Genealogy Chat

Hi All,
I am looking for a Walter Smith ,b.1857, Marylebone.
The cert I ordered as the only one showing on Ancestry BMD came today and isn't the right one!

The only other likely birth I can see in the records is for
'Male Smith' i.e. no name at time of registering

Do I put 'Male' on the order form as Christian name?
The only other clue I have is from his marriage certs, giving father as 'John Smith'

Would it be best to put 'only send if father is John'???

Could this be Walter? Johns occupation is listed as manager

1861 England Census
about Walter Smith
Name: Walter Smith
Age: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Sarah
Gender: Male
Where born: Lambeth

Civil Parish: Lambeth St Mary
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View Image

Registration district: Lambeth
Sub registration district: Waterloo Road First
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 61
Household Members: Name Age
Mary A Beagent 48
Eleanor Ellis 68
John Smith 40
John Smith 14
Mary A Smith 1 Mo
Sarah Smith 35
Sarah Smith 12
Tamar Smith 9
>>>>Walter Smith 3
William Smith 6


Andy

Andrew- I'd love it to be.....
My prob (aired on here before!) is that on both his marriage certs (1877 and 1903) Walter said his father's occupation was "Interpreter". Such a precise thing to claim??
I'll see if I can follow this family back and for in the census, in case 'manager' overlaps with 'interpreter'. Thanks.

Mick, I wondered that.
I've looked at all W Smith births, 1856,7 and 8.
I can have Walter, born elsewhere, or Walter -different middle name- born Marylebone, but not the right combination... Aaaargh!

Thanks
Petrina

Hi Petrina,

Birth registration wasn't compulsory until 1875 so maybe he wasn't registered.

Have you checked IGI for a baptism?

Christine

Christine,
sorry thought thread had died, just spotted your idea.
I did look at IGI, without sucess- have to say, I don't always get what i want there, probably the 6 week rotation problem...

Petrina

Absolutely, Mick, all of these ideas are whirling in my head!
'Marylebone' is from 1891 and 1901 census, he was a soldier 1881 and I think I see him -put 'Middlesex' then. His wife was with her parents 1881.

What to do if born/living abroad? Are there censuses for Embassy staff?

My worst thought is that his father wasn't British at all- all the 'interpreters' that come up if you enter it in 1881 search by occupation are distinctly foreign (my favourite was 'Ki Ki'!) and it occurs to me 'John Smith' would be a choice for naturalisation (similar to what happened to those entering America)

Any ideas
Petrina

Ok, so now I am resorting to entering
'Walter' born 1857, father 'John', no surnames, living Marylebone 1861 and checking every one to find an interpreter.
if anyone has a better idea, feel free to stop me.....
diving in....

Michael,
thanks so much for your interest. sadly, not my Walter.
This is what I have to go on;

My g/fathers birth cert 1912: father, Walter Smith,occupation 'harness maker'. Mother Kezia(Gough)

Marriage cert -Kezia Gough 1903, Walter Smith 46,'Harness maker', living 115 Church st, Paddington

1901 census living 115 Church St, 1st wife Annie, lots of kids. 'electrical labourer'
1891 census same wife Annie + kids. 'Walter Henry Smith'- only mention of middle name.'harness maker' the writer has appended 'Saddler'

Birth Cert their oldest son, Walter 1883. Annie = Ridgway
walter's occupation 'saddler, Royal engineers'

Marriage cert 1877 Walter Smith/Annie Ridgway Walter is 'soldier,Royal engineers'

sorry it takes me so long to type back!
Petrina

p.s. the only mention of John is on Walter's marriage certs. 1903 says deceased,1877 does not.

p.p.s. i have tried Walter Smith born other countries on Igi with no success.

Aha- new line of thought...
how do I get his army records? do I have to visit Kew?
might have put his mother at least as next of kin?

Petrina

His Army records will be at Kew, if they've survived. If there are any discharge papers for him, then a next of kin should be given. Also, his place of birth! You'd have to go to Kew though, or get someone to go for you - they're not online.

Thanks Ann
I've been a bit scared by their website, all that talk of ordering documents etc...have to give it a go.

Petrina

Hello again, Michael
I've looked and looked at those, among others.

What can I do, without birth cert for Walter, how will I know if he belongs to Susan, unmarried or otherwise! Can't see anything useful for her, 1851 or 1871 to tie in with him or the elusive John.
Her being 'unm' is what worried me about John being made-up. It's just that 'interpreter' seems such a peculiar thing to give a fictious father....?

Do you think the only sensible thing is to investigate his military record? I think he fibbed about being 21 on his first marriage. The only witnesses are from brides side, so maybe he fell out with his parents and isn't even a 'Smith'

oh, no , don't let me start thinking that!!!!


6pm
have to go, have been on ALL day ( what a hypocrite, always telling my son to stay off the computer!)
Thanks for all the help

Petrina

Have you actually got his death certificate? If you have the relevant Gro reference what year was it?

Best Wishes

Jane