south africa look up pls

[clareharvey800]

pls could someone take a look to see when my auntie emmigratted to south africa.

her name was refna arnold and she married (dont know if in this country or south africa)   alfred smith. 
refna was born 1899 in nottingham and moved to west bromwich when she was 2 years old.

she left for south africa around 1925.

she had 2 children who were born in west bromwich ( she came back to uk to give birth)  in the 1930's

the only record i can find is from 1956 when they came to visit the uk..

thanks to any replies..

clarex

[ShaunJ]

She was Refna Mary, yes?

In 1928 there was a Miss RM Arnold travelling 1st class to Natal on the Llandovery Castle, age 28, no occupation. Ship departed London 5th April 1928. Address: The Gables, Bass (?) Walsall.

[ShaunJ]

Mrs RM Smith left Southampton on 13 February 1932 bound for Natal on the Warwick Castle. Age 32. With her are children Miss J age 2 and Master J age 1. 3rd Class. Last address in UK: Aldridge, Walsall
.

[ShaunJ]

There's a record of Alfred's estate in the South African archives consolidated database NAAIRS :

http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm30ddf0?20090414175644F9457B8B&DN=00000001

"NAB" is the Pietermaritzburg Archives Repository

[clareharvey800]

thanks shaun for the quick reply..   what is this estate thing, sorry but quite new at all this family tree stuff..
clare

[ShaunJ]

Well it looks like he died in 1969. It's probably a record of the value of the estate and the executors and/or beneficiaries. It's reference 1094/1969  and the index entry says:

SMITH, ALFRED CHARLES. BORN IN ENGLAND. S SP SMITH, REFNA MARY.                  DECEASED ESTATE.


SP could be spouse I suppose.

I see that link I gave you no longer works. You can search the database for yourself here: http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl

Just search in RSA or NAB for the word Refna, then  click on Results Summary to view the entry.

[clareharvey800]

great, thanks for that

clare

[ShaunJ]

I think "S SP" must be short for "Surviving Spouse".

So: we have found her departing UK in 1928 as Miss RM Arnold and leaving again in 1932 as Mrs RM Smith with two small children aged 1 and 2. Presumably there was a prior visit to the UK in 1930/31 if as you say the children were both born in the UK.

[clareharvey800]

yes, refna always went on about how good the health care was in the uk, so thats why she came home to give birth,,  well definatley the second child anyway...   john smith..  not too sure about jaqualine the first born..

how would i go about finding a death date for refna in south africa,, any ideas shaun??

clare