Mary Frances (Smith) Cotton (1870 - 1959)

Born 21 Feb 1870 in Fawley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of William Cotton — married 1899 in Southampton district, Hampshire, England

Descendants

Died 25 Apr 1959 at age 89 in Dibden Purlieu, Dibden, New Forest, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathy Viney [send private message]

Biography

Mary Frances Smith, known as "Polly" was born in in 1870 in Fawley, Hampshire, the daughter of Thomas Smith and Sarah Croutear. She was baptised 24 Feb 1870 in Fawley.

She gave birth to Daisy in 1897. She married William Cotton in 1899 in Southampton, Hampshire. The family have usually assumed William was the father of Daisy, but that may not be the case: Daisy (Jr) was listed as William's stepdaughter in the 1911 Census. In that census, Mary and William are living in Hardley, where William is working on a farm. They have three boarders in the household, one of whom is William Smith aged 75, born in Hardley, a domestic gardener.

WIlliam and Polly had two daughters together:

• Eileen, who married Peter, and had two sons in the mid-1940s: Ross(?) and Michael.
• Jacqueline, who married Reg, NI.

Polly died in 1959 in New Forest, Hampshire.

Research Notes

Death record ordered from GRO UK, 19 Nov 2023.

Sources

• Baptism:
  • "England, Hampshire Parish Registers, 1538-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5WM-27WL : 26 October 2020), Mary Frances Smith, 24 Feb 1870; citing Christening, Fawley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, Lancashire Record Office and Hampshire Record Office, England; FHL microfilm .
  • "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKNK-WZ4 : 20 March 2020), Mary Frances Smith, 1870.
  • "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLY4-LB2B : 2 January 2020), Mary Frances Smith, 24 Feb 1870; citingBaptism, Fawley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, "England, Hampshire Bishop's Transcripts 1680-1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLY4-LB2B : 2 January 2020), Mary Frances Smith, 24 Feb 1870; citing Baptism, Fawley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, Lancashire Record Office and Hampshire Record Office, United Kingdom.
• Marriage: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2691-9D6 : 22 May 2014), Mary Frances Smith, 1899; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1899, quarter 3, vol. 2C, p. 15, Southampton, Hampshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• Census 1911: "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWQX-22Z : 4 July 2019), Mary Cotton in household of William Cotton, Fawley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• Death:
  • "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCZ-PKTW : 4 September 2014), Mary F Cotton, 1959; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, New Forest, Hampshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
  • General Register Office death certificate copy attached.

Acknowledgements

• Family notes left by Sonja (Lewis) Smithson for her daughter, Teena (Smithson) Paul.
• First-hand information as remembered by Richard Smith, Monday, January 26, 2015.
• Family tree of Richard Smith shared with Kathy Viney on 16 Feb 2021.