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Transcribed by Kay Collins from a privately held photocopy, 2007
Joseph Enos Smith's Notes on Rushden

Joseph Enos Smith made many notes, between 1908 & 1928, on the history of Rushden, with the intention to write a book.

The 30 note books into which he wrote all he could find out about Rushden are now deposited at Northamptonshire Record Office with the Church Records [NRO Ref: 285P/272-301]. Sometimes he wrote about a talk he'd had with one of the older inhabitants of our town and the information he'd gained from them, or he'd write extracts from newspapers, or his observations as he toured the town and neighbouring villages. Extracts from parish registers, details from wills of local gentry and farmers, farm sales and extremes in the weather are also written up.

So these books give us a wealth of information about the people and the town during the late 19th and the early part of the 20th century. Some of the more interesting items have been transcribed.

Farmers & Millers 1813-1860
The Church Clocks
St Mary's Church in 1916
Street Names
An Interesting "Week" - 1916
Interesting Notes
Grange Farm Sale 1916
Diary Notes 1869-70 E. Knight
Rushden Feast
Church Service - 17th Sept 1916
The Round House
St Mary's Church
Choirboys Outing 1916
Choir, Organ & Organist
More notes
Blackberrying 1926
Miscellaneous Church Notes
Memories of The Hall
Ditchford Bridge 1924
Illuminated Address 1900
Notes 1927 - including Outing
To Stamford by Motor 1915
Storm 1916
Notes dicovered!
Joseph Enos Smith - by Edgar Linnitt captioned:
'Organist of Rushden St Mary's Church,
1875-1930
Died August 30th, 1930, in his 80th year'.
From ‘R22’ Note Book of J E Smith, transcribed by Kay Collins

Page 62 - extract from the weekly paper Jun 19 1914
Mrs M A Smart of Ringstead late of Rushden.
Born at Rushden June 13 1817. Died June 18th 1914. She lived under 6 Monarchs, Born when George III was on the throne. She remembered the Stage Coaches thro’ Rushden, she remembered Rushden St Mary’s Church being draped in Black at the death of King George IV. At Coronation of Queen Victoria they had legs of Mutton, pieces of Beef & Cherries for Dessert. At that time population was about 1,200.

June 25th 1914 “Airship”
An Airship passed over Rushden on Thursday between 12 & 2 o’clock. It came over Rushden Hall Park about 12.30 (during the SALE of Furniture at Hall) it went towards Wellingboro Station, turned back to Park, curved round again towards Sanders’s Lodge & grounded near Wymington Ballast-hole, he ascended again about 1.30 for Higham & Raunds. I had a splendid view from up the Park. J E Smith


J Enos Smith

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