George Henry Smith

[Alilou]

According to his army records George H Smith was born in 1882 in Croydon Surrey mother Louisa father Frederick Smith, I can't find any entries about George before 1900 when he enlists in the army. He later marries olive may Harland in 1915
However I am keen to find him pre 1900, his dads occupation on his marriage cert was a showman and George a hawker so I am leaning towards gypsies any help would be great

[jomcd967]

Hi Alilou,

Do you have any further details that may help? Witnesses at marriage? Children's names? Any other details? Age and address at enlistment?

Of interest, there is the following:
1891- Old gravel pit, living in caravan at Fawley, New Forest, Hampshire
Frederick Smith, head, widower, 66 (1825), travelling showman, born Oxfordshire

1901- In caravan near the Black Horse Inn, Shedfield, Droxford, Hampshire
Fredk Smith, boarder, widower, 76 (1825), Assistant Showman, born Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Joseph Smith, boarder, single, 28 (1873), assistant showman, born Hampshire

Jo 

[Kay99]

Interesting that George lists his birthplace as Croydon in his military records on Anc and his parents address is listed as the neighbouring 91 Grove Road, Sutton. Surrey.

I can't see the address in 1901 but it looks like an affluent area

Also welcome to RootsChat

Kay

[Alilou]

Hi Kay
Yes I have looked at that and they are not at that address or any of the given addresses on any census
I am stumped as to where to go next
Alison

[Kay99]

Have you managed to located George with wife Olive and family on the 1939 Register??

Kay

[Alilou]

Hi Jo
Where did you find all that info regarding Frederick smith's?
He was 18 when he enlisted in 1900 on his re enlistment in 1912 gives his brother Richard of no fixed address as his next of kin and George's job as a marine store dealer
On his marriage cert to olive Frederick is not noted as being deceased
My husband is his grandson but none of his sisters know any details as he died when my mother in law was young and they have no contact with the extended family
My husband goes very dark in the sun which makes me think his family originated elsewhere than the uk

[Alilou]

Hi jo again
I do have the witnesses names I think they were shop owners and I know all the names of the children but am not having much luck there either

[Alilou]

Hi Kay
Yes I found George and olive in 1939 in Hull which is where my husbands mother was born and I assume the locked record is hers  even though she died in 1996
The record doesn't really give me any further info, I have applied for what I hope is his death certificate
Any other ideas?
Alison

[Kay99]

The record you found does give this birth date  4 Feb 1881 ( if we are lookiing at the same one) and if the date is correct it means that George was alive at the time of the 1881 census - not that this appears to help much     Olive's birth date appears to be correct based on her later death in Hull in 1972

It might be worth looking at births in the first qtr of 1881 but it does look possible that he wasn't registered 

Kay