John Joseph Smith (Samuel)

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John Joseph Smith 1779-1852 joined the Royal Navy in 1803 at the outbreak of the war with France. He served on the Frigate HMS Hussar. His rank was 'ORD', ordinary seaman. He served under Sir William Cornwallis and Sir Edward Pellew. The Hussar was wrecked near Brest in 1804 and most of the crew including John Joseph surrendered to the French. He was a POW at Givet in the Ardennes and met and married his French wife, Marie Anne Fallaux during the time he was in detention at Givet. He was released in 1813 before the end of the war and he and Marie Anne stayed in France until 1819, during which time they had three children, all born in France

John Joseph jnr was born in Richelieu, Alfred Desire in Valenciennes and Eliza Alexandrine in Paris. The Smiths left France for England in 1819 and joined the 1820 Settlers and sailed for SA on the Nautilus.

 They finally settled in Post Retief, Fort Beaufort. 

John Joseph was born to Jewish parents in Houndsditch, London. He gave his Jewish name as Simon Samuel at his Christening as a Catholic prior to his marriage to Marie Anne. He asked that he be Christened with the name John Joseph Samuel. He also named his parents as Levy and Esther Samuel. Their first two children were also Christened with the surname Samuel. On his return to England he again adopted the surname Smith which he had used in the navy.

Source and acknowledgement: Originally submitted to the "Sweetnam Family Tree" by Rob Sweetnam. Amendments by David Smith 2016.

Probate Record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-CSW8-S?i=1673

Death: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-CSW8-S?i=1673...