John Smith (abt. 1765)

Ancestors

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Biography

John Smith was the son of John Wilkes and his housekeeper Catherine Smith. John was acknowledged as a son and educated by his father but in their correspondence he referred to his father as 'Uncle'. John added a middle name 'Henry' to more clearly identify himself when in service with the East India Company.^[1]

Research Notes

Some believe that John (Henry) Smith was the father of John Aston Wilkes, who was born when Smith was still a teenager. If this was true, then Smith would had to have abandoned his son (and his son's mother) when he went to India in 1782, from which he didn't return until after 1792, ^[2] if at all.

Sources

1. ↑ Wilkes, John. The Correspondence of the Late John Wilkes: With His Friends, Printed from the Original Manuscripts, in Which Are Introduced Memoirs of His Life. Printed for R. Phillips, by T. Gillet, 1805, p.117. Google Books
2. ↑ The last letter from Smith to his father, sent from India, is dated 14 Nov 1792.