The John Smith conundrum

[dread66]

Hi and thanks for letting me join the group.

I've come to a grinding halt on the Smith side of my family and I'm hoping someone here might have some ideas where I go in regard to next steps.

I'm fine going back to my great grandfather William Albert Smith but its when I try to research his father the brakes are applied. Here's the info I have:-

John Smith - apparently born in Biggleswade anywhere from 1840 to 1845 depending on which year census you are looking at (I've found them on 1891, 1901 & 1911).

He had three sons and a daughter,
John James born in Portobello Barracks in Dublin in 1872.
William Albert born Portsea Island in 1873.
Harry born Gordler Fort in India in 1879.
Jessie born in Milton Barracks, Gravesend in 1882.

I can't track any of these via birth certificates and have only just found John James' baptism results in the Irish records. There I've found out his mother's name is Hannah but it just says Hannah Smith and doesn't give her maiden name. She appears on census results from 1891 onwards as Hannah, Anna & Annah and says she was born in Bristol, Bedminster around 1843. Again I can't find any trace of a birth record which is made more difficult by the lack of her maiden name. My mum seems to think my great great grandmother was Irish or Scottish so could Hannah be someone John met while stationed in Dublin and or is it more likely she did actually come from the Bristol, Bedminster, Avon area?

I did order a birth certificate for Jessie but am unsure whether it is the correct person. This gives the mothers maiden name as Hockley but once again I've drawn a blank on BMD certificates for  Hannah and John using that info. Soooo annoying!

In the Irish records it says John Smith was in the 21st Brigade of the Royal Artillery and as the family seem to move around the world I'm guessing he was a career soldier?

I'm thinking of going to the National Archives this week to get a readers card so I can look for his military records where maybe I'll be able to find more info on him and the rest of the family?

Would that be the best bet? Anyone know if I'd be able to find out more about his military career by visiting the RA museum?

If anyone has any ideas how to get through this road block I would really appreciate it.

John Smith looks to be the most interesting character in my whole tree and it's really frustrating coming to a dead end each time I look for anything on him!

Thanks for your help!

All the best
Dave Read

[giggsycat]

Hi Dave

There is this one on FreeBMD?

Births Jun 1874   
Smith    William Albert        Portsea    2b   442

I haven't looked to see what it said on the the census, but his birthday would have fallen AFTER the census date.

From the new GRO Index, Mother's Maiden Name Johnson.

Name:                                   Mother's Maiden Surname:    
SMITH, WILLIAM  ALBERT     JOHNSON     Order
GRO Reference: 1874  J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND  Volume 02B  Page 442
 

Regards
Giggsy

[cath151]

Hi,
Welcome to Rootshat.
Possible birth for Harry?
Henry Smith 31 Mar 1880  Fortress Gwalior (but hard to read) bap 2 May 1880
Parents John (Gunner R A) and Hannah

Cathy

[giggsycat]

Births Mar 1882 
Smith    Jessie        Gravesend    2a   511

Uh-oh!

This one has MMN as CARTY!

[cath151]

His army service records appear to be on Findmypast
John Smith b 1841, Biggleswade
Wife Hannah Hockley m Portsea 6.12.1869
Royal Artillery.

Cathy

[cath151]

Basic details here
 https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3Ahenry~%20%2Bsurname%3Asmith~%20%2Bbirth_place%3Aindia~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1880-1880~

Cathy

[dread66]

Hi Dave

There is this one on FreeBMD?

Births Jun 1874   
Smith    William Albert        Portsea    2b   442

I haven't looked to see what it said on the the census, but his birthday would have fallen AFTER the census date.

From the new GRO Index, Mother's Maiden Name Johnson.

Name:                                   Mother's Maiden Surname:    
SMITH, WILLIAM  ALBERT     JOHNSON     Order
GRO Reference: 1874  J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND  Volume 02B  Page 442
 

Regards
Giggsy

Hi Giggsy & thanks for your input.

Unfortunately that's one of many birth certificates I have which are not my William Albert. On some census docs it's Portsea Island, on others it's Portsmouth and I have the full collection! I probably already have the correct one but can't confirm so I'm just trying to use other avenues to get to the correct maiden name for Hannah.

One day I'll break this John Smith side of the family!

Cheers
Dave

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Cathy has it in reply 4 doesn't she? Hockley  (or at least that's a name she used - no births coming up yet)

[dread66]

Thanks a lot Cathy!

I'll look into that info tomorrow. I have a marriage cert for John Smith & Hannah Hockley which I'll dig out and see if it matches with the details on FindmyPast.

Guess I'll have to add a FindmyPast subscription to the Ancestry & Genealogist ones I already have!

Thanks again for your help!

Dave