Genealogy Chat

I have discovered a Harry Smith in my family tree born c1882 according to his death cert. However it doesn't tell me where he originated from!! I managed to find his marriage (1932) certificate to my Great Grandma only to find that he was a widower. I have no idea where he came from before he married Gt Grandma or who he was married to. Anyway his father is also mentioned as Harry Smith. Again nothing more to go on other than Harry Snr was a blacksmith! I looked in the electoral rolls using the address given on the marriage cert working backwards but he lived on his own for 2 years before he married and before that he disappeared from the electoral roll!! How on earth do I find a Harry Smith, with a father Harry Smith and to top it all a son Harry Smith?? How am I going to find out where he came from? I think I'm having a mare of a day!!! Please help!!! lol Lisa

Hi Brenda, He was last living at 19 Kingsway, Ipswich, Suffolk this is mentioned on his marriage cert from 1932. I traced him back through the electoral rolls to see if his 1st wife was living with him to get their marriage cert etc but he was living on his own. He disappeared in 1930 and the electoral roll books are huge to 'flick' through for a guess even if he was in the area before!! I have heard a rumour that he may have come from London....but London is a huge place at the best of times without looking for a Smith!!!! lol The family has nothing concrete to go on. I hope that his death age is fairly accurate to narrow down the field a little!! Any suggestions gratefully appreciated. Lisa

It's a possibility, thanx for looking Brenda. I'll have a look into that further as it could fit.....only prob I can see is the head is a Henry when he should be a Harry, but then it could be his 'middle' name or something. Thanx again, Lisa

Strangely enough, Harry is a short form of Henry - Prince Harry is actually Henry! Brenda

Wonder if this is their dughters birth registration SMITH, Minnie Appleyard 1886 June Births Bradfield Berkshire Hampshire Oxfordshire

Sorry this probably isn't going to help find him but you have him in Kingsway, Ipswich after 1930 but not before - that is probably because Kingsway is/was part of the Racecourse council estate, built in the late 20s early 30s to rehouse people from 'slum' housing in the centre of Ipswich. It is therefore likely that he and his first wife lived in central Ipswich in the 20s, to be rehoused on Kingsway. Brenda mentioned that Basildon in Essex is sometimes seen as being part of London but there is a Basildon in Berkshire and as the Henry/Harry Smith family were in Berkshire I'd say it was that Basildon, not the Essex one which was the birth place.

Well Brenda has cracked it Im sure. Right age, right name, right occupation! I have three 'Harry' ancestors, all Henry on their birth certs.

Lisa - do the witnesses' names on Harry's marriage certificate give any clues? Kate.

Perhaps your Harry Smith is looking for my John Smith? Why couldn't we have rellies with more original names?

Well thanks for all your help. I didn't know that Harry/Henry were one and the same!!! You learn something new everyday!!! I will definately look into Brenda's findings and hopefully he will 'fit' my tree!! In response to Kate, the witnesses on his marriage cert don't help as they used his 'new' wife's daughter and her husband. Thanx for all your efforts anyway, it's greatly appreciated. Lisa x