Jane Garland was born on 20 September 1829 to John Garland and Mary (nee Chapman) and she was baptised at St Peter’s Church in Leeds on 12 October 1829.
I can’t find Jane in the 1841 Census, she next appears on 6 February 1851 when she married Richard John Ward Smeeton, and they set up home at 9 Eldon Terrace. Richard worked as a draper in business with his uncle under the name of R and R J Smeeton.
Jane and Richard had the following children:
- William Henry (1854-1876)
- Frederic Garland (1854-1880)
- Alexander Muir (1857-1937)
- Elizabeth Eleanor (1858-1933)
- Albert Edward (1859-1860)
At the time of the 1861 Census, Jane and children were living at 7 Parliament Street in Bilton-with-Harrogate. I am unable to find Richard in the census though he had been involved in a court case.
Richard died on 29 September 1869 leaving Jane a widow. Richard was buried at St Mark’s Church in Woodhouse, Leeds.
The 1871 Census shows that Jane was living with her four surviving children at 3 West Hill in Potternewton. She was working as a draper and William and Frederic were draper’s apprentices. Frederic was recorded as an epilectic.
By the time of the 1881 Census, the 57 year old Jane was living at West Hill on Chapeltown Road with her daughter Elizabeth, a couple of visitors (Sarah A Smithson, 52, Retired Draper and Mary F Burlton, 58, Annuitant) and two servants.
The 1891 Census records that Jane was living at 182 Chapeltown Road with her married daughter, Elizabeth, and two grandchildren – Mary, aged 2 and John, aged 2 months. Jane has no occupation listed and was now 61 years old.
Jane died on 2 September 1897 in Hendon in London on 2 September 1897, presumably whilst staying with her daughter Elizabeth. She was buried at St Mark’s, Woodhouse on 6 September 1897.
Probate reads:
SMEETON Jane of 4 Queen Anne-villas Hendon Middlesex widow died 2 September 1897 Probate London 27 November to Robert Chapman Garland building-surveyor and Henry Garland solicitor Effects £4671 1s. 2d.