Albert Smith b abt.1890 d. between 1917 - 1921

[Samc1966]

Hi All

Would be really grateful if anyone could help me shed some light on my Great Grandad as I am really struggling:

This is what I know:

Born:  Abt 1890
Parents:  Father was Albert - a Farm Labourer (from marriage cert)
1911 Census:  Boarding in Reading aged 22 (Bright Street)
Marriage:  To Hannah Clark 24th August 1912 at St. Marys in Reading
Death:  Between Jan 1917 (last child born Oct 1917) and Dec 1921 (Hannah remarried in 1921 to Joseph Kirby)

Would really love to know where he came from and how and when he died.

Any help really appreciated!

Thanks
Sam 

[HarryW]

Sam,

Struggling with this.   Thought I'd start with the 1911 entry and work back, but can't find Albert using Ancestry.   How did you find him on the 1911 census and does that give a place of birth ?

I can't find a death for Albert, which makes me wonder whether he was a war casualty.

There are just far too many Albert SMITHs with father Albert to do any meaningful searches in previous census without a place of birth.

Harry

Edit:

Just tried the 1911 census on FindMyPast (forgot I still had access) but can't find him there either.

[Samc1966]

Hi Harry

Thanks for looking!

I cannot look at 1911 census at the mo as at work and no access but I am sure that place of birth was 'unknown'.

Cant remember how I found him but if you look at Hannah Clark from memory she also lived in Bright Street at that time.

Sam

[HarryW]

Sam,

There are trees on Ancestry showing Albert as born Liverpool, *  The problem is that the trees have the same error - 1891 and 1901 census show the whole family with different birthplaces !!

By the time of his marriage, his address is the same as Hannah.


Harry

* Moderator comment - edited

[dowdstree]

Hi Sam,

Agree with Harry that this is a very difficult one.

On the Ancestry Page for the 1911 census (place of birth not known) on the right hand column where it gives other possibilities there is a death index for an Albert Smith for 1917 in Pancras, London. Don't know if you have looked at this or if it will be any use to you, maybe the wrong person, and you would have to be certain this is your great granddad as you have to order the death certificate. Word of advice if you do order the certificate don't order it through Ancestry - its cheaper to order yourself just under a tenner.

Good Luck

Dorrie

[philipsearching]

I haven't got answers, but this might help focus the search:

1921 - Hannah marries Joseph Kirby in Reading (so it's unlikely that the Smiths moved around).
1917 to 1921 deaths registered in Berkshire - FreeBMD has no matches for Albert Smith of the right age range.
Newspapers for Berkshire available to search online at BerksFHS have no death notice for Albert Smith.

So he doesn't seem to have died in Berkshire.  I tried to find a death in Liverpool in case he was with his kin, but drew a blank.

A search on the CWGC website for Albert Smith between 1917 and 1919 lists 831 people (although this includes Alfred, Arthur etc - I'm not sure why).

A search on the CWGC website for Albert Smith in the Royal Berkshire regiment lists three possibles (none for the Berkshire Yeomanry):
36456 Smith, pte Albert Edward, 17/2/1917 - Thiepval memorial
41473 Smith, pte A, 13/10/1917 - Mendinghem cemetery
33689 Smith, pte A, 19/4/1917 - Houdain Lane cemetery.

There is no guarantee that Albert served in the war, or if he did that he would have joined the Royal Berkshires, - but you might be lucky and find him if papers survive (Anc@stry or F-M-P would be a place to start).

Good hunting!
Philip

[rosie99]

What was his occupation when he married

[HarryW]

What was his occupation when he married

Just shown as "labourer"

[Samc1966]

Just checked 1911 census and Albert was a Carter on a sewage farm and his address was 21 Corporation Farm Cottages, Small Mead Gate, Manor Farm, Reading.

This is assuming I have the right Albert but his Dad was also an Agricultural Labourer an as Albert ended up working with horses I am guessing this is probably him....