to command that the said royal concession and declaration be registered in Her Majesty's College of Arms.

Sources

• Citing this Record "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7XY-W5H : 10 February 2018, John Henry Greville Upton, ); citing item 1 p 541, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,471,170.
• [1] 1841 England Census
• [2] Family Info
• Citing this Record "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q276-V1SS : 13 December 2017), John G Smith, Long Ashton, Somerset, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 16, Piece/Folio 2459/11, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,739.
• Citing this Record "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q276-V13W : 13 December 2017), Mary L Prior, Long Ashton, Somerset, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 16, Piece/Folio 2459/11, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,739.
• Citing this Record "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DJ7-HT3 : 6 January 2015), Emily Frances Edwards, 1884; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1884, quarter 2, vol. 1A, p. 670, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• [3] Death Date and Probate
• [4] Find A Grave
• [5] The Gazette