Ada Smith - singer at Chelsea Barracks

[StevieSteve]

Going back to Cornwall, there's only one pure Ada Smith b 1891 +/- 2 on the 1939 though she is down as born 1890 so doesn't fit snugly with the 1893 baptism posted

[avm228]

The baptism was in 1893, but the birth registration was Dec qtr 1891 Thanet (mmn Purnell confirms).

[MaxD]

I'd say there is a difference between "Ada Smith, a singer at Chelsea Barracks" and "Ada Smith who [once] sang at Chelsea Barracks" and I'd go for the latter.  I can't imagine Chelsea Barracks having a singer on the books whereas having a singer provide entertainment on occasion is much more likely.

maxD

[ShaunJ]

The 1963 probate record is for a widow so probably not the right Ada (unless she married a Smith).

[dtcoulson]

Hello again MaxD.

I agree with the 'sang once' hypothesis.

Looking into the history of the Chelsea barracks (I haven't found much) it appears that they had a theatre at which amateur performances took place, at least in the 1890s.

-DC

[StevieSteve]

Hi dtc

If you've got a suitable FindMyPast subscription, could you have a look at that Cornwall 1939 entry so we can try to rule it in / maybe / out

Cheers

[dtcoulson]

These are the only entries in the 1939 register for
name = Ada Smith
Mar stat = single
DOB = Sept, Oct or Dec 1891

Ada   Smith   Stoke-On-Trent C.B.   Staffordshire
Ada   Smith   Northwich U.D.   Cheshire
Ada   Clough (Smith)   Halifax C.B.   Yorkshire (West Riding)
Ada L   Norton-Smith   Andover M.B.   Hampshire
Ada   Smith   Kingsclere and Whitchurch R.D.   Hampshire
Ada C   Smith   Royston U.D.   Hertfordshire
Ada L   Smith   Southampton C.B.   Hampshire



I have some news clippings that mention a singer named Ada Smith and one that talks about a woman of that name renting her house in Kent many years later. I can post that up if that helps.



-DC

[avm228]

These are the only entries in the 1939 register for
name = Ada Smith
Mar stat = single
DOB = Sept, Oct or Dec 1891

Ada   Smith   Stoke-On-Trent C.B.   Staffordshire
Ada   Smith   Northwich U.D.   Cheshire
Ada   Clough (Smith)   Halifax C.B.   Yorkshire (West Riding)
Ada L   Norton-Smith   Andover M.B.   Hampshire
Ada   Smith   Kingsclere and Whitchurch R.D.   Hampshire
Ada C   Smith   Royston U.D.   Hertfordshire
Ada L   Smith   Southampton C.B.   Hampshire

You say you have limited your search to births in September, October or December, but bear in mind that a birth in late August or in November could also have been registered in the last quarter of the year.

[ShaunJ]

The Thanet Advertiser of 21 September 1937 has a report of the marriage of Ada's  brother Alfred and a long list of those who gave wedding gifts. No mention of Ada. It might be worth working through the surnames to see if any of them match a marriage to an Ada Smith.