no image
Privacy Level: Open (White)

Ada Elizabeth (Howes) Smethurst (1891 - 1957)

Ada Elizabeth [uncertain] Smethurst formerly Howes aka Spidell
Born in Longueuil Township, Prescott and Russell, Ontario, Canadamap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of , , , , and
Wife of — married 29 Apr 1912 (to about 1918) in Port Arthur, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canadamap
Wife of — married 9 Mar 1927 in Seattle, King, Washington, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Mother of and
Died at age 65 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Milks private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 24 Dec 2021
This page has been accessed 65 times.

Contents

Biography

  1. 29 Apr 1912 to Malcolm Maynard Spidell (1887-1962)[5]. They had two children[6]. (When married, Ada was two months pregnant with Clayton.) Divorced about 1918[7].
  2. 9 Mar 1927 to Henry Joseph Smethurst[8]. No additional children.
  • Ada worked as a domestic at a hotel in Fort Frances[9]. It is likely that she met Malcolm while working there.

Research Notes

  • Ada's middle name may have originally been Eva. The middle name "Eva" is used on documents related to the 1912 marriage to Malcolm, and on daughter Florence's 1933 marriage certificate. The middle name "Elizabeth" appears on the Ontario Registration of Live Birth filed in 1950 and all documents related to her death in 1957. On most other documents, Ada just used her first name. Using "Elizabeth" since that is the name on her birth and death documentation, but there is some doubt.
  • The information regarding Ada's divorce is hearsay. Ancestry user msuthern, tree Suthern, has a Divorce entry for Ada dated "Abt. 1918". His source was a phone conversation with Ada's granddaughter Dianne Stewart in 2016. While this information needs to be corroborated, it does fit with the timeline of other events in Ada's life.
  • The date of Henry and Ada's marriage is clearly 9 Mar 1927, however they claim to have been married in Vancouver on 9 Mar 1921 (US Declarations of Intention). Note that a quick search of the BC Archives failed to find a marriage record. Henry and Ada migrated to the US as a married couple in 1923. In 1927, they were formally married in Seattle. The US Declarations of Intention were filed in 1929 and 1942, and it appears that Henry and Ada back-dated their marriage to 1921 (keeping March 9th) for some reason.
    • Henry was baptized Roman Catholic and Ada was raised Wesleyan Methodist. Henry converted to Jehovah's Witnesses at some unknown date (Ada probably did too). This may have affected whether their 1921 marriage was registered with the B.C. government and recognized by the US government, thus necessitating that they "remarry" in 1927.

Sources

  1. ↑ Full name from Ontario Birth Registration, however see Research Note.
  2. ↑ Birth info from Ontario Birth Registration.
  3. ↑ Parents' names from Ontario Birth Registration.
  4. ↑ Death info from Washington Certificate of Death.
  5. ↑ First marriage info from Ontario Marriage License/Certificate.
  6. ↑ Children listed in obit.
  7. ↑ Divorce information indirectly obtained from granddaughter.
  8. ↑ Second marriage info from Washington Marriage Records.
  9. ↑ Occupation from 1911 Census of Canada.

Family Trees

Birth

  • "Canada, Ontario Births, 1869-1912," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMZN-BMZ : 2 March 2021), Ada Elizabeth Howes, 27 May 1891; citing Birth, Longueil Township, Prescott, Ontario, Canada, citing Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,871,085.
    • Ancestry ca Record 8838 #976428
    • 2nd FamilySearch Record
    • Name: Ada Elizabeth Howes
    • Sex: Female
    • Birth Date: 27 May 1891
    • Birthplace: Longueil Township, Prescott, Ontario, Canada
    • Father's Name: Joseph Howes
    • Mother's Name: Sarah Jane Mcnally
    • Certificate Number: 501314
    • Source Details: cn 501314
    • Digital Folder Number: 004656929
    • Microfilm Number: 1871085
    • Image Number: 00509
    • Indexing Batch: C06057-7

