Birth and Baptism
Violet Lilian, the daughter of Thomas Smith and his wife Emily Louisa Alford, who had been married at St Mary's church, Devonport, on 22 December 1872,[1][2] was born at Devonport on 29 October 1888[3] and baptized at St Paul's church, Devonport, on 16 November 1888.[4]
1891 Census
In 1891 Violet Lilian, aged 2, was living at 4 Ordnance Street, Devonport, with her parents and older siblings. Her father Thomas was a mason's labourer.[5]
1901 Census
Ten years later Violet Louisa, aged 12, was still with her parents and older siblings, but now living at 41 Cannon Street, Devonport. Her father Thomas was an army pensioner.[6]
Mother's Death
Violet Lilian's mother Emily Louisa died in 1902, her death being registered at Devonport in the second quarter of that year. Violet Lilian was 14 years old.[7]
Marriage
Violet Lilian married bachelor Richard Bilsborough after banns at the church of St Paul, Devonport, Devon, on 18 December 1910. Violet Lilian described herself as a spinster, aged 22, resident at1 Oak Villas, Camels Head, daughter of Thomas Smith, a pensioner. Witnesses were Thomas Smith and Walter Fitzgerald.[8][9]
Children
Violet Lilian and Richard had two children:
Eric Richard, born at Devonport on 25 January 1912[10] and baptized at the church of St Paul, Devonport, on 14 February 1912.[11]
Kenneth Walter, born at Devonport on 19 February 1923[12] and baptized at St Paul's church, Devonport, on 15 March 1923.[13]
1911 Census
In 1911 Violet Lilian was living at 1 Oak Villas, Camels Head, Devonport, with her widowed father Thomas and her older brother Joseph.[14]
1921 Census
In 1921 Violet Lilian was still living at 1 Oak Villas, Camels Head, Devonport. Her husband Richard and son Eric Richard were with her.[15]
1939 Register
In 1939 Violet Lilian was living with her two sons at 12 Wordsworth Road, North Prospect, Plymouth. Her husband Richard was not with her.[16]
Death
Violet Lilian died in 1953, her death being registered at Plymouth in the third quarter of that year.[17]
Sources
↑Marriage Registration:
"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
citing 1872, quarter 4, vol. 5B, p. 601, Stoke Damerel, Devon, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
FamilySearch Record: 2DL6-5FY (accessed 29 April 2024)
Thomas Smith marriage registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1872 in Stoke Damerel.
↑Marriage:
"UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960"
The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; War Office: Royal Artillery Records of Service and Papers; Class: WO 69; Piece: Piece 570; Piece Description: Piece 570 (1848 - 1877) Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60931 #29287 (accessed 29 April 2024)
Gunner Thomas Smith marriage to Emily Louisa Alford on 22 Dec 1872 in St Marys Devonport.
↑Birth Registration:
"England & Wales General Register Office" GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 29 April 2024)
Smith, Violet Lilian (Mother's maiden name: Alford). GRO Reference: 1888 Oct-Nov-Dec in Stoke Damerel Volume 05B Page 319.
↑Baptism:
"England, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1912"
citing Page: 70; Digital film/folder number: 004634805
FamilySearch Record: KCSH-WZM (accessed 29 April 2024)
FamilySearch Image: 939N-QLSC-L5 Image number 00071
Violet Lilian Smith baptism in 1888 in Devon, England, United Kingdom.
↑1891 Census:
"England and Wales Census, 1891"
citing The National Archives of the UK Class: RG12; Piece/Folio: 1743/ 46; Page: 32; Line: 12
FamilySearch Record: W41B-J2M (accessed 29 April 2024)
FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSQQ-RFPC
Violet Smith (2) daughter in household of Thomas Smith (53) in Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom. Born in Devonshire, England.
Name
Relation
Status
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
Thomas Smith
Head
Married
M
53
Masons Labourer
Wareham, Dorset
Emily L Smith
Wife
Married
F
36
Devonport, Devon
E E J A Smith
Daughter
Single
F
17
Exeter, Devon
Mary L Smith
Daughter
F
15
Apprentice To Dressmaker
Aldershot, Hampshire
Beatrice M Smith
Daughter
F
12
Devonport, Devon
Thomas S Smith
Son
M
10
Devonport, Devon
Joseph E Smith
Son
M
7
Devonport, Devon
Violet L Smith
Daughter
F
2
Devonport, Devon
↑1901 Census:
"England and Wales Census, 1901"
citing St Aubyn subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey
FamilySearch Record: XSW5-5HF (accessed 29 April 2024)
Violet Smith (12) daughter in household of Thomas Smith (63) in Devonport, Plymouth in Stoke-Damerel registration district in Devon, England. Born in Devonport, Devonshire.
