Alfred Sydney Smith

   Cause of his death was Carcinoma of Pancreas.

  General Notes:

Name:Alfred Sydney Smith
Gender:Male
Baptism Age:0
Birth Date:1 Aug 1837
Baptism Date:27 Aug 1837
Baptism Place:Christ Church, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Residence Date:1837
Residence Place:New South Wales, Australia
Father:John Smith
Mother:Mary
FHL Film Number:993952
Ancestry.com. Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Occupation noted as Waterman on his son's marriage certificate.
Had been given a hotel by his father but drank the profits so he left his family with nothing.
Elizabeth Pratt nee Smith

WRECK OF THE WILLIAM WATSON.
TWO LIVES LOST.
We mentioned briefly in our extraordinary of yesterday, that the William Watson, barque, was wrecked on the North Shore beach, and that two of her crew were lost. The following are such additional particulars
of this catastrophe as we have been able to glean. We had them from the mouth of one of the crew named Samuel Thomas, a native of Guernsey, England. The William Watson, he says, sailed from Nelson, New Zealand, about the 27th or 28th of last month ; made the land yesterday (Friday) morning, about three o'clock. As soon as the land was seen, the Captain of the William Watson made more sail. When daylight came he made still more sail, and by about half-past eight o'clock the William Watson was off the port.
As the only chance, there being in fact no other course open to him, the Captain made for the. harbour. He did his utmost to come in safely, but the tremendous sea that was running, together with the strong ebb tide, prevented him from effecting his purpose. In order to give his orders more effectually, he took his stand in the mizen rigging. All went well until the barque got abreast of Nobbys when, she shipped a tremendous sea, which carried away her boom, nearly killing the Captain, who was struck on the head by the spar. He was knocked . senseless by the blow, and fell flat on his back on the deck. It is a wonder that he was not killed on the spot.
The chief officer then took command -of the vessel, and attempted to bring her over the bar, but in vain, the as elements were too powerful. After pooping the sea which carried away the boom, the vessel would not a
answer to her helm, and she then drifted over the Oyster Bank, on to the beach. Once having struck, her helm was no\\more good, and- she was entirely at the mercy of the wind and waves. There were twelve men and one woman on board. A great number of people were on the beach, and at once ran and rendered
what assistance they could in getting the crew ashore. A line, it appears, was made fast to the stem part of ,the vessel and cast adrift. A large quantity was payed out, and after some little time, and not without considerable difficulty, the people on the beach secured it. Several life buoys were then made fast to the line .and sent on board the William Watson. The rope was then sent ashore again, and the work of rescuing
the crew by means of it was commenced. A man named Hennessey, and Mr. Douglas, (the second mate,) were the two first to take the |ine and go ashore ; Samuel Powell and John Kent were the next to venture on the line ; then a man known as Thomas, and a foreigner. The rest followed in the best way they could.

The carpenter and cook were drowned in endeavouring to get ashore. The carpenter's name was Lane, the cook's name was Hyde ; at least this is the belief of our informant, who being one of the ship's crew ought to be in a position to know. The cook's wife had a narrow escape, but was with much difficulty eventually got safe to shore. At the time we write, a rumour is afloat that she had died since from exhaustion. The reporter we despatched to the North Shore not having returned yet, we cannot state here postively whether such is the case or not. We shall probably know before we go to press.

The captain, although badly hurt, was the last but one -to leave the vessel '97 the first mate was the last. He saw the captain safe on shore and then followed himself. At the time we write (four o'clock) the barque appears to be high and dry on the beach. The William Watson was bound for this port, and belongs in part, we understand, to Mr. Whyte, of this city. The vessel is insured in Smyth's office, but to what amount we are unable to learn. Great praise is due to all who so nobly came forward and assisted in getting the crew
off the William Watson. Further particulars respecting this wreck have just come to hand (five o'clock).

They are as follows :
The barque William Watson, from Melbourne, in making the port this morning, was found to be in a dangerous position at Nobby's. In order to prevent her foundering the captain beached her. Two men were drowned. The wreck is abandoned on the beach, high and dry, at low tide the masts and sails are stand
ing. The water has made its way into her, and is pouring out of the port side.

We have heard since the above was written that the captain of the William Watson purposely beached his vessel to save the lives of his crew. Mr. H. Holt and Mr. Sydney Smith were mainly instrumental in attaching the rope to the vessel. They deserve every praise for their brave and intrepid conduct.
1866 'WRECK OF THE WILLIAM WATSON. TWO LIVES LOST.', The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News (NSW : 1859 - 1866), 21 July, p. 3. , viewed 26 Dec 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128919385

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,
SAVING- LIFE.
Sir '97 In your last Wednesday's issue, there appeared a paragraph headed 'Saving Life,' in which it states that Mr. Holt swam oft to the William Watson with the first line, and S. Smith with the second line. Such is not true ; and at the particular request of some of my friends, through the aid of your valuable journal, I will
lay the facts before the public. I was on the beach with others when the William Watson came on shore. I saw Mr. Holt wading off to wards the vessel with a line and lifebuoy. I saw plainly he could not reach her with a life buoy on. I then stripped naked and got a life buoy with a line attached to it from the fore rigging, and on coming towards the shore met Mr. Holt with a shore-line which he made first to the buoy I had brought from the vessel. I then went to dress myself-. Two men were pulled on shore ; then the rope broke. I undressed again and went to Mr. Holt, and he said, ' You had better take this line off again, you are more
usud to the surf than me.' I swam off again alongside, and was there two or three minutes before I got a line to make fast to the one I brought from the shore. I then swam on shore, and being scarcely able to stand with cold, went home. I am sorry to have to contradict Mr. Holt, but as your informant stated that Dr.
Knaggs and others, could vouch for the truth of it, I feel it my duty to place the truth before you. I remain, yours,
A. S. SMITH.
North Shore, 31st July, I860.
1866 'LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.', The Newcastle Chronicle (NSW : 1866 - 1876), 1 August, p. 3. , viewed 26 Dec 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128921408

