James Smith

Monument to James Smith (1587–1667), St Paul's Church, Hammersmith. Drawn in 1839

James Smith (1587–1667, alias James Smyth) of Hammersmith, Middlesex, was an Alderman of the City of London a member of the Worshipful Company of Salters and a Governor of Christ's Hospital in London. His monument survives in St Paul's Church, Hammersmith. He was the grandfather of Sir John Smith, 1st Baronet, of Isleworth.

Origins He was born in 1587 in the parish of Cookham, Berkshire. In the town of Maidenhead in the parish of Cookham he erected almshouses for the poor. The Almshouses still operate today under the management of the Salters Company.

Death James Smith died on 10 October 1667, aged 80. "Theis cupps and Plates was guiven by James Smith Esq. to the Chappell of Hammersmith in the yeare of our Lord 1657".

Monument His monument was erected in the Chapel of St. Paul, in the hamlet of Hammersmith, built in 1631, then a chapel of ease of Fulham parish church. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1882 as St Paul's Church, Hammersmith, in which his monument was re-erected. The monument was described as follows by Falkner (1839): "a stately monument of black marble; on the apex of the pediment is placed a blocking, on which stands the bust of Alderman Smith, in his gown, with a laced falling band, a flowing curled wig, whiskers, and beard, supported by two female weeping figures, of incongruous grouping and attitude. Under the pediment is a black marble tablet, within a fluted border, with ... inscription, and in the centre of the pediment is the family coat of arms. This monument derives additional interest by the display of the ... costume worn by the person whose resemblance it is intended to preserve. It is thus that the productions of the chisel become useful, by displaying authentic documents from which the future historian and sculptor may he enabled to describe and delineate faithfully, the fugitive fashions of by-gone ages".

His monument displays the following inscription: "To the lasting memory of James Smith, Esq. Cittizen and Salter and sometimes Alderman of the Citty of London, who fined also for the Office of Sheriff and was one of the Governors of Christ's Hospitall of the said Citty. A good benefactor to his country in erecting Almes Houses for ye releife of the poore in the Parish of Cookeham, near Maidenhead, where he was born. He was also very liberall to the poore Children of Christ's Hospitall, and to the said Company of Salters, and very free in many other charitable uses for the good of the poore. He had the blessing of many Children, whereof five by Mary, his first wife, deceased; and by his second wife, Sarah, now living, fifteen, who, out of love to her deceased husband, hath erected this monument. He dyed the 10th of October, 1667, and in the 80th yeare of his age. Here also lyeth the body of Sarah Smith, widow of the abovesaid James Smith, the only daughter of Robert Cotton, late of West Barn Holt, in the County of Essex, Gent, deceased, and one truly joyned to her husband, not only in conjugal love and virtue, but also in bountiful charity, having largely augmented the guifts of her late husband, and then changed this life the 29th of January, 1680, and in the 76th year of her age".