Identity Puzzle--Completed with thanks

[tracn4]

Hi

I know I've asked for help on this before but I wanted to add a new piece of the puzzle  to see if anyone has any suggestions

My great grandfather John Ivan SMITH was born in 1900 but I can't find a record of his birth in new zealand and his marriage is outside the historical timeframe (only just) so I did the only thing I could and ordered a printout for his death

Now this is where it gets interesting according to that he was born in marsden and his parents are listed as william SMITH and lillian SIGNAL,when I searched for a marriage the only one with those two last names is for william john bennett SMITH and annette elizabeth SIGNAL but in the birth search they don't have a son john

I'm not sure what to think
Anyone have any ideas on where I go from there?

Thanks
Tracy

[DotBrennan]

previous thread to avoid duplication of effort:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,408665.0.html


Bren

[cmclayton]

Hi Tracey

John Ivan SMITH's parents could have married before coming to New Zealand.

Doing a search on the BMD there is a Frederick William SMITH born 1903 with parents listed as
Lillian and William SMITH.

Thanks heaps Christine

[Mk2_Zephyr]

Order the marriage cert, should be more informative.

Look for the deaths of parents, surely you must have some idea where he grew up.

[Lucy2]

Hi Tracy

Will be in touch shortly via PM.

Yes, as I also suggested previously, it's worth getting the 1930 marriage record (printout) for John Ivan SMITH and Dorothy.   

Just have a look though, at the list of children for Annette Elizabeth and William John Bennett SMITH.    (There are seven  ... last-born (1908) has no father's name recorded ?   I am guessing that WJB and AE parted some time after 1903 birth of Helen Daisy ... and WJB has then started his second family ?)

http://bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/

My "money' is on "Isaac John SMITH - birth registered 1902"
being "John Ivan".     

("Isaac" may well be an error on the online BMD?   Might pay to check the microfiche record of the Birth Index (at library) if you have access.    1902 registration ... but you say he was born late December about 1900 ... maybe it was 1901 ?  ... often births late in year, are registered in the following year.)

"Lillian" ... hmmm "Lily"  .... sometimes this is a pet name for "Elizabeth"  (but it may just be that "Lillian" on the death certifcate is an error / wrong info given by death informant?)
The maiden name SIGNAL is a strong factor though ... so yes, I'm going with the "Issac John".

Lu

[tracn4]

Hi Lucy2

Yes I'm definately getting the marriage cert when its available,I looked on the website to see if I could order it now anyway as you suggested last time but I couldn't find anything on how to order it

I had wondered if the bdm online was accurate and I realise his mothers name on the death cert is not totally reliable as its from a third party,the lack of concrete proof of his fathers 2 families and not being able to find john ivans name in records has certainly left me wondering

Once again you have been an enormous help

Ps  thanks to christine also for checking into things for me

Unfortunately my nana doesn't know where her father grew up or much at all about his family so its been hard to trace his childhood

Tracy