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Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: marniemo on Sunday 08 February 09 10:30 GMT (UK)

Title: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: marniemo on Sunday 08 February 09 10:30 GMT (UK)
I am trying to locate my maternal great grandfather all we know of him is that his name is Ralph Davison and he could possibly have been a navvy.  We think that he travelled from job to job, married to my grt grandmother whos surname was little. Unfortunately she had sisters and we do not know which one she was.

Any info on how I go about trying to locate them would be great.  We think he may have been in the Lanchester, Co Durham area as that was where all their children were born.

Any help would be greatfully received.

Margaret
Title: Re: Ralph Davison - Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 15:32 GMT (UK)
There are several Ralph Davidson listed by Census as early as 1841 in toxteth park Liverpool Lancashire and many more listed in Co Durham area

Do you know roughly his date of birth etc, would you share your information regarding his children it would make it easier then to back track with dates

Do you know his wifes 1st name ?

The more you can say will help, there are some wonderful researchers on here and I am sure if you can give as much detail as you want to, you will get some help, but a name alone is not going to be enough
I hope you find him good luck
Title: Re: Ralph Davison./Little Navvy?
Post by: marniemo on Sunday 08 February 09 16:36 GMT (UK)
Tiggi Thank you so much, names of children are the easy part they are, (Oh my god Ive just realised, mum always said  that it was her mother that didnt have to change her name so I automatically thought that that would mean she was a davison but she wasnt. shes a LITTLE so that must mean that I should be looking for a Ralph Little)

I can be soo thick so Im looking for a Ralph Little (navvy ) not sure of his wifes first name going to have to check that one out as there are more than one daughter and that's if the children were raised by their maternal family but now Ive seen more than one Ralph Little in that family maybe they were taken care of by their paternal family.

oh god was a mess anyway the children are: (in 1901) Arthur Little 17, jane Isable Little 12, Margaret Ellen Little 9 (my grandmother), and Ralph William Little 25:

Got to get hold of my grandmother's birth certificate (which no one has!) that will help wont it.

Thanks

a very confused and brain-dead
margaret :P
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 18:36 GMT (UK)
No problem Margaret I will see what I can do for you

Lets start with 1901 Census I have found family, so anyone can follow:

Satley St Cuthbert Butsfield Durham

Ralph little 48 b 1853 Lanchester, Durham, England (HD)
Ann Little   51 b 1850 Lanchester, Durham, England ( sister)
Ralph William Little 25 b 1876 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Nephew)
Arthur Little 17 b 1884 Lanchester, Durham, England (Nephew)
Jane Isabel Little 12 b 1889 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Niece)
Margaret Ellen Little 9 b 1892 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Niece)
William Scott  48 b 1853 Lanchester, Durham, England ( boarder)

This family appears to be living on a Farm.. Ralph Sr is a road labour... Ann the sister is living on own means and keeper of Cows /Cattle
The boys look like carters working on farm and the boarder is doing the milking of the herd

All the older ones are Single...... so it would seem that the younger ones are living with their Uncle & Aunt

I will try and go back another 10yrs by census

Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 18:45 GMT (UK)
1891 Census St Cuthbert West  Butsfield Durham

Elizabeth Little 66 b 1825 Lanchester (HD)
Ann                  39 b 1852 Lanchester  ( Daughter)
Ralph               38 b 1853 Lanchester  ( Son)
Arthur                7 b 1884 Lanchester  ( Grandson)
Elizabeth           5 b 1886 Lanchester  ( Grand-daughter)
Jane Isabel       2 b 1889  Lanchester  ( Grand-daughter)

So now you have family Elizabeth is Widowed and Grandmother to younger children...... she is a housekeeper
Ralph is a Farm Labour/Single ....as is Ann his sister

What I need to find now is the parents of these children ?
They must be alive because they went on to have another child Margaret Ellen in 1892

There is on same census yet another Ralph little aged 15 b 1876 working on neighbouring farm called  surname>Willis
this is Elizabeth grandson listed in 1901
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 19:05 GMT (UK)
Hi  :)

in 1891 .... Ralph William Little ( b 1876) is not with his siblings.... maybe he is with the parents?

In 1881
Lanchester
Arthur Little head 67 farmer of 15 acres b Wolsingham , Durham
Elizabeth wife 54 b Durham
Ann Dau 28 b Durham
Ralph son 26 gen lab b Durham
Ralph gr son 5 b Durham
Jane Robson mother-in-law 8? b Houghton le Spring

 deb :)

ps Nice to see you cousin tiggi :)
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:06 GMT (UK)
1881 Census West Butsfield Farm ( so they did own one 15 acres)
Arthur Little  67 b 1814 Wolsingham, Durham ( HD)
Elizabeth      54 b 1827  Durham   (Maiden name Robson)
Ann              28 b 1853                  Daughter
Ralph           26 b 1855                   Son
Ralph             5 b 1876                  Grandson
Jane Robson 80 b 1801 Houghton Le Spring Durham ( mother in law/ Widowed)

