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According to her marriage certificate she married Edward Ernest Smythe on 16th May 1891 in Medway Kent. She was born 1866/67 but I cannot find her in any census under that name. Her father was Frederick Furbank and he was a Sapper living in Brompton Barracks.

She was allegedly born in Chatham but there are rumours she was born abroad, neither of which can I prove.

She appears in the 1901 Census under the Smith but her husband and children are living without her in the 1911 Census. What happened to her and where did she come from? Her father and husband were both Sappers in the Royal Engineers. Has anyone got any more info on her please?

Have you tried variants of the surname?

Firbank would seem a possibility

There were no penalties for not registering births until 1875

The 1891 census says born London.

Could this be Florence in 1911?

Name: Florence Smith
Age in 1911: 43
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation to Head: Patient
Gender: Female
Birth Place: London, United Kingdom
Civil parish: St John-at-Hackney
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street Address: Hackney Union Infirmary, 230 High Street, Homerton N E
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 10
Estimated Marriage Year: 1901
Registration district: Hackney
Registration District Number: 11
Sub-registration district: South East Hackney
ED, institution, or vessel: 30-38
Piece: 1169

Reggie

Thanks for the responses to my enquiry. She may well have been unregistered if her father was a serving Royal Engineer and he was not able to register her. Her mother may have died in childbirth but I know nothing about her family other than her father.

Regards

Trevor

Who witnessed her marriage?

Reggie

Marriage witnessed by Sam'l Dabner and James White

Not sure now if this is her in 1891? She married in May and the census was taken 5 April. She shouldn't be a Smythe yet.

1891 England Census
about Florence G Smythe Name: Florence G Smythe
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Female
Where born: London City, Middlesex, England

Civil parish: Gillingham
Ecclesiastical parish: Trinity
Town: Brompton
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Registration district: Medway
Sub-registration district: Gillingham
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 662
Folio: 44
Page Number: 27
Household Members: Name Age
James Rogers 40
Jane Rogers 36
Ethel Rogers 13
Rose Rogers 11
William Rogers 9
John Rogers 5
Louisa Rogers 2
Ellen Rogers 1
Florence G Smythe 24

Says she's married.

These may be the witnesses in 1891?

Name: Samuel Dabner
Age: 59
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Emily Dabner
Gender: Male
Where born: Dartford, Kent, England

Civil parish: Wilmington
Ecclesiastical parish: Wilmington St Michael
Town: Wilmington
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street Address: Hawley Road, 3 Jasmine Place

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Dartford
Sub-registration district: Dartford
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 641
Folio: 9
Page Number: 12
Household Members: Name Age
Samuel Dabner 59 Labourer
Emily Dabner 54
William Dabner 24
Emma Dabner 18
James White 28 Stepson
Arthur White 14
Elizabeth McPherson 14

1881

Name: James White
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Emily White
Gender: Male
Where born: Dartford, Kent, England

Civil parish: Dartford
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street Address: 85 Lowfield St
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Carman On Sewer

Registration district: Dartford
Sub-registration district: Dartford
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 865
Folio: 113
Page Number: 15
Household Members: Name Age
Emily White 46 Wife, Married
James White 18 Son
Arthur William White 4 Son
Alexander John White 24 Son, Married
Annie Emmeline White 3 Granddaughter


1871

Name: Emily White
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1837
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: John White
Gender: Female
Where born: Foots Cray, Surrey, England
Civil parish: Dartford
Ecclesiastical parish: Canterbury
Town: Dartford
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Registration district: Dartford
Sub-registration district: Dartford
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Household schedule number: 81
Piece: 884
Folio: 97
Page Number: 16
Household Members: Name Age
John White 36
Emily White 34
Alexander White 14
James White 8

Marriages Dec 1855

BURRIDGE James John Dartford 2a 379
MCPHERSON Emily Dartford 2a 379 <<<<<<<<<<<<
NORCLIFFE Clara Ann Dartford 2a 379
WHITE John Dartford 2a 379 <<<<<<<<<

So looks unlikely that James White was a relative of Florence?

Think that 1891 was her lodging near Edward's barracks:

1891 census transcription details for: Brompton Barracks, Chatham

National Archive Reference: RG number: RG12 Piece: 666 Folio: 77 Page: 4
Reg. District: Medway
Sub District: Gillingham
Parish: Gillingham
Ecclesiastical District: Holy Trinity
City/Municipal Borough: Chatham

Address: Gillingham, Chatham
County: Kent

SMYTHE, Edward Ernest Soldier Single M 25 1866 Sapper Royal Engineer Ireland

(She may have claimed to be already married to him for the sake of decency)

What occupation was given for her father Frederick on the marriage certificate please? Was he a soldier too?

The Florence Smith in hospital on the 1911 that K posted was born Pimlico, married 10 years and had one child that had died.

Trevor, what details can you give us about known children?

Could you post the details for the 1911 you have for the rest of the family?

This must be the 1901, for reference:

SMYTH, Edward Head Married M 37 1864 Bricklayer Ireland Dublin
SMYTH, Florence G Wife Married F 34 1867 Chatham, Kent
SMYTH, Catherine Daughter Single F 10 1891 Chatham, Kent
SMYTH, Christopher Son Single M 5 1896 Aldershot, Hampshire
SMYTH, Edward Son Single M 3 1898 Swanley, Kent
SMYTH, Dorothy E Daughter Single F 0 (7 MOS) 1901 Swanley, Kent

Piece: 708 Folio: 73 Page: 22
Registration District: Dartford
Civil Parish: Sutton At Hone

Address: Castle Road, Sutton At Hone, Swanley Junction County: Kent

(Surname is as shown on original image)

Found the 1911:

SMYTH, Edward Head Married M 45 1866 Bricklayar Dublin Resident
SMYTH, Christopher Son M 14 1897 Shop Boy Hampshire
SMYTH, Edward Son M 12 1899 School Kent Swanley
SMYTH, Ellen Daughter F 10 1901 School Kent Swanley
SMYTH, Nora Daughter F 9 1902 School Kent Swanley

RG number: RG14 Piece: 3795
Reference: RG14PN3795 RG78PN144 RD43 SD4 ED2 SN194
Registration District: Dartford
Sub District: Farningham
Enumeration District: 2
Parish: Sutton At Hone

Address: 1 Castle Road Swanley Junction County: Kent

Says married 20 years, 10 children born and 5 had died.

pm from Trevor:

I have the same details of children as you have shown in the 1901 and 1911 Censuses. Catherine has disappeared in the 1911 Census but was my mother in law's mother and Christopher died in WW1 after getting the Military Medal. He is buried in Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium. Still no idea of what happened to Florence between the Censuses or where she came from. maybe she walked out, divorced and remarried.