Harrison Smith - Project 6 - Maitland A&H Blog Entry 2

In the previous post, Lindsey and I focused on the background, lineage, and history of J. Andre Smith’s older brother George Milton Smith. The post focused on information about George between the years of 1879 (his birth) and 1920. This blog post is a continuation of the previous post and will provide additional details on George Milton Smith. This post will deliver information on George Milton Smith spanning between 1920 to 1940. The data will be presented in chronological order starting with the year 1920.

To begin this blog post lets pick up from the last source in the previous blog post. The last source which we analyzed in the previous blog post was the 1920 federal Census which places George Milton Smith (age 40) within New Haven, Connecticut. George was living with his wife Lucy (age 40), daughter Claire (age 6) and a “servant” named Clara Smith (age 20). George was a doctor and data on the census points to him having his own surgical medical practice during this period. On March 7, 1922 George applied for a United States Passport. The application has a picture of George on the bottom left corner. The information on the application lists his permanent residence as Waterbury, Connecticut and his occupation as a surgeon. One the application George states that he intends to go to France. He scheduled to board the French Ocean-liner the SS Paris on April 16 or 26, 1922 in the port of New York. On June 9, 1925 George (age 45), wife Lucy (age 45), and daughter Clara (age 12) arrived in the port of New York City aboard the S.S. Essequibo. For unknown reasons, the family had visited the Chilean city of Valparaiso. Valparasio played an important geopolitical role in the 19th and 20th centuries and was one of the most prominent ports prior to the completion of the Panama Canal. The family boarded the S.S. Essequibo in the Chilean city off Talcahuano which is roughly 380 miles away from Valparaiso. The information provided by the passenger shipping provides little insight into why the family was in Chile. The S.S. Essequbio was owned by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company during the 1920s, which chartered ships on regular voyages between South America, North America, and Europe. I will attempt to uncover more sources and information in why George and his family visited Chile in 1925. The 1930 federal Census lists George (age 50) as the head of the household and places him in New Haven, Connnecicut. At this time George is living with his wife Lucy (age 50), daughter Clarie (age 17) and an Irish servant named Anna McCarthy (age 32) The family lives in a home worth 25,000 dollars in 1930 which is equivalent to 400,000 dollars in 2022. George lists his occupation as “doctor” and his industry or specialization as “surgery”. George’s class of worker is listed as “working on own account” meaning that he more than likely had his own medical office and practice. According to the 1940 federal Census George (age 60) still resides in New Haven but he relocated from the city of Waterbury to the city Branford (about 33 miles apart. George is designated as the head of the household and resides with his wife Lucy (age 60). George’s daughter Claire (age 30), her husband Sidney Noyes (Age 30) and their daughter Lucy Noyes Young (age 3/12 or 3 months) also live with George. Maid Marie Chiasson (age 29) and cook Elenaor Haversat (age 24) reside in the home as well. At this time George occupation is listed as a “physician” and his worker class is listed as “working on own account”. This means that George still had his own medical practice in 1940 but likely had to relocate it to Branford once he and his family moved.

Digital History elements from the readings assigned have been applicable to this application of research. As Lindsey and my research continues I am certain that other digital tools (newspapers.com, fold3, and familysearch) will help us find additional sources and the locations of where additional information of the Smiths will be located. Through this research Lindsey and I have shed light onto the life and whereabouts of George Milton Smith between the years of 1920 and 1940. The first portion of the next blog-post will be a continuation of George’s life from 1940 to his death in 1951 and the life of George. The remainder will focus on George and Andre’s sister Augusta C. Smith.

(Genealogical sources found will be saved and added to a shared google doc folder between Lindsey and myself. Lindsey and I will provide access to the google folder to Dr. Cheong, Ms. Thomas and any A&H Staff that would like to view the sources.)