1871 Census we have the family in same area, but arthur now is only a farm labour .......... but there is a new person aonther daughter
Mary J little 20 b  1851 Lanchester, Durham, England
unmarried
This has surely has to be the mother of the children in later census
 
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:08 GMT (UK)
Hi cousin debs .......... glad you are on board lol you will find them I know how good you are ;D

Yes I did  put Ralph 1876 in 1891 was working on a farm close by ;D

Need to find Mary J little marriage now can you help there
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 19:12 GMT (UK)
ooopsss sorry ...see that now

will check around

deb
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 19:20 GMT (UK)
tiggi

If Mary Jane Little is possibly the children's mother and she married, they would only have the surname if she married another "Little", unless she had them all out of wedlock  :o  ...am I making sense?

deb ...still looking
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:25 GMT (UK)
Yes Debs you are lol

I found a possible marriage 1884 Lanchester Durham
Apr/May/June 10a 384

Mary Little ........either
Micheal Dodds
or  William George Mckay

So now I am confused ? the marriage fits with Arthur the son being born in that year ? So why are they using their mother;s maiden name ?
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:29 GMT (UK)
Ok got another marriage : 1901 Lanchester
July/Aug/Sept 10a 583
Mary Little ......... either
  Thomas Philipson or Thomas Harris

Is this same lady maybe remarrying ? did 1st hubby die and the kids went to live with gran and stayed with Uncle & Aunt ?
If she remarried in 1901 the kids just stayed with them ?


Need help here margaret lol :)
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 19:30 GMT (UK)
Glad you know what I was trying to say ...had myself confused there  ;D

Arthur Little = Elizabeth ROBSOn
sept q 1850
Durham
vol 24 p 95

I wonder if there is another son out there somewhere?

deb
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:39 GMT (UK)
Could be debs maybe we need to find a son hadn;t thought of that see knew you would be a help lol

Maybe Mary J Little isn;t mother ,but sure that is right daughter

Now Margaret you said you want your grand-mother's birth certificate well I found it for you if you get this it should give you parents which would be a great help

Margaret Ellen Little b 1892 Jan/Feb/Mar Lanchester Durham
  10a 342

There is also a Sarah Ann Dodds born same time just wondering if this is Mary J Little daughter ? did she marry Micheal Dodds ?
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:40 GMT (UK)
Well done Debs you got the Grandparents marriage !!


Arthur Little = Elizabeth ROBSOn
sept q 1850
Durham
vol 24 p 95
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 19:48 GMT (UK)
Right lets recap here

Margaret Ellen little is marniemo Grandmother ......
Here is her birth details
Margaret Ellen Little b 1892 Jan/Feb/Mar Lanchester Durham
 10a 342

Now she married a Davison ? not called Ralph thou

I just found her marriage details :
 Margaret E Little to George W Davison 1913 in Lanchester

So Margaret are you getting muddled hun cos I am confused ?

The only Ralph Little I can see in this family would be her Uncle, not her husband

If you have or get Marriage certificate we can then look up husband family, if you wish


Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 19:49 GMT (UK)
Is Bishop Wearmouth near Lanchester?

Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 20:10 GMT (UK)
Got the Little family  Birth Details :

Ralph William little 1876 Apr/May/June Lanchester 10a 352

Arthur Little 1883 Oct/Nov/Dec Lanchester 10a 316

Elizabeth Ann  Little 1886  Apr/May/june Lanchester 10a 337

Jane isabel Little 1889 Apr/may/June Lanchester 10a 347

Margaret Ellen Little  1892 Jan/Feb/Mar Lanchester Durham
10a 342


So some certificates to get Margaret :)
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 20:13 GMT (UK)
Just found a MARY JANE SCOTT b 1851 lanchester with husband George and children ..one named Ralph ... will try to find a marriage for this couple .... in the 1901 the family had a lodger with them called William SCOTT....

deb
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: tiggi on Sunday 08 February 09 20:14 GMT (UK)
Right I am going off- line now think until Margaret comes on not much more I can find, hope its helped alittle  ;)

Thanks Debs nice to see you cos much easier than our lot to trace lol

Will look in again tomorrow happy searching debs  :)
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 20:18 GMT (UK)
Thanks

Just found mary Jane little = George SCOTT in 1874 .... so it looks like Mary Jane is not the mum of the kids....


deb
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: deb usa on Sunday 08 February 09 21:33 GMT (UK)
ummm can't find Arthur Little in 1841 :-\ I was wondering if he had married prior to Elizabeth as he is about 13 years older than her ...perhaps he had other children that could be the parents of the children.

deb
Title: Re: Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?
Post by: marniemo on Wednesday 11 February 09 10:32 GMT (UK)
wow I cant believe how much you have found out. I think that gt grandma Little also married a Litte mam remembers that one of her grandparents didnt have to change her name.  Mam's ill at the moment so Ill ring her sister to see if the name gells.
Margaret Ellen married my grandfather George William Davisonhe was born 9.9.1891 oh lord here's something else his mother is a Dorothy Davison married to J. Davison (no first name) address at Beufieldside?

So does that make the Little's married or not Aaaargh.

help...........
margaret