1
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Friday 25 July 25 09:10 BST (UK) »
Thanks for that, David, I may just do that.
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2
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Thursday 24 July 25 16:22 BST (UK) »
Well,, Forfarian, I've almost stood on my head looking at this one, going in from up and down and sideways - and still I've come up with the same 4 records.
In the 1841 census Flora, With Daughter Flora, is marked as 60. So, bearing in mind the instruction to go down to the nearest 5 or 10-year mark, I've given her a birth date of 1777-1781...NOT born in county. Living in Wellington Street.
Flora On Her Own seems to have given an exact age, so her birth date would have been about 1784. She was born in County and living (?lodging) in Hawkhill.
Same 2 deaths as you: these are from the death registration documents, not the cemetery.
Flora McDonald, died 1 December, 1857 aged 84. Pauper, died in the Poor House, Dundee, registered by an "Inmate", and last seen by doctor the day prior. Age at death would give a birth date of 1773.
Flora Donald, died 13 December, 1857 aged 81. Widow. Father Kennedy, mother unknown. The person registering the death is illegible. She died in Tay Street Lane, Dundee. Age at death would give a birth date of 1776. This is obviously "my" Flora (right MS of Kennedy and a widow) so surely she must be Flora With Daughter.
I tried looking for an 1851 census entry but there do not seem to be any at all in Dundee, can't understand why. I think I need that to ascertain where she was born.
So, the death ages and the approximate dates of birth (from the census) do not seem to match properly, particularly as Flora On Her Own seems to have an approximate birth date of 1784.
As far as John McDonald is concerned, it seems to be an impossible task...I think I'm going to have to try and start with a death and maybe put him in a similar age bracket to Flora. Unless you have any other ideas?
I'm going to lie down in a darkened room right now and whimper!
Thinks: why am I even stressing over this one person, I can take another one of Himself's lines all the way back to the 17th century (member of the Haig family, he of WWI fame) so I do have some success.
Have a good weekend!
In the 1841 census Flora, With Daughter Flora, is marked as 60. So, bearing in mind the instruction to go down to the nearest 5 or 10-year mark, I've given her a birth date of 1777-1781...NOT born in county. Living in Wellington Street.
Flora On Her Own seems to have given an exact age, so her birth date would have been about 1784. She was born in County and living (?lodging) in Hawkhill.
Same 2 deaths as you: these are from the death registration documents, not the cemetery.
Flora McDonald, died 1 December, 1857 aged 84. Pauper, died in the Poor House, Dundee, registered by an "Inmate", and last seen by doctor the day prior. Age at death would give a birth date of 1773.
Flora Donald, died 13 December, 1857 aged 81. Widow. Father Kennedy, mother unknown. The person registering the death is illegible. She died in Tay Street Lane, Dundee. Age at death would give a birth date of 1776. This is obviously "my" Flora (right MS of Kennedy and a widow) so surely she must be Flora With Daughter.
I tried looking for an 1851 census entry but there do not seem to be any at all in Dundee, can't understand why. I think I need that to ascertain where she was born.
So, the death ages and the approximate dates of birth (from the census) do not seem to match properly, particularly as Flora On Her Own seems to have an approximate birth date of 1784.
As far as John McDonald is concerned, it seems to be an impossible task...I think I'm going to have to try and start with a death and maybe put him in a similar age bracket to Flora. Unless you have any other ideas?
I'm going to lie down in a darkened room right now and whimper!
Thinks: why am I even stressing over this one person, I can take another one of Himself's lines all the way back to the 17th century (member of the Haig family, he of WWI fame) so I do have some success.
Have a good weekend!
3
Australia / Re: Eve Karslake & James Craven *FINALLY COMPLETED, THANKS*
« on: Sunday 20 July 25 16:25 BST (UK) »
An update...after 7 years!!
Well, I think I've completed all I can find about James - and Evelyn.
James did indeed join the Army in 1935. In 1943, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and worked on the Burma Railway - moving backwards and forwards between 6 prison camps, one in Korea - until the end of the War in the Pacific. Goodness knows what he suffered in that period but, having known a man (many years ago) who also was a POW then, I can see what is now called PTSD does to people. This man was broken totally. He had a very good wife who, at times, lived an awful life with him but as she said, in between the periods where he hid in his 'safe place' (set up for him by her) he was loving and gentle. He HAD to be outside for most of the time so, when he could, he worked on gardens and odd labouring jobs. Anyway, did James end up like this? We just don't know. We do know from a 'debriefing' questionnaire that "...I with another officer stripped the threads on nuts on final round of lighting, all nuts on completion of bridges...". As an aside, James was born in Malacky, Hungary (now known as Malaska and is in Slovakia!) in 1914. His parents were highly probably under house arrest for the duration (Stefi had refused to leave her family at the beginning of WWI) but I think he would have been too young by the end of the war to remember too much about it. By 1921 he was living with his family in Amesbury, Wiltshire on the estate of Sir Francis Burdett.
