John Smith junior, developer of steam ploughing, of John Smith
1828 Born in Coven, Staffordshire, son of John Smith, farmer
1851 John Smith 51, farmer, lived in Penkridge, with Elizabeth Smith 59, Jane Smith 25, Mary Ann Smith 25, John Smith 24, engine fitter, and visitors William Bayliss 47, chain maker and Jane Bayliss 20[1]
1856/7 John Smith developed an original form of traction engine with the boiler carried independently of the rest of the machinery[2]
A Mr Smith of Coven patented use of friction straps (patent no. 1791, 1858), an idea which was used by Clayton, Shuttleworth and Co to drive the driving axle of a portable steam engine.[3]
John Fowler invented steam ploughing, which was developed by him in conjunction with John Smith, of Coven, in Staffordshire.[4]
1861 Living in Coven with John Smith 61, farmer and machinist employing 21 men and 18 boys, Jane Smith 37, Mary Ann Smith 35, John Smith 33, engineer and steam plough maker[5]
1861 Patent application by John Smith the younger, of Coven, in the county of Stafford, Manufacturer, and John Birch Higgs, of Brewood, in the county of Stafford, Machinist, have given the like notice in respect of the invention of "an improvement or improvements in thrashing machines."[6]
1862 Patent application by John Smith the younger, of Coven, in the county of Stafford, Engineer and Machinist, and John Birch Higgs, of Coven aforesaid, Engineer and Machinist, have given the like notice in respect of the invention of "improvements in thrashing machines, and in mills for grinding and in apparatus for raising or moving grain in granaries and other places."[7]
1862 Exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Show a self-propelled engine, The Bee, similar to Mr Aveling's, which could be used with threshing machines.
1862 Patented a machine for drying wheat and other grain. Also patented use of a current of air in a threshing machine.
1862 Built steam locomotives for Fletcher, Solly and Urwick
1864 Dissolution of partnership Smith and Higgs
1866 Founded his own company: John Smith
1868 John Smith junior, engineer and patent boiler manufacturer, iron and brass founders, agent to and manufacturers of John Fowler junior's patent steam ploughs[8]
1871 Living at Village Foundry, Coven, Staffs: John Smith (age 71 born Coven), Farmer of 105 acres employing 4 labourers - Widower. With his daughters Jane and Mary Ann, and son John Smith, Junior, (age 44 born Coven), Engineer employing 22 men and 7 boys.[9]
1875 Executor of father's estate. '...all persons having any claims against the estate of John Smith the elder, late of Coven, in the parish of Brewood, in the county of Stafford, Farmer (who died on 8th September, 1874, and whose will was proved in the District Registry of Her Majesty's Court of Probate at Lichfield, on 8th December, 1874, by John Smith, of Coven aforesaid, Engine Manufacturer, John Wright, of Wolverhampton, Manager of an Ironworks, and Mary Anne Smith, of Coven aforesaid, Spinster, the executors thereof), are hereby required to send in particulars of their claims...'[10]
c1878 John Smith moved to Saredon Mill, Shareshill, where he died in a coma from diabetes on February 2nd, 1879. He is buried at Coven.[11]
See Also
Sources of Information
- British Steam Locomotive Builders by James W. Lowe. Published in 1975. ISBN 0-905100-816