John Smith - labourer born Bournemouth!

[tikki_nik2]

Hi,

I am stuck with one of my lines and I was wondering if any of you kind people would help me work it out?

My great grandma Isabel Lucy Smith was born in Wandsworth, 5th Dec 1893 to Mary Ann (nee Young) and John Smith. I have found her in the 1901 census:

John Smith, 52, Gen Lab, b.Bournemouth
May Ann, 36, b.Brighton
John, 12, b.Sussex
Edith L, 9, b.Wandsworth
Frederick J, 8, b.Wandsworth
Isabela L, 7, b.Wandsworth
Edward, 4, b.Wandsworth
Living at 70 Cranbourne Rd, Wandsworth

I have managed to find out about Mary Ann Young's family, b. 1865, Lewes, Sussex to Mary Ann & Henry Young. But I am stuck on John Smith (of course!) and know nothing more about him.

I have a rough note of a possible census return for 1891:
John, 26, b.Brighton
Mary, 24, b.Sussex
John, 2, b.Sussex
Maude,1, b.Sussex

I have also found the birth of a Maude May Smith in Midhurst, dec 1890 (although I have not got a copy of this to verify parents). I am presuming that if this is the same family Maude must have died young, although John's age seems very different.

Can anyone suggest the next port of call as using the census' is hard with a name like John Smith and proffesion - general labourer! I haven't yet found the marriage for the couple and am unsure which parish registers would be best to look under for John.


Many thanks for taking the time to read this

Nikki

[janan]

Hi
I'm pretty sure Bournemouth was in Hampshire pre 1974 - so you might get a better response if you post there. I'll have a look on the censuses and see what comes up.
Cheers Jan

[janan]

Maybe I was wrong about Bournemouth as it does say Dorset in 1901 
See John junior was born here in sunny Chichester
Will see if I can find them in 91.
Jan

[janan]

The family you found in 1891 does seem to be the only remotely right one despite John senior now being born Wandsworth (and far too young) , Mary in Beding not Brighton and John junior born Brighton not Chi 
It is likely they married in Sussex - Lewes would look like a good starting point.
Next time I'm in Chi RO I can see if I can find a baptism for John junior (not sure when) - don't know how much that will help but you never know
This certainly is a difficult one
Jan

[tikki_nik2]

Hi,

Thank you for helping me look into this one.

So are you saying that the same 1891 census that I quoted actually shows John Snr b.Wandsworth, Mary in Beding & John Jnr b.Brighton and my version is wrong? I think mine just came from an index of names.

I know that the age on the census of John Jnr is about right so he was born 1889(ish) and I would presume he was born in Lewes area like the sister Maude. What county does Chichester come under?

Also do you know if Beding is near Taring or Lewes? As I am fairly sure that I have traced Mary Ann's family back to Taring Neville.

Many thanks

Nikki

[janan]

Hi Nikki
Chichester is in West Sussex, as is Midhurst where you have a birth for a Maude - it is about 9 miles north of Chi. Brighton and Lewes are both East Sussex - Brighton being about 40 miles East of Chi.  Upper Beeding which is what I assume was meant by Beeding is  (I'm pretty sure) in West Sussex - it is about 8 miles NW of Brighton. Tarring Neville is near Lewes, although there is also a Tarring in West Sussex north of Worthing.

This is the full details from 1891

43 New England St, Brighton (St Peter)
John Smith Head M 26 Telephone Wireman Elec  Wandsworth Surrey
Mary Do Wife 24 Beeding Sussex
John do Son 2 Brighton do
Maud do Daur 1 do do
RG12/810/48 Pg34

This is very confusing

Jan

[tikki_nik2]

Hi,

I have just looked at multimap and found a place called 'Beddingham' which is very near to Tarring Neville, do you think this is a possibility?

Regards

Nikki

[cheryle.f]

Hi everyone.....i am smiling at this result....


      Hold on got to keep my feet on the ground.... i'm still quite a newey at this caper.......

     1891 Uckfield Sussex District 3 RG12/785

     William Smith H   M 49 Engine Driver  Woodsford  Dorset
     Sarah A Smith Wife M 51                     Knowel          ''
     John Smith  Lodger  42  Labourer        Wool             ''
     Mary A  Smith    Wife  26                       Lewes Sussex
     John Smith son  2                                West Wittiang


                       I need a cup of tea...that was quite a hard one


                               cheryle.f

[tikki_nik2]

Wowwy!!!! Thank you very much!!! The amount of times I have searched and missed that! can you tell me whereabouts West Wittang and Wool are?