George William Smitham

He was the eldest son of George William Smitham and Mary Elizabeth Smitham nee Oldham. His parents were married in 1892 (marriage registered A/M/J Nottingham). According to the 1911 Census when they had been married for 22 years they had had 9 children of whom only seven were still living at the time of the census. Eight children were named on the 1901 and 1911 census: Ann [Annie] (b. 1892 O/N/D), George William (b. 1896 A/M/J), Alfred (b. 1898 A/M/J, died age 12 in 1911, buried 21 February), Susannah [Susan] (b. 1900 O/N/D), Mary Elizabeth [Elizabeth] (b. 1903 J/A/S); Doris (b. 1905 J/A/S), Minnie Mary (birth registered 1907 J/F/M) and Samuel [Samuel Nicholas] (b. 23 March 1910, birth registered 1910 A/M/J). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1901 George and Mary were living at 5 Lennox Street, Nottingham, with their four children, Ann (8), George William (5), Alfred (3) and Susannah (6 months). Also in the household were Arthur Burson (22), Jane Burson (25) and their ten-month old daughter, Ada, who were described as boarders. By 1911 George, a general labourer, and his wife, a lace dresser, were living at 13 Coldham Street, Nottingham. Their seven surviving children were still living at home; Annie, George (14), Susan (10), Elizabeth (8), Doris (6), Minnie (4) and Samuel (1). The second son, Alfred, had died at the age of 12 in February the same year. According to the notice of George's death in the local paper he lived at 25 South Street, Sneinton. However, the CWGC record, which was compiled some years later, gives his parents' address as 21 Grainger Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham. Of George's family, his mother died in 1938 age 63 (b. abt. 1875, buried 6 July 1938 Nottingham) and his father aged 74 in 1945 (b. abt 1871, death registered O/N/D Nottingham). Ann Smitham was married in 1911 to Charles Morrell (marriage registered O/N/D Nottingham), Susan Smitham to Walter Wisher in 1925 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Minnie Smitham to George Young in 1925 (O/N/D Nottingham). Samuel married Hilda Offiler in 1928 (marriage registered A/M/J Nottingham); he died aged 77 on 24 December 1987.