Blackmore: Smith Family at Wenlocks Farm

Received
6 April 2009

Sandra Morris wrote:

“My GGG grandfather was Isaac Smith (usually called Jnr – b. 1830 in Halifax) who moved to Blackmore from London Paddington around 1860. He lived with his family and his parents at Dairy Farm according to the 1861 census. In the 1861 census, Isaac’s brother Joseph Rideal is described as a farmer of 295 acres employing 10 men & 3 boys. Isaac was the ‘Partner in Farm’. I know that Joseph left Blackmore in 1868 due to ill health and Isaac jnr had left by 1870. I am very interested to find out more about these Smiths if there are any more details available (written details, photos, just anything) about them in the local history records. Did they also own the land, or were they just farming on someone else’s land?”

Reply
8 April 2009

Thank you for your E mail. I will post it on http://www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/ because you never know who is out there!

I can confirm that Joseph Smith is mentioned in White’s Directory of 1863 as ‘Farmer’ at ‘Wenlocks Farm’ (see www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/historyindex.html) . This name and Dairy Farm appear to be interchangeable. The road sign in which the farm is situated is called Wenlocks Lane, but is ‘subtitled’ Dairy Farm Lane.

I took a quick look at SEAX, the Essex Record Office database, and find that the Deeds for Dairy Farm, Blackmore for the period 1858-1873 are held there under reference ERO D/D Dw T74. A visit to Chelmsford could prove very worthwhile for you.