My Family Tree

James Edward Smith, age 28, was living with John and Sarah Smith in the 1881 census:
John Smith 82
Sarah Smith 75
James Edward Smith 28
Sarah Elizabeth Simmonds 20 (probably d. Thomas Simmonds and Sarah Maria Smith, b. 1869)

Having a child at age 47 was not unheard of in those days. However, John and Sarah Smith, who had all of their other children baptized in the Church of England, did not record the birth of a son James Edward. According to the PEI Baptismal Index, there was a James Edward Simmonds born 30 September 1855, the son of their daughter Sarah Marie Smith and Thomas Simmons. He wasn't baptized in the Church of England in Alberton until 23 August 1860, possibly because his mother Maria didn't marry Thomas Simmons until 1857.

It is possible that he was adopted by his grandparents after Sarah Maria's death, and it is possible he was also known as Smith when he was young.

In any case, after Sarah Marie's early death, it looks like her parents provided a home to at least two of her children, James Edward and Sarah Elizabeth. If James Edward was Sarah Marie's son, but not Thomas', then that might be why he lived with his grandparents. It is also likely that the couple needed help with the house and farm.

However, the only issue with this theory, is that James Edward Smith gave his birthdate as 28 July 1863 in the 1901 census, which was out by 10 years and a couple of months. In the 1911 and the 1921 census, James gave his year of birth as 1854. His death record said his birthday was July 19 1853; his son Bertram, who filled out his father's death record, said James' mother was Nancy Smith.

In the 1928 Cummins Atlas of PEI, James and Katherine were living in Lot 3 with no children named.

Possible that he is the James E. Smith who married Catherine McLellan Oct 27 1881, with William & John Smith and Sarah Simmonds as witnesses. Sarah Simmonds married George McLellan, who was likely Catherine's brother.