John Davidson where have you gone??

[loobylooayr]

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

[Millmoor]

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

[lilly14]

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

[Millmoor]

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