Harrison Smith - Project 6 - Maitland A&H Blog Entry 5

In the previous post, Lindsey and I focused on the early life of J. Andre Smith’s sister Augusta Smith. This blog post will be a continuation of the previous posting and will focus on Augusta’s life between the years of 1930 to her death in 1961 and provide more information on Smith family.

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 1930 Federal Census. According to the 1930 census Augusta (age 51) was living with her husband Francis (53), her daughter Frances (15), and her brother Andre Smith (50) in Branford, Connecticut. Francis’ occupation is listed as an architect, and Andre’s Smith was listed as an artist. This solidifies that Andre Smith was still residing in Connecticut in the year 1930. Interestingly boxes 30 and 31 (which are the census boxes used to verify if someone is a veteran) are incorrectly labeled for Andre Smith. Based on prior research we know Andre Smith served in the First World War, but this census lists him as not being a veteran. It is more than likely a mistake on the census recorder’s part, but something worth noting. In the year 1940 Augusta (age 61) was residing with Francis (age 63) and Frances (age 25) in Branford, Connecticut in a home worth roughly 8,000 dollars (about 156,000 dollars in today’s currency). Francis occupation is still listed as an architect with his industry listed as “own business” At this time neither Augusta and Frances were employed for or looking for work but their employment details are listed as home housework. Very little is known about Augusta Smith between the years of 1941 until her death in 1961. What Lindsey and I were able to uncover is three major deaths happened in her family between the years of 1951 to 1959. Augusta’s brother George Milton Smith died on February 26, 1951, her husband Francis Yeates Joannes died on June 21, 1952, and her brother J. Andre Smith died in his art studio in Florida in 1959. Augusta Smith passed away on April 5, 1961 in Branford, Connecticut at the age of 87. Augusta was interred at Branford Center Cemetery in Branford, Connecticut and is buried alongside her husband, and both of her brothers.

This concludes the five part blog post series of the life of Augusta Smith and George Milton Smith. However, there is still work and research to be done. Lindsey and I are in the process of completing our final powerpoint for our in class presentation and the deliverable (a timeline) for Danielle and Maitland A&H. I am personally am going to reach out to Findagrave.com to update the biographies and correct the birth and death dates for George and Augusta Smith and with Danielle’s permission will link Lindsey and my online deliverable so anyone who views either George or Augusta’s Find A Grave portal can have access to their genealogical history through ancestry and Maitland A&H.

Digital History elements from the readings assigned have been applicable to this application of research. Over the course of the last five blog posts Lindsey and my research used digital tools (newspapers.com, fold3, and familysearch) to help us find sources and the digital libraries that provided records and information about the Smiths will be located. Through this research Lindsey and I have been able to construct condensed blog posts presenting the lives of George Milton Smith and Augusta Smith that in turn provided insight into the life of J. Andre 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.)