RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: JessicaF on Saturday 21 April 18 19:32 BST (UK)
-
Hi everyone,
So I started my search for Rex Lewis Smith as he is my Nan's Father and she only had one memory of him when she was a little girl and wanted to know more. I've managed to find a reasonable amount of information on him when I eventually found a WW2 service number and had the file opened as well as some possible photo's but I also stumbled across another 4 children and 2 wives listed on Ancestry that no one knew of. I was wondering if anyone could please confirm or deny the existence of the children and his third wife please as I have exhausted every avenue I can think of and my Nan desperately wants to know. The information I have so far is:
Rex Lewis Smith
b. 29th of January 1905 in Aberdeen,New South Wales
d. 24th of October 1956 in Rockdale,New South Wales
His father was Frank Lewis Smith b. 1872 d.1942
His mother was Coral Annie Irene Pearl Whitehead b.1881 d.1970
He had 8 siblings Linda J Smith, Sidney Frank Smith, Bruce Roland Smith, Coral Irene Smith and another four sisters (possibly still alive)
Married Ruby Irene McMillan in 1922 in Wickham, New South Wales
Birth of Jean May Smith b 1923 d1923?
Birth of Leslie Rex Smith b 1926 d.2005?
Birth of Betty Smith b 1928 d.2013?
Birth of William Thomas b 1929 d 1989?
Married Eunice Helen Lumby in 1934 in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales
Birth of Mary Josephine
Birth of Dulcie May
Aswell as another 3 daughters still living
(I do have dates for them written down somewhere I just can't find them but this is my family so I'm not overly concerned and it hopefully isn't needed)
Enlisted as a Private with the Australian Ordnance Corps on the 20th of March 1942
Service number: NX93136
Discharged the 28th of November 1945
Married Emily Marjorie Beatrice Torr 1953 in Rockdale, New South Wales?
I can find no proof of marriage but they are listed as living together on electoral rolls from 1954 onwards under the last name Smith but I can find no other records of her anywhere.
Rex died the 24th of October 1956 and is buried in Point Clare Cemetery the only family listed with his burial information is his mother and father.
Thank you so much for your help and I'm so sorry for any spelling mistakes or not making sense it's late and I'm tired
-
Hi Jessica,
From NSW BDM
Marriage 1953 reg 9419
Rex Lewis SMITH to Emily Marjorie B HUTCHBY at Rockdale
Ros
adding : Welcome to rootschat :)
-
There is a divorce record for Rex and Eunice https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/item/1546042 and a probate packet for Rex Lewis SMITH https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/item/958887 at NSW archives. I can photograph these for you next time I am there if you wish
Ros
-
Here is Emily Marjorie Beatrice SMITH death notice from SMH 2 Aug 1978
Ros
-
Just adding Rex Lewis SMITH's death notice from SMH 26 oct 1956
Ros
-
From NSW BDM http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx
Marriage 1922 reg 14288
Rex L SMITH to Ruby I McMILLAN at Wickham
Ros
-
A lovely description of the marriage of Rex and Eunice http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158065258
Ros
-
I'm not finding anything to confirm that the first marriage is for your Rex Lewis SMITH. Just the marriage index. I can't find a divorce for Ruby and Rex or a likely death for Ruby before his marriage to Eunice.
I think you may have to buy a transcription of the first marriage to see if the details match.
Here is death notice for Coral Annie Irene Pearl SMITH - I was hoping there may be a mention of the grandchildren ... but no
Ros
adding : His probate packet *should* contain his death certificate which *should* contain details of marriages and children and there's also a chance that he made provision for all his children in his will.
-
Here is a death of a child from NSW BDM
1923 reg 926
SMITH Jean M, father Rex L and mother Ruby I at Wickham
Ros
-
Welcome to Rootschat, Jessica.
As per Rootschat policy you need to remove all names of those for who you do not have proof of death.
Jamjar
-
Siblings of Rex, deaths:
49224/1974 Bruce Roland
103319/1980 Sidney Frank
Parents at Woronora Cemetery:
Frank Lewis Smith 28-6-1960 Ashes Collected
Coral Anne Pearl I Smith 1-11-1970 12-2-1971 BERESFIELD CREM Ashes Posted
Jamjar
Added:
SMITH Bruce Rowland Probate notice 15-4-1974 Death late of Scone Scone Advocate 3-5-1974
SMITH Bruce Rowland Death notice 15-4-1974 Death 63 formerly of Scone Scone Advocate 19-4-1974
23615/1902 TORR Emily MB parents LAWRENCE A EMILY E MARRICKVILLE
18274/1978 SMITH Emily Marjorie Beatrice parents LAWRENCE ARTHUR and EMILY ELIZABETH
-
An interesting read re, Miss Torr and Hutchby: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169135124
Jamjar
Added: A son? SMITH Leslie Rex Funeral notice 24-12-2005 Publication 79 late of Mayfield Newcastle Herald 24-12-2005
-
I think his sister’s name is Doris and not Dorothy:
Birth: 19124 1916 Doris M Smith
Marriage: 9767 1937 Doris Maisie Smith to Alfred McCrohon CESSNOCK
Death: MCCROHON Doris Maisie Funeral notice 23-2-2014 Death 96 late of Abermain Newcastle Herald 26-2-2014
Jamjar
Or:
12413/1930 MCINERNEY William J SMITH Doris M SCONE
9158/1939 BURNS Herbert Edwin Valentine to SMITH Doris May SCONE
Marriages:
8134/1934 MCALISTER George J To SMITH Coral I SCONE
9033/1940 BARKER Gilbert Arthur SMITH to Ivy Ella SCONE
-
Thank you so much for the information. I can finally fill in some gaps and hopefully find what my Nan's looking for.
Thanks for letting me know jamjar I have now removed the names I have no proof of death for.
Thanks rosball that would be good if you don't mind photographing them for me please that would be great.
-
I'm happy to photograph them Jessica :) I have added them to my list.
If you see any others that you would like, just shout. https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
Ros
-
Death:
McALISTER Coral Irene Funeral notice 22-6-2004 Death 90 at Lakeside Nursing Home, Laurieton, formerly of Dunbogan and Waratah Newcastle Herald 26-6-2004
Jamjar
-
Thank you so much for the information. I can finally fill in some gaps and hopefully find what my Nan's looking for.
Thanks for letting me know jamjar I have now removed the names I have no proof of death for.
Thanks rosball that would be good if you don't mind photographing them for me please that would be great.
I doubt any of his siblings are alive, having been born between 1901 and 1916. I see no birth for an Esme.
It is two of the children to Rex and Ruby that you need to remove, as they were born in the ‘20s.
Jamjar
-
Hi, My grandfather was Bruce Roland Smith, Rex's brother. Esme Thompson (nee Smith) is still alive and may even remember things that you need to know. Let me know if you are interested.
I live near Scone.
-
Hi, I am also doing the family tree and have information dating back to 1460 (18 generations) on the smiths
-
Hello all. My name is Bruce Wallace. Rex Lewis Smith is my uncle. He did not marry Ruby Irene McMillan, it was a different Rex Lewis Smith. Uncle Rex married Eunice Helen Lumby in 1934 in Kurri Kurri NSW Australia. He had 3 daughters. Roma Dorothy b. 1935, Janice Irene b. 1939 and Dulcie May b. 1941. He went away to war after 1941. His marriage broke up and he then married Emily Torr. He died in 1956. Rex had 11 siblings. Born from 1901 to 1926. My mother, Rex's sister Dorothy was born in 1921. There are a lot of mistakes from other people on this thread. Thanks. Bruce.