Simon Mead
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 35
Josiah and Ann MEAD. Long Marston, Herts c1874
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This has grown from the Scottish middle name query that I posted. I've now marked that as completed but from that discussion the subject grew to encompass, and concentrate on, the father more than the adoption and I thought to post a summary of that discussion here in the hope that it might elicit some feedback. I'll keep this as brief as I can without losing any of the substance of the matter.
In February (registered in March) 1917 my mother was born: Grant Bessie L S.
Stoneham 2c 186, closely followed by registered in June 1918 Grant David L
Winchester 2c 228. It was in an attempt to trace David that my adoption
query was aired.
My grandmother - Caroline HALL - was not married to the father of the
children. She decided that she could support only 1 child, my mother and had
the younger David adopted by a family in Winchester (?).
On my mother's birth certificate - I don't have David's - her father is
David Lawson GRANT, occupation Gunner R.G.A. (Butcher Master).
I traced a David Lawson GRANT b. 19 February 1890 at Rosehall Cottage in
Hawkhill district of Dundee. Parents: Andrew Grant, butcher and Sophia
Macpherson - m Dundee 30/12/1873.
I then have a marriage at 41 Kirk St, Lochee Dundee on 2/7/1913 David GRANT
(no Lawson) 23 of 6 Tofthill Lochee, Dundee, butcher master and bachelor.
Parents Andrew Grant master butcher and Sophia Macpherson both deceased. To
Jeannie TRAYNOR, laundry maid, spinster, age 22y of Kirk St Lochee. Parents
James TRAYNOR, fruiter and Mary Stitt both deceased.
A son, David Lawson GRANT was born on 29/03/1914.
I then have a David Lawson GRANT, Manager of a Men's Hostel, died 26/8/1947,
aged 57. Parents Andrew Grant, Hotel Prop deceased and Anne Grant, Sophia
Macpherson deceased. His wife then was Rosa Alice Craik BARNFORD.
I'm fairly happy that these entries all refer to the same man. Then along
came the Army, and other, records from WW1.
Firstly is an entry, at Ellis Island: Date of arrival: April 7 1912 From
Glasgow
Grant David L 22 male single butcher Scotland Shettleston Sister, Mrs Kidd,
12 City Road Brechin. 5' 4" fresh complexion fair hair blue eyes.
Ship of Travel: Columbia
Port of Departure: Glasgow
Manifest Line Number: 0017
Then, among the Army records, an application for repatriation allowance: On
March 12 1919, 97004 Pte GRANT David Lawson applied for repat to Chicago.
Two referees in the UK were Mrs MAYES, Brechin and Mrs CRAIG, Dundee. He
further states that he arrived in Glasgow on the ship California on
September 11 1914 and that his year of birth is 1891.
Finally, in response to that claim, a hearing (?) was conducted and a report
made out. I quote from that report:
Claim submitted in March. Rejected owing to date of arrival in UK.
Letter from War Pensions, Dundee, states that Mrs GRANT called and informed
them that she had been married to GRANT since 1912 and had not been in? to?
America. GRANT came to England and married her in 1912. Suggests that he is
trying to desert her.
3?/5/19 Further letter from War Pensions, Dundee States that Mrs GRANT has
called again with a letter from a woman in Winchester. This woman states
that she has been living with GRANT for the past 3 years, two illegitimate
children by him, and a potential third. GRANT is accused of lying ? to his
two wives and all the children and going off to America. In neither of his
Z7s (?) has he claimed for any wife of family.
Woman in Winchester has informed police and they are taking up the matter.
The one glaring contradiction in all this is that he entered the US in 1912
and was married in 1913, and returned again from the US - according to his
claim - in 1914. I guess it's possible.
I haven't yet viewed the army documents in their entirety and don't really
know what outcome I'd like to achieve; just a better understanding of the
situation I guess.
Simon,
Melbourne Australia
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