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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: greenvalley on Tuesday 21 January 20 12:36 GMT (UK)
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I am researching William Dauney who married Louisa Ellis, probably in Jamaica.
One of their children, William Dauney was born in Aberdeen in 1800, under the name William Downie. This William was later adopted by his uncle Alexander Dauney the Sheriff Substitute in Aberdeen.
This Alexander is the son of the Reverend Francis Dauney who was the minister in Lumphanan from 1742 to 1758 and from 1758 to 1800 in Banchory Ternan.
I am looking for the family ties between William Dauney senior and Francis and his son Alexander. But I cannot find their birth or anything. I have searched in both parishes under
Dauney
Daunie
Dawney
Dawnie
Downey
Downie
But to no avail. Why would the minister not baptise his children??
What on earth am I doing wrong??
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Which site(s) are you using?
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Hi
There is a piece in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal 29th September 1916 entitled The Dauney Family which mentions Rev Francis, Alexander, a couple of Williams and their relationships.
Available FindMyPast.
Cathy
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Scotlandspeople. But I also tried the Familysearch without any real success.
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One of their children, William Dauney was born in Aberdeen in 1880
Presumably that should read 1780?
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It was 1800, have corrected it. Thanks for pointing that out
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There is a reference on hidden Aberdeen Tours about Rubislaw Den House being built for Alexander Dauney by his brother, master mason, William and designed by Architect Archibald Simpson who was the nephew of William.
(There's a wiki page for Archibald)
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I have checked out the article, but some of the information is wrong.
The Wiiliam Dauney who was adopted by Alexander Dauney was not an architect, he is the child born in 1800. He became a barrister and a Scottish Musical Scholar.
What I am really trying to find out is where his father came from. He isn't a son of the Rev Francis Dauney from Banchory Ternan. He also cannot be a son of the Rev Francis Dauney of Jamaica, because that Rev died in Jamaica in 1795 aged 40 without hildren. There is a marriage for William Dauney in 1788 in Jamaica to a Martha Cogill, but she died in England in 1793.
William Dauney, the architect, was building things in Aberdeen as early as 1770. At some time he went to Jamaica. There he was still building stuff in 1803. Some articles indicate that his son, also William, was dealing with the sale of some of his property in Aberdeen in 1801. This cannot be the William who was adopted, because he was a baby. His mother by the way had also a daughter with Wiilam Dauney and she remarried in 1810 and had more children with her wealthy 2nd husband. So I also don't understand why her son was adopted but not her daughter.
William Dauney in Jamaica died there in 1804.
I think there maybe a "third" William, which is why I tried to find out more about the family, using parish records. But there are no Parish records. Well none I can find.
So does anyone know what I am doing wrong? There should be ample records.
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I have checked out the article, but some of the information is wrong.
The Wiiliam Dauney who was adopted by Alexander Dauney was not an architect, he is the child born in 1800. He became a barrister and a Scottish Musical Scholar.
Thought the William who was adopted by Alexander may have been the son of William, his brother, the master mason and cousin to Archibald Simpson, the architect, but if that's not the case, could he be the grandson of William the master mason? that would make Alexander his great uncle?
I cant find anything either on Scotlands People or family search although there seem to be quite a few articles on the internet. One says William (b 1800) was the son of William of Falmouth, Jamaica
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1795 At Montego-bay, Jamaica, the Rev. Francis Dauney, rector of the parish of St. James, in that island.
www.rootschat.com/links/01owp/
This Francis was rector there from 1787 to his death in 1795.
A possible further connection to the Dauney family you are looking at?
Monica
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Thanks Gan Yam
I also reasoned that the William who was adopted by Alexander Dauney had to be the grandson of William Dauney the master mason/architect.
What really bugs me is that, in all the articles of that family, there is no mention of where or when this master mason William Dauney was born. I don't like putting people in the tree if I don't know the background details. I would also love to know where and when his son William William was born.
I have googled myself silly, but to no avail.
