Could do without Carlotta Osprey!!
Are we assuming some Hanky Panky?!
She was married before
22 Oct 1900 married at Simla to William Henry DONALD he was born in 1863 so a lot older. Two children.
21 Oct 1901 Barbara Elaine DONALD born Simla
23 Feb 1903 Hilary Kathleen DONALD born Simla
1919 Carlotta DONALD age 37
, Barbara E and Hilary K 18 & 16 respectively are on their way from London to Colombo.
I have been trying to follow them around. Barbara and Hilary were both riding school proprietors at Newbridge Riding School, Bridge Lane, Hendon. The first mention in the papers of the school is 19 Feb 1932, but the first mention with their names is 30 July 1937. They died in Hampshire in 1972 & 1978. Unmarried.
I couldn't resist this - just for flavour. excerpts from the
Hendon & Finchley Times, 20 August 1937"
in six years two Hendon sisters have worked up a flourishing business in the Newbridge Riding School... At the start of their career they had five shillings in their pockets after renting the four horse boxes which now comprise one side of their stable.... loaned horses etc........Miss Hilary Donald said" We came to England from India where our father had been deeply interested in horses as a hobby. We had spent almost all our lives among horses...Both of us were in good jobs but my firm had to cut down staff and I lost my work. One day ... out for a walk....found this stabling, rented it......Our training had been a thorough one in seven different schools, and our venture has succeeded. [names dropped here] Now the money rolls in to the tune of £1000 a year on average. Sometimes more and sometimes a good deal less..........[have] the side saddle our grandmother used as a girl in India......[Barbara] was a member of the Rajah of Manshi's team playing number three when he used to visit Kulu to play a local team thereThe next time I have Carlotta is
1936 Carlotta F FAIRLIE on the Mooltan from Brisbane going to 3 Gunter Grove Occ H.D. country of last permanent residence, India. She is on her own.
So if she was in Brisbane, how did she get there? where are the other passenger lists we need?!
In 1937 she has two bookings in March to India, but is crossed out on both manifests so I assume she didn't make the trip.
We then have the 1939 trip for both of them from Brisbane that Osprey posted. So again, how did they get there?
But what I have been puzzling over is if John W. Fairlie in Hendon with Carlotta in 1939 is the same man as the one who arrived in Fremantle 5 Oct 1940 bound for Sydney, having embarked at Bombay. How did he get from London in September 1939 to Bombay? (Although I suppose if he was able to travel to Australia, there is no reason he couldn't also travel to Bombay).
William Henry DONALD didn't die until 1945 at Kulu
When Carlotta died in 1952 she is described as a widow. William's Widow? She isn't John WWS's he is still alive!
So the situation is Possibly:-
John W. W. SMITH married Grace Johanna SMITH.
in 1911 John becomes John W.W. Smith FAIRLIE (we presume something to do with his Fairlie aunt and uncle)
by the 1930s Grace is living with her son/sons as McGregor-Fairlie (The boys having been given McGregor as one of their names (where did that come from?)
John is not with them because he is flitting about having taken up at some point with Carlotta who uses the name FAIRLIE but I don't see a marriage anywhere so far.
in 1939 Carlotta and John W having been to Australia at least twice in the interim are in London. But not at Carlotta's sister's address (3 Gunter Grove).
1940 - possible arrival of John W FAIRLIE back in Australia without Carlotta
1946 - he marries Dorothy Reid. Lies about his age as she is only 31. Lies about his place of birth, gives his father's correct forenames, and one of his mother's names which happens to be the same as his first wife's so perhaps that is why he knew it. Gives mother's maiden name as McKENZIE which is his paternal grandmother.
the thing about all of that I am most unhappy about is his place of birth. Why would he do that? I don't see any reason to doubt the Smith to Fairlie change in 1911, and the families of both lots of SMITH.
A look at some of those Indian Wills might be useful.
