Born Norah Lilian Hamilton Smith on the 30th June, 1895, in Astwick. She was the daughter of Henrietta Hamilton and Herbert Alfred Smith, a corn miller’s foreman, and sister to Alured and Ruth.
Norah Lilian Hamilton Smith b-1895
Thomas Warren – Lilian Smith m-1913
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Born: 30th June 1895
Married: 31st December 1913
Died: 1st June 1946
In December 1913, at eighteen years of age, she married Thomas Samuel Warren, a 21 year old steel turner from Somerset. It is interesting to note that on the marriage certificate she is not Norah Lilian but Lilian Isabel.
There is a story that Norah Lilian’s parents did not attend the wedding at all, because she was pregnant to Thomas ( married December, gave birth in May – you do the math), and that Fanny (Francesca) and Rosalie stood in for them. The marriage certificate would seem to support this version, being witnessed by both Francesca and Rosalie. Furthermore the bride’s address is given as the Wimbledon address which Francesca shows on her Census 1911 return. Certainly, Francesca is on the left in the wedding photo, holding one of her adopted children – maybe her favourite called Bubbles.
The young man in the wedding photo may be her adopted 14 year old son, Edward who is also a witness on marriage cert or he could be the Grooms younger brother, Arthur Albert.
Together Norah Lilian and Thomas Samuel had eight children:
Iris Lilian (b. 1914)
Thomas Horace, known as Sonny (b. 1915)
Poppy Phyllis (b. 1916)
Dennis Graeme (b. 1919)
Violet Nora, also known as Blue (b. 1921)
Beryl Molly (b. 1927)
Ronald (b. 1932)
Trevor (b. 1935)
On 1 June 1946 Norah Lilian Warren (50) died – last address was 78 Stanley Road, Croydon as housekeeper. Thomas Samuel notified her death in Mayday Hospital and since her last home and the hospital were both adjacent to the Croydon Crematorium, no money was spent on hearses.
Letter from Norah Lilian to her Daughter Beryl
We have a letter written by Lilian in April 1946, only 30 days before her death.
The letter is to her daughter Beryl, asking her to please communicate with her father on Lilian’s behalf, suggesting that she was not on speaking terms with Thomas Samuel, in the hope of getting financial assistance from him to provide for Ron.
Ron and Trevor were apparently at this stage living with Norah Lilian in Croydon, where Lilian was housekeeping for old Mr Cox. Thomas Samuel was now living with his housekeeper, who he married the following year.
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| 78 Stanley Road, West Croydon April 30 1946 Dear Beryl, Will you ask Pa if he has signed that form for Ron. I will be coming over very soon and would like him to tell you if it’s signed and sent in or he will not be able to claim. It would help with his clothing if nothing else. Poppy came over the other day. I thought Barry was like Trevor when he was tiny. How is Blue, have she been able to rear the little May Day (chicks) or have they died. Tell her she can have that granpa rabbit , he has got quite pretty now. I hope Blue got a sensible allowance made out to her at the court on Thursday. He must keep the children and her, but she must be sensible you know or she will be stranded. I paid 10/- out of my money for shoes to be mended for Ron this week. I bought him new trousers 13/11, 1 shirt 6/11, Trevor two shirts, doesn’t the money go, but I do my best, and I’m thankful that I don’t owe a penny to anyone. Rex is expected home any day now. I bought a young bitch – haven’t got it yet, but it’s a pedigree and a good one. I hope you are well , ask Pa if he will put out a few eggs for the children , and the duck eggs are good also. I have got all the fence refenced with high fencing. Old Cox is fading out. I’ve been all over the place to get him Sanatogen – can’t get it here anywhere. Nerves are a terrible thing, aren’t they With love to you both Mum |
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