Title proper
Smyth family
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- Textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds.
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Fonds
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Physical description
2 cm of textual records
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Biographical history
George Stracey Smyth (1767-1823) was the son of John Smyth, D.D., Rector of St.Giles-in-the-Field, Norwich, England. His mother was Sarah Gee, granddaughter of Sir John Pratt, lord chief justice, whose son became 1st Earl Camden. George entered the militia in 1779. In 1812 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in New Brunswick with the rank of major-general. He acted as administrator of the province for two periods; 1812-1813 and 1814-1816.
In 1817 he was appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick and held that post until his death. His wife had died in 1817 leaving two children, Amelia Georgianna and George Brunswick, who were still minors at the time of his death. Smyth served as aide-de-camp to Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent (1767-1820) and his brother, John Gee Smyth (1759-1831) was domestic chaplain to the Duke.
Custodial history
This fonds is part of a much larger fonds of Smyth family records placed on deposit in the Southampton City Records Office by Mr. and Mrs. D. Cobb, "Woodis", Stotley, Brockenhurst, England.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of photocopies of letters and other documents including: Letters from George Stracey Smyth to John Gee Smyth about family matters, 1814-1822; letter from the Duke of Kent, 1819; the will of G.S. Smyth and papers relating to his estate, 1823-1824; a printed copy of A Sermon preached in Christ Church, Fredericton, April 6 1823, the day after the funeral of his Excellency Major-General George Stracey Smyth …; and The fourth annual report of the state of the Madras school in New Brunswick, Saint John, 1823.
Smyth's correspondence reveals his interest in music and in schools, especially a school for black children (the African School within the Madras system). It also includes details of a dispute between Christ Church, Fredericton (St. Anne's) and Dr. Alexander Boyle (1771-1854), Smyth's executor, over an organ Smyth had bequeathed.
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by the Southampton City Record Office, Southampton, England.
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
The Southampton City Record Office in England holds the originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
No restrictions
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
A catalogue of the papers prepared by P.H. Mather of the Southampton City Record Office in 1968 is included.
Associated materials
Official Correspondence of George S. Smyth as lieutenant-governor can be found in the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS2, RS7, RS8 and on microfilms F342, F1559, F1564; other records can be found in MC300 MS85, York-Sunbury Historical Society collection, Lieutenant-Governor George Stracey Smyth.