Marriage 1

  • "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS86-FXR : 8 March 2021), Malcolm Maynard Spidell and Ada Eva Howes, 29 Apr 1912; citing registration , Port Arthur, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,906,766.
    • Ancestry ca Record 7921 #1096026
    • Name: Malcolm Maynard Spidell
    • Sex: Male
    • Age: 24
    • Birth Year (Estimated): 1888
    • Father's Name: Sydney Spidell
    • Mother's Name: Lucinda Sanders
    • Spouse's Name: Ada Eva Howes
    • Spouse's Sex: Female
    • Spouse's Age: 21
    • Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1891
    • Spouse's Father's Name: Joseph Howes
    • Spouse's Mother's Name: Sarah Mcnally
    • Marriage Date: 29 Apr 1912
    • Marriage Place: Port Arthur, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
    • Source Details: 019474
    • Digital Folder Number: 004529660
    • Microfilm Number: 1906766
    • Image Number: 00846
    • Indexing Batch: V01489-5
  • Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1938 for Ada Eva Howes; Thunder Bay; 1912
    • Source Citation
      • Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Reel: 14
    • Ancestry ca Record 7921 #3493205
    • Name: Ada Eva Howes
    • Marriage Date: 29 Apr 1912
    • Marriage Place: Thunder Bay District, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada [Port Arthur, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada]
    • Spouse: Malcolm Maynard Spidell

Arrival in US

  • Washington, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1965 for Ada Smethurst; M1383 Arriving Seattle, 1890-1957; 091
    • Source Citation
      • National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Seattle, Washington; NAI Number: 4449160; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1383; Roll Number: 91
    • Ancestry ca Record 8945 #3337573
    • Name: Ada Smethurst
    • Gender: Female
    • Nationality: English
    • Arrival Age: 30
    • Birth Date: 1894
    • Birth Place: Ottawa, Canada
    • Last Residence: Canada
    • Departure Place: Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Arrival Date: Jan 1924
    • Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington
    • Line Number: 7

Marriage 2

  • Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854-2013 for Ada Spidell; King; Marriages 1927 Jan-Apr
    • Source Citation
      • Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmcvol15_403
    • Ancestry ca Record 2378 #2453922
    • Name: Ada Spidell
    • Marriage Date: 9 Mar 1927
    • Marriage Place: Seattle, King, Washington, USA
    • Spouse: Henry J Smithurst

US Naturalization

  • U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957 for Ada Smethurst; Washington; District Court; Declarations of Intention, 1931-1933, #8401-8800
    • Source Citation
      • National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.c.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 149; Microfilm Serial: M1542
    • Ancestry ca Record 1193 #536988
    • Name: Ada Smethurst
    • Gender: Female
    • Declaration Age: 37
    • Record Type: Declaration
    • Birth Date: 27 May 1892
    • Birth Place: Vam Kleek Hill, Ont, Canada
    • Marriage Place: Washington
    • Arrival Date: 1923
    • Residence Place: Washington
    • Declaration Date: 22 Nov 1929
    • Declaration Place: Washington, USA
    • Spouse: Henry Joseph Smethurst
    • Child: Clayton Spidell Smethurst, Florence Evlyn Smethurst
    • Court: District Court
  • U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957 for Ada Smethurst; Washington; District Court; Declarations of Intention, 1941-1949, #11801-12000
    • Source Citation
      • National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.c.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 152; Microfilm Serial: M1542
    • Ancestry ca Record 1193 #1041000
    • Name: Ada Smethurst
    • Gender: Female
    • Declaration Age: 49
    • Record Type: Declaration
    • Birth Date: 27 May 1892
    • Birth Place: Vankleek Hill, Ont, Canada
    • Marriage Place: Washington
    • Arrival Date: 1923
    • Residence Place: Washington
    • Declaration Date: 25 May 1942
    • Declaration Place: Washington, USA
    • Spouse: Henry Joseph Smethurst
    • Child: Clayton Smethurst, Florence Smethurst
    • Court: District Court
  • U.S., Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) for Ada Elizabeth Smethurst; Washington; Indexes to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Southern Division (Tacoma), 1890-1953 (M1237); Consolidated Indexes, 1912-1953
    • Source Citation
      • The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Indexes to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Southern Division (Tacoma), 1890-1953 (M1237); Microfilm Serial: M1237; Microfilm Roll: 1
    • Ancestry ca Record 1629 #7156895
    • Name: Ada Elizabeth Smethurst
    • Record Type: Naturalization Index
  • "Washington, Western District, Naturalization Records, 1853-1957", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z5Z-26M8 : 18 November 2021), Ada Elizabeth Smethurst, 1945.
    • Name: Ada Elizabeth Smethurst
    • Naturalization Date: 25 Jun 1945
    • Naturalization Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United States
    • Naturalization Place (Original): Tacoma, Washington
    • Certificate Number: 6479138
    • Affiliate Publication Number: 4644630
    • Affiliate Publication Title: Naturalization Records for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Naturalization Index Cards; ca. 1930-1991; S-T
    • Digital Folder Number: 103397102
    • Image Number: 00848

