George Percy Smith

George Percy was the only son of Thomas and Eleanor Smith (née Eyre).

His parents were born in Mansfield, Thomas in about 1855 and Eleanor in about 1853. They were married in 1881 (reg. JFM Mansfield) and had five children: Edith Harriet b. 1882, Florence Jane b. January 1885 and Jessie b. 1886 who were born in Mansfield, and Gertrude b. Feb. 1889 and George Percy b. 1894 (JAS) who were born in Nottingham.

Thomas, a hosier's assistant (folder), and Eleanor, a boot machinist, were living in Bowling Green Field, Mansfield, in 1881.

They had moved to Ryehill Cottages, 12 Atlas Terrace, Nottingham, by 1891: Thomas, a hosiery warehouseman, Eleanor, and their four daughters, Edith, Florence, Jessie and Gertrude. Their only son, George, was born three years later.

Thomas died on 2 March 1898 aged 43.

In 1901 his widow Eleanor, was living at Ryehill Cottage, 12 Kirkwhite Street (sic), with four of her five children: Edith, a warehouse assistant, Florence and Jessie who were hosiery menders and George who was school age. Also in the household were two boarders, both school teachers (girls), Edith Lyman (25) married and Mary Bugg (26) single, both of whom were born in Newark.

Eleanor's youngest daughter, Gertrude (12) was living at 6 Gilcroft Row, Mansfield, with her uncle and aunt, William Fox (b. Longford Derbyshire), a cooper (own account) and his wife Harriet (née Smith b. 1852, m. 1895 Mansfield).

Eleanor and three of her children, Edith, a clerk, Florence, a hosiery mender and George, a hosiery assistant were living at 32 Middle Furlong Road, Nottingham, by 1911. Also in the household was a boarder, Charles Frederick Sharpe (18), a hosiery assistant.

Gertrude was still living with her aunt and uncle in Mansfield in 1911 , although they had now moved to 35 Church Street, Mansfield. William's occupation was given on the census as cooper & wood turner and confectioner (shopkeeper/employer, own account, 'at home') while his niece was a confectioner (worker, 'at home'). Registered as a visitor in the household on the night of the census was Gertrude's older sister, Jessie, a manageress (hosiery warehouse).

Eleanor was living at 7 Burnham Street, Nottingham, when her son Percy was killed in action in 1916 (ref. Nottingham Evening Post, 1917).

Eleanor Smith died on 10 June 1923.

Her second daughter, Florence Jane, married Albert W Swann (b. 1884) in 1921 (JFM Nottingham). Their first child, Margaret, died in 1923 aged 6 months; a son, William Alan, was born in December 1924. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, William, a shopkeeper (confectioner) who was also an Air Raid Warden, and his wife and son were living at 377 Aspley Lane, Nottingham. Florence died in 1967 (JAS) and William later the same year.

By 1939, William Fox was a smallholder and living with his wife Harriet at Longford Mount Oak Tree, Mansfield, in 1939. Also in the home was their niece Gertrude, whose occupation was given as housekeeper, and a domestic servant.

Gertrude married in 1943 (Pickard); she died in 1985 (reg. JFM Nottingham).

Her sisters Edith, a manageress (bakers and confectionary shop sales), and Jessie, occupation housekeeper, were living at 8 King Edward Avenue, Mansfield, in 1939. Also in the home was Joyce L Beilby (b. 1926), an evacuee.

Edith died in December 1963; the probate record gave her address as 8 King Edward Avenue, Mansfield. Administration was awarded to her widowed sister, Gertrude Pickard. Jessie died in 1969; the probate record gave her address as 11 Garth Road, Mansfield.