Ada SMYTH
Looking for anyone with the surname Smyth is always going to be a challenge and Ada proved no
different. There are many questions unanswered about her life and where she grew up but I believe
the story below gives us an idea of her background.
Childhood and Family
Ada was born at Elm Cottage, Hayes, Middlesex on 23rd February 1853 to George and Mary Ann SMYTH (nee Perry). Ada’s father was an ‘armiger’ – the Latin word armiger literally means “arms-bearer” but in the 19th century it often meant ‘gentleman’.
In the 1850s, Hayes was a rural agricultural parish, made up of 5 distinct hamlets; it didn’t get its
own railway station until 1864.
Parents Marriage
Ada’s parents didn’t actually marry until 20 years after her birth; the marriage taking place on 1st
November 1873 at St. Saviour, Southwark. George was a widower and his occupation was ‘manager
of a tea warehouse’; his father, William was a ‘land steward’. Mary had also been married before
and was a widow. Her father’s name was John Perry, ‘gentleman’.
I’ve been unable to confirm details of George’s first marriage but discovered that Mary had married
Pierre (Peter) Hebert by licence at St. Marylebone in the presence of her father on 7th August 1836.
Her father’s presence was necessary because Mary was a ‘minor’ (i.e. under the age of 21). Pierre
died in 1844.
Early Census Records
Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate Ada or her mother on the 1861 census. Ada’s father
though may be the George Smyth listed as a lodger at The Angel Inn, High Road, Hayes although his
occupation is given as ‘tutor’.
Similarly, I cannot find Ada on the 1871 census although her parents George (60) & Mary (51) Smyth are living in Denman Street, Southwark with their son Arthur (14). George is employed as the
‘manager of a tea company’.
At some point between the 1871 and 1881 census, Ada’s father died and on the 1881 census Ada
aged 28 is living at 65 Manor Street, Clapham with her widowed mother, Mary Ann (aged 61). Ada is
working a ‘domestic servant’ and her mother is being ‘supported by friends’. The house is shared
with two other families.
1891, 1901 and 1911 Census
In 1891, Ada is still living in Clapham but has moved to 35 North Side, where she is working as a
‘housemaid’ for Edward Pennington and his three single sisters Agnes, Fanny and Louisa. There are
two further servants in the house. Edward Pennington is living on his own means and is also a
Justice of the Peace.
On the following census (1901), Ada is still working for the Pennington family at 35 North Side,
where she is a ‘servant’ to 88yr old Miss Agnes M. Pennington. There is also another servant (nurse)
in the house.
Ten years later though when the 1911 census was taken on 2nd April, we find that Ada has moved
back to Manor Street in Clapham (but this time she’s at No. 84). Also in the same house, but on
separate schedules are Mrs Clarke and daughter Rosena; and Kezia Pearce and her daughter Louisa.
There is no occupation given for Ada.
The Workhouse and Asylum
There is an entry in the Lunacy Patients Admission Register for an Ada Smyth being admitted to
Wandsworth Workhouse on 24th November 1910 but discharged ‘recovered’ on 13th May 1911 – this
discharge date though doesn’t match the 1911 census entry.
According to the admission records, Ada was admitted to the Horton/Long Grove Asylum on 5th April
1913 when she was 61 years old. She’s described as 4ft 11½ in and weighing just 5st 4lbs. She is
described as ‘emaciated’.
Following an examination, it was observed that “she is incoherently and nosily talkative, evidently
hears imaginary voices addressing her and makes reply to them.” The Case Notes indicate that she’s
“in poor health and very thin” but “chatters incessantly throughout the day – is too incoherent to be
intelligible.”
Interestingly, the notes state that her half-sister (same mother) had entered an asylum but I have
not yet found any information to confirm this. The notes also give details of two relatives: her
brother Arthur Smyth and her sister-in-law, Mrs Annie Hebert – both living at 33 Colmer Road, South
Streatham.
Annie Hebert is the wife of Alexander Hebert (Ada’s half-brother). Ada’s sister-in-law states that Ada is one of six children although only two are still alive. She also confirms that Ada had an attack of influenza 5 weeks ago and on “about the third week noticed that her mind had been affected.”
After admittance to the asylum, the notes state that she’s suffering from “confusional insanity
apparently following influenza”. She has been “exceedingly restless and confused since admission”.
She also has “hallucinations”.
Just a couple of months after admittance, Ada died on 5th June 1913 at 2:50pm – the cause of death given as ‘general arteriosclerosis’.