Knaresborough Post 12 December 1941

The death occurred at his home, Somerley, Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough, on Wednesday, of Mr Jacob Smith, one of the best known personalities in local agricultural and hunting circles. He was 72 years of age. Mr Jacob Smith was born at Humburton, near Helperby, where the family had farmed for generations. He himself farmed over a thousand acres at Humburton and Burton Grange. He 20 came to Knaresborough just after the last war, and after a year or two of semi-retirement, took over Park Corner Farm, Scriven.

He was widely known as a breeder, exhibitor and judge of horses, and had shown and judged horses, not only in Yorkshire, but also at the important Olympia Show, London. He also bred horses which were entered at the Newmarket sales. A keen hunting man, Mr Jacob Smith was a member of the York and Ainsty, Bedale and Bramham Hunts, and in his earlier days rode with considerable success at point-to-point meetings. He was a member of the Boroughbridge Agricultural Society, of which his grandfather was one of the founders, of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and of the committee of Harrogate Agricultural Society. Along with Col. W. F. Collins, he judged the 30 leaping classes at Harrogate Show for many years. During the last war he was a member of the North Riding War Agricultural Executive Committee, and in the present war he served on the District Agricultural Committee. North Riding Magistrate Mr Jacob Smith was a North Riding magistrate, and had been a member of the Wath Bench for some 26 years. He served on Knaresborough Urban Council for two three year terms, and was a member of the committee, and a former vice chairman, of the Conservative Club.

He had a long association with Knaresborough Parish Church, first as sidesman and then for many years as warden for Scriven-with-Tentergate, and was churchwarden at Kirby Hill before coming to Knaresborough. He was a member of Knaresborough Cricket Club, and since the outbreak of war had acted as a senior air raid warden. He leaves a widow and two daughters, one of whom, Miss Winifred Jacob Smith, is organising secretary for Yorkshire for the Women’s Land Army. The funeral takes place today (Saturday). A service will be held at Knaresborough Parish Church at 1.30pm., and the interment will be at Kirby Hill Church at 2.30.