A smithy by name and trade

Patrick Sylvester Smyth 

Patrick Sylvester Smyth was the third child born to James Smyth and Catherine Mulvaney at Alma in South Australia in December 1880. Patrick joined his sister Mary and brother John who had been born in the previous two years. It is likely that Patrick was named after his Irish grandfather who had died in County Westmeath in 1870.

Little is known of his childhood but as they were a farming family he would have been expected to help with the daily chores in the farmyard.

Four more boys were born after Patrick, but little brother James died at just nine months old and another baby also named James. died in infancy.

Blacksmith generated by AI

His older brother John may have been destined to take over the farm and without enough land to support all the boys, Patrick took on work as a blacksmith. Jobs completed in the Alma smithy would have included farming equipment repairs, horseshoes, household pots and pans along with any task brought in from the neighbourhood farms and houses.

At age 29 he became the owner of the business as recorded in this transaction.

Account J. Pearce and Son, Alma— Blacksmith's business, with 2 cottages, in township of Alma, to P. Smyth, Alma.[1]

It appears that Patrick never married and he died a single man. He outlived all of his family and died in November 1963 just two weeks short of his 83rd birthday. He is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery.

Patrick Sylvester Smyth - 1st cousin twice removed.

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1911 'LAND SALES.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 1 July, p. 37. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88689904

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

Father Frank Smyth

45 years dedicated to Thebarton Parish

AI created image - Sept 2024

Francis Smyth was born at Alma on March 8, 1884 in the mid north of South. Australia, some 93 kilometres from Adelaide. His parents were James Smyth and Catherine Smyth (nee Mulvanny).
James had followed his brothers John and Edward Smyth from County Westmeath in Ireland. James arrived in South Australia in December of 1864 aboard the ship "Tarquin." In 1877 he and Catherine married in Adelaide.

Francis was the fourth of seven children born to this couple. He was baptised in the Gawler Catholic church. In 1900, at the age of 16, Francis joined the Institute of the Brothers of St John the Baptist, founded by Fr Healy. He later studied for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Manly, and was ordained in Sydney in 1910. After returning to Adelaide, he worked alongside Fr Healy at Thebarton, eventually succeeding him as Parish Priest of Thebarton in 1921 after Fr Healy's death. In 1922 he was appointed by the State Children's Council as superintendent of the Brooklyn Park reformatory for boys. [1]

Fr Frank as he was known, spent his entire ministry in Thebarton, dedicating 45 years to the parish. He was known for his simplicity, devotion, and tireless work, particularly during the Great Depression when he provided aid to those in need. His contributions included building several schools and support for the parish's charitable efforts.

He died on May 21, 1955, and was remembered as a "great and worthy priest."[2] He was buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

Partial view of tombstone

1. 1922 'Personal.', Critic (Adelaide, SA : 1897-1924), 1 February, p. 7. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212245134

2. Biography of Francis Smyth https://adelaide.catholic.org.au/view-biography?guid=10354

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

Family History, the Whys and Wherefores

A member of my local Family History group challenged us at a management meeting on August 3, to write a paragraph about why we are members of the group. A great topic to think about, as Family History month is held in the month of August each year across Australia and New Zealand.
So how did I become involved and why do I continue?

In 2013 my mother died at age 101. It was then that I discovered my mother, when she was 92, had told her childhood story to a grandchild, much of this was new to me. Another of my nieces had completed a high school assignment on my paternal side. On reading that piece, I spotted some potential for exploring that line further.
I had just retired in mid 2012, moved interstate, and needed new friends and activities. My interest in lifelong learning and computing found me first as a Friend of Noosaville library.

By 2015 I joined the Cooroy-Noosa genealogy group and once the local Noosaville library closed for renovation I found my home in the new Heritage Centre at Cooroy. I’ve worked with computers since 1985 in a wide variety of situations, teaching both students and adults. In the group, I enjoy being involved with others, learning anew and sharing skills. The developments in DNA matching and the potential of AI for family history keep me exploring and learning.

That’s my whys and wherefores. If you are interested in pursuing your family history, join a group. Yes, there is a lot one can learn online but sharing the friendship, collaborating with others and providing service to others, all these are beneficial to one’s well-being. Whether it is teaching, managing resources, providing refreshments or a dozen other ways of volunteering, the rewards are worth the effort.

Enjoy and learn this Family History month.

Carmel

Web Editor

CNG&HRG Inc.