Author Topic: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith  (Read 3606 times)

Offline Lesley Paul

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Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Thursday 16 January 14 19:14 GMT (UK) »
Hi.  I am new to Rootschat although not new to family history research but this lady has got me beat :-\.  Viola Ruth Brownrigg-Fyers (widow) married Cecil Sprey-Smith at Paddington Registry Office in 1922.  They had 2 children, a girl in 1923 and a boy in 1925.  Shortly after the boy's birth Viola disappears, leaving the little girl with her husband's family.  Cecil filed for divorce in 1940 - the decree absolute being granted in 1941 citing desertion for longer than 3 years as the grounds.  Does anyone know what could have happened to her.  She was born in 1892.

Offline jennifer c

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 16 January 14 20:44 GMT (UK) »
1917 Viola Ruth Moncrieffe married Albert Edward Brownrigg-Fyers he died Wandsworth Sept qtr 1922.  AE B-F born 1880 Ceylon.

Viola Ruth Brownrigg-fyers married Cecil Spey-Smith 1922.

Jennifer
Stevens /Godfrey /Rudgley /Claridge/ Gipson /George /Bliss
Census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline jennifer c

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 16 January 14 20:48 GMT (UK) »
Albert E Brownrigg-Fyers left a will if you can get details.

Jennifer
Stevens /Godfrey /Rudgley /Claridge/ Gipson /George /Bliss
Census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline jennifer c

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 16 January 14 20:53 GMT (UK) »
Albert's mother was born Scotland, I have not been able to find a birth in England for Viola, perhaps she was born in Scotland or abroad?
Jennifer
Stevens /Godfrey /Rudgley /Claridge/ Gipson /George /Bliss
Census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline Lesley Paul

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:18 GMT (UK) »
Hi everyone

Thank you for your replies.  We had already found Viola's marriage to Albert Edward Brownrigg-Fyers.  However, the maiden name she was fictitious!  There is no record of a Violet Ruth Moncrieffe.  She also gives her father's name as Phillip Moncrieffe, again there is record of a Phillip Moncrieffe.  Who she really is is Violet Ruth Gunthorpe born 1892 in Herefordshire, daughter of John & Louisa.  Violet gave birth to an illegitimate son, born at The Metropole Hotel, Brighton in August 1914.  According to the family his father was Herbert Ponting, the photographer of the Antartic Expedition.  Violet did not keep the child, she left him with her sister, Doris Todd and her husband Charles.

Violet disappears until 1918 when she marries Edward Albert Brownrigg-Fyers.  She gives birth 3 months later to a daughter.  She again disappears, leaving the baby with her husband's parents, until she marries Cecil Sprey-Smith in 1922. Cecil was from a Colonial family.  He was a Capt in the Army and then a professional tennis player/coach.

As you an imagine this woman is driving me mad! :)

Offline dawnsh

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:19 GMT (UK) »
Hi Lesley Paul

Welcome to Rootschat  ;D

If you haven't already seen this, you might find this interesting

http://www.mundia.com/au/Person/51994/-1664379352

Links to Ireland

Dawn
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Sherry-Paddington & Marylebone,
Longhurst-Ealing & Capel, Abinger, Ewhurst & Ockley,
Chandler-Chelsea

Offline Lesley Paul

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:24 GMT (UK) »
Sorry, just to add that yes Albert Edward died in 1922 of Paralysis of the Insane (Syphylls)

And yes for some reason that no-one has yet fathomed, Violet/Viola marries Cecil for a second at a Roman Catholic Church in Rathdown, Dunlaghaire, Ireland.  Neither family were Roman Catholic as far as we are aware.  And it appears that she disappears shortly after the ceremony.

Offline dawnsh

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:32 GMT (UK) »
Might be an idea to contact the owner of the tree as they seem to have a lot of 'insider' type information.
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Sherry-Paddington & Marylebone,
Longhurst-Ealing & Capel, Abinger, Ewhurst & Ockley,
Chandler-Chelsea

Offline Lesley Paul

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Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« Reply #8 on: Friday 17 January 14 07:02 GMT (UK) »
Hi Dawn

The owner of the tree and I are equally baffled by this lady.  Why did she use fictitious names and keep deserting her children and then totally disappearing.