Appreciate your inbring though, as it helps me to get things straight in my head.
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Yes Monica, the Rev Francis Dauney at Montego bay was the son of the Reverend Francis Dauney of Banchory and therefore a brother to Alexander Dauney, the advocate.
So he is family, but unfortunately, it doesn't lead me nearer to William.
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I take it there's no hint as to which William the father might be on the Aberdeen OPR record for William born in 1800 to William and Luisa? Ref 27/10/1800, 168/A 100 81. I assume you've seen this one (I don't have any SP credits to look!).
There are a few D*n*e and D*n*y in Aberdeen and surrounding parishes (as well as further afield) from 1650 to 1800, but it's a lot of credits to go through each one. Are you able to visit Edinburgh or a Scottish registrar? Might be worth spending a day going through each one - tedious, but good process of elimination.
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I am sure you have googled yourself out with this all :-\
Looks like there are missing gaps in registers (either lost or destroyed as we know over the years).
Have you come across this:
4 Dr. Dauney adopted his nephew, William Dauney, member of the Faculty of Advocates,
1823, who died in Demerara in 1843. The elder and surviving son of the latter, Alexander
Dauney, Barrister of the Middle Temple, presented to the Society in 1909 a portrait of
Dr. Dauney, painted by David Martin in 1780, which is now hung in the Library.
www.rootschat.com/links/01owt/
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Further, have you considered this www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=404001
Monica
Added: details of the 1801 sequestration action for William Snr here www.rootschat.com/links/01owu/
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Hi Archivos
Thanks. Yes, I did find that one.
That William Dauney was the first husband of Louisa Ellis. They also had a daughter, Mary Thom Dauney, born in Jamaica in 1794. So they were in Jamaica, travelled back to Aberdeen and then went to Jamaica again where William passed away in 1804.
Perhaps the story is that his dad, William the master mason went to Jamaica with his family and that William Jr met Louisa there. She was born in March 1777, so very very young to have been married and with child in March 1794. :o :o
Unfortunately I can't go to Edinburgh. Don't like leaving the house so travel virtually impossible. I will keep digging though.
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Ah, I see! That is young, isn't it!
The Society of Advocates in Aberdeen themselves might have more - their Librarian will be able to tell you what they might have. Contact details at https://www.socofadvocates.com/contact/
Kirk Session records may also be of use, though again you'd need to get to Edinburgh or one of the Scottish archives which have access. Aberdeen City Archives do, and they also have various records from the 18th century which may mention the family, though finding which ones may be an issue. Depending on what they were doing in Aberdeen, they may appear in petitions, lists of subscribers, propinquity books and so on. Best contacting them, and their details can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/aberdeen-city-and-aberdeenshire-archives/contact-us-archives
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Hi Monica
Yes, I had come accross those. As I said, I have googled myself silly.
Only today I realised that William Dauney Sr may have been in Aberdeen in May 1802, because he is advertising some property for sale. In an ad a year later in 1803 only Alexander Dauney is given as contact as his solicitor.
But then again, it may as well have been junior who went to Aberdeen to sort the estate of his late father before going back to Jamaica.
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For clarification, William (stonemason), Frances, Alexander and Barbara were 4 of Rev Dauney children?
Louisa Ellis was born in London in 1777 and remarried Mr Lamont after her Williams death?
The burial record in 1804 could be either William the stone mason or William the husband of Louisa?
Mary Dauney was born in 1790 (cant find a birth in 1794) that would make Louisa only 13 when she was born, could she be the daughter Martha Coghill and William Dauney rather than Louisa? The baptism record doesn't show the mothers name.
