Early photograph of Sydney Cove (1857-1863)
2nd Great-Grandmother – Maternal father’s line of Morris Family
Clarissa Fanny Smith was born on 4 October 1846, in Middlesex, her father, Henry, was 38 and her mother, Jane, was 36. She married Samuel Best and they had four children together between 1865 and 1872. She then had five children with Amiel Morris between 1874 and 1881. She died on 7 October, 1905, in New South Wales, at the age of 59.
Clarissa Fanny Smith was born on 4 October 1846 in West Hackney, Middlesex to Jane Price, age 36, and Henry Smith, age 38.
Siblings of Clarissa Fanny Smith
- Jane Elizabeth Smith [1833-1890]
- Henry Lancelot Smith [1835-1911]
- Mark Smith [1841-1920]
- Isaac James Smith [1844-1909]
- Joseph Smith [1846-1890]
- Frank Smith [1848-1918]
- Grace Smith [1851-1927]
- David Smith [1854-1927]
In 1857, Clarissa at the age of 10 accompanied her parents Henry and Jane when they emigrated from Liverpool, Lancashire, England to Sydney, New South Wales. They arrived aboard the vessel “John and Lucy” to Australia on 6 May 1857. Also aboard the vessel were her siblings Mark, Isaac, Joseph, Frank, Grace and David.
Clarissa’s father Henry passed away on 29 July 1864, at Wallaga Lake near Broulee, New South Wales, at the age of 56. Henry Smith (1808–1864)
Clarissa Fanny Smith married Samuel Best on 25 September 1864, in Newtown, New South Wales, when she was 17 years old.
Samuel Best was admitted to Gladesville Lunatic Asylum on 4 May 1871 suffering from General Paralysis of Insane. Following assessment he was transferred on 16 August 1871 to Parramatta Lunatic Asylum where he died on 7 August 1879, at the age of 43. Samuel Best was buried at All Saints Church of England where the dead were overwhelmingly the poor and wretched, former inmates of the nearby prison, orphanage and, in particular, the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum.
All Saints Church plaque to Samuel Best and other former inmates of the nearby prison, orphanage and, in particular, the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum.
Children of Clarissa Fanny Smith with Amiel Morris and Samuel Best
Our direct relationship to Clarissa and Amiel Morris was Alfred Morris (1876 – 1929)
Death of Partner: Amiel Morris died on 3 May 1904, in St Peters, New South Wales, having lived a long life of 82 years. Amiel Morris (1822–1904)
Clarissa Fanny Smith, known as Mrs. Morris, died on 6 October 1905, in 4 Turner Street, Redfern, New South Wales, when she was 59 years old. Her death was caused by cancer of uterus and heart disease.
Clarissa was buried on 9 October 1905 at the Wesleyan Cemetery, Rookwood. The burial service was conducted by Charles Stead, Methodist Minister.