Murney’s First Curator: Thomas Smeaton
First Curator in Front of the Tower. Image Credit: Kingston Historical Society Archives.
As a result of the collection move from the Heritage Room at Queen’s Archives to a climate-controlled storage unit and the subsequent cataloging of the materials; a forgotten artifact was discovered. The artifact was Canadian General Service Medal and clasp 1866 to Thomas Smeaton of the 9th Voltigeurs de Quebec Battalion. The Canadian General Service Medal was awarded for service in the two Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870. However, it was not authorized until January 1899, some thirty years after the events. Almost all Canadian militia units participated to some degree in the defence of Canada from the Fenians. However, with the thirty-year gap, only 15,000 medals were eventually awarded to the local Dominion forces. As you would expect, they were all old soldiers when they received the medal.
Imperial and later Canadian Medals are more than shiny pieces of silver that mark a historical event. Behind each of these medals is person who served and sometimes died in the service of his country. Each of these silver discs has a story, and this medal has a remarkably interesting story and connection to Kingston and the Murney Tower.
Thomas Smeaton was born in Kingston on August 11th, 1842 the son of John and Catherine Smeaton. Thomas had an older brother, William, born in 1836. As a youngster, Thomas and family lived at 59 King Street West. His father operated a small grocery store. His father often took him to watch the Murney Tower being built just a few blocks from his home. He recounts later in newspapers of the day, that he earned four pennies a day as a youngster cleaning up the litter of stone chips around the tower. Thomas lived most of his 92 years in Kingston. His initial employment after schooling is listed in local records as a paper maker. Sometime around 1863 he moved to the Quebec City region of the Province of Quebec. While there, he worked as a factory hand and met and married Alice Donaldson. Thomas, his wife Alice, and his son John aged one year, are listed in the Canada 1871 census of Quebec. He joined the 9th Regiment, the Voltigeurs de Quebec, and with this regiment served in the 1866 Fenian Raids.
By 1877 he and his family had returned to Kingston and Thomas is working again as a paper maker. Thomas, like many of his generation, worked in several trades. In 1891 he is listed in the local directory as a tanner. By 1902 he is recorded as the Superintendent of the Orphans Home, a position he held for 14 years. Thomas played a prominent role in Kingston community life. He was a member of the Canadian Order of Foresters, Knights of Pythias, and the Ancient Order of the United Woodsmen of the World. One article in the Whig recalls he was Kingston’s oldest baseball fan!
His connection to the Murney Tower and the Kingston Historical Society was his service as the first curator of the Murney Tower from its inception in 1925 until 1931. By then, the weight of the years compelled him to retire owing to the difficulty of climbing the stairs. He retained the post of Honorary Curator until his death.
Thomas Smeaton died on August 24th at the Kingston General Hospital. He had been ailing for the last month due to injuries from a fall. His prominence in the City was demonstrated by the numerous obituaries in the Kingston Whig, citing him as the Grand Old Man of the Limestone City! His death was brought to the attention of readers as far away as Montreal.
Image Credit: Kingston Historical Society Archives.