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Very interesting, Austin. From the info you have found I would discount the marriage to Susanna Fox. The man in the photo is not my father. From what I was told he was never a prisoner of war, but I know he was torpedoed and spent several long hours in the water before being rescued, which contributed to his chest condition for the rest of his life.

With regard to Elizabeth Farrow, we need to delve a little deeper. The story about cruelty and ill treatment is interesting but does not tie in with what I remember about my father who was a very mild and kind man who never lost his temper. But of course as the case in court was dismissed it would seem that she might have made it all up to get rid of him!! She could have been a psychotic nightmare wife, and he could have resorted to taking steps to disappear by changing his name and moving away as far as he could from where she was living, (just speculation of course!) who knows!
I haven't had much time to look into family trees lately but there might be one or two clues where I can link into somebody else's who could possibly shed some light on this saga.

Afternoon David,

Have you had chance to look through the information? I wondered what your thoughts were?

OK- just found this. Stewart is spelled Stuart, but it is the correct couple (Stewart Smith/ Elizabeth Farrow):

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald - Saturday 27 September 1924

Young Couple's Troubles
Eckington Wife Seeks Separation

The troubles of a young married couple were related to the Eckington Bench on Monday, when Elizabeth Smith (23), now living at Southgate, Eckington, summoned her husband Stuart Smith, fireman, Chapel Street, Mosbro' for persistent cruelty.

The article goes on to say:-
There was one child born to the marriage. Elizabeth's mother, Annie Farrow said her daughter had complained of his ill treatment, but she did not want them to separate. No evidence of persistent cruelty was found- the Bench suggested adjourning matters for a month so the couple could make up their differences.
Elizabeth did not want the case adjourned and said she would not return to husband. The defendant (Stuart Smith) was willing to take her back or pay 25s a week in the meantime.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a month.
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A month later another article in the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald - Saturday 25 October 1924.

WIFE'S CASE FAILS
ECKINGTON WOMAN'S APPLICATION DISMISSED

The article states that the couple had not made up. Elizabeth said under no circumstances would she return to her husband. Again, no evidence of cruelty found and case was dismissed.
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So, if this is the correct Stewart (and he certainly seems to be a contender)- would being accused of persistent cruelty, having your wife refuse to live with you, and having it reported in the papers be enough to make him change his name?

Just chucking in a few bits that might relate to the Stewart Smith/ Elizabeth Farrow marriage.

They married in Chesterfield, Derbyshire-

Thought this could be Elizabeth with her family:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
49 Southgate Eckington Sheffield, Eckington, Derbyshire, England

Edward Farrow Head Married Male Coal Miner Hewer 48 1863 Yorkshire Tickhill
Annie Farrow Wife Married Female - 44 1867 Lancashire Gorton
Elizabeth Farrow Daughter - Female School 10 1901 Derbyshire Eckington
Beatrice Farrow Daughter - Female - 7 1904 Derbyshire Eckington
George Farrow Son - Male - 4 1907 Derbyshire Eckington
William Cousins Step-Son Single Male Pit Top Hand Labourer 18 1893 Derbyshire Eckington
Kettie Cousins Stepdaughter Single Female - 15 1896 Derbyshire Eckington
Lilian Cousins Stepdaughter - Female School 12 1899 Derbyshire Eckington
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Usefully, the school admission registers give her date of birth:

National School Admission Registers
name(s) Elizabeth Farrow
Birth date 18 Mar 1901
Event year 1909
School name Eckington Camms School
Town Eckington
County Derbyshire
Parent name(s) Edward
Book type Admissions
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Using the date of birth I found her in 1939- with surname Smith, so I assume it's the correct Elizabeth, and she's living with her Mum, Annie Farrow:

Farrow Household 20 Lansbury Road,Eckington , Chesterfield R.D., Derbyshire,

Annie Farrow 16 Aug 1866 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Elizabeth Kay (Smith) 18 Mar 1901 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
1 closed record
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Elizabeth married in 1942:

name(s) Elizabeth Smith/ Elizabeth Farrow
Marriage year 1942
Parish Chesterfield Register Office
Place Chesterfield
Spouse's name Edwin Kay
Reference RO/114/097
Register Office Chesterfield
County Derbyshire

and died in 1985: (her husband Edwin Kay died in 1977)

Name: Elizabeth Kay
Birth Date: 18 Mar 1901
Date of Registration: Jan 1985
Age at Death: 83
Registration district: Lichfield
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 30 Page: 1006
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Elizabeth and Edwin had a son in 1943.

