The Smurthwaite Family of County Durham, England and Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio
William and Kathryn (Robertson) Smurthwaite
Our Smurthwaite ancestors came from County Durham, (northeastern) England and were involved in Coal Mining which was an important industry in that area in the nineteenth century.
Before emigrating with their families from England in May 1858, John George Smurthwaite (1833-1875) had been to Australia and had done well. It was said that he intended to return there with his brother, also a mining engineer, William Edward Smurthwaite (1829-1910) .
I'm not sure why they decided to come to the US before going to Australia and I'm not sure where the Smurthwaite families lived between (1858-1861) from the time they immigrated tot he time they went to Steubenville, Ohio.
In 1861 they were offered employment by Louden Borland who was an owner of the Market Street Shaft in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio and they lived there and prospered in the Coal Mining Industry there. (See story about William Edward Smurthwaite)
There are Smurthwaites in New Zealand and Australia, perhaps descended from another brother? As usual, I need to do some more research into this.
William Smurthwaite (1767- )
William Smurthwaite (1803-1835) was born 1803 and was christened April 23, 1803 in Houghton le Spring, County Durham, England. He died October 1835 and was buried in Philadephia, County Durham, England October 07, 1835. He married Jane Smith March 24, 1825, in Houghton le Spring, County Durham, England.
William was a foreman of a colliery near Philadelphia (in England) cir 1829 and then a colliery near Cassop Vale (Kelhoe).
Children of William and Jane (Smith) Smurthwaite are:
John and William.
John George Smurthwaite (1833-1875) was born 1833 in Philadelphia, County Durham, England, and died June 20, 1875 in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. He married Sara Fairley. He immigrated to The United States in May 1858. He was at one time Superintendent of Averick's coal shaft.
Children of John and Sarah (Fairley) Smurthwaite are:
Jennie, John, William , Frank, Jacob, Lizzie,
Robert, Charles, George, Mary Francis "Molly" and Harry.
William E. Smurthwaite (1859-1883) son of John and Sarah Smurthwaite, was born 1859 in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and died October 19, 1883 in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio. He married Kathryn Robertson, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Bottomley) Robertson, May 24, 1879 in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio. He was a Coal a miner in Averick's coal shaft. He died from being overcome by coal damp or gas while at the shaft.
After William's death Kathryn married Samuel Stafford April 08, 1888.
Children of William E. and Kathryn are:
Isabelle, Effie, Sadie, William Edward
William Edward Smurthwaite (1883-1941) , son of William E. and Kathryn (Robertson) Smurthwaite, was born July 07, 1883 in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and died July 22, 1941 in Toronto, Jefferson Co., Ohio. He married December 03, 1903 in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, Anna Katherine Thorn, daughter of Hugh and Margaret (Shriver) Thorn. He was a blacksmith. Anna and William were divorced in 1919, and she married 2nd David "Di" Walters and moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio.
Child of William Edward and Anna Katherine (Thorn) Smurthwaite:
Margaret.
Margaret Smurthwaite (1904-1986) daughter of William Edward and Anna Katherine (Thorn) Smurthwaite, married 1st November 06, 1922 in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, Ross Martin Schaney (1897-1954) son of Phillip Martin and Laura Ethel (Humes) Schaney. They resided in Cortland, Trumbull County, Ohio, she married 2nd November 26, 1955 in Cortland, Trumbull Co., OH, Charles Roundy White (1893- 1972), they were divorced and she married 3rd Emmet Brady (1886-1972). Please see The Schaney Family page for Margaret and Ross' family and descendants.
References:
- Smurthwaite, William, "Coal Mining in Steubenville and Vicinity, Reminiscences," Published in a local Steubenville, Ohio newspaper, November 30, 1895.
- 1880 Federal Census, Steubenville, Jefferson Co. OH.
- Union Cemetery Association, Interment Directory , Lot 66.
- Jefferson County, State of Ohio, Probate Court, Marriage Records
- Bickerstaff, Mary (Miller), Letter dated July 23, 1941 to Margaret (Smurthwaite) Schaney, Notes on back from Margaret Kathryn (Smurthwaite) Schaney, 1983.
- "Stafford, Katheryn [Robertson, Smurthwaite], Obituary Notice," Steubenville, Ohio, 1942.
- "Walters, Anna Katherine [Thorn], Obituary Notice," Warren Tribune, Sept. 1958.
- Schaney Family Bible - Phillip Martin Schaney Family .
- Trumbull County, Ohio, Probate Court - Marriage Records
Useful Links for researching this line: