Henry Meade Smythe ("Tiger Smythe") (1787-1862) Father of "The (other) Twelve" - (moved to England in the 19th century) He married 1836 Frances Barbara Cooke (1817-1906) - Mother of "The (other) Twelve"

 

The 1841 UK census has a SMYTHE family living at West Monkton, Somerset - first three children listed - Henry gives his age as 40. His wife, aged 25. By the dates given above in official sources, there was an age difference of some 30 years between husband and wife.

 

If the husband listed here was 40 at this time then he would have been born in about 1800. LDS files have a Henry Smyth recorded as being born (Cookesborough, Westmeath, Ireland) in about 1811, married (about 1841) to a Frances Cooke. She was born "about 1815" - Cookesborough, Westmeath, Ireland. Her father is recorded as Richard Cooke and her mother as Harriet French. Is this too great a co-incidence - with regard to age and names of children (first three listed) being so similar to those listed (click on the shamrock image or use Browser Back Button) in the main page of this site for the marriage of Henry (Meade) Smyth(e) and Frances Cooke? If this is the same Henry SMYTHE, then who is the Harriet listed here? An aunt, Harriet Cooke, sister of John Cooke? And where is Frances? (Harriet and/or Frances) would have been about 25 years old at the date of the UK 1841 census - and the ages of the three children listed fit almost to the month ... so there is a big question mark here. Source Link

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? SMYTHE? Henry? 40 Born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign parts. <Looks like I?>

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? SMYTHE? Harret??? 25 Born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign parts. <Looks like S or F>

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? SMYTHE? Cathaline?? 4 Brussels? Not born in Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? SMYTHE? Altermount??? 3 Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 / SMYTHE?, Henry? SMYTHE? Harriett 1 Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? PENNY? Dinah 35 Family Servant. Not born in Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? HUSELL?? Elizabeth 25 F. S. Not born in Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? MERCHANT? Susan? 25 F. S. Not born in Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 SMYTHE?, Henry? SATHBRIDGE? Matilda? 25 F. S. Not born in Somerset

Halcon? Londge? 26 // SMYTHE?, Henry? PENNY Dinah 15 F. S. Not born in Somerset

The book, 'Burke's Irish Family Records' is clear on the dates for this marriage and for the date details ... Henry Meade Smythe born 1787. He married his young cousin, Frances Barbara Cooke in 1836 - if 'Irish Families' is to be credited - when she was about 19 and he was approximately 49.

Where had he been and what was he doing in the 20 years or so of 'adult life' prior to his marriage to Frances Cooke and siring the 12 listed children?

He carried the tag of "Tiger Smythe" which suggests connections with India ... had he been married before? If so, were there children of that marriage?

Ronald Smythe (the brother of Olympic Equestrian, Pat Smythe) in recent correspondence concerning the 'early Smythe generations' states that, "... my family remained in Ireland with the exception of 'Tiger Smythe' and his children who came to GB in the 19th Century".