Smith Conundrum

[littleem1906]

Hi

I have in my tree a JOHN ALFRED SMITH ( born 13th March 1915 in Birmingham). When tracing his parents, I've hit a bit of a wall.

His birth certificate, his parents are listed as JOHN ALFRED SMITH and FLORENCE SUSANNA SMITH (nee PLATFORD). Address is 17 Lennox Street. Father's occupation is 'A timber merchant's carter'.

Can anyone help me find their marriage? The reason for my confusion is that as a family, we were told that there was a 'Whitehouse' connection to this family. We were told that John Alfred Smith's surname was originally Whitehouse, but I've found no evidence of this. We don't know a huge amount about this part of the family.

There is a Florence Susanna Platford who married an Alonzo Smith. There's also a Florence Susanna who married John Alfred Whitehouse. Clearly two different women as they each appear in the 1939 census with their husbands.

Any help much appreciated.

[Milliepede]

Just to start with a name like Smith are you 100% sure you have the right birth certificate for John Alfred?

Did he have siblings we can check their births for?

[Milliepede]

There is a Florence Susanna Platford who married an Alonzo Smith.

That marriage was 20 July 1903. 

When was the other marriage? 

Just wondering if A Smith and John Alfred W could be the same person  but if you have found both couples separately I guess not. 

[cath151]

All very confusing
There is a marriage in June q 1942 between a John Alfred Whitehouse and a Florence S Smith, Birmingham.
Florence Susannah Platford born in Norfolk in 1883 parents William and Harriet.
Could she have married Alonzo in 1903 ( who appears to have died in 1942 according to online trees) and then become estranged. All supposition really, I see the Alonzo/Florence s marriage had 2 possible daghters in 1903 and 1907 (according to tree)
If you have Florences birth certificate with birthdate that may help in the 1939 register or possibly a death if after c 1970.
Sorry not much help really, just thinking aloud.
Cathy

[tazzie]

The marriage to Alonzo states her father is William Platford a labourer....her address at marriage
 Tower ? Road in Aston.

 Tazzie

[Milliepede]

The 1907 daughter has mothers maiden name Platford.  As does the 1903 daughter.

Agree very   

1942 is a long time after a 1915 birth to marry the father - if he was the father as names seem to have been mixed together. 

[tazzie]

There is a birth for a John Alfred Whitehouse in Aston in 1886 that fits his age on 1939 register.

 Tazzie

[Milliepede]

There's also a Florence Susanna who married John Alfred Whitehouse. Clearly two different women as they each appear in the 1939 census with their husbands.

Just need to clarify when this marriage took place as it can't be 1942 if the couple appear together in 1939

[tazzie]

There is also a baptism with the same birthdays for John Alfred ....28th March 1886.
 At Ashted Warwickshire.
 Father Josiah mother Fanny of Francis Street.

 Tazzie