Home

People from the past

John Smith was Clerk to a Company of London Drapers and a Solicitor for the East India Company of Drapers Hall. He married Elizabeth, one of Chauncey Townsend’s daughters, and was a partner in his father-in-law’s businesses.

After Chauncey Townsend died he sold his interests in the Llanelli area to concentrate on better prospects in the lower Swansea Valley.

John Smith died in1797 and his two sons, Charles and Henry, inherited his interests.

Charles Smith born 1764-1813 (son of John Smith)

He was born around 1764 and worked in his father’s pits in the Swansea Valley. His home was Gwernllwynchwyth House and became known as Squire Smith. He died in 1813.

Henry Smith 1765-1826 (son of John Smith)

Henry showed no interest in Llanelli and worked in partnership with his brother Charles until Charles died in 1813. Because his nephew Charles Henry Smith was only 9 years old in 1813 he continued to run his brother Charles’s interests. He died in 1826.

Charles Henry Smith 1804-1878 (nephew of Henry Smith)

Charles also showed no interest in Llanelli and acquired control of the family’s Swansea Valley business when his uncle Henry died in 1826. As Squire Smith he lived at Gwernllwynchwyth House, Llansamlet.

He became a large shareholder in the Great Western Railway Company and Isambard Kingdom Brunel was thought to have used Smith’s house as his office whilst building his railway line through Llansamlet.

Brunel may also have stayed at the house in 1852 when Llanelli was linked to Pembrey as the Gloucester to Carmarthen railway line was completed.

Charles Henry Smith retired to Tenby after selling his interests in 1870 and died in 1878.

Main Source

Lower Swansea Valley, Swansea Museum, Service Factsheet 2, The Smith Family of Llansamlet