Peerage Record – 15402

     Thomas Wontner Smith was born on 15 August 1836 at Camden Road, Islington, London, England^G.¹ He was the son of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards.¹ He died on 22 August 1866 at age 30 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia^G, without issue.¹

     James Edwards Wontner-Smith was born on 20 April 1841 at 19 Tibberton Square, Camden Road, Islington, London, England^G.¹ He was the son of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards.¹ He married Emma Scamell, daughter of George Scamell and Jane Sharp, on 12 June 1865 at Broadwater Church, Worthing, Sussex, England^G.¹ He died on 14 March 1920 at age 78 at Mersea, Essex, England^G.¹
     Head of the firm of Thomas Wontner Smith & Son, builders & contractors.¹

     Elizabeth Edwards Smith was born on 7 September 1838 at Camden Road, Islington, London, England^G.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards.¹ She married John Lea on 6 June 1871 in a Hornsea Church, Essex, England marriage.¹ She died on 17 April 1878 at age 39 at Hastings, Sussex, England^G.¹ She was buried at Highgate Cemetery, Highgate, London, England^G.¹

     John Lea was born on 2 October 1842 at Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, England^G.¹ He married Elizabeth Edwards Smith, daughter of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards, on 6 June 1871 in a Hornsea Church, Essex, England marriage.¹ He died on 30 April 1891 at age 48 at Woodbury Grove, Finsbury Park, London, England^G.¹

     Elsie Lea was born on 12 December 1873 at Tufnell Park, London, England^G.¹ She was the daughter of John Lea and Elizabeth Edwards Smith.¹ She died, without issue.¹

     Emily Mary Smith was born on 9 August 1848 at 3 Lansdowne Cottages, Lower Road, Islington, London, England^G.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards.¹ She married Thomas Arthur Smith, son of John Smith and Hephzibah Topple, on 15 October 1873 in a St Mark’s, Tollington Park, Islington, Middlesex, England marriage.¹ She died on 13 April 1930 at age 81 at Finchley, London, England^G.¹
     Emily Mary Smith and her husband, Thomas Arthur Smith, were unrelated by birth.¹

     Thomas Arthur Smith was born on 6 February 1848 at 29 Myrtle Street, Hoxton Old Town, London, England^G.¹ He was the son of John Smith and Hephzibah Topple.¹ He married Emily Mary Smith, daughter of Thomas Wontner Smith and Elizabeth Edwards, on 15 October 1873 in a St Mark’s, Tollington Park, Islington, Middlesex, England marriage.¹ He died on 10 January 1920 at age 71 at Woodside Park^G.¹ He was buried at St. Marylebone Cemetery, East Finchley, London, England^G.¹
     At Old Street, City of London, London, England^G, a senior partner of Wontner Smith & Company, valuers.¹

     John Smith was born before 1832 at Braughing, Hertfordshire, England^G.¹ He married Hephzibah Topple, daughter of George Topple.¹

     Arthur Wontner was born on 21 January 1875 at Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park, London, England^G.¹ He was the son of Thomas Arthur Smith and Emily Mary Smith.¹ He married Rosecleer Alice Amelia Blanche Kingwell, daughter of Henry Alfred Kingwell and Eliza Dennis, on 31 October 1903 in a Melbourne, Australia marriage.¹ He married Florence Eilleen Lainchbury, daughter of Thomas Lainchbury, on 30 April 1947.¹ He died on 10 July 1960 at age 85.¹
     He was given the name of Arthur Wontner Smith at birth.¹ In 1909 his name was legally changed to Arthur Wontner by Deed Poll.¹ He was an actor and manager.¹ He was Treasurer of the British Actors’ Equity Association between 1930 and 1944.¹ He was awarded the Knight, Order of the Crown of Italy in 1932.¹ He was a Trustee of the Sydney Valentine Memorial Pension Fund and a member of the committee of Actors’ Orphanage for over twenty five years.¹

     He was a celebrated actor/manager during an acting career that spanned 58 years, first appearing on the stage in 1897, on the screen in in 1915, on radio in 1925, and on television in 1937. During his heyday he was one of the foremost romantic leads on the West End (London) stage. He portrayed Sherlook Holmes in five films, and is considered by many to be the finest Holmes ever.¹

     Rosecleer Alice Amelia Blanche Kingwell was born on 19 January 1875 at St. Martin’s Lane, London, England^G.¹ She was the daughter of Henry Alfred Kingwell and Eliza Dennis.¹ She married Arthur Wontner, son of Thomas Arthur Smith and Emily Mary Smith, on 31 October 1903 in a Melbourne, Australia marriage.¹ She died on 10 April 1943 at age 68.¹
     Born Rosecleer Alice Amelia Blanche Kingwell, she adopted Rose Pendennis as he stage name.¹