Reference
LS
Title
Archives of E.T. Leeds Smith (later Leeds Day) of Sandy, solicitors
Admin/biog history
DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED BY MESSRS. E.T.LEEDS SMITH, SOLICITORS, SANDY, 1956.
In the 18th century Potton was more important than Sandy. The 1785 directory gives John Pedley as practising there; and the law directory of 1804 also gives Joseph Hinson.
It is not certain when the Smiths began practice. In the collection is a Henry Smith, corn factor, 1807 (93) and 1814 (115), who died in 1834 (96), leaving property to his sons Henry and George. Potton register shows a Henry Smith and his wife Elizabeth having 7 children between 1805 and 1817, including a Henry (baptised 1805), a William (baptised 1812), but no George, though he might have been baptised elsewhere. It also shows a George, farmer, and his wife Emily having a son and daughter baptised 1830 and 1833.
George Smith, gentleman, bought property in Rose Alley in 1833 (95,168-75); his wife was Emily (96). He let out on lease a farmhouse and 253 acres in 1838 (205). He was also a trustee for Potton Association in 1842 (321). George Smith, gentleman, appears in directories for 1847, 1869 and 1877.
Perhaps the William Smith, who is the first who can be shown (from the evidence of this collection) to be a solicitor, was his younger brother. (Notice the mortgage to George and William in 1853 (315). In his partnership deed with Race in 1835 (225) he says that he has been ""some time"" in practice - but this does not accord well with his being born in 1812. By this agreement Smith was to manage the Potton office and Race soon died in 1845 (226). William continued to appear as a practising solicitor in directories to 1869. He is given as auditor to Biggleswade Union, clerk to the Lieutenancy for three Hundreds of Biggleswade, Clifton and Wixamtree, master extraordinary in Chancery, agent to the Sun Fire and Royal Farmers' Insurance, commissioner for oaths.
He married Rebecca (Leeds?) - perhaps she came from Eye in Northamptonshire - see 296, 298. Their son Edward Thurlow Leeds Smith was born in 1837; and four daughters followed, Jane, Fanny, Marian, Charlotte. The 1911 Who' Who says that he was educated at Bedford Grammer School and Brighton, and that in 1863 he married Sarah Ann Weston. He was associated with his father in the firm from at least 1864, when they already had an office at Sandy (the Potton office seems to have retained also till at least 1924).
E.T. Leeds Smith was a considerable figure both in Sandy and beyond. In Sandy he was Treasurer for Sandy Show; Secretary to the Building Society; Secretary to the Gas Committee; President of Sandy Institute; and seems to have run the Sandy charities. He represented Sandy on Biggleswade Rural District Council in 1901 and 1904 (the Urban District was not formed till 1926). In 1906 he became a J.P. When the County Council was formed he won the 1889 election (a candidate had the temerity to oppose him); and was returned inopposed in 1892 when many signed a statement in his favour. From 1909 to
1925 he was a County Alderman. He was a member of the county Records Committee.
Edward Sills appears as practising at Sandy in the 1910 directory, and the practice is at present [1956] carried on by E.T. Leeds Smith's great-nephew.
Accession numbers 2577
Level of description
fonds