WRECK OF THE WILLIAM WATSON. ?
Sir I cannot, in justice to myself, allow the fabulous allegations penned by Mr. Sydney Smith, and which appeared in the columns of your valuable journal of the 1st instant, to pass without comment, and for that purpose wish to place tho following facts before your readers. I happened to be present at the wreck of the William Watson, on the North Shore, on the morning of tho 13th of July last, and observing the danger of the crew of the stranded vessel, and likewise the difficulty they would have to contend with
against the heavy surf, which would greatly preclude the possibility of their reaching the shore safely without any aid, I at once volunteered to swim off to the wreck with a life bouy and line in the hopes of passing them on board, but was on this occasion prevented by the heavy surf from accomplishing my object, and which drove me back towards the shore ; at this period finding that I could not possibly succeed in reaching the vessel in Safley with the life buoy and line I immediately dispensed with the services of the former, and again procoeded with the line only towards the wreck, observing that those on board had in the meanwhile secured a life bouy to a line which they were apparently preparing to throw overboard to me on my approaching near to them. Mr. Smith being at this time in close proximity to me in the breakers, the lifebuoy was then thrown from tho vessel, and was secured by Mr. Smith; I then swam
to him, and attached a line to tho buoy, and we then returned to the shore, I being in a very exhausted condition having been several times contending with the heavy surf and back-water, two men having been shortly' after this bought on shore by this line which was broken or let go from the barque. With respect to the state ment male use of by Mr. Smith, relative to my having remarked that "he was more used to the
surf than I," I beg to state that they are entirely without foundation, and had I not been in the exhausted state I was then in, I should have again ventured out with the line. I have no desire to detract the praise that has been accorded to Mr. Smith for his acts of bravery, neither did I wish for him to deviate from the truth in his '"elaborate epistle." By giving publicity to the above facts, you would greatly' oblige, yours, &c,
H. W. L. HOLT.
Newcastle, August, 3rd 1866.
1866 'WRECK OF THE WILLIAM WATSON.', The Newcastle Chronicle (NSW : 1866 - 1876), 4 August, p. 3. , viewed 26 Dec 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128921606

A charge of using insulting words laid by Alfred Sydney Smith against Janica Devereux, senr., of Stockton, was dismissed; his worship remarking that It never should have been brought into court, The evidence showed that defendant and some friends were sitting on the Stookton Wharf talklng , when prosecuter passed by with his dog. Taking up a piece of a broken ladder about six foot long with some spokes attached (produced in court) he flung it towards the water for the animal to bring out, but catching against his body it swung round and struck defendant a violent blow on the jawbone. A quarrel ensued, the result of which was the summons in question.
1881 'Police Court.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 21 March, p. 3. , viewed 19 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137196361

Occupation in death certificate- waterman
Name and occupation of father- John Smith (Gentleman) Name and maiden name of mother marked as unknown.

Registration F. W. Lockheart, January 1887, Newcastle.
Name of Minister unreadable- Church of England
Witnesses T. Oughton and J. J. Forster
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales
Place of marriage Newcastle, 24 years of agae to Francis Elizabeth Walsh

Children of Marriage: Priscilla 24, Frances M. 22, Sydney 18, Amy 16, Alfred 11, Sarah 10, Ida A 7 (Living) 1 male and 2 females deceased.
Death Cert. 11251 NSW

FUNERALS.
The Friends of the deceas.d ALFRED A SYDNEY SMITH are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral: To move from his late residence, Stockton, THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON at haltpast 2 o'clock, for Sandgste Cemetery.
ARCHIBALD HAY, Undertaker.
THE Friends of CAPTAIN HENRY FOSTER are respectfully invited to attend the Funerel of his deceased Father in-law, ALFRED SYDNEY SMITH: To move from his late residence Stockton,
THIS (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at half. past 2 o'clock, for Sendgate Cemetery.
AOF
THE Oflicers and Brethren of Court Hunter, No. 4583 are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of Brother SYDNEY A. SMITH: To move from his late residence, Stockton, TOMORROW (Wednesday) AFTERNOON, at half.past 2 o'clock. for Sandgate Cemetery.
By order of the C.R. THOMASNEW, Sec.
1887 'Family Notices', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 19 January, p. 5. , viewed 10 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138813587

  Medical Notes:

Duration- six months
Medical Attendent- J. L. Beetson?

Alfred married Frances Elizabeth Walsh on 12 Aug 1861 in Newcaslte, New South Wales, Australia.⁶² (Frances Elizabeth Walsh was born in 1842 and died on 5 Dec 1929 in Stockton Newcastle, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA.)

  Marriage Notes:

MARRIAGE.
At Newcastle, on the 12th instant, by the Registrar, Mr.
Alfred Sydney Smith, of Fullerton Cove, to Miss Francis
Elizabeth Walsh, of Tremerton Park, near Newcastle.
The Newcastle Chronicle.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1861.
1861 'Family Notices', The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News (NSW : 1859 - 1866), 14 August, p. 2. , viewed 10 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111166925