We do know he and Evelyn emigrated to Western Australia in 1961 We know, of course, from this post that she wrote a book about his experiences. They would have been in their mid-40s by the time they left the UK.
Anyway, I have some satisfaction in knowing we have got the majority of the timeline in. I would like to thank all of you who had input into this subject all those years ago, even the 'wrong' stuff was most interesting!
lydiaann
Well, I think I've completed all I can find about James - and Evelyn.
James did indeed join the Army in 1935. In 1943, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and worked on the Burma Railway - moving backwards and forwards between 6 prison camps, one in Korea - until the end of the War in the Pacific. Goodness knows what he suffered in that period but, having known a man (many years ago) who also was a POW then, I can see what is now called PTSD does to people. This man was broken totally. He had a very good wife who, at times, lived an awful life with him but as she said, in between the periods where he hid in his 'safe place' (set up for him by her) he was loving and gentle. He HAD to be outside for most of the time so, when he could, he worked on gardens and odd labouring jobs. Anyway, did James end up like this? We just don't know. We do know from a 'debriefing' questionnaire that "...I with another officer stripped the threads on nuts on final round of lighting, all nuts on completion of bridges...". As an aside, James was born in Malacky, Hungary (now known as Malaska and is in Slovakia!) in 1914. His parents were highly probably under house arrest for the duration (Stefi had refused to leave her family at the beginning of WWI) but I think he would have been too young by the end of the war to remember too much about it. By 1921 he was living with his family in Amesbury, Wiltshire on the estate of Sir Francis Burdett.
We do know he and Evelyn emigrated to Western Australia in 1961 We know, of course, from this post that she wrote a book about his experiences. They would have been in their mid-40s by the time they left the UK.
Anyway, I have some satisfaction in knowing we have got the majority of the timeline in. I would like to thank all of you who had input into this subject all those years ago, even the 'wrong' stuff was most interesting!
lydiaann
4
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Wednesday 16 July 25 09:39 BST (UK) »
FINALLY!! But...oh dear, oh dear. 
I have found the actual death registration of James on SP (D1872_282_02_0074Z) and it has changed a lot of stuff about his parents. They ARE John and Flora (Kennedy) McDonald but (a) they are both deceased at the time of James' death, and (b) John was a Grocer! So, the S. Uist stuff has all had to be removed - and it looks as though I may have to warn a couple of people that they have the wrong info too! - and a rethink is necessary on John and Flora. Naming patterns don't even help in this case as they simply use family names in any random order. So, once I get myself organised (we are currently in the midst of bathroom renos and I am not - shall we say - quite myself because of a non-life threatening, but extremely tedious medical condition! DON'T GET OLD!!), I should be able to update you on this saga over the next couple of days (I'm in hiding from the workmen and the noise and dust!!).
I would like to say that I am so grateful for everyone's efforts. In the meantime, thank you again.
lydiaann
I have found the actual death registration of James on SP (D1872_282_02_0074Z) and it has changed a lot of stuff about his parents. They ARE John and Flora (Kennedy) McDonald but (a) they are both deceased at the time of James' death, and (b) John was a Grocer! So, the S. Uist stuff has all had to be removed - and it looks as though I may have to warn a couple of people that they have the wrong info too! - and a rethink is necessary on John and Flora. Naming patterns don't even help in this case as they simply use family names in any random order. So, once I get myself organised (we are currently in the midst of bathroom renos and I am not - shall we say - quite myself because of a non-life threatening, but extremely tedious medical condition! DON'T GET OLD!!), I should be able to update you on this saga over the next couple of days (I'm in hiding from the workmen and the noise and dust!!).
I would like to say that I am so grateful for everyone's efforts. In the meantime, thank you again.
lydiaann
5
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Tuesday 15 July 25 12:20 BST (UK) »
Wow, thank you so much. From no confirmatory details, suddenly I have them all! That's brilliant.
lydiaann
lydiaann
6
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Tuesday 15 July 25 11:52 BST (UK) »
Sorry, no "...has expired or does not exist". And this despite you wishing me the 'luck of God'!!
Thanks for trying, anyway. Don't fret too much about it, I've copied the LDS entry so I can get that into James's Profile/Facts.
lydiaann
Thanks for trying, anyway. Don't fret too much about it, I've copied the LDS entry so I can get that into James's Profile/Facts.
lydiaann
7
Angus (Forfarshire) / Re: Absolutely stumped!
