Thomas Assheton Smith (the elder) (1752 – 12 May 1828) was an English landowner and all-round sportsman who played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry.
Smith was the eldest son of Thomas Assheton of Ashley, Mobberley in Cheshire, who had added "Smith" to his surname when he inherited the Vaynol (Caernarvonshire) and Tidworth (then in Hampshire) estates from his uncle, William Smith.[1]
In 1806 he induced Parliament to pass an act enclosing the common land of Llanddeiniolen parish, adding over 2,600 acres to his land holdings, and giving him the right as lord of the manor to the slate on the commons. He put down the rioting which resisted exercise of his new rights of control over the commons with the support of a cavalry unit.[3] In 1809, he took over control of slate quarrying on his estate, forming a company of four under his presidency. The company was later dissolved and he took over sole control of the enterprise. By 1826 the Dinorwic Quarry was employing 800 men and producing 20,000 tons of slate per year. Assheton Smith developed Port Dinorwic (Y Felinheli) as a port for the export of the slates.
Cricketedit
Thomas Assheton Smith was a keen sportsman and was particularly noted for his involvement in cricket. He was a close friend of George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea and became one of cricket's main patrons following the establishment of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1787. Smith was not a good player, unlike his son, but is known to have taken part in 45 major matches between the 1787 and 1796 seasons. In the contemporary scorecards, he is generally shown as "A Smith, Esq." whereas his son was usually recorded as "T A Smith, Esq.".
Family and deathedit
Assheton Smith married Elizabeth Wynn, daughter of Watkin Wynn of Foelas. His eldest son, John, was expelled from the family after marrying a servant, and was subsequently wiped from their family records. Assheton Smith's third son, William, saw action at Trafalgar on HMS Temeraire but drowned in 1806.[4] There were also five daughters.[4]
He died at Tidworth in 1828, and the Tidworth and Vaynol estates were inherited by his namesake second son, Thomas Assheton Smith (1776–1858), who was also a noted amateur cricketer and all-round sportsman.
Referencesedit
^Baggs, A.P.; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1995). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 15 pp153-163 – Parishes: North Tidworth". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
^"ASSHETON SMITH, Thomas (c.1752-1828), of Faenol, Caern. and Tidworth, Hants". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
^Rowlands, Eryl Wyn (17 October 2002). "Quarry Proprietors - Faenol". The Slatesite Team. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ abEardley-Wilmot, Sir John E (1893) [1859]. A Famous Fox Hunter. Reminiscences of the late Thomas Assheton Smith, Esq., or The Pursuits of an English Country Gentleman (5th and cheaper ed.). London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2020 – via Internet Archive.
Jones, E. G., (1959). SMITH, THOMAS ASSHETON (1752-1828), of Vaenol Bangor landed proprietor and quarry owner. Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 15 Dec 2020, from [1]
thomas, assheton, smith, 1752, 1828, thomas, assheton, smith, elder, 1752, 1828, english, landowner, round, sportsman, played, major, part, development, welsh, slate, industry, right, honourablethomas, assheton, smithmember, parliamentfor, caernarvonshirein, o. Thomas Assheton Smith the elder 1752 12 May 1828 was an English landowner and all round sportsman who played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry The Right HonourableThomas Assheton SmithMember of Parliamentfor CaernarvonshireIn office 1774 1780Preceded byThomas WynnSucceeded byJohn ParryPersonal detailsBorn1752Died12 May 1828 Contents 1 Life 2 Cricket 3 Family and death 4 References 5 External linksLife editSmith was the eldest son of Thomas Assheton of Ashley Mobberley in Cheshire who had added Smith to his surname when he inherited the Vaynol Caernarvonshire and Tidworth then in Hampshire estates from his uncle William Smith 1 He was High Sheriff of Caernarfonshire for 1774 75 and 1783 84 and High Sheriff of Anglesey for 1784 85 He was Member of Parliament for Caernarvonshire from 1774 to 1780 and also MP for the English borough of Andover Hampshire between 1797 and 1821 He served as Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire from 1822 until his death 2 In 1806 he induced Parliament to pass an act enclosing the common land of Llanddeiniolen parish adding over 2 600 acres to his land holdings and giving him the right as lord of the manor to the slate on the commons He put down the rioting which resisted exercise of his new rights of control over the commons with the support of a cavalry unit 3 In 1809 he took over control of slate quarrying on his estate forming a company of four under his presidency The company was later dissolved and he took over sole control of the enterprise By 1826 the Dinorwic Quarry was employing 800 men and producing 20 000 tons of slate per year Assheton Smith developed Port Dinorwic Y Felinheli as a port for the export of the slates Cricket editThomas Assheton Smith was a keen sportsman and was particularly noted for his involvement in cricket He was a close friend of George Finch 9th Earl of Winchilsea and became one of cricket s main patrons following the establishment of Marylebone Cricket Club MCC in 1787 Smith was not a good player unlike his son but is known to have taken part in 45 major matches between the 1787 and 1796 seasons In the contemporary scorecards he is generally shown as A Smith Esq whereas his son was usually recorded as T A Smith Esq Family and death editAssheton Smith married Elizabeth Wynn daughter of Watkin Wynn of Foelas His eldest son John was expelled from the family after marrying a servant and was subsequently wiped from their family records Assheton Smith s third son William saw action at Trafalgar on HMS Temeraire but drowned in 1806 4 There were also five daughters 4 He died at Tidworth in 1828 and the Tidworth and Vaynol estates were inherited by his namesake second son Thomas Assheton Smith 1776 1858 who was also a noted amateur cricketer and all round sportsman References edit Baggs A P Freeman Jane Stevenson Janet H 1995 Crowley D A ed Victoria County History Wiltshire Vol 15 pp153 163 Parishes North Tidworth British History Online University of London Retrieved 29 May 2020 ASSHETON SMITH Thomas c 1752 1828 of Faenol Caern and Tidworth Hants History of Parliament Online Retrieved 6 June 2013 Rowlands Eryl Wyn 17 October 2002 Quarry Proprietors Faenol The Slatesite Team Retrieved 3 February 2020 a b Eardley Wilmot Sir John E 1893 1859 A Famous Fox Hunter Reminiscences of the late Thomas Assheton Smith Esq or The Pursuits of an English Country Gentleman 5th and cheaper ed London Sampson Low Marston amp Co p 4 Retrieved 1 June 2020 via Internet Archive Jones E G 1959 SMITH THOMAS ASSHETON 1752 1828 of Vaenol Bangor landed proprietor and quarry owner Dictionary of Welsh Biography Retrieved 15 Dec 2020 from 1 Scores amp Biographies by Arthur HaygarthExternal links editCricketArchiveParliament of Great BritainPreceded byThomas Wynn Member of Parliament for Caernarvonshire1774 1780 Succeeded byJohn ParryPreceded byBenjamin Lethieullier Hon Coulson Wallop Member of Parliament for Andover1797 1800 With Hon Coulson Wallop Succeeded byParliament of the United KingdomParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byParliament of Great Britain Member of Parliament for Andover1800 1821 With Hon Coulson Wallop 1800 1802 Hon Newton Fellowes 1802 1820 Sir John Pollen 2nd Baronet 1820 1821 Succeeded byThomas Assheton Smith II Sir John Pollen 2nd BaronetHonorary titlesPreceded byThe Viscount Bulkeley Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire1822 1828 Succeeded byThe Lord Gwydyr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Assheton Smith 1752 1828 amp oldid 1164837468, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
