Sheffield, SIMMS, SMITH help!

[blhurrell]

Hello I need help.

I have started a family tree for  a friend and have quickly come across an interesting problem that i cannot resolve.

Frederick Gilbert Simms married Jane Page 14.10.1939, Frederick was a widower. they had 1 child, Frederick Stephen Simms b. 16.4.1940.

According to Frederick Stephen Simms, Frederick Gilbert Simms was not born with that name but was born Willie Smith 22.7.1882, I have the birth certificate. The parents are James & Harriet Smith.

Apart from Frederick Gilbert Simms birth (as Willie Smith), his marriage to Jane Page and his death as Frederick Gilbert Simms in 1951. I cannot find any information regarding this man. He is listed as a Cutler on the marriage certificate and a carpenter 10 years later on the death certificate.

I have found parents and siblings on census' living in Atercliffe cum Darnall but no sign of Willie/Frederick.

Does anyone have any info? why would he change his name?

[suttontrust]

If you found the Smiths on the 1881 census, is it possible that Willie was adopted by the Simms family?  How many children did the Smiths have in 1881?  Are the parents' deaths recorded?  Are they on the 1891 census?
Give us the details of James and Harriet.  We'll do our best to help.

[blhurrell]

I have Wille's birth certifcate, b. 22.7.1882 at 197 Darnall Hill, Attercliffe to James and Harriet Smith. the name is Willie not William.

The 1881 census shows

James Smith 42
Harriet Smith 41
George W. Smith 20
Emily Smith 17
Arthur Smith 16
Albert Smith 13
Frank Smith 9
Fred Smith 6
Lilly Smith 1
 
all Living at 197 Darnall Road, Attercliffe cum Darnall.

1891 Census

James Smith 52
Harriett Smith 50
Frank Smith 19
Fred Smith 17
Lillie Smith 11
Ernest Smith 6
Emily Smith 27

Living at 222 Darnall Road, Attercliffe cum Darnall

I think James Smith was born 1839 to John and Ann Smith in Sheffield, not sure when he died there are so many Smith's.

James Smith married Harriet Wilson in 1859 in Sheffield. Harriet was born abt 1840 in Darnall to George and Hannah Wilson. Not sure when Harriet died.

[mosiefish]

Hi,

Are you absolutely certain you have the correct Willie Smith birth certificate?  There is a death recorded for a Willie Smith in the December Quarter 1882 Sheffield aged 0.   This may account for the one with parents James and Harriet not appearing on the 1891 census.

Regards,
Mo

[suttontrust]

That was my thought too.  How certain was F S Simms of the actual birth date of Willie?  There is a Willie Smith born in the Barnsley district in the same quarter.

[blhurrell]

I have been talking to the daughter of F S Simms and I understand that the birth certificate for Willie Smith was given to F S Simms by either his father, F G Simms/ Willie Smith or his mother Jane Simms/Page.

The daughter was not aware that her grandfather had changed his name but F S Simms was.

On the marriage certificate F G Simms is a widower, so there may be siblings of F S Simms. He is an only child and was not aware of any relatives at all.