Lost G Grandfather Robert Marshall Smith.....

dmh68 · Post by **dmh68** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:14 pm

Can anyone out there help with advice to help trace a lost ancestor?

My G Grandfather ROBERT MARSHALL SMITH was born on 8th January 1871 in Edinburgh. I have his birth certificate. However, I cannot find a record of his death.

He was still alive in 1934 according to the marriage certificate of his son Willliam.

Then in 1947 I have the Death Certificate for his wife, Joan Smith (m/s McKechnie) but which shows her as 'single'. But its definitely her - parents are correct, she still lives at 136 Nelson Street which was the family address for years and her daugher Agnes Smith is the information of her death. Don't know why they would have recorded her as being single??

I have looked and looked for a record of Robert's death between 1934 and 1947 but can't find anything for him at all.

Why can't I find him???

Thanks all for any suggestions.....

dmh68

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:29 pm

Hi dmh68

Single would suggest that she was divorced rather than a widow.

So maybe need to look for a divorce or maybe it was just desertion. either way he may still be alive after 1947
Could he have died in the war? Maybe he never came home?

dmh68 · Post by **dmh68** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:41 pm

Thanks Drew - divorce never occurred to me, I suppose I thought you had to have money to get a divorce and that's not something that I think there was much of in the lives of my ancestors!! Could be though...

Will check out your suggestions.

Thanks for the help!