Harrison Smith - Project 6 - Maitland A&H Blog Entry 1

For the Maitland A&H project I was assigned to Project 6 which focuses on researching and uncovering information about J. André Smith's two siblings, George Milton Smith and Augusta Smith Joannes. This project is a collaborative effort between me and my colleague Lindsey Yeazell. It is through our research that we both hope to present research and useful information on George and Augusta that A&H Maitland and its executive director Danielle Thomas can add to its collection and better connect the community to André Smith and his family. Lindsey and my research over the past days has been focused on compiling, collecting, researching and interpreting records of André Smith's older brother George Milton Smith. Upon further research into André Smith himself, Lindsey and I learned that André was born in 1880 and served with the US military during the First World War. Instinctively, I began to wonder if André Smith's brother George had also served in the military. I have a decent amount of experience researching Americans during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries and have learned that military records offer some of the best information regarding individuals. Through the use of the genealogical database Ancestry.com, we were able to uncover and obtain a decent amount of information regarding George's life. I will provide information compiled from sources from 1879 until 1920 in chronological order.

George Milton Smith was born on July 5, 1879 to Father John Henry Smith and Mother Elizabeth Smith (maiden name Connor) in Hong Kong, China. George is the middle child of the three siblings; Augusta born in 1873 and André born in 1880. George likely immigrated to the United States with family between 1880 and 1899. The 1930 Census claims that George immigrated to the United States in 1880, however is crossed out meaning that this year of immigration was likely a mistake. By 1899 George was living in New Haven, Connecticut and attending Yale University. The 1899 official Yale Yearbook lists him as a part of the “academic department” and the “junior society” of 1901. This leads me to believe George was in his junior year and was expected to graduate in 1901. George married Lucy Young (born 1880 – further research to be conducted) on May 21, 1910 in Branford, Connecticut. Lucy gave birth to a baby girl named Claire Smith (born 1914 – further research to be conducted). Through US Army Transportation records, we were able to establish that George served in the First World War. A passenger list from January 22, 1919 lists George as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) returning home from Brest, France following the armistice. This document states that George was a Captain M.C. of Mobile Hospital Number 39. M.C. is the abbreviation for Master of Surgery meaning that George was a master surgeon assigned to Mobile Hospital Number 39 of the US Army. (Further research into the unit will be conducted) George boarded the vessel “Melita'' and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on January 22, 1919. George was then transported to Camp Devens in Massachusetts more than likely for discharge from military service. Because George was an NCO in the First World War, he was not assigned a military service/number like enlisted men, This will make tracking down George's Military service during the First World War more difficult, but I believe more information can be collected through the National Archives Administration (NARA) or further research into the medical units of the First World War. According to the 1920 census, after George’s military service in the First World War he was living in New Haven, Connecticut within the Waterbury Ward 2 district. At this time George ( age 40) was living with his wife Lucy (age 40), daughter Claire (age 6) and a “servant” named Clara Smith (age 20). The four of them lived in a rented property located on Buckingham Street. According to the 1920 census George listed his trade/profession as a doctor, his industry/business as a surgeon, and his employment field as working on his own account. This means that George more than likely had his own surgical medical practice in the 1920.

Digital History elements from the readings assigned have been applicable to this application of research. Lindsey and I have relied on digital tools, like the internet, and online databases such as , to collect and interpret information regarding Geroge Milton Smith. As our 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. Danielle also mentioned there may be living relatives of the Smiths located within Connecticut and around the New England region. Public and Oral history practices may be implemented to obtain additional details.

Through this research we have established that between the years of 1879 and 1920 George Milton Smith was born in Hong Kong in 1879, immigrated to the United States, resided in New Haven, Connecticut and attended Yale University between 1899-1901, married Lucy Young in 1910, had a child (Claire) in 1914, and served overseas in the US Army as a medical NCO in the First World War. After the war George was living in New Haven, Connecticut with his family in 1920 and had his own medical practice. This research is on-going and certain data provided may change or be replaced as research continues.

(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.)