Sarah (Cluney) Dawson Sherbrooke, NS

[sammie]

hehe

When I was typing out my long winded reply I notice you both come up with the same conclusions xxxx

[sammie]

Cool on the name change info

I know I am now talking to two people related to Sarah Cluney 1849 thats well cool

Alas you are both not blood relatives to me but the decendants of Sarah and George are related to all of us and I am currently chatting with others decended from George and Sarah.

Namely Patricia and Robert Dawson brother and sister and decended from George and Sarah's son James who emigrated to MA, USA and his son Wilkes.

We are currently colaberating to get the whole Dawson branch as best we can onto the Daw/Dawe/Dawson family tree.

I am more than happy to share any info I have on George Daw (Dawson) and Sarah Cluney.

George was a bit f a character

Born George Daw in 1849 in Wellington, Somerset, UK, jumped ship from the Royal Navy, marries Sarah in 1875 and had changed his surname to Dawson

kind regards
Sammie

[brendam]

Phew, I was afraid my head was going to explode. 

I will have to dig in the paper files to see what I have in there.  Computer crash, you know the story - contacts gone, info gone - thankfully we still have paper.

[sammie]

very much so, always good to keep paper copies of info and to have tree saved not just on the PC

regards
Sammie xx

[brendam]

We will keep in touch.  I will keep looking at this end and let you know if I find anything.

By the way, I am moving back to the home province of NS this year and I plan to take a trip to Sherbrooke.  The Cluney/Clooney family home is still there.  When I visit (hopefully Summer of 2011) I will get as much info as possible.

take care, keep in touch
xox

[sammie]

Thanks Bren

Hope you have a fun time when you visit NS and Sherbrooke and take good care and thanks for help so far and to any help in the future

Sammie :)x

[brendam]

When you find time, would you send me some tidbits on your Dawson family so I can search for them also.

cheers

[sammie]

Hi again Bren

I just sent you a personal message containing my email address so that I can then send you a gedcom of George Daw/Dawson and Sarah Cluney and their decendants as we have at moment.

Not many, but once Patricia and Robert fill in gaps there will be more and I am sure they would love to hear from you as they as they are your cousins

Sammie

[aghadowey]

Have been puzzling over all this and think I might have it figures out (well nearly figured out as some certificates don't seem to be on N.S. Vital records website). The key to it is Finlay Cluney/Dawson. This is how I think it goes-

1) Thomas Cluney and wife Bridget McCoy have a large family, including Sarah (c1849) and Thomas (c1841).
- if this is the Bridget who died in Halifax 1900 there are several problems on death certificate (age 59 but listed as single and from St. John Nfld.).
- 1871 Census a son named Finlay is listed (more on him in a minute)

2) Thomas Cluney, son of Thomas Cluney and Bridget McCoy married 1875 Sarah Kate/C. Bennett (c1855-1927).
-In 1881 Thomas' household consists of wife Sarah, sons James and Angus, and his father Thomas (married). Thomas Sr.'s wife Bridget is in Dawson household
-In 1901 Census there's Thomas and Sarah with sons James and Angus plus 4 sons born 1882-1894
-In 1911 Census there's Thomas and wife Sarah with 4 sons

3) George Dawson (born 1840 England died 1931) and wife Christina died 1927.
-In 1881 George Dawson is listed with a wife Sarah, son Finlay 11, son James 10, son Charles 4, daughter Ada 1, as well as Bridget Cluney and 5 of her children. Notice that 'Finlay Dawson' is the same age as 'Finlay Cluney' from 1871 census.
-In 1901 Census George Dawson now has wife Christie, daughter Ada and an adopted daughter Ida M. McCarthy age 9.
-In 1911 Census George and wife Christie have an adopted son Alexander.

So, George Dawson and Sarah Cluney (born c1849, daughter of Thomas and Bridget) either married or living as man and wife are together in 1881 with Charles and Ada possibly children they had together. Finlay and James are most likely children Sarah had earlier.
By 1901 George is now living with 'wife' Christina McDonald and an adopted daughter called Ida M. McCarthy. Death certificate for Ida May McCarthy 17 Apr.1910 (age 19) shows she died from burns and shock.
At the time of the next census in 1911 George and Christie have another adopted child- Alexander born Dec.1907 who accidentally drowns in 1924. Alexander's death certificate (indexed as Danson) givesn his father as William Chapel (born Sherbrooke) and Ida Dawson (born Sheet Harbour)- George Dawson's adopted daughter. After Ida died in 1910 George and Christie must have raised her son as their own child.

There are several certificates I've not been able to find including a marriage for George Dawson to Christina McDonald.