Stuart Lionel Smith 1876 - 1948

[JohnandMeryl]

Stuart Lionel Smith (SLS) was my grandfather. Neither I nor my mother met him. My father died nearly 45 years ago and there is a chunk of SLS' life missing from my research.
SLS was orphaned at the age of 8. We believe he went to live in West Hartlepool. Later census records (1891) record SLS as a lodger at the home of George and Margaret Robinson in Ruswarp.
At the age of 24 SLS started his merchant navy career. We have his certificate of discharge.
Where was SLS between the years of 1891 and 1900?
I have quite a bit of info from then on... which I am willing to share. Also of the Anderson family - Jet Workers and Art Dealers.
TIA

[Ashtone]

At the age of 24 SLS started his merchant navy career. We have his certificate of discharge.
Where was SLS between the years of 1891 and 1900?

Two questions:
1) Do you have SLS in the 1901 census?
2) Are you trying to ascertain where he was and what he was doing between the 1891 and 1901 census reports? That might be difficult. Have you tried looking for any mentions of him in pre-1901 newspaper reports, etc?

[mckha489]

In 1881 he is Stewart L.Smith, with his parents and siblings.
Have you followed up on the siblings? He might have been a witness at any of their weddings if they took place in that period.

[amondg]

His mother died 1884 and his father remarried 1886 a woman half his age so he wasn't orphaned
technically.
The widow Minnie filed for probate when his father died 24 December 1889 he was only 49

[JohnandMeryl]

Hello, thank you for replying.
Yes, we have him in 1901 census. Lodging. His father in law appears to be also lodging at the same address.
There are many adverts for the chemists he opened in Whitby after his time at sea. I have not looked in papers pre-1901. A good idea.

Thank you, again.

Two questions:
1) Do you have SLS in the 1901 census?
2) Are you trying to ascertain where he was and what he was doing between the 1891 and 1901 census reports? That might be difficult. Have you tried looking for any mentions of him in pre-1901 newspaper reports, etc?
[/quote]

[JohnandMeryl]

Not followed up on his siblings' weddings - thank you, a good idea.

In 1881 he is Stewart L.Smith, with his parents and siblings.
Have you followed up on the siblings? He might have been a witness at any of their weddings if they took place in that period.

[JohnandMeryl]

His mother died 1884 and his father remarried 1886 a woman half his age so he wasn't orphaned
technically.
The widow Minnie filed for probate when his father died 24 December 1889 he was only 49

Thank you for replying.

His father (Henry Soulby Smith) was married three times. We understand (oral history) that Minnie Rudder (HSS' third wife) 'chucked him out of the house'. Finding him in the 1891 census in West Hartlepool confirms that he was not living with his father and step-mother at age 15..

Thank you

[amondg]

All the children from the first marriage are lodgers in 1891, apparently she didn't want any of them around.