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I am desperate to trace my grandmother. Violet died in 1957, buried Fawley Hants aged 53. Her marriage to my grandfather Frank Gritt in 1923aged 23. So her year of birth could be from 1900 to 1904.Her father William Smith was deceased in 1923 at the time of Violets marriage. Violet was a gypsy, talk of a brother, possibly called David. They were split up, not sure why. Adopted or bought up separately.
My mother is now 75 and the last of the children born to Frank and Violet. I would love to be able to tell my mum about her mother’s family.
Any help much appreciated
Mandy Winestein

From the 1939 register

Gritt Household (6 People)
Roughdown , New Forest R.D., Hampshire, England

Violet Gritt ? Jun 1903 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 26 2
Frank Gritt 16 Nov 1868 Male General Labourer At Present Unemployed Married 26 1
Gladys Moore (Gritt) 14 Aug 1928 Female At School Single 26 3
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Ivy France (Connor,Gritt) 24 Nov 1936 Female Under School Age Single 26 6

Mandy do you know if Violet ever used a middle name please?

Hi many thanks for,your fast reply. That is my grandmother Violet, grandfather Frank and two Aunts. Auntie Gladys died in 2015. My mother Margaret wasn’t born until 1943, I was born in 1962 so never knew my grandparents. I have lots of info on my grandfather, bit of a boy. He was married to Ellen Green and has 12children with her.

My mum doesn’t know of a middle name. I take it Jun 1903 was her birth. I believe it was 12 June. Maybe narrowing year down will help.

I thank you once again for your help and a further info would be greatly appreciated

Kind regard Mandy

https://www.genesreunited.co.za/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1298601

(above for more background reference)

Chris :)

(things Romany often crop up on google search)

I'm trying to eliminate by looking at the 1911 census and cross checking with the GRO births to see if any tie in, but it's difficult without knowing where Violet was born.

She's NOT this one though , just ignore it but I wanted to put it here so I can eliminate all the impossible's to see what's left lol
39 Reading Road Basingstoke, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England

Ernest Smith Head Married Male 41 1870 Wood Green London Labourer General
Lillian Smith Wife Married Female 31 1880 Bradley Staffs -
Winifred Smith Daughter Single Female 9 1902 Sherfield on
Violet Smith Daughter Single Female 7 1904 Basingstoke Hants
Gertrude Smith Daughter Single Female 3 1908 Basingstoke Hants
Louisa Smith Daughter Single Female 0 1911 Basingstoke Hants

Thanks Chris, so from that if Violet was fostered or adopted out it may not be worth looking at the 1911 for her as Smith. and we're not really sure of the birth year it could just have been a best guess. :-(

Sorry don’t know where she was born.Marriage Bishops Waltham. Then death Fawley. I remember lovely holidays as a child in new forest. I used to go with my uncle Norman Ona pony and trap to the horse fair near Beaulieu happy memories

Violet was Smith on her marriage and her father as William Smith. But hard to trace with Smith surname

Is it possible that Violet "made up" a father's name for her marriage certificate and said he was deceased? This sometimes happens if the person marrying is illegitimate and wants to save face with the in-laws or it could be that she didn't have parental consent as she would have only been 20 and not 21 at the time.

Could this be a possible birth (it would tie in with the birth date given on the 1939 register and is in the right sort of area although there is a middle name):-

England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription

First name(s) VIOLET ELIZABETH
Last name SMITH
Birth year 1903
Birth quarter 2
Registration month -
Mother's last name -
District Portsmouth
County Hampshire
Country England
Volume 2B
Page 528
Record set England & Wales Births 1837-2006
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Births
Collections from Great Britain, England

Kath. x

That Violet Elizabeth has mmn Carter confirmed by siblings mmn on GRO

SMITH, VIOLET ELIZABETH CARTER Order
GRO Reference: 1903 J Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 528

here on 1911

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
20 Cumberland Road Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

William Richard Smith Head Married Male 40 1871 Bembridge I of Wight Skilled Labourer H M S Dockyard Transcription
Lydia Eliza Smith Wife - Female 50 1861 Portsmouth County of Southampton -
Millicent Dorothy Smith Daughter Single Female 17 1894 Portsmouth County of Southampton Improve Upholsterer
William Victor Smith Son - Male 16 1895 Portsmouth County of Southampton -
Ethel Rose Smith Daughter - Female 14 1897 Portsmouth County of Southampton Apprentice Factoress
Robert William Smith Son - Male 9 1902 Portsmouth County of Southampton School
Violet Elizabeth Smith Daughter - Female 7 1904 Portsmouth County of Southampton School
Mary Ann Cartias Mother- In- Law Widow Female 87 1824 Laneing Sussex -

Lydia Eliza Carter had been married before to Mursell, then married as Mursell to William Smith in 1891

There is this David, born after the 1911 census unfortunately,

Births Jun 1911 (>99%)
Smith David Portsmouth 2b 395

from GRO. no mmn

SMITH, DAVID - Order
GRO Reference: 1911 J Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 395

Can eliminate the Violet Smith born Portsmouth perhaps?

Jefferies Household (4 People)
38 Beatrice Road , Portsmouth C.B., Hampshire, England

Violet E Jefferies 24 Apr 1903 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 107 2
Leonard K Jefferies 05 Feb 1899 Male Boiler Makers Labourer Dockyard Heavy Work Married 107 1
Robert G Jefferies 24 May 1925 Male Seeking Work Not Previously Employed Single 107 3