Death of Eliza Amelia Smith, nee Curtis

[kizmiaz]

Hello

I am on the lookout for the death of my wife's great grandmother, and hope someone may have any more information.

Her name was Eliza Amelia Curtis, born in Ipswich on 11 August 1865. On 17 October 1885 she married Sidney Smith at Boyton Parish Church. She appears to have lived most of her life in Ipswich, until she was again located in 1938, this time in Woolwich living with her son Alfred at 34 Campfield Road, Eltham. After that, we have nothing more.

We have ordered death certificates which seemed to match but none of them turned out to be correct. We don't know whether she returned back to Suffolk during the war, or whether she stayed in London.

If anyone has any knowledge of Eliza Smith dying during, or just after the war, we would be most grateful to receive it

Many thanks

Glen

[Milliepede]

Hello

Is she a widow when she is living with her son?

Have you got Alfred after 1938?

[lizdb]

I wonder if this might be her?  Do you know Alfreds occupation and if he had a middle name, and if there is a Florence around ?

Probate index entry
Eliza Amelia Smith of 3 Hereford Hardens Longhurst Road Lewisham Kent widow died 23 May 1935 Probate to Alfred Edward Smith retired builders manager and Florence Eliza Mallett (wife of Henry William Mallett) Effects £550 16s 3d

[lizdb]

Hmmmm, not looking so good.
Looking back over the censuses Alfred seems to have middle initial J, and no daughter called Florence.

[Milliepede]

Plus she was located in 1938 - 3 years later!

[lizdb]

I somehow missed the obvious . . . .

[kizmiaz]

Hi Milliepede and Lizdb

We have bitten the bullet and ordered yet another certificate for yet another Eliza Smith, this time back in Blyth, Suffolk, so will have a few days to see if it turns out to be another red herring. We have found so many of those that we could make a rather tasty fish stew!

We located son Alfred John in 1939 at 24 Campfield Road, Eltham, with his wife, but no mother. Strangely his wife's name is also Florence, but Florence Jane. After 1939 we only have Albert's death in 1979.

Eliza's husband Sidney died in Ipswich in 1935 so we can only assume that Eliza went to live with her son after his death.

She is turning out to be a bit of a troublesome one!

Many thanks

Glen

[Milliepede]

Fingers crossed.  I do sympathise with the name Smith 

Interesting son Alfred is not with her in 1939 - could indicate she died in that short time frame
1938-1939 but 

[Milliepede]

There's a Lizzie Smith death in Woolwich Dec 1938 but age not quite right - 76.

I can't imagine she would have left her son if she had a home with him and headed off back to Suffolk when she was in her 70's but you never know.