Cottonera hospital malta

[Luzzu]

I will ask around and try and find out what remains at Rinella.

What are the names and birth dates of the children.  I wonder if some of them died in Malta.  I think without a doubt the reason he re-married quickly on both occasions was to provide give his children a mother.  I think it was quite common in the 19th century.  He certainly had a very sad time over the years.

They were married in 1879 when she was 21, not sure what year they went to Malta

Does his service record say what date he was posted to Malta?

Luzzu

[postylady]

I agree with you there, he did seem to have his fair share of bad luck.

The line that I am searching is Williams son George John, He was born in Dublin in Ireland (again with the forces I beleive) also myself and my aunty are in touch with another of Williams sons' descendants, William jnr. So with help from my aunty the five children were William jnr, George, Charles, Abraham was born in London and Isaac born in Malta.  I don't know the dates of these childrens birth though, only George, who was born in 1882.

I msut have been having a dim moment, why didn't I think of the army records for him leaving for Malta.  Also on one page of the records it says the name of a street where he was living, in Sliema, I tried googling the street but maybe I didn't get the name right or it doesn't exist anymore.

Posty

[Luzzu]

Hi again.

Happy New Year  .

What is the name of the street in Sliema?  I live very close to Sliema and in fact that is where I work so I am there very often.

Re the children.  My initial thought is that there should be more.  The burial record for Mary Ann said she left her husband with 5 young children and then you mentioned 3 children being born after Mary Ann's death so their mother must be Mary Frances and then did she die giving birth to a 4th child who may or may not have lived.  Then he married Mary Frances' sister in 1903, did she have any children?

Luzzu

[Luzzu]

Just been trying to sort out these children in my mind - is this right?

William Thomas Smith married Mary Ann Hetty in 1879 and their children are:-

William jnr born ?
George John born 1882 in Dublin
Charles born ?
Abraham born ? in London
Francis born 1885 in London
Isaac born 1887 in Malta

Mary Ann dies in May 1888 in Malta and the burial record says she leaves five young children - so one of the above must have died in infancy.  Maybe Abraham because Francis and Isaac appear on the 1901 census and William and Charles are mentioned in George's WW1 record.  Do you know in which part of London Abraham was born?

William Thomas marries Mary Frances Barber in Dec 1888 and their children are:-

Harry born 1890 in Malta
Arthur born 1894 in Malta
Frederick born 1896 in Malta
Percy born 1899 in Marsden, Beds
? born 1902 in Marsden, Beds

Mary Frances dies in childbirth 1st qtr 1902 Ampthill 3b 241 and we don't know if the child survives.  If it did and it was registered 1st qtr 1902, there are 3 possible registrations in Ampthill - Gladys Sophia, James or Maud.

William married Kate Elizabeth Barber 1st qtr 1903 and we don't know if they had any children.

William Thomas dies 3rd qtr 1904 aged 54.

Have you found the 3rd wife on the 1911 census to see which children, if any, she has with her.

Looking at George John's WW1 record he only gives the names of 3 brothers - William, Charles and Frederick.

Luzzu

[Luzzu]

On the Malta Family History website there are these baptisms but I don't know how you go about finding more information about them:-

Arthur Smith 1894 79th reg
Harry S Smith 1890 Royal Artillery
Frederick 1897 29th reg
Frederick James 1898 Royal Artillery

Luzzu

[postylady]

Hi Luzzu

How do you find so much out in such a short space of time.  It seems to take me months.  Thanks for everything.  You have all the right info. Theplace they lived was Marston in Bedfordshire. No kids for kate and William as far as I know. Will PM you.  Hope the attachment turns out ok.

Posty

[Luzzu]

Hi  ,

Had a look at the attachment you sent and the street in Sliema is Strada Reale.  Now there is a problem because in the 19th century the street names were all in Italian, then the British changed them (I think after WW2) and then when Malta became a republic they were changed again.

There was a Strada Reale in Valletta (the capital) which was renamed Kingsway by the British and then changed again to Triq ir-Republika (Republic Street) after independence.  It is one of the most prominent streets in Valletta so I am hoping the one in Sliema will be one of the major streets as well.

I will ask around and try and find out.  It is unlikely the original house will be there as Sliema was heavily bombed in WW2 and then over the last 30 years has undergone major redevelopment and modernisation.  However when I find out where the street is I will go and have a look and take some photographs.

Luzzu

[Luzzu]

Strada Reale in Sliema is now known as Triq il Kbira or High Street.

Luzzu

[postylady]

Thank you Luzzu, for everything

The drinks are on me 

Posty