Find Ancestors

The 1881 census has a Sophia Smith, born 1862, Portsmouth. She's single, a servant in the home of Eliza Hayward, grocer.
Henry Fisher, 24, born Portsmouth is a stoker aboard the "Crocodile" a navy vessel.

Hi Madmeg, we don`t have any certificates at all except for Ida Wilson`s death. The name Wilson is aparently after a famous sea captian so my mother-in-law always said. As she was born illagitimately in south Africa,we don`t have a birth cetificate for her either! We have however found the record of her coming to England aged 2 with Ida Wilson Fisher, so that is why we are sure that you found the correct Henry & Sophia marraige.
I agree 28 is a mature age to marry in a Naval town. Perhaps they met & Henry went on a long sea voyage & she waited for him. Perhaps this is just a romantic notion.
Bob

Hi Margaret, your information about Henry being a stoker on HMS Crocodile ties in with other information I`ve been sent by other kind-hearted members. Thanks a lot, Bob

Then I would treat yourself to Ida Wilson Fisher's birth certificate, which will be a nice piece of history to have as well as confirming that her mother's maiden name was Smith.

Dear Madmeg, we will do that. Thank you so much for all the help you have given us. We will be in contact with the Portsmouth records office very soon.
Award your self a gold star. Do you spend a lot of your spare time helping other members?

Very best wishes Bob

Wot spare time? This is a full-time hobby for a bored, retired-too-soon, used-to-work-60-hours-a-week accountant who hasn't got used to not using her brain. YOU are doing ME the favour by offering tricky problems to solve.

Good luck.