Mystery of Great Grandfather Mc Laven

[Ragna]

Thank you...will go and have a look

How did you find it as I had been having problems? I also need to find Clarendon and Connaught as its possible he worked there too (family comments that the hotel began with a C)

You can't beat Rootschatters 

Ragna

[avm228]

I also need to find Clarendon and Connaught as its possible he worked there too (family comments that the hotel began with a C)

Love those family rumours!

Unfortunately I don't think he's at Claridges, Ragna - or at least I can't see him.

To find Claridges I used a well-known search engine (LOL) to find out who was the manager of Claridges in 1901 (it apparently only opened a couple of years before, so they recruited him from Monte Carlo).  He was a Swiss fellow named Henri Menge.  Looked him up in 1901 and reasonably quickly found him as Harry Mange, one of two "heads" of household at Claridges.

You *will* find Sydney!  He must be out there somewhere.

Anna

[Josephine]

Here are some clues to other hotels:

http://www.milesfaster.co.uk/information/history-of-london-hotels.htm
Clarendon Hotel on New Bond Street
Clarendon Hotel on Albemarle Street

http://www.clarendonhotel.com/

Regards,
Josephine

[Josephine]

The Connaught / Coburg:

http://www.the-connaught.co.uk/about_the_connaught/default.asp

"In 1897 The Coburg Hotel duly opened...  It was re-named The Connaught in 1917..."

Regards,
Josephine

[Tees]

Hi Ragna

Dunno if this is of any help to you:

I found an Edward Lavin as a farm labourer living with his family at the dwelling place called "Blackwater" in St Agnes, Cornwall in 1881.

RG 11 Piece/Folio 2308/57 pg 4

He was the head...perhaps this is the "farmer" we were looking for?

Do try to find this family in 1871 and backwards. Hopefully, someone will be able to assist you.

Regards,

Tees

[Josephine]

Following on from Tees,

In 1871 they are in Crantock, Cornwall:
Edward, 31
Maria, 31
Samuel, 7
Henry, 3
Mary, mother, 50,
Samuel Glanile(?), father-in-law, 70

1881:
Edward, 41
Mary, 41
Samuel, 18
Henry, 13
Annie, 6
Frederick C., 2
Earnest, 8 months

Regards,
Josephine

[Tees]

Thanks, Josephine for helping out a bit!

We can safely discount this census finding.

I guess it is very likely Sydney is from Scotland or (Northern) Ireland.

Like someone said that Douglas is very Scottish name.

Very likely he does have some connection with the Scottish roots.

Wondering if Sydney can be used as a surname? Perhaps he was a illegitimate but was adopted by Edward as his son?

Just thoughts!!

-Tees

[Josephine]

Tees,

You are probably right.

If only they had had antibiotics back then, he probably wouldn't have died so young and left his wife and young children behind.   

When I was young, I admired so many things from the 1800s.  My mother always reminded me that it wasn't so great back then because it was before antibiotics and people could die from a sinus infection.  In our allergy-ridden family, that really hit home! 

Regards,
Josephine

[Tees]

Hi Josephine,

How true!! Life back then is tough for many people who were afflicted with ailments that can be easily treated nowadays.

I am sorry for Ragna because if he had been lived a bit longer, surely, one of his children would be able to pass some information that is of a better quality onto her.

Hi Ragna,

I put this post up on Scotland board in hope of someone recognising the name or helping you out with a bit of detective work.

Hope you do not mind!! It sometimes help having more RCers to see what they can find.

Kind regards,

Tees