As you say Martha died in England in 1793 and its known that William stonemason built his brothers house in 1795. so he and Louisa could have met at this time
Is it possible that the young Louisa (23 in 1800), and the much older William the stonemason were the parents of adopted William? Maybe Louisa was the nanny/governess for Mary originally?
just speculation of course!!
added Marriage record shows Martha as a widow and William as a batchelor
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Hi Gan Yam
For clarification, William (stonemason), Frances, Alexander and Barbara were 4 of Rev Dauney children? Francis, Alexander and Barabara were, not sure about William Stonemason, he could be a brother of Rev Dauney
Louisa Ellis was born in London in 1777 and remarried Mr Lamont after her Williams death? Yes, she was baptized 3 March 1777 in Dulwich London and married Frederick Lamont 11 July 1810 in Jamaica, The marriage states that she is the widow of Dauney.
The burial record in 1804 could be either William the stone mason or William the husband of Louisa?
Yes, it could be either man. There was a William Dauney in Jamaica who was an architect/builder, so he could be her husband, but he would have been very much older than his wife.
Mary Dauney was born in 1790 (cant find a birth in 1794) that would make Louisa only 13 when she was born, could she be the daughter Martha Coghill and William Dauney rather than Louisa? No, her name is Mary Thom Dauney. The Jamaican records state: Mary Thom Dauney, the daughter of William Danny (name written incorrectly) and his wife Louisa was born March 1794 and baptized March 1797.
As you say Martha died in England in 1793 and its known that William stonemason built his brothers house in 1795. so he and Louisa could have met at this time. Possibly, but the stonemason was in Aberdeen and Louisa either in London or in Jamaica, as her father moved there sometime after her birth.
Is it possible that the young Louisa (23 in 1800), and the much older William the stonemason were the parents of adopted William? Maybe Louisa was the nanny/governess for Mary originally?
just speculation of course!! William Dauney and his wife Luisa are definately the parents of the adopted William. After the death of her 2nd husband Louisa returns to England and lives with her son, who at that time was in Edinburgh, for a while. Both her children from her first marriage are also mentioned in her will.
Still no certainty whether she was married to the stonemason or a son of the stonemason.
Added She actually only mentions her son Willim, probably because her daughter Mary had died in 1824
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Found the record for Mary. That's my theory gone to pot ::).
Interesting parish records though! :)
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According to the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Rev. Francis Dauney had a son William b 30 Aug 1756. Could he have been the one who married Louisa Ellis? Their son William b. in Aberdeen is said to have been adopted by his uncle, which would fit since Alexander, son of Rev. Francis, was William's elder brother.
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According to the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Rev. Francis Dauney had a son William b 30 Aug 1756. Could he have been the one who married Louisa Ellis? Their son William b. in Aberdeen is said to have been adopted by his uncle, which would fit since Alexander, son of Rev. Francis, was William's elder brother.
Yes, but then he cannot be the stonemason, beause that William built his first houses in Aberdeen 1770, when the son of the Rev Francis was only 14 years old. That is why I discounted that option.
Also, it was the stonemason who went to Jamaica, so he has to be the vital link.
I just can't understand why a family that crops up in so many articles and references does not appear on the Parish records. ???
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Searching SP with fuzzy matching selected turns up a John Dauncy, father Francis Dauncy, bap. 1761 Banchory Ternan. However the date doesn't correspond with the birth date given in the Fasti for Rev Francis's son John. This may be yet another child who died. Probably doesn't help though.
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Searching SP with fuzzy matching selected turns up a John Dauncy, father Francis Dauncy, bap. 1761 Banchory Ternan. However the date doesn't correspond with the birth date given in the Fasti for Rev Francis's son John. This may be yet another child who died. Probably doesn't help though.
Thanks for your help, but no, it doesn't bring me any nearer to the William Dauney conundrum.
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Yes, but then he cannot be the stonemason, beause that William built his first houses in Aberdeen 1770, when the son of the Rev Francis was only 14 years old. That is why I discounted that option.
Also, it was the stonemason who went to Jamaica, so he has to be the vital link.
I just can't understand why a family that crops up in so many articles and references does not appear on the Parish records. ???
