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Quote from: PaulJC on Sunday 26 October 25 09:00 GMT (UK)

Incidently, the name of Halls company was originally Stephen Smith and Co, established around 1883. This fits with the period in which he would have known/married Annie so perhaps it was a relation?

I will try to see if I can find some early records of the company to see who were the directors.

I checked on the 1881 Census and Annies brother, a medical student, is called Stephen F Smith. I wonder if Hall initially used him as a front for his business trying to give it some medical respectability?

Sometimes a hunch is correct...... Stephen Francis Smith (one of Annies brothers is a director of Stephen Smith and Co.

The fact that Annies father was a docotor is very interesting. Halls business was "Hall Wine", a mix of coca leaves and wine which was said to have certain "medicinal" properties. Hall convinced (paid) a number of doctors to promote the product and I wonder if Smith was one of them.

Incidently, the name of Halls company was originally Stephen Smith and Co, established around 1883. This fits with the period in which he would have known/married Annie so perhaps it was a relation?

I will try to see if I can find some early records of the company to see who were the directors.

This is easier to read.

Thanks. I was aware of the circumstances of the divorce.

Many thanks All. Highly appreciated as always.

Paul

There was a pub, now closed, on Anlaby Road, Hull, called the William Gemmell.

The Hull History centre has William Gemmell as owner and skipper of the "Heron" in the 1890's

Thanks,
Yes its the same family. There was a history of shipbuilding in the family right through to the 1950s.