RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: Susixbawn n Bred on Wednesday 25 June 25 00:10 BST (UK)
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Good evening,
My wife has been trying to find what became of her great-grandmother Eliza Amelia Smith (nee Curtis), and has been hitting brick wall after brick wall until this evening, when she found a record on Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/280021569/eliza-amelia-smith) which has finally cleared up on the when part of the mystery.
What is most intriguing is that despite having this information there does not seem to be a corresponding death on GRO, so we cannot yet order a death certificate. Closest match is an Eliza Smith in Blyth, but her death was in June 1940, but our Eliza didn't die until December.
If anyone can find a relevant (and correct) GRO reference it would be most gratefully received.
Also, if anyone is in the immediate area, and would happen to be passing Eliza and her husband Sidney's grave, and would be kind enough to take a picture, that would be a massively wonderful thing and my wife would be extremely happy to see it. The Findagrave link has a very helpful marker on the map to locate.
Many thanks all for reading.
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Have you checked in 1941 for the death registration?
If she died late December 1940 then it probably wasn’t registered till the following quarter March 1941.
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Perhaps she didn't die in Ipswich?
SMITH, ELIZA AMELIA
Age at Death (in years): 75
GRO Reference: 1940 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 400
That death seems to have been around the end of December.
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Sidney Smith 1863- 5 November 1935 is buried with Eliza same plot and grave number
XH 4 478 New Ipswich Cemetery
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Probate Index
Sydney Smith of 448 Foxhall Road, Ipswich died 5 November 1935 at Heathfields Hospital.
Probate to Eliza Amelia Smith 29 November 1935.
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1911 Census 448 Foxhall Road, Ipswich
Sidney Smith 47 born Boyton
Eliza 42 born Ipswich
Miriam 5
Herbert S 4
Lawrence 2
Alfred F 0
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GRO Index
Miriam Jane Smith 1886 reg. Woodbridge mothers maiden name Curtis
Herbert Sidney Smith 1887
Lawrence James Smith 1889
Alfred John Smith 1891
Stanley George Smith 1893
Beatrice Amelia Smith 1895
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Sidney Smith married Eliza Amelia Curtis 1885 reg. Woodbridge
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I wonder if the burial register might include any further information that could help.
Might be worth contacting the council, contact details given on Eliza’s entry, see link below:
https://ipswichboroughcouncil.discovereverafter.com/profile/35716177
Pinetree
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Thank you all for the information. It looks like the Leeds death record may be the one to look at. at least for elimination purposes if nothing else.
I assume no burial could take place without a death certificate, and as she was buried on 3 January 1941, that only leaves only 1 week when her death could have been registered, so I know that the January quarter of 1941 would be the last possible one to look in.
I'll inform my wife about the record for Leeds Eliza and hopefully, fingers crossed, we can put a great big hole through this brick wall.
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I assume no burial could take place without a death certificate
Not the case. What is required is a "certificate for burial/cremation", which can be issued, by a registrar or coroner, before the death is registered in some circumstances.
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Just to add, for general info, that in 1939 Eliza seems to be at 11 Bridge Street, Halesworth, Suffolk, with her married daughter Miriam Jane.
Eliza A Smith, born 11.8.1865
Walter Parker, born 1879
Miriam J Parker, born 9.1.1886
Birth
Sep 1865 Ipswich 4a 560
Curtis, Eliza Amelia
mother Wigg
Halesworth was in Blyth RD, where the Eliza Smith death in 1940 doesn't match.
Miriam Jane Parker's death was registered in Blyth in 1971.
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Hello all,
Just an update that my wife has now received a copy of the Leeds death certificate, and it is 100% the correct one, so many, many thanks for the help.
She died at 123 Beckett Street, which apparently is the address for St James's Infirmary in Leeds.
Now the only puzzle we have to solve is why she died in Leeds? So far we have found no connections to Leeds on any part of the family tree.
The search continues...
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I'm glad to know you've now got the right certificate.
After visiting my grandparents' grave (UE 86) in the New Cemetery at Ipswich this afternoon, a short walk brought me to section XH where I took the attached photos of the Smiths' memorial in the 5th row from the curved path, perhaps about 10 plots west of a group of large trees. The headstone is more elaborate than most and looks fairly well preserved, although discoloured, but the floor inside the kerb has collapsed (like several others in that vicinity) causing Sidney's vase to topple over.
The Cemetery Office (https://www.ipswichcemetery.co.uk/contact/ (https://www.ipswichcemetery.co.uk/contact/)) would be able to provide an estimate of the cost of any restoration.
David
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Wow, David, that is amazing!
Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to get these photographs. My wife is so thrilled to see them.
Hopefully we will be able to visit in person soon, and are going to look into the possibility of getting repairs done.
Again, thank you
SnB