Dear Felicity Wondering if you have located the Will for Charles Smart - perhaps he acknowledge Henry in that? regards Lyn in Oz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Felicity Smart" <felicitysmart@doctors.org.uk> To: <monmouthshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 9:48 AM Subject: Re: [MON] GIFFORD CWM EBBW VALE 1900 > Dear Barbara and Jeff > Thank you both for your replies. > Yes Henry Wells Gifford Smart is the one in question, He > was always thought to be the youngest son of Fanny and her > husband Charles who was a miner who died in1997, According > to his death cert he died of typhoid fever but my > cousin(Henry's daughter) is adamant that he died following > a pit explosion and has the bible allegedly given to his > widow by the mining company as compensation-another > unsolved mystery! > It was only after finding Charles Smart's death cert and > date that I realised that Henry could not have been > Charles' son, > When I contacted my cousin she confirmed that he had > discovered in his teens that he had another father, and > this was confirmed by other family members. He remembered > being taken to meet his natural father several times and > even visited him on his death bed. apparently his father > twice acknowledged him as his son, but after his death the > family refused to admit it. > Henry's daughter gave me details of her fathers > memories, those of attending the little school set up in > the grounds of the "big house" and his meetings with his > natural father, and also the feeling that Gifford was > connected to the mines in a position of authority.. He > always resented his illegitimacy and found it hard to > accept. His birth cert gives Fanny as his mother but the > fathers name is ommitted.My cousin has a photo of the > elderly man she was always told was Gifford mand two > leather bound books of poetry she was told were given to > Henry by his true father.. > What none has managed so far is to discover who this > natural father was. Henry's name bieng given as including > Gifford seems to confirm the story, but we know no more > and I have been trying to track him down but these are the > only clues I have. > Fanny was born in somerset where she married Charles and > the moved to Cwm in about 1886 where their last 3 children > were born.Charles worked both down the mines and > previously in the steel works. Fanny went on in 1903 to > marry an Alfred Griffiths who brought Henry up as his > stepson but was NOT his father, > I suppose The old man?Gifford could have set Fanny up with > her toy shop.Fanny lived until the 1930s and I have photos > of her with my father when a baby. > I still do not know where this big house where she worked > as a servant/house keeper was or who her emloyer was/My > cousins assertion is that his name was Gifford. No luck > with censuses or Kelly's Index so lloking for a lead.... > Felicity > > Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:47:52 +0100 > "Jeff Coleman" <jeff.coleman@ntlworld.com> wrote: >> The birth of Henry Wells G SMART was registered in March >>quarter of 1900 ref >> Bedwelty 11a 91 >> >> In the 1901 census he shows as 'Harry SMART' age 13 >>months at RG13; Piece: >> 4933; Folio: 109; Page: 21 listed as the son of Fanny >>SMART, 44,widow, b >> Bristol, Toy Shop Keeper in Marine Street, Cwm. 5 older >>children were at >> home in the census and also two boarders age 35 and 77, >>both single. >> >> Is there a father shown on the birth certificate? >> >> It seems to be a big step from being a servant in a big >>house to running a >> shop. >> >> Jeff >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word >>'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the >>body of the message >> >> >> > > > > This message has been scanned for viruses by BlackSpider MailControl - > www.blackspider.com > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >