Can't find a Marriage or Birth for James SCOTT :-(

[jonwarrn]

Hi
No, the Rochford electorals are on findmypast. Not sure they are much use. Hoping for a definite address for James Scott. Were any of the chemists in Rochford?
The only other thing I turned up was that on 23 June 1942 Ernest Bramah Smith of Flat 2 124 Holland Park Avenue London died at 40 Boulevard Weston super Mare. Probate to The Public Trustee and Lucy Maisie Smith widow.
That doesn't seem to help at all either.
This is a fiendishly tough problem!
John

[jonwarrn]

I thought that name was familiar, so I googled it
Ernest Bramah Smith, better known as Ernest Bramah, the author. Wrote the Max Carrados short stories, the blind detective. I remember reading some of those umpteen years ago.
Wonder why he died at a confectioners shop in Weston super Mare?
Or had the Scotts gone by then?

[Romilly]

From Wikipedia:

'Ernest Bramah (20 March 1868[1] – 27 June 1942), born Ernest Brammah Smith, was an English author.[2] He published 21 books and numerous short stories and features. His humorous works were ranked with Jerome K Jerome, and W.W. Jacobs, his detective stories with Conan Doyle, his politico-science fiction with H.G. Wells and his supernatural stories with Algernon Blackwood. George Orwell acknowledged that Bramah's book, What Might Have Been, influenced his Nineteen Eighty-Four. Bramah created the characters Kai Lung and Max Carrados.

Bramah was a recluse who did not give the public details of his personal life. He died at age 74 in London'.

It doesn't say anything about him dying in Weston-super-Mare.

Romilly.

[jonwarrn]

Hi
Sorry to have gone off on a tangent.
His death is registered June 1942 in Weston
Smith, Ernest B.
age 74

The Probate Calendar says he died at 40 Boulevard.
Newspaper reports - haven't got the full details - say Ernest Bramah/Ernest Bramah Smith, the novelist, has died in Somerset, aged 74
John

EDIT: In fact, in 1939 there seem to be two households at number 40 - your Scotts, and the Ashmans (2 of them)

[Romilly]

No probs Jonw, - and thanks for taking the time and trouble to look.

I've been off at all sorts of tangents looking for this chap...

He certainly isn't straightforward!

Romilly.

[Romilly]

Hi
No, the Rochford electorals are on findmypast. Not sure they are much use. Hoping for a definite address for James Scott. Were any of the chemists in Rochford?
John

Hi Again,

I am looking at this for a friend, - (James Scott was her Grandfather).

She says that:
'He had several shops in Southend in the 1920s.  One was a confectioners, and I think 2 were chemist shops.  I found them in Kelly directories in Southend library some years ago; they were listed as 'Cash Chemists'.

I've tried to find a James Scott with an Alexander Scott on the 1911 Census for Essex, - but can't see them...

Romilly