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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: lilly14 on Sunday 01 March 15 02:18 GMT (UK)

Title: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: lilly14 on Sunday 01 March 15 02:18 GMT (UK)
Hello Everybody
I'm looking for a John Davidson no idea when born, if he married or where he lived o when he died. This is all I have to go on from his son's records. He's not  listed on any census records with his son either William is down on 1851 census with William and May Davidson in Auchinhalrig Bellie and stated as nephew and in 1861 with William and May again in Port Tannachy banffshire as there grandson which is likely to be correct? John is not listed with William and May in 1841 census have searched for a birth marriage and death in morayshire and banffshire and dont no where else to try. Is John William's son or brother ? or should I just leave it at that? suggestions/tips much appreciated.

Fiona

Title: Re: John where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 13:11 GMT (UK)
Hi Fiona.

Do you know who William Davidson's mother was?

Looby  :)
Title: Re: John where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 13:13 GMT (UK)
Silly me.....just moved along the documents you have attached and seen the names - Ann Simpson/Diana Simpson. 

Looby
Title: Re: John where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 13:47 GMT (UK)
Hi again Fiona.
Can I ask - what is the first record you have attached ? Is it a baptism (OPR) and if it is which Parish is it in please?

Have you noticed this baptisim - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ74-W8Q
Alexander Johnston or Simpson born 8th July 1845 bapt. 22nd Jul 1845 to John Johnston and Diana Simpson at  Birnie, Morayshire .
Same mother's name ....could there be a connection  :-\

Looby :)
Title: Re: John where have you gone??
Post by: lilly14 on Tuesday 03 March 15 14:07 GMT (UK)
Hi
 its an OPR baptism  in Drainie Morayshire in 1847. I've  not seen the other baptism I've  only searched  john/diana for possible  other siblings or marriage but not found anything. I haven't  looked much at Diana as I've  been trying  to pinpoint  John so I'll have a look at that.

Thankyou
Fiona
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 14:17 GMT (UK)
I wonder if William's parents were not married. Certainly on his marriage certificate 'Ann' Simpson is not recorded as Davidson then m.s. Simpson as is the usual when parents are married.
Looks like William's mother did not play much of a role in his life - perhaps she died??

Looby :)
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 14:34 GMT (UK)
There are 2 Diana Simpsons on the 1841 Census
a 12 year old female servant on a farm at Birnie working for a Margaret Johnston and her 15 year old son John Johnston.....possible candidates for for parents for the 1845 birth of Alexander.
The other girl is 14 and living with her family at Drainie Parish - Lossiemouth.

Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: Millmoor on Tuesday 03 March 15 15:25 GMT (UK)
Hi

Further to the above from Looby the 1851 census has
John Johnston unm. 26 Farmer 25 acres b Elgin
Margaret Johnston wid 47 b Elgin
Alexander son 5 b Moray
Address Rashcrook, Birnie (same as 1841 census).

Then there is this death notice in the Elgin Courant and Morayshire Advertiser 18 July 1851. " At Rashcrook, parish of Birnie, on the 8th inst., Mr John Johnston, aged 28 - much regretted".

The census entry would seem to confirm the implication from the wording of the birth for Alexander that he was illegitimate.

Have you tried looking at the libindx for John and Diana?

William
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: Millmoor on Tuesday 03 March 15 17:10 GMT (UK)
Hello again

I note that William Davidson b 1847 place of birth is given as Lossiemouth in the 1861 census. This might lead to the Diana Simpson in Drainie as being his mother. She is showing as a servant in the 1851 census and would appear to have married in 1852.

I have to say that I have lost count of the number of illegitimate births I have found in my own family in Moray and Banffshire in this period and very often the parents subsequently married but not to each other!

William
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 March 15 20:01 GMT (UK)
Hi again,

Would agree with Millmoor - the Diana Simpson at Drainie may be William's mother. At age 25 in 1851 she is unmarried and working as a servant.
Wondered if this chap was a possibility for William's father - John Davidson.

Aberdeenshire - Huntly - Nelson Street 1851 Census

MCPHERSON       Alexander       Head       M       M       33       Mason, Journeyman        Inverness-shire - Laggan           
MCPHERSON       Margret       Wife       M       F       33               Aberdeenshire - Forgue           
MCPHERSON       Ann       Dau       -       F       2               Aberdeenshire - Huntly           
MCPHERSON       James       Son       -       M       8m               Aberdeenshire - Huntly           
MCPHERSON       Lachlan       Brothr       U       M       31       Master Plasterer        Inverness-shire - Laggan           
FRASER       Charles Grant       Visitr       U       M       19       House Carpenter, Journeyman        Banffshire - Rothiemay           
DAVIDSON       John       Visitr       U       M       27       Blacksmith, Journeyman        Morayshire - Fochabers           
 
Fochabers was in Bellie Parish (don't know how familiar you are with the area  :-\ - I don't know it but I found out thanks to Google !)   


Looby :)
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: Millmoor on Tuesday 03 March 15 22:03 GMT (UK)
Hi

There is an entry in the 1841 census of interest showing a John Davidson age 15 as a farm labourer with the address Burnside in Enzie, Banffshire. This would not be far from where William and May Davidson were residing at Auchenhaleig.

John's county of birth is given as Banffshire not Moray but this area can be confusing with parts of Bellie being in both counties.

William
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: lilly14 on Tuesday 03 March 15 23:13 GMT (UK)
Hello Looby and William

sorry for not replying earlier been at work :(

I don't know the area at all although I have been up there as a child but remember nothing of it.

I do feel that William was illegitimate and probably brought up by William and May as mention of his mother is vague but haven't yet looked at possilbilities as to why.
 
I've looked at the John at burnside quite a few times and I also spotted  recently a John Davison 13 in upper Auchinreath  Bellie a farm servant for Alexander Watt (farmer)  in 1841 but as I have not found a birth/baptism for John not sure at all. I discounted John in Huntly as been mainly concentrating on farm servants or labourers but might look again at that one.

Thanks for helping 
Fiona
Title: Re: John Davidson where have you gone??
Post by: Millmoor on Wednesday 04 March 15 08:17 GMT (UK)
Hi Fiona

I have just noticed that the place of death for William in 1928 is Howe Core. This is where my gg grandfather Duncan Kennedy was a crofter until his  death in 1884.  The digital map collection on the National Library of Scotland site is wonderful and a great way of seeing where places are. Like you I do not live in the area but have found these maps invaluable.

William