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Messages - Lesley Paul

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London and Middlesex / Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Tuesday 28 March 17 16:23 BST (UK)  »
Hello Greg.  Sorry for the delay in replying but I had almost given up on Violet/Viola!  If you would like to private message me then my email address is Removed  Kind regards.  Lesley


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2
Immigrants & Emigrants - General / Re: Missing person - Viola/Violet Ruth Sprey-Smith, nee Moncrieffe
« on: Wednesday 22 January 14 22:01 GMT (UK)  »
Sorry Dawn, but I am new to Rootschat and it is not clear on how to do a general post.  I had looked at the help pages, but they don't show how to do this.  As I am using my tablet there is no way of copying/pasting a URL.

Answering Carole's message, the info you give is all correct.  However We believe that Moncrieffe is a fictitious name.  Viola was actually born as Violet Ruth Gunthorpe in 1892 in Herefordshire although she and her family were living in London in the 1911 Census.

My postings on Rootschat are a total long shot as we can find no trace of either Viola/Violet or her son Brian George from 1925, although her husband (at the time) filed for divorce in 1940, the decree absolute was issued in January 1941 quoting the grounds as desertion for longer than 3 years.  I would imagine that she would have had to have the papers served to her so that the divorce could be granted (I have never been divorced so dont know the practicalities).  Unfortunately, as far as we are aware, the case files have not survived.

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Immigrants & Emigrants - General / Missing person - Viola/Violet Ruth Sprey-Smith, nee Moncrieffe
« on: Wednesday 22 January 14 20:58 GMT (UK)  »
Hello does anyone have a Viola/Violet Ruth suddenly appearing in their family trees anytime from about 1925 onwards.  She would have been born 1892/3.  I cannot find any trace of either her or her son Brian George (born 1925 in England).

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London and Middlesex / Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Wednesday 22 January 14 20:47 GMT (UK)  »
Hi

No, we dont know what happened to Brian George at all, he seems to have disappeared as well.

I know that Viola/Violet was actually Violet Ruth Gunthorpe and she was born in 1892 in Herefordshire, the daughter of John & Louisa Gunthorpe.  In the 1911 Census she was living with her family in London and worked as a typist at (we think) McCorquodale Printers.  I have checked the ages on the 3 marriage certificates we have for and they do tally.

I can only imagine that Viola/Violet went abroad somewhere, eg Australia, Canada or somewhere else.  Once I learn how to do a general worldwide posting on Rootschat I will do, but at the moment I can't see how to do it.

5
London and Middlesex / Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Friday 17 January 14 07:02 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Dawn

The owner of the tree and I are equally baffled by this lady.  Why did she use fictitious names and keep deserting her children and then totally disappearing.

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London and Middlesex / Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:24 GMT (UK)  »
Sorry, just to add that yes Albert Edward died in 1922 of Paralysis of the Insane (Syphylls)

And yes for some reason that no-one has yet fathomed, Violet/Viola marries Cecil for a second at a Roman Catholic Church in Rathdown, Dunlaghaire, Ireland.  Neither family were Roman Catholic as far as we are aware.  And it appears that she disappears shortly after the ceremony.

7
London and Middlesex / Re: Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Thursday 16 January 14 21:18 GMT (UK)  »
Hi everyone

Thank you for your replies.  We had already found Viola's marriage to Albert Edward Brownrigg-Fyers.  However, the maiden name she was fictitious!  There is no record of a Violet Ruth Moncrieffe.  She also gives her father's name as Phillip Moncrieffe, again there is record of a Phillip Moncrieffe.  Who she really is is Violet Ruth Gunthorpe born 1892 in Herefordshire, daughter of John & Louisa.  Violet gave birth to an illegitimate son, born at The Metropole Hotel, Brighton in August 1914.  According to the family his father was Herbert Ponting, the photographer of the Antartic Expedition.  Violet did not keep the child, she left him with her sister, Doris Todd and her husband Charles.

Violet disappears until 1918 when she marries Edward Albert Brownrigg-Fyers.  She gives birth 3 months later to a daughter.  She again disappears, leaving the baby with her husband's parents, until she marries Cecil Sprey-Smith in 1922. Cecil was from a Colonial family.  He was a Capt in the Army and then a professional tennis player/coach.

As you an imagine this woman is driving me mad! :)

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London and Middlesex / Looking for Viola Ruth Sprey-Smith
« on: Thursday 16 January 14 19:14 GMT (UK)  »
Hi.  I am new to Rootschat although not new to family history research but this lady has got me beat :-\.  Viola Ruth Brownrigg-Fyers (widow) married Cecil Sprey-Smith at Paddington Registry Office in 1922.  They had 2 children, a girl in 1923 and a boy in 1925.  Shortly after the boy's birth Viola disappears, leaving the little girl with her husband's family.  Cecil filed for divorce in 1940 - the decree absolute being granted in 1941 citing desertion for longer than 3 years as the grounds.  Does anyone know what could have happened to her.  She was born in 1892.

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