Westbourne Square

[avm228]

Yes I think there is a good chance she is the one who lived as the wife of Edward F Mercer.

There is a possible son for them born in Ipswich in 1939, and a possible daughter born in Bournemouth in 1943.  Search FreeBMD for Mercer births with mother's maiden name Boucher.

Bournemouth is a fit with where they are in the 1939 Register, according to the free index.  You can access the 1939 Register on Findmypast. 

[crunchyFrog]

Wow!
If that is her, that will be huge. Thankyou!
I think I will keep looking and keep this to myself until I know. My Grandad is in shock about everything we've found in the last few months. He had no family and now is in contact with 2 siblings and their families. I know it's been emotional for them too.

[avm228]

It looks likely that the son born in 1939 is still living in the Cambridge area - or at least has been on electoral rolls there in recent years.

[avm228]

No we haven't. She's a mystery. That would be interesting we always assumed she never married. The whole thing sounds like a Hollywood movie though.

We have her living at Westbourne Square with Alfred Percy Smith and his wife Dorothy Mary Smith in the late 20's. We know Dorothy petitioned for divorce and then Alfred and Mary were living together at another address in 1930 with a baby (not my grandad, we assume this baby is his sister we've found but don't know for certain.) His sister was left in a doorway at 14 months old, on Quex Road, Kilburn. His brother was left at a church in St Cyprians. We have her living Burton st, St Pancras when the child in 1935 was born.

Going back to this - how do you know there was a baby in 1930?  A baby would not appear in an electoral roll.  I can see Alfred Percy Smith in 1927, 1928 with Dorothy at 22 Westbourne Grove, and in 1929 with Mary at the same address, but can't easily see the 1930 entry at all.

Just trying to piece it all together.

[avm228]

Interesting from the 1937 electoral roll:

46 Warren St, St Pancras

Edward Frederick Mercer
Mary Kathleen Mercer

[crunchyFrog]

My Cousin is doing that research, that's the information she gave.

[crunchyFrog]

She hasn't made the Mercer connection that I know of though..... very interesting.

[avm228]

There is a possible previous marriage for Edward F Mercer (to Jessie Bannister, 1922 in Tonbridge).  I can't easily see what became of her, but if it is the same Edward and he had a living spouse it would explain why he apparently did not marry Mary Kathleen.

Update: it very likely is the same Edward Frederick Mercer born in Weston super Mare, Somerset on 7 May 1892; his school alumni records (St Lawrence College, Ramsgate) place him as living at 8 Modest Corner, Southbridge, Tunbridge Wells in the early 1920s.

Later, a passenger list shows him as a "timber expert" returning to the UK from St John's Newfoundland in August 1925 - UK address given as 7 Mount Zion, Tunbridge Wells.  The corresponding Canadian immigration form for his arrival there in Dec 1924 (intended occupation: lumbering) confirms his birthplace as Somerset and his next of kin as his wife, Mrs Jessie Mercer, of 7 Mount Zion, Tunbridge Wells.

[joboy]

You originally asked what the building would have looked like.
I lived in one in Paddington around 1936 and they were obviously originally very grand with servants quarters and wired pull bells from every room but time had taken its toll and they were reduced to one and two roomers.
The photo gives an idea.
Joe