I can see from the directory of Scottish architects that it states 1770 against William Dauney building Marischal Street, but checking the directory for the buildings listed to him it says that the houses were built around 1780, when he would have been 24, but of course he would have been an apprentice to start with. There seems so many references to this William being the same William as the son of the Rev, brother of Alexander and Barbara and uncle to Archibald, even though the 1770 date doesn't fit. The street and area was designed by William Law in 1767 and I'm wondering if this is were the 1770 date came from, the start of the purchase, planning and building of the street, rather than when William Dauney became one of its notable builders. Its listed as having a few "firsts" in the world, so must have taken quite a while to complete, certainly not like streets today!!
The East side of the street wasn't completed until 1789 and some of the south parts were still being built after that!
There is a reference in Jamaican Royal Gazette in 1793 for a William Dauney arriving in the country on 25th June 1793, but Mary Thom Dauney was born in March 1794 and the record doesn't mention Louisa. There is also a reference to a William Dauney in the Jamaican Militia in 1797.
Jamaica seems a popular place for the children of Rev Dauney, with both a son/s and a daughter, living there. The family possibly returned to Scotland because of the unrest in Jamaica at the time.
I agree there does seem some strange anomalies with the Dauney family. Why would there be no record of a pastor having his children baptised?
William the builder appears to have ended up bankrupt and there seems to have been some kind of court case a couple of years before. Aberdeen Library holding some of the documents. It seems obvious that William the builder is the father of William the advocate, but I agree that the dates and records also seem to imply there "may" be another William?
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Thanks Gan Yam
You saw the birth of Mary Thom Dauney, in which her fathers name is written as Danny.
There is, in Falmouth, a Mr William Danny, who in 1774 is given contract to build a church (from The History of Trelawny Parish)
it was not until the 9th of January, 1774, when it was again brought up. It was then Resolved that the several orders passed at the former Vestry respecting the building of a Church at Falmouth be rescinded--there being an Act which was passed during the sessions in December last appointing certain Commissioners for that and other purposes. In that same year the contract was awarded to William Danny for the sum of £9,000. .... The building was completed in the year 1796. Mr. Danny received his final instalment of £3,000 on the 31st July, 1797
He also built a bridge This system of transport continued until in 1790 a wooden bridge was built at a cost of £1,750, by one William Danny.
And then I found this: The Barracks, now the Falmouth Government School was also owned by local Government, but it appears that grants were sometimes made to the Vestry by Central Government to provide certain official amenities. In October, 1803, William Danny completed the building of the Magazine at a cost of £1,500. It was made 15 feet square with walls to 5 feet in thickness with a crown of the arch 2 feet in thickness.
The papers from Aberdeen state that William Dauney built houses in 1770 and then it leaps to 1801. That is why I think that William Dauney the stonemason/architect is a contemporary of the Rev Francis, not a son but a brother, Then all those building dates make sense.
However, I also think that the William Dauney who married Martha Coghill in 1788 and Louisa Ellis about 1793 - 1794 was the son of William the stonemason/architect. (Mainly because I shudder at the thought that the 16 year old Louisa married a man 60 years or more older than she was. And that the old man married 2 younger women within 6 years. I know that is possible, but I do't buy it.
Unfortunately, I still haven't found any births for William senior or junior, only William the grandson. I also don't know how strict they used the term "uncle". I remember that, when I was a child, I would refer to my gran's brother as my uncle Peter. Perhaps that's what happened heare as well.
Anyway, none of this is very important within the family tree, Louisa is a 3x great grandmother on the Lamont side. So William Dauney was the half brother of my 2x great grandmother.
But I cannot let it go, I just can't accept that I am unable to find these people. And I am intrigued. It's a puzzle and I will keep worrying away at it.
Thanks so far to everybody who has come up with much valued replies.
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Just a thought - from my own problems, finding my "Downies" in Scotland that were also "Dunies" and a lot more variants - Try a ridiculously wide range of variant spellings. I got back on track after months of meandering in mistaken records, almost by accident, that way. Hope you manage it.
TY