Name
Relation
Status
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
Thomas Smith
Head
Married
M
63
Army Pensioner
Wareham, Dorset
Emily L Smith
Wife
Married
F
47
Devonport, Devon
Emily Rundle
Daughter
Married
F
27
Exeter, Devon
Mary Hodge
Daughter
Married
F
25
Aldershot, Hampshire
Joseph Smith
Son
M
17
Masons Labourer
Devonport, Devon
Violet Smith
Daughter
F
12
Devonport, Devon
↑Death Registration:
"England & Wales General Register Office" GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 29 April 2024)
Smith, Emily Louisa (Age at death: 47). GRO Reference: 1902 Apr-May-Jun in Devonport Volume 05B Page 207.
↑Marriage Registration:
"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
citing 1910, quarter 4, vol. 5B, p. 678, Devonport, Devon, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
FamilySearch Record: 2DXN-TQR (accessed 29 April 2024)
Violet L Smith marriage registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1910 in Devonport.
↑Marriage:
"England, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1912"
citing Page: 48; Digital film/folder number: 004634808
FamilySearch Record: KCSH-ZG2 (accessed 29 April 2024)
FamilySearch Image: 939N-QL9J-1C Image number 00049
Violet Lilian Smith (22) marriage to Richard Bilsborough (23) in 1910 in Devon, England, United Kingdom.
↑Birth Registration:
"England & Wales General Register Office" GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 27 April 2024)
Bilsborough, Eric Richard (Mother's maiden name: Smith). GRO Reference: 1912 Jan-Feb-Mar in Devonport Volume 05B Page 552.
↑Baptism:
"Devon Baptisms"
Archive: Plymouth & West Devon Record Office; Reference: 2036/2/b; Page: 379 FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 27 April 2024)
Eric Richard Bilsborough baptism on 14 Feb 1912 (born 25 Jan ?), son of Richard & Violet Lilian, in Devonport, St Paul, Devon, England.
↑Birth Registration:
"England & Wales General Register Office" GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 27 April 2024)
Bilsborough, Kenneth Walter (Mother's maiden name: Smith). GRO Reference: 1923 Apr-May-Jun in Devonport Volume 05B Page 518.
↑Baptism:
"Devon Baptisms"
Archive: Plymouth & West Devon Record Office; Reference: 2036/2/b FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 27 April 2024)
Kenneth Walter Billsbrough baptism on 15 Mar 1923 (born 20 Feb 1923), son of Richard & Violet Lillian, in Devonport, St Paul, Devon, England.
↑1911 Census:
"England and Wales Census, 1911"
citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey
FamilySearch Record: XW9J-H3H (accessed 29 April 2024)
Violet Bilsborough (22), married daughter, in household of Thomas Smith (74) in Devonport, Plymouth in Devonport registration district in Devon, England. Born in Devonport, Devon.
Name
Relation
Status
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
Thomas Smith
Head
Widowed
M
74
Army Pensioner
Wareham, Dorset
Joseph Smith
Son
Single
M
28
Carter
Devonport, Devon
Violet Bilsborough
Daughter
Married
F
22
Devonport, Devon
Married under one year
No children born alive
↑1921 Census:
"1921 Census Of England & Wales"
Archive: The National Archives; Series: RG 15; Piece number: 10724; District reference: RD 278 RS 2 ED 27 FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 29 April 2024)
Violet Lilian Bilsborough (32), wife, Home Duties, in household of Richard Bilsborough (34) at 1, Oak Villas, Camels Head in Devonport registration district in Devon, England. Born in Devonport, Devon, England.
Name
Relation
Sex
Status
Age
Birth Place
Occupation
Employer
Richard Bilsborough
Head
M
Married
34
Preston, Lancashire
Labourer
N A A F I
Violet Lilian Bilsborough
Wife
F
Married
32
Devonport, Devon
Home Duties
Eric Richard Bilsborough
Son
M
9
Devonport, Devon
Scholar
↑1939 Register:
"1939 Register"
Reference: RG101/6803D/019/42; Piece number: 6803D; Schedule: 165 FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 29 April 2024)
Violet L Bilsborough (born 29 Oct 1888), married, Unpaid Domestic Duties, at 12 Wordsworth Road, North Prospect, Plymouth, Plymouth C.B., Devon, England.
Name
Status
Sex
Birth Date
Occupation
Violet L Bilsborough
Married
F
29 Oct 1888
Unpaid Domestic Duties
Eric R Bilsborough
Single
M
25 Jan 1912
Canteen Hand Naafi
Kenneth W Bilsborough
Single
M
19 Feb 1923
Milk Round
Closed Record
↑Death Registration:
"England & Wales General Register Office" GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 28 April 2024)
Bilsborough, Violet Lilian (Age at death: 64). GRO Reference: 1953 Jul-Aug-Sep in Plymouth Volume 07A Page 486.
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