Henry Hill Smith F.R.V. (abt. 1850 - 1905)

Born about 1850 in Cork, Ireland

Husband of Mary Esther (Stein) Smith — married 29 Nov 1875 in Newcastle (now Toodyay), Western Australia

Husband of Elizabeth Emily (Gallop) Smith — married 23 May 1885 in St John's, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 21 Nov 1905 at about age 55 in Leake St., Cottesloe, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Why was he not living with his parents and two siblings on Saint Heliers in the Channel Isles in 1861?

He came out to the Swan River colony in 1863 with his family on the vessel Merchantman. His father was a Pensioner Guard based at Champion Bay.

In September 1878 in Geraldton he entered into a partnership with J H Monger and Messrs Gale & Son which traded as Gale, Monger & Co.

In 1881 he moved to Fremantle.

In December 1881 he brought to Fremantle bottles of aerated water produced by William Jose (his brother in law) in Geraldton.

In 1883 he commenced a business partnership with Newton Waldeck which was known as Waldeck Smith & Co. In October 1883 the premises were at Cambridge House, High St Fremantle. They were general storekeepers. The partnership ceased by August 1887.

In January 1887 he was advertising in Fremantle as an Auctioneer selling land. In March 1887 he was selling items of behalf of J H Monger. On 30th April 1887 he had formed with Edward Newman a partnership known as Smith & Newman Auctioneers, Ship, Land and General Commission Agents and they had rooms in High St Fremantle.

In May 1890 the partnership entered Bankruptcy proceedings. A receiver was appointed and the partnership was liquidated. In June 1890 Edward Newman appears to have been the Chairman of Fremantle Municipal Council. In December 1890 7 lots of land being portions of St Alban's Estate in Albany were advertised For Sale to the account of the Estate of Smith & Newman. In June 1891 the estate ended up paying 5 shillings and 11 pence in the pound.

In August 1890 he was joint owner with A Cumming and Dr Hope in a property Canning Location 7 & 8 and known as Sevenoaks when the land was sold at Auction.

COUNTRY LETTERS GERALDTON, Feb. 28. 1883. It is reported here on very reliable authority that Mr. Henry Smith, of the firm of Gale, Monger & Co., has sold his share of that business and is about to join Mr. Newton Waldeck, of Fremantle. Should this rumour prove true many in this district will regret his withdrawal from the house with which he has been so long and so creditably associated. In all the vicissitudes of fortune, both trying and prosperous, through which the business now known as Gale, Monger & Co. has passed, Mr. Smith has been a good servant, a skilful manager, and a worthy partner. Mr. Smith will not only be missed in his mercantile and business relations, but as an exemplary and useful citizen. As a town councillor his services have been eminently valuable ; he is one of the very few who take an interest in municipal matters, who feel it their duty to attend the meetings regularly, and to do all that can be done to advance the interests of the town generally. Had the other councillors cordially cooperated with him, Geraldton would by this time have raised a loan, as Albany is doing, and the municipality would be considerably improved by the progressive policy he is continually encouraging. As an efficient officer of the Geraldton Rifle Volunteers his place will not be easily filled. During the few years the company has been in existence he has risen, step by step, from corporal to sergeant, from sergeant to color sergeant, from color-sergeant to quarter-master, and from quarter-master to the post he now holds. To sum up, Lieut. Smith is one of those men who believe in the good old injunction, " whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with all thy might." I mean none of this as flattery, what I have here written of Mr. Smith every citizen of Geraldton, even his enemies if he has any, would readily concede. Ref. - The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954), Tuesday 6 March 1883, page 3

Old Colonist.- The funeral of the late Mr. Henry Smith took place from his residence, Leake Street, Cottesloe, on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased gentleman came to Western Australia, with his parents, some 45 years ago, and for 22 years he followed commercial pursuits at Geraldton in connection with the firm of Gale, Monger & Co. Subsequently he came to Fremantle, where he was in business for a number of years, but for the past six or seven years be had occupied a position on the Government Stores Supply and Tender Board. In the early days of the State deceased took an active interest in the volunteer movement, being connected with the Fremantle Infantry of which company he was a retired captain. He leaves a widow and family of four daughters and two sons. The chief mourners were Messrs. Harry and Ronald Smith (sons) and Wm. Jose, of Geraldton, and James, Charles and Fredk. Gallop (brothers-in-law). The pall-bearers were Messrs. F. A. Mosely, Preston, McAlpin, and Larrad, and Captains Swan and Ward. The body was interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Cemetery, the burial service being conducted by the Rev. Alex. McCarlie. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Arthur E. Davies and Co. Ref.- The West Australian, Friday, November 24th, 1905, page 5

PEEPS at PEOPLE The death of Hepburn Gale has removed a familiar figure from the ranks of city and Port business men. During the seventies Mr. Gale was in the forefront of business circles in Geraldton, where he succeeded his father as the head of the a firm of Scott and Gale, when Stephen Montague Stout and Alfred Carson were at the helm of the "Victorian Express." Subsequently the live wire of Scott and Gale was Captain Henry Smith, whose widow, nee Miss Emily Gallop, is a resident of Peppermint Grove. During the seventies Charles Crowther, Geraldton's grand old man, Henry Smith, Hepburn Gale and Edward Shenton were the commercial pooh bahs of the northern port, and with Maitland Brown, Geraldton's R.M., comprised a quartette of the handsomest personalities of the State. The late Hepburn's widow resides in Adelaide, where one of their daughters is a member of the wealthy Bowman clan. Ref.- Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 7 September 1919, page 2

Sources

• West Australia BDM records. Marriage reg 4004/1875.
• Government Gazette Index 1836 - 1898
• The Herald Fremantle 10/12/1881.

Geraldton Rifles - H. Smith 1881, Col. Sergeant , Lieut. 1884 pg. 212 , Capt. 1885 pg. 295 , 1889 Placed on retired list pg. 673 G.R.V. .... Geraldton Rifle Volunteers F.R.V. ,,,,, Fremantle Rifle Volunteers R.M. .... Resident Magistrate

G.R.V. Promotions Sub-Lieutenant Gale & Color Sergeant Smith upon successfully & creditably passing their examinations are promoted to Lieutenant & Sub - Lieutenant respectively.

• The Victorian Express, 1881 : Wed., 13th. April ; Local Items
• Public Notice. The Daily News 14/5/1887.
• Bankruptcy Notice. The West Australian 20/5/1890.