I don't see a relevant death for her first husband Stewart.

Re the Stewart Smith. Susannah Fox marriage- I noted Susannah was living in Charlotte Street in 1939:

A 1940 article in the paper makes mention of a Stewart Smith from Charlotte Street. He had been aboard the SS Newton Beech when it was captured in November 1939 and taken as a prisoner of war.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Saturday 17 February 1940

NORTH MEN ON ALTMARK
North-East Crews
They May Be Among Rescued Prisoners
Of the Tyneside men believed to be among the prisoners rescued from the Altmark are the following....
SS Newton Beech-: Stewart Smith third engineer, Charlotte Street

However, if he returned to Susannah I don't see a death in Newcastle upon Tyne for him.

EDIT: I've just found a photo in the paper of this Stewart Smith which I presumed was taken after his rescue so it's doubtful he was your father. I'll pm the picture, then you can be sure.

It would seem fair to assume that after changing his name to Peter Underwood, my father did not want to be found by his first family, but what would be the reason for that?

Austin: I do vaguely remember him having a tattoo of an anchor, something which was pretty common among naval people. But I don't remember a scar on his left upper arm, or a mole on his chest/cheek, but then again I was only 9 when he died and there is a lot about him that I don't remember.
His father's name on the marriage certificate says Herbert Underwood (deceased), Exporter. That is false information. Isn't that illegal? Underwood was his grandmother's maiden name.
I read somewhere that the 1921 census is soon to be released and when it is, it might be possible to locate him from that.
There is nobody from the Botting family who I can contact. They had no children and both died a long time ago and I never knew any other relatives they might have had..

Re the two marriages you found - Stewart Smith marries Susanna Fox in 1923 in South Shields, and there are two children, Stewart Jr. and Stella.
I will research this one on Ancestry

In 1921 Stewart Smith marries Elizabeth Farrow in Chesterfield, possible daughter Renée, born 1922. I'll try a search for these as well.

As always, many thanks to all for your comments and help

did your father change his name to peter because he was not divorced from his first he would then say he was a batchelor on his second marriage you don't change your name unless you have something to hide

Regarding the bachelor status............

This indeed may not mean that there was no previous marriage.

My friend has a great many certificates and we know for a fact, when signatures even matched, that some men stated 'bachelor' when it was quite obvious that there had been a previous marriage...or marriages.

They seemed to have stated 'bachelor' if they considered themselves with no wife and therefore free to marry.

This may, ..or may not.. have been the case for your family.

There were no marriages for Stewart U Smith, but looking at marriages for just Stewart Smith, there are surprisingly few (using Stewart not Stuart/ and without initials).

These are the only possibles I see:

Marriages Sep 1921
Farrow Elizabeth Smith Chesterfield 7b 1698
Smith Stewart Farrow Chesterfield 7b 1698

Marriages Mar 1923
Fox Susannah T Smith S.Shields 10a 1274
Smith Stewart Fox S.Shields 10a 1274
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For the 1923 marriage:

This is Susannah in 1939- she is listed as married but no husband with her:

Smith Household 38 Charlotte Street , South Shields C.B., Durham, England

Susanna Smith 01 Apr 1903 Female House Duties Married
Stella Smith 18 Jul 1923 Female Apprentice Hairdresser Single
Stewart Smith 25 Oct 1925 Male At School Single

Stella never married and died 1995 Newcastle upon Tyne

Stewart died in 1997 Newcastle upon Tyne and married Marion Murthwaite in 1958.

Susanna died (still surname Smith) in 1992 Newcastle Upon Tyne

Interestingly a family member (Sandra Smith- Stewart Jnr's daughter) has a tree for Susanna Fox and Stewart Smith on Ancestry- but she has no details(birth or death) listed for Stewart. It might be worth contacting her if you have access to Ancestry.
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The 1921 marriage is proving harder to follow. This is a possible daughter of Stewart Smith and Elizabeth Farrow, but I don't see any thing further definite for her:

Births Mar 1922
Smith Renée Farrow Chesterfield 7b 1546

Does the marriage certificate give his father as Herbert Smith?

Oh blow! so, this just raises more questions!

He didn't have to be married to father children previous to marrying your Mum.

However, I feel the name change must be part of this. Was he still legally married to someone else? Did he change his name to avoid being found by his previous family?

I need to have another think on this one.

