Hmmm. Maybe the George that died isn’t my George.
George did end up in Sydney though. He was a Widower when he married Ida Tindell on 31st May 1893 at St Michael Church in Sydney. His birth location is New Malden Surrey England - my missing man’s same birth location so I’m sure this is his brother.
Just tying up some loose ends ……
This is the correct brother to John Edmund SMITH, and I wonder if John was following his brother’s lead when he departed with his 2 boys to Australia.
George Arthur SMITH divorced his first wife Ellen Maria MERRYWEATHER, on the grounds she has committed adultery. Divorce petition filed in 1889 & Final decree was in Nov 1892. George got custody of the three children and brought them to Australia.
In 1892 he filed for bankruptcy in Sydney
In 1893 he married Ida Tindall in Sydney
1903-1904 in electoral rolls working as a bank clerk in Sydney
1910 Died in Sydney.
The children were:
1/ Frances Margaret SMITH born 1880 England
2/ Florence Elizabeth SMITH born England 1882, died NSW 1955
Married Gustavus HAVERSTEIN in 1903 Sydney. Gustavus shot himself (suicide) in 1908.
Florence married again in 1916 Sydney to John George Stickley FOUNTAIN.
3/ Percival Arthur William SMITH born 1884 England; died 1919 Newtown
In 1898 he was in trouble with the law for truancy, keeping bad company and wandering the streets. His father gave evidence against him. The boy claimed he ran away as his parents were cruel to him.