Pension

  • U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
    • Ancestry ca Record 60901 #7519459
    • Name: Ada E Smethurst
    • Birth Date: 27 May 1891
    • Claim Date: 18 Apr 1956
    • SSN: 536108383
    • Notes: 12 Dec 1978: Name listed as ADA E SMETHURST

Death

  • "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQMN-2B4 : 10 March 2018), Ada Elizabeth Smethurst, 29 Mar 1957; citing Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, reference 7343, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,033,718.
    • Ancestry ca Record 1208 #678302
    • Ancestry ca Record 60229 #716256
    • Name: Ada Elizabeth Smethurst
    • Event Date: 29 Mar 1957
    • Event Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
    • Gender: Female
    • Age (Formatted): 65 years
    • Birth Year (Estimated): 1892
    • GS Film number: 2033718
    • Digital Folder Number: 4224510
    • Image Number: 2102
    • Reference ID: 7343
  • Washington, U.S., Death Index, 1940-2017

Obituary

Mrs. H. Smethurst Dies at Hospital
Mrs. Henry J. (Ada Elizabeth) Smethurst, 66, who served with her late husband as business agent for the local Cooks and Waiters Union, died yesterday in a local hospital. Her husband died last fall.
They had lived in Tacoma 30 years. Mrs. Smethurst was born in Vankleek, Kleek Hill, Ontario, Canada. She lived at 3402 So. D St., belonged to the Jehovah's Witnesses Church and the Degree of Honor Lodge.
She leaves a son, Clayton, Tacoma; a daughter, Mrs. Florence Stewart, Port Arthur, Ontario; a brother, Frank Howes, Kamloops, B.C.; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild in Germany.
Services will be announced by the C.C. Mellinger Co.
Smethurst --- Services for Mrs. Ada Elizabeth Smethurst will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the C. C. Mellinger Co. with Frank Desinger officiating. Burial will be in the New Tacoma Cemetery. Pallbearers will be members of Local 61, Cooks and Waiters Union.
  • Web: Tacoma, Washington, U.S., Obituary Index, 1882-2015
    • Ancestry ca Record 70049 #724032
    • Name: Ada Elizabeth Smethurst
    • Death Date: 29 Mar 1957
    • Publication Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA
    • Notes: 30 MAR 1957 A-2

