RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: robang66 on Thursday 27 February 14 21:13 GMT (UK)
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Hi: My gr-gr-grandfather, William Alexander Davidson, was born 10-25-1806 in Scotland - married Margaret Kerr. His parents are Alexander Davidson and Jean Ross. He lived in Edinburgh and worked as a chair man. I cannot find his death certificate, nor do I even know his dod. I have searched Ancestry, FamilySearch etc. to no avail. Any help will be greatly appreciated. R. Nelson
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Scottish deaths can be found on Scotlands People which is a pay per view website via purchase of credits
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
Deaths up to 31.12.1854 can be found on the Old Parish Registers (OPR's) and from 1.1.1855 they are shown under Statutory Death Registers
Although he lived in Midlothian - the 1851 shows he was b Laggan, Inverness
What is the last census you have found him on?
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Hi Carole,
I've found William Davidson on the 1851 Census at William Street, Edinburgh, He's 45 a Chairman (Sedom) place of birth Loggans ? Inverness-shire.
I've been trying yo find this chap in the Post Office Directories but as yet no joy. Also trying to fathom out what Sedom is/was :)
Looby
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Just found him in 1861 - occ chairman
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Still alive and widowed in 1871 - living with daughter. Occ sheet porter
I suspect Robang66 already has all this info though
So knowing he was still alive in 1871 - you can check SP for his death between 1871-1881
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William Davidson was born 25 Oct 1806 in Kingussie Laggan Inverness. Baptised on 1 November 1806 in Laggan, Inverness. The latest census record I have is 1871 when he was residing with his daughter and son-in-law, John and Margaret Nowal (Noval) at 51 William Street, Edinburgh St George. He was a chairman, also known as a street porter. His wife, Margaret Kerr, had died in 1868 when he moved in with his daughter, Margaret. After the 1871 census, I have lost track. I have tried ScotlandsPeople, to no avail. I checked if he migrated to Australia where his oldest son, Alexander (my great-grandfather) lived in Queensland, and also checked if he moved to Canada, where some of his siblings/children migrated. Nothing and I'm frustrated. I know he's dead - just where is he? Thanks for any help. R.
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I'm puzzled ???
I thought a chairman sounded like the Chairman of a Bank/Company or something like that. So what was a chairman/ street porter?
Please excuse my ignorance :-[
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Thanks but that's what I was hoping for too. Nothing as grand as that, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, he was a street porter with a partner either in front or at back, two poles on either side with handles, and they carried people in a 'sedom' along streets that, at that time, were probably two narrow for carriages etc. r.
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SP shows only one match in Midlothian for a William Davidson death between 1871-1881 birthyear 1807+- 1yr and that was in 1880
Have you already viewed and discounted that entry?
It was a sedan - sedom is a mis-transcription
a closed chair for one passenger, carried on poles by two bearers. It was commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries. Sometimes shortened to: sedan
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Ah! So a Sedom was a bit like a sedan chair....well you learn something new every day ;D ;D
Of course a Chair Man :P
Back to William. Have you eliminated the William Davidson born 1806 +/- 2 years who died in St Giles district Edinburgh in 1880?
Added - Snap Carole. Our posts clashed!
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I have attempted to access the record for 1880, St. Giles, District Edinburgh, several times with ScotlandsPeople and each time it takes 5 credits and all I get is an error message. Is there another way of accessing this record that you know of? I can get the grid record but can't open it. R.
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Once you make your first purchase of 5 credits to view the image you can look at it again as many times as you want under Viewed Images - middle top of screen grey icon. Please don't waste your credits by attempting to access the record again :(.
If you are having a problem viewing the image i.e. it's blank you can try using the Direct . viewer.
So if you click to view the image you'll see half way down the page the instruction-
Otherwise please click here to use the "Direct View"
You click on the word here and you image should appear.
Hope that makes sense :P
Looby :)
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My post above should read -
You can try using the Direct . viewer.
Don't know why that sentence is wrong - have tried amending it but Rootschat Gremlins must be at work and they keep changing it back ???
Added- it's doing it again. What is wrong with the phrase - Direct ** View ** image ** viewer!!
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Actually, your directions worked well, but unfortunately, this William Davidson is not my William Davidson. Incorrect wife! Back to the drawing board, I'm afraid. I do appreciate all the time people spent trying to help me. I'll keep plugging but have run out of options that I'm aware of. Many thanks! R.
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By the way, if you wasted credits trying to view the image you should contact Scotlands People and explain what happened. They may recredit you with some credits. It's worth a go.
Re the wrong death cert - Who was the informant of the death? Where did the death take place?
Remember the information on the certificate is only as good as the knowledge of the person who supplied it.
Looby :)
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Hi,
I am descended from William Davidson's daughter, Margaret, who married John Norval. I did most of my research before it was available on the internet but I couldn't find his death. However, to be honest, back then I would limit my time to 4 hours per record. If I couldn't find the information within this time I would move on to the next person/record.
Regards
George