Re any other census- there are no available census open after 1911 (which was posted on page one). Few electoral registers are online, but most are held at central libraries for the area/s you want. I have a feeling they are searchable by address and not name- which would make finding him very difficult, but perhaps someone else can clarify that.


Just a thought- is there anyone from the Bottling family that might have any details?

Austin Q - re I would wait until the marriage certificate come to see if it provides any extra clues- whether it says divorced/ widowed/ marriage dissolved (or mentions any name change).

I have now received my parents' marriage certificate. The marriage took place on 26th August 1939 at Southampton Registry Office (two months after his father died!). My father aged 39, mother 27, residence at time of marriage 45 Dimond Road, Southampton. It neither says 'divorced' nor 'widowed' - it says 'bachelor' !! So, it appears that there was no first marriage, and yet he had another family according to both my mother and my aunt - the plot thickens! How would I find him in a census prior to 1939?

Thanks Gwyn

http://www.theukdeedpolloffice.co.uk/knowledge-base/tracing-name-change.html

Also, it occurs to me - is it possible to obtain records of name change by deed poll? Where does one look for that?

None of us are experts, but we enjoy a challenge!

The term clerk refers to his previous occupation before joining up (and not his duties within the war effort).

I don't know if this will help: Identifying marks were:
Tattoo on left forearm
Scar on left upper arm
Mole on chest (or possibly cheek)

Slight defect, but not sufficient to cause rejection:- Asthma

It also mentions invalided to UK due to aneamia 1919

Perhaps somebody else can look at the service records- they are on FMP- there is quite a bit to read through.

- Stewart Underwood Smith,

-Stewart Smith born Truro, Cornwall.

The records say 'clerk' and yet both my mother and my aunt (as, indeed, did Will Botting) used to refer to his having been active during both Wars as I mentioned above, yet never mentioned the foot injury in France. Curiouser and curiouser !!
Do you think there is a possibility that this might be another Stewart Smith who came from Sheffield?
I feel rather helpless but very thankful that you are doing all this research on my behalf. But you're obviously experts at this sort of thing and know exactly where to look, and I really do not have a clue! :-D

Yes the newpaper article says 97 Harcourt Road- although I suspect it should be 99, as this is the address given for Herbert on his death in 1939.

(the vocalist, Robert Charlesworth, was at 101 Harcourt Road).
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I've double checked the military records and it clearly states both military numbers on the medical report (he injured his left foot in France, Sept 1918).- All the other documents concerning occupation do say 'clerk', so perhaps it was a mistake- hard to see how it happened though!

Yes, Irene did live at 99 Harcourt Road until her mother's death. Not sure why it says Eliza Smith though. Her mother was Lilie Smith and Eliza was her grandmother's name (Eliza Courtenay James married to Samuel H James). No idea who the other people were though, and as for my father being a music hall artist, I have no idea about that either, but it seems highly unlikely. Could the records be for a different Stewart Smith, I wonder?
Interesting though? He lied about his age in 1915; could he have lied about his 2-week pilot training and being sent off to fight during WW1?
Are there any records for WW2? I have photos of him wearing a naval officer's uniform.
The piece in the newspaper about the poem states that Mrs Lilie Smith lived at 67 Harcourt Road. Is that a typo or is that where the next door neighbour singer lived?

Just having another looks at your father's military record- there are a few files for him on Find My Past.

The first is for Stewart Underwood Smith (2054). Occupation: Clerk
He must have lied about his age as he signs up 15th April 1915 with an apparent age of 19 years and 4 months. He is discharged medically unfit in 29th May of 1915.

He is then called up 22nd January 1917, using name Stewart Smith (649696)
giving his age as 18 years and 1 month, occupation- Clerk.

However within the file there is a medical report that was written in 1919 prior to his discharge. The report includes both 2054 and 649696 numbers (so we know they are the same man). It states he was first posted for duty in April 1915 and gives a current age of 25 (which matches the age on his first record). It then states that his former occupation was MUSIC HALL ARTIST.

His mother and sister were living in a house with a retired actor in 1939 (there is also a professional vocalist living next door)- so it seems plausible that Stewart mixed within these circles. Could Peter Underwood have been his stage name? Or perhaps changing his name was to distance himself from his former stint in the theatres?

All theories- but worth keeping in mind.
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Oh, and we can now discount the Anne Martha Underwood-Smith. She was married to Clifford Underwood and double barrelled her name when she remarried in 1958 to Charles J Smith.