Memorial

Censuses

  • Library and Archives Canada: Census of 1901: Ada E. Howes
    • Ancestry ca Record 8826 #14188844
    • FamilySearch Record
    • Surname: Howes
    • Given Name: Ada E.
    • Gender: Female
    • Age: 9
    • Birth Date: 1891-05-27
    • Marital Status: Single
    • Place of Birth: Ontario
    • Religion: Mètho
    • Relationship: Fille
    • Ethnic Origin: Anglaise
    • Nationality: Canadian
    • Province: Ontario
    • District Name: Prescott
    • District Number: 108
    • Sub-District Name: Longueuil
    • Sub-District Number: F
    • Division Number: 2
    • Family Number: 104
    • Page Number: 11
    • Microfilm: T-6492
    • Reference: RG31 - Statistics Canada
    • Item Number: 2429567
  • Library and Archives Canada: Census of 1911: Oda Howes
    • Ancestry ca Record 8947 #9071975
    • Surname: Howes
    • Given Name: Oda
    • Gender: Female
    • Age: 20
    • Birth Year: 1890
    • Birth Month: May
    • Marital Status: Single
    • Place of Birth: Quebec
    • Relationship: Domestic
    • Ethnic Origin: English
    • Province: Ontario
    • District Name: Thunder Bay and Rainy River
    • District Number: 123
    • Sub-District Name: McIrvine
    • Sub-District Number: 76
    • Sub-District Description: Fort Frances Town
    • Family Number: 113
    • Page Number: 13
    • Microfilm: T-20399
    • Reference: RG31, Statistics Canada
    • Item Number: 5997709
  • 1930 United States Federal Census for Ada Smithurch; Washington; Pierce; Tacoma; District 0160
    • Source Citation
      • Year: 1930; Census Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0160; FHL microfilm: 2342246
    • Description
      • District: 0160; Description: TACOMA CITY, WARD 5 (PART), BOUNDED BY (N) S. 46TH; (E) S. "J"; (S) S. 52D; (W) SHERIDAN AVE.
    • Ancestry ca Record 6224 #112473699
    • Name: Ada Smithurch [Ada Smethurst]
    • Birth Year: abt 1893
    • Gender: Female
    • Race: White
    • Age in 1930: 37
    • Birthplace: Canada English
    • Marital Status: Married
    • Relation to Head of House: Wife
    • Homemaker?: Yes
    • Home in 1930: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA
    • Street Address: So Sheridan
    • Ward of City: 5 pt
    • House Number: 5017
    • Dwelling Number: 141
    • Family Number: 141
    • Age at First Marriage: 19
    • Attended School: No
    • Able to Read and Write: Yes
    • Father's Birthplace: Canada English
    • Mother's Birthplace: Canada English
    • Language Spoken: English
    • Immigration Year: 1923
    • Naturalization: First Papers
    • Able to Speak English: Yes
    • Household Members Age Relationship
      • Henry Smithurch 33 Head
      • Ada Smithurch 37 Wife
      • Clayton Spidell 17 Stepson (Step Son)
  • 1940 United States Federal Census for Ada Smithurst; Washington; Pierce; Tacoma; 42-58
    • Source Citation
      • Year: 1940; Census Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04390; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 42-58
    • Description
      • Enumeration District: 42-58; Description: TACOMA ELECTION PRECINCT, TACOMA CITY WARD 5 (AREA E - PART)
    • Ancestry ca Record 2442 #64688062
    • Name: Ada Smithurst
    • Respondent: Yes
    • Age: 48
    • Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892
    • Gender: Female
    • Race: White
    • Birthplace: Canada English
    • Marital Status: Married
    • Relation to Head of House: Wife
    • Home in 1940: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
    • Street: Yakima
    • House Number: 5611
    • Inferred Residence in 1935: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington
    • Residence in 1935: Tacoma
    • Citizenship: Naturalized
    • Sheet Number: 10B
    • Attended School or College: No
    • Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
    • Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
    • Income: 0
    • Income Other Sources: No
    • Household Members Age Relationship
      • Henry Smithurst 44 Head
      • Ada Smithurst 48 Wife

Directory

Smethurst Clayton S (Erva E) constr wkr h301 E 84th
" Henry J (Ada E) bartndr OH h4309 S Thompson av




Is Ada your ancestor? Please don't go away!
 star icon Login to collaborate or comment, or
 star icon contact private message the profile manager, or
 star icon ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com

DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Ada by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Ada:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.

Featured National Park champion connections: Ada is 17 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 24 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 14 degrees from George Catlin, 20 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 27 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 15 degrees from George Grinnell, 27 degrees from Anton Kröller, 16 degrees from Stephen Mather, 14 degrees from Kara McKean, 20 degrees from John Muir, 17 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 28 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

H  >  Howes  |  S  >  Smethurst  >  Ada Elizabeth (Howes) Smethurst

Categories: New Tacoma Cemetery, University Place, Washington