The parents of my great-grandmother, Jessie May SMART, were George Charles SMART & Mary HIPWELL.
George Charles SMART was born 20 July 1877 in Christchurch, Canterbury, NZ, to George Charles SMART (Snr) & Emma HIPWELL. He had six siblings: Stephen Alfred (1876-1876), William Alfred James (1879-1929), Stephen John (1883-1939), Rose Anna (1885-1965), Lilly Louisa (1887-1961) and Ann (1889-1981).
In 1898, George was working as a bricklayer in London, living at 21 Archer Mews (now demolished) in North Kensington, next door to his maternal uncle’s family. On July 31 of that year, he married his cousin Mary HIPWELL at St. Peter’s Notting Hill, in London.
May HIPWELL was born 22 August 1878 in Kensington, London, England, to George Edward HIPWELL & Elizabeth PARSONS. She had ten siblings: Elizabeth Ann (1866-1933), George (1868-1868), George Edward (1870-1870), John (1871-1942), George Edward (1873-1930), Emma Maria (1876-1963), William (1881-1953), Charlotte (1883-1884), Henry (1885-1889) & Arthur Robert (1887-1968).
George and Mary had their first child, Lily Mary, in Kensington in 1900, and then moved to New Zealand a couple of years later. They settled in Wellington, and a second daughter, Jessie May, was born in 1904, followed some time later by a son, Fred, in 1911.
George moved from his trade as a bricklayer into construction, becoming a Foreman by 1917. He did not enter the army for the Great War, but was on the reserve rolls. By 1928, he was a clerk of works, supervising building operations to ensure strict compliance with regulations.
George died 14 October 1949, and Mary ten years later on 3 December 1959, in Wellington, NZ.
Children’s Details
Lily Mary SMART
Born 14 Mar 1900 Kensington, LDN, ENG
Married 1918, Wellington, NZ to Edward Jennings BEASLEY
Died 1 Nov 1981, Karori, WTN, NZ
Jessie May SMART
Born 3 Apr 1904, Wellington, NZ
Married 26 Dec 1921, Wellington, NZ to William ALLEN
Died 4 Feb 1991, Takapuna, AKD, NZ
Fred SMART
Born 10 May 1911, Wellington, NZ
Married ~1944, Wellington, NZ to Bernice Ngaire ENTWHISTLE
Died 21 Nov 1984, Wellington, NZ