« on: Tuesday 15 July 25 11:07 BST (UK) »
Millmoor & Blairvadich: I don't know how you did that, I STILL can't find it (I must be getting old...my brain has gone to mush I think) but thank you a thousand times. I had cottoned on to the fact that 2 or 3 other people had this date, but there was nothing in their trees to back it up. Scotland Select Deaths & Burials just had the name and the date - although there is also a date in April for a James Y. MacDonald, which threw me somewhat. The important thing was the parents, I needed to confirm that this was indeed the right James. (One person has his parents as a landed "General Sir..." and his Lady!)
I had 2 or 3 different entries in my 'Shoebox' (I've been clearing it out a little which is why I started nit-picking at this bit of Himself's tree) so now I can get rid of them- another thanks for that, it's getting rather full once again.
Forfarian: John and Flora were on S. Uist and the 1841-71 censuses show him alternately as a Joiner or a Crofter (the latter in 1871) and they were 83 and 84. That is the last of them so far. I'm not too worried about them at the moment, I'll probably get back to them when I've tidied up a bit.
Thank you so much everyone for sorting out my dilemma - I'd be lost without you!!
lydiaann
I had 2 or 3 different entries in my 'Shoebox' (I've been clearing it out a little which is why I started nit-picking at this bit of Himself's tree) so now I can get rid of them- another thanks for that, it's getting rather full once again.
Forfarian: John and Flora were on S. Uist and the 1841-71 censuses show him alternately as a Joiner or a Crofter (the latter in 1871) and they were 83 and 84. That is the last of them so far. I'm not too worried about them at the moment, I'll probably get back to them when I've tidied up a bit.
Thank you so much everyone for sorting out my dilemma - I'd be lost without you!!
lydiaann
8
Angus (Forfarshire) / Absolutely stumped!
« on: Monday 14 July 25 16:39 BST (UK) »
James MacDonald (could be McDonald). Ropemaker.
Born about 1816, Dundee.
Married. Ann Lawson, 7 Sep, 1835, Dundee. (Have all the issue listed, etc. - don't want people wasting their valuable time on that!)
Shown as alive on the 1871 census (although they have his age, dob, wrong) BUT Ann died in 1876 and her death reg'n shows she is a widow. So, he died between 1871 and 1876.
Scotland had mandatory death registration after 1855...so why cannot I find a trace of his death anywhere? Trouble is, such a common name.
I started on this frustrating journey because I need to confirm his parents' details and I wanted to make sure I had the right person. (They, too, were still alive on the 1871 census :John MacDonald and Flora Kennedy. And, no, I cannot find their death details either!). Oh, and I've tried every which way on LDS too.
Is there anybody out there who might be able to trace 'my' James, pretty please?
As always, grateful for any glimmer of hope you can give me.
lydiaann
Born about 1816, Dundee.
Married. Ann Lawson, 7 Sep, 1835, Dundee. (Have all the issue listed, etc. - don't want people wasting their valuable time on that!)
Shown as alive on the 1871 census (although they have his age, dob, wrong) BUT Ann died in 1876 and her death reg'n shows she is a widow. So, he died between 1871 and 1876.
Scotland had mandatory death registration after 1855...so why cannot I find a trace of his death anywhere? Trouble is, such a common name.
I started on this frustrating journey because I need to confirm his parents' details and I wanted to make sure I had the right person. (They, too, were still alive on the 1871 census :John MacDonald and Flora Kennedy. And, no, I cannot find their death details either!). Oh, and I've tried every which way on LDS too.
Is there anybody out there who might be able to trace 'my' James, pretty please?
As always, grateful for any glimmer of hope you can give me.
lydiaann
9
The Lighter Side / Re: Here's a word we should all start using
« on: Monday 07 July 25 15:14 BST (UK) »
I think Latin should be taught. I went as far as 0-level (failed it, but that's not the point) some 65 years ago. Our English teacher used to advocate that we all did as well as possible in our Latin class, since it would help us with our English. Naturally, we took no notice of him, bless him (sorry, Mr. Taylor!) I became an old-fashioned secretary, rising up through the ranks as it were to what I believe is now called Executive Level. Many jobs that I had (Himself was in the RAF, so we moved around a lot) relied on my good English, particularly when working with non-English speakers. As I progressed, I began to realise quite early that this archaic language was, in fact, extremely useful - particularly during those times I worked in the para-medical fields and when trying out my French where necessary (eg, 'precede' vs 'supersede', always a favourite). We lived in Canada for 20 years (where I did the first year of a Linguistics degree at a local college) and there was always talk about reviving extra-curricular Latin courses. Vancouver eventually set one up, scheduled to start in the September after we returned to the UK in the June! I did recommend it to some of my colleagues, whether or not they took me up on it, I know not! I fear I am now too old to start again, although I do believe I still retain a good breadth of Latin knowledge!