Nat Gould

Ann Horobin 1808-1897

Longnor Church

Ann Horobin was born on 2 October 1808 at Longnor in Staffordshire, the daughter of Thomas Horobin 1777-1858 of Longnor and his wife née Ellen Mellor 1786-1868.

She was married to George Smith 1805-1891 on 3 February 1831 at Longnor. He was born in 1805, the son of William Smith 1759-1829 of Butterton near Warslow in Staffordshire and his wife nee Jane Redfern 1769-1828.

George Smith was a wheelwright, farmer of fifteen acres, and kept an inn at Longnor. They lived at Longnor, in the Census Returns of 1851 to 1871 being recorded at Carder Green, and in 1881 and 1891 at Buxton Road.

Their children (all born in Longnor) were:

William Smith. He was born in 1833, and was a wheelwright and joiner. He married Mary (maiden surname unknown) born in 1835 in Longnor and died between 1874 and 1881. William Smith died in 1908 aged 75 years.

Rachel Smith 1834-1922. She was married to William Smith Gould 1831-1913 on 31 March 1856. He was born on 14 October 1831 at Grindon in Staffordshire, the son of John Gould and his wife nee Anne Smith born in 1795.

Thomas Smith. He was born in 1836, and became a wheelwright in Longnor. He was unmarried in 1881.

Jane Smith. She was born in 1838.

Ellen Smith. She was born in 1839.

Moses Smith. He was born on 12 December 1839. He became a journeyman carpenter, living in Dog Lane in Longnor in 1881. In 1866 he married Esther Wheeldon 1845-1933. They lived in the Market Place in Longnor, had two children. He died in 1912 aged 72 years.

George Smith. He was born in 1842, and became a wheelwright in Longnor. He was unmarried in 1881.

Matthew Smith. He was born in 1846. He died on 15 February 1880 aged 35 years. He was buried at Butterton, where there is a fine gravestone to his memory bearing the following sad verse:

“IN HEALTH AND BLOOM IT IS MOST BRAVE.
DEATH PLUCKS IT UP AND PLANTS IT IN THE GRAVE.
YOUNG MEN TAKE CARE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME TO SPEND.
FOR LIFE’S UNCERTAIN AND QUICKLY AT AN END.
AT THE AGE OF 35 THE LORD DID PLEASE TO CALL.
I LEFT THIS WORLD AND BID ADIEU TO ALL.”

His parents were later buried in the same grave, and the stone commemorates them also.

Ann Smith died in 1897 aged 88 years. Her husband George Smith had predeceased her in 1891.