Smith/Hunt/Johnstone? Beds/Cambs

[ltaghi]

Hi there,
First posting to this board and really hoping you may be able to help where I have drawn a blank.
My paternal grandmother was a secretive soul and, alas, took her secrets to the grave.
Her married name was Mona Margaretta Jennings and as far as my father was aware her maiden name was Smith.
Imagine everyone's surprise when her birth certificate revealed that she was born Mona Margaretta Hunt in 1901. Her mother was Eva Henrietta Hunt but no father was named on the birth certificate. Mona was born in Hitchin but her mother Eva was noted as originating from Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. Eva Hunt's parents were James Johnstone Hunt and Emma Bemrose.
Now, you may think I have done well so far but I don't really know anything about Eva Hunt and her connection with the surname Smith. I don't know when or why she became Mona Smith. I do know that Eva Hunt, her mother married Harry (or Henry Rayner) in 1915 and that Mona Smith got her employment card aged 14 (in 1915) in the name of Mona Smith. The only other info I have on her Smith family is that she had a sister called Emma Smith, who I think lived most of her adult life in Lincs or Lancs, possibly as a companion to a gentleman. On Emma Smith's will (c.1970's) it also transpired that there was a brother called Arthur Smith, who at the time Emma died was living in Canada. My father (born 1934) remembers Emma Smith visiting Mona and also an older man who they called Uncle White but remembers no other mention of family.
It was my mother who suggested that there may be a gypsy link because Grandma was so secretive, had the name Smith and grew up in Bedfordshire and there was a large gypsy community in Northants, not that far away.
Now that my dad is 74 I would really love to solve the mystery for him before.....well, you know!
Some of the participants on this forum appear to be so knowledgeable so I am hoping you may have some useful information.
Much gratitude in advance!
Louise

[welsh lady]

Hiya and welcome to Rootschat heres Eva below in 1901 with a child Gomer and a fellow boarder a Mr White.

1901 63 Bunyan Road,Hitchin ,Herts
RG13 Piece 1301 Folio 10 Page 11

Charles H Allen,Head,55,Grocer,Shopkeeper,Sheerness,Kent
Mary Ann Allen,Wife,45,Hitchin
Horace Allen,Son,Holloway,London
Eva H Hunt,Boarder,25,Cambridge
Gomer Hunt,Boarder,5,Northampton
John H White,Boarder,26,School Teacher,Abbots Langley,Herts
Walter Bayliss,Boarder,15,Post Office learner,Redditch,Worcs
George White,Boarder,13,Abbots Langley,Herts

welsh lady

[ltaghi]

Wow, that's great! Thanks very much welsh lady.
I guess the John White may well be the "Uncle White" who used to visit my grandmother. I really don't have any info on a Gomer Hunt as a sibling to my grandmother but a lead worth pursuing.
Maybe these leads will result in me finding out why my grandmother Mona Hunt became Mona Smith with siblings Emma and Arthur Smith?
Still much to discover!

[deb usa]

Hi

Welcome to Rootschat, Louise  , hi Welsh Lady 

Here is gomer's birth reg ...seems to add to the mystery of Eva 

Gomar MacDonald Hunt jun q  1896 Northampton
vol 3b p 81 

deb

[deb usa]

Hi again

have you found Eva in the 1881 census yet?

deb