England select births and christenings Alveley, Shropshire
William Smith Stokes, baptism September 9 1790, parents William Smith Stokes and Nancy Stokes
UK Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy
William Smith Stokes, Lieutenant November 1 1811
UK Poll Books and Electoral Registers 1820
Ipsley, Barlichway Hundred, Warwickshire
William Smith Stokes, Roughton, Salop., voted for Francis Lawley, Esquire
England Select Deaths and Burials
William Smith Stokes buried December 16 1826, Worfield, Shropshire
William Smith Lieutenant in the Navy, battle of Trafalgar.
died 9th December 1826 age 36
from a family member David Warner
Lieutenant William Smith-Stokes was a midshipman on the Tonnant at Trafalgar, and he served later blockading Spanish ports etc during the Peninsular Wars of 1808-12. The Lieutenant never married, and he left his estate at Roughton to his brother Michael.
He died in his thirties after being ill for some time in Spain.
see web page National Archives Trafalgar Ancestors
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors/details.asp?id=17226from The Gentleman’s Magazine February 1827
Obituary
Lieut. Stokes, R.N.Dec.9 [1826] At St. Leonard’s, Bridgenorth, whither he had lately removed, aged about 36, William Smith Stokes, Lieut. R. N.
He received the chief part of his education under Dr. Butler, at the public school in Shrewsbury.
At an early age he entered into the navy, and when not more than 15, was on-board the Tonnant, at the ever-memorable battle of Trafalgar, where, in the midst of victory, he was an eye-witness to the fall of the Commander-in-Chief. [Nelson]
In the spring of 1812, he landed in Spain, and found the whole coast from Puerto Santa Maria to Ayamonte in a state of blockade, to prevent the French forces receiving supplies by sea; and
near Badajos he saw for the last time his eldest brother Lieut. James Marshal Stokes, who shortly after, on the 6th of April, in leading the 1st battalion of the 95th regiment of foot to the entrenchments before the town, fell gloriously among the slain immediately prior to its being taken. Since the conclusion of the peace, he has occasionally resided with his widowed mother at the family residence, Roughton in Worfield, co. Salop. He was of an ancient and wealthy family of his own paternal name, long resident in and about the neighourhood of Tettenhall co, Stafford. His grandfather, and other lineal and collateral ancestors were strenuous partisans and secret supporters of the unfortunate house of Stuart, though their other political and religious principles were diametrically opposite to those of the exiled family. He was also descended from Francis Smith, that very celebrated and eminent architect of a century past, from whose excellent plans and suggestions arose the great mansions of Pattishull, Hallon (now called Davenport-house), Kinlet, Mawley, Ombersley (the seat of the late Lord Sondes), &c. From that eminent man, whose surname he bore, he at length inherited very valuable possessions, which now devolve on his only brother, Michael Smith Stokes, esq. of Roughton. In disposition Lieut. Stokes was mild, brave, and generous, but careless of himself, and trifling with his health, be brought on a long protracted illness and great sufferings, which at length terminated his earthly career.
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_TonnantDuring the
Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) she captured the
74-gun Algésiras. Tonnant lost 26 officers and men killed and 50 officers and men wounded in the battle, with Tyler [Captain of the Tonnant] being among the wounded.