Help to find Henry Simmons

[jbj63]

Hello

I'm new here and really need some help to find information on my grandfather.

My Mother and Sister tried to find his birth certificate some years ago but came up blank.  They paid the records office to do a search and they found nothing.

His name was Henry Simmons (no middle initial as far as we know)  His birthday was 16th June but we are unsure of the year but believe it to be 1887-1889.  He died on 14th March 1955 and his age as stated on the birth certificate was 66.

All my grandfathers side of the family come from the East End of London.

The problem is made worse by the fact that I can't find any records for his mother either.  I do know that when she died her name was Florence Henrietta Hammond and she died on 10th July 1940 in Bromley by Bow.  She married her last husband Edward Hammond in 1928.  When she married him her surname was Simmons, but I have been unable to find any record of her marrying anybody called Simmons.

On my nan and granddads marriage certificate his father is named as Albert Alfred Simmons and his occupation was private - so I assume he was in the army.

Henry also had two brothers that we know of.  William Simmons and Thomas Owen.  My aunt gave me this information as she knew both of them and they lived nearby in Bethnal Green when she was a child.

Also my Granddad was in the army in WW1.  I have his regiment numbers, but have been unable to find him.  I am assuming the records were lost in WW2.

Any help would be appreciated.  I have done more research and think I may have found a census record for them, but can't be sure if I have the right family.  I don't want to go too far down the wrong path.

If anyone is willing/or able to help I can give details of the census and regiment numbers etc.

Thanks in advance

Julie

[Sharon01]

Hi,

Is it possible that Henry's father was Alfred James Simmons. I found this baptism record.

Albert Alfred Simmons baptised on 04/11/1895, Limehouse St Luke. Born 18/12/1892

Parents Alfred James (carman) & Florence Henrietta. Address was 67 Coutts Road.

1901 census has the family living at 6 Park Road, Mile End old Town (RG13/337/38/68).

Sharon

[Sharon01]

The same couple baptised George Alexander Simmons on 26/03/1900 at St Luke Limehouse. Born 30/06/1898.

Father Albert James (packer) & Florence. Address 6 Park Road.

Sharon

[carol8353]

Hello Julie and Welcome to Rootschat.

Can you tell us who and when did Henry marry- what are the details on the cert- his job,fathers name and profession and address.
Also who were the witnesses.

You say Henry served in WW1 in what regiment and what was his number.

And lastly you mention a brother being Thomas Owen,is Owen his surname or his middle name? When/where did his brothers die?

Carol

[jbj63]

First of all thank you for your quick responses.

Henry married Annie Elizabeth Wraight on 13th April 1918.  His father's name is listed as Albert Alfred Simmons and he was listed as a private.  Frederick Wraight is Annie's father and he was a farm worker.  Their wedding took place in Faversham, Kent which is where Annie was from.  The witnesses were Alfred John Parker and Emily J Parker.

I have the same census records and feel that it must be the right family, but I didn't know about George as I think he died at 2 years old.  A brother is listed as Albert Alfred and nobody in the family has heard of him either so I don't know if he died in the war or even if he served in WW1.

I don't think that my grandfather originally had the surname of Simmons as we believe that he was born when Florence was in service.  (Sorry - don't know where)  We believe that the master of the house may have been the actual father and Henry may have been registered under Florence's maiden/previous name, but we have no idea what that was.

On the 1911 census it is stated that the marriage (between Alfred James Simmons and Florence) was 24 years previously.  I can't find any record of it.

Thomas Owen was his brother and Owen was his surname.  I think he must have been the eldest.  I don't know how many times Florence might have been married either or why he has a different surname.

Henry Simmons 2nd Scottish rifles 9772
and Royal Flying Corps G/26977

If you need any more info please let me know.   The baptism records are interesting, I hadn't found those.  The main areas are Bethnal Green, Poplar, Stepney, St. George in the East, St. Lukes and St. Pancras.

Thank you both so much for offering to help.  If I missed any answers let me know!

Julie

[jbj63]

Hi,

Is it possible that Henry's father was Alfred James Simmons. I found this baptism record.

Albert Alfred Simmons baptised on 04/11/1895, Limehouse St Luke. Born 18/12/1892

Parents Alfred James (carman) & Florence Henrietta. Address was 67 Coutts Road.

1901 census has the family living at 6 Park Road, Mile End old Town (RG13/337/38/68).

Sharon

If you don't mind my asking, where did you find the baptism records?  This is very interesting information.

Many thanks

Julie

[Sharon01]

Hi Julie,

The baptism records I found are on An....try (LMA London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906).

Sharon

 

[jbj63]

Hi Sharon

Thanks for that.  I have also found William James Simmons birth 1895 Mile End Old Town.  Unfortunately it gets me no closer to Henry Simmons!

Julie

[Sharon01]

I have tried looking for Thomas Owen with Florence in the census' but have not had any luck yet.

Sharon