Death of Sir William Bowyer Smijth, Bart (1814 – 1883)

Sir William Bowyer Smijth, of Hill Hall, Epping, died on Tuesday, Nov 20, at Twineham Court, near Brighton, in his 69th year. The late baronet was the eldest son of the late Sir Edward Bowyer Smijth, of Hill Hall (who assumed the additional name of Bowyer by royal license in 1839), by his marriage with Letitia Cicely, daughter of the late Mr. John Weyland, of Woodeaton, Oxon, and was born in 1814. He was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge, and formerly held a lieutenant’s commission in the 19th Essex Rifle Volunteers.

Sir William succeeded his father as 11th baronet in 1850, and he sat in Parliament in the Conservative interest, as a member of the old constituency of South Essex, from 1852 until 1857, whene he was defeated by the late Mr. Wingfield Baker by a very narrow majority. He was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Essex, and also a magistrate for Norfolk. He married in 1839, Marianne Francis, daughter of the late Sir Henry Meux, but was left a widower in 1875. He is succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, Mr William Bowyer Smijth, who was born in 1840, and is in the Diplomatic Service.

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, the place of internment being Theydon Mount Churchyard. The obsequies were of the simplest character. The coffin was conveyed on a bier, which was drawn by hand along the private road from Hill Hall to the Church, a distance of nearly half-a-mile. A violet pall was used, and on it were placed tow beautiful wreaths of flowers. Following the bier on foot were the eldest son of the deceased (now Sir William Bowyer Smijth) and Colonel Brise (deceased’s brother in law), as chief mourners, and a number of tenantry on the estates, tradesmen of Epping, and other, the procession numbering in all about 40.

Among the tenants were Mr Jas. Smith, Messrs C. Hugh, and Harry Sworder, Messrs D. and T. Miller, and Mr T. Stubbings. The tradespeople included Messrs T. and A. Clark, G. Willis, E. Lawrence, F. Basham, W. Tweed, W.T. Coles, and J. Nicholson. Mr West (formerly for many years gamekeeper to the deceased) and Mr. Byford (many years schoolmaster and parish clerk of Theydon Mount), also joined the cortege. Waiting in the Church were six of the daughters of the deceased, each of whom brought a wreath of flowers, which were placed on the coffin by Mr. Merriday, the sexton. Among those who assembled to pay a last mark of respect to the memory of the deceased were the Rev. Sir Cavendish Foster, Bart., Capt. Budworth, Major Tait, Rev. C.E. Campbell (Theydon Bois), Dr. Fowler, &c.

The coffin was met at the churchyard gate by the Rev. L.N. Prance (Rector of Theydon Mount), by whom the whole of the burial service was impressively read. The pulpit and reading desk were draped in black, and on each was hung a wreath of flowers. After the lesson the hymn “Brief Life in here our portion,” was sung. Mrs Prance presiding at the harmonium.

At the conclusion of the service in the Church, the bier was wheeled to the grave, which according to the deceased’s own desire, was a plain one, situated in the north eastern corner of the churchyard, where the remainder of the service was read. The coffin was of polished oak with massive brass furniture and fittings, and a brass breast plate, bearing the inscription,

“Sir William Bowyer Smijth, born 22nd April 1814, died 20th Nov., 1883.”