Hey Lil and Colleen!
I saw this site a while ago while researching my family tree but I've only just now come back to it as I had also hit a dead end when trying to find James Pickthall's birth mother, Jeanie Smith. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find records on her, especially as I don't know her year of birth, death, etc.
I'm also beginning to believe that we have an ever smaller chance at finding his birth father due to the lack of information there is around his birth mother.
As well as this, I believe my grandmother had given a son up for adoption who would be my half-uncle. His name was Warrick however that is all I know about him and thus cannot find anything on him either. If anyone has found any information on Jeanie Smith and Warrick could you please let me know? Thanks.
James Pickthall is my great grandfather through my grandmother V.E.Osborne (Pickthall) who still lives in New Plymouth. I believe the person you were helping is her sister and my great aunt. It is lovely to hear that you've been helping her Lil!
And Colleen that must mean you're my half great aunt! I had no idea he had other children. I was born in New Plymouth but moved to Palmerston North at the very end of 2021. I had no idea that my great grandfather had come here too! However I did find that he had another partner named Neroli, which I would assume is your mother?
Regards,
Elysia