RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: isk on Wednesday 29 June 11 12:38 BST (UK)
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I am looking for information about a Sarah Steven (Stevens or Stephen) who married Lawrance Dinnervell in St. Helena ca 1874. According to the 1881 census in Scotland though she was born in St., Helena she was a British Subject. This couple had a son, Laurance also born in St. Helena ca 1874 and Charles born ca 1878 at Cape of Good Hope. The father, Lawrence or Laurence was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ca 1851. The family have again left Scotland by the time oif the 1891 census and the next information I have for them is the two sons' military records in Australia. Any information would be much appreciated.
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Not a thing on the OPR at Scotland's People for the name Dinnervell I strongly suspect corruption of the name or transcription of the name by clerks.
There is however a pedigree file on family search which suggests a connection, this name is Dunsterville which again does not show up on OPR searches of SP. Hence my suspicion the name has been corrupted.
J. B. DUNSTERVILLE
Ancestral File
birth: 1820 Abt — Of, Stirling Or, Ayr, Scotland
death: 1850 Aft — Of, Stirling Or, Ayr, Scotland
child: Gertrude Lawrence Clara DUNSTERVILLE
Gertrude Lawrence Clara DUNSTERVILLE
Ancestral File
birth: 1850 Abt — Of, Stirling Or, Ayr, Scotland
death: 1932 Apr 20 — Of, Airthrey Castle, Stirling, Scotland
parents: J. B. DUNSTERVILLE
spouse: Donald GRAHAM
child: James Dunsterville GRAHAM
marriage: 1872 Aug 3 — Of, , Stirling, Scotland
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The name started in Scotland as Dinnaville and was also Dinnerville and Dinnervell. One branch went to the USA and ran with the spelling Dinnervell while Lawrence and Sarah went to Australia as Dinnerville. I would love to know how they met and if her family were already living on St. Helena
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Stevens is common name on St Helena, my cousin married a Stevens on the Island.
I believe someone else on the board has also been researching on the Island recently, check some of the older posts and ask her how she got access to records.
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Nothing coming up on the freesearch at SP for the name Dinnaville either. :-\
Where did you get the information that the name existed in that format in Scotland? Have you checked out Scotlands People for the names yourself?
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
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If you send a pm to rootschat member margaretmarion asking her how she went about her research on the island, I'm sure she will advise on who to email.
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Thanks for all the information, To fifer1947 all my research has been done at New Register House or at local libraries on the Old Parish Register. My 2x great grandfather was married to an aunt or great-aunt of this Lawrence Dinnerville. I very seldom use Scotlands People as I live in the Central Belt of Scotland and have easier and cheaper access to the records through the Family History Centre in the Mitchell Library
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They are (or should be) the same records, like you I live in the central belt but it's far easier to check on SP than to take a trip to one of the centres.
I have used exactly the spelling you have given but there's just nothing coming up. If you are aware of inaccuracies on the records held by SP please do let them know. :)
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Do you have Lawrence's military record? It's on Findmypast. He is indexed as Louis, but the record says Laurie. He served in St Helena & the Cape of Good Hope, but I can't see a military marriage record for him.
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Hi Osprey
Not the same query, but could you look up JAMES WARD for me? he was stationed at the Cape from 1806-1819 and opted to stay.
Delva Pelser
Bloemfontein
South Africa
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Thanks again for the responses. Fifer1947 there are census records from 1841 to 1881 and birth and marriage information from both the OPR and Civil Certificates. Believe me this has been a long and time consuming search because of the many different spellings of the name. osprey I have found his WW1 Military records in Australia but will certainly have a look at 'find my past'. Thanks again.
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Hi DelvaP,
you can access www.findmypast.co.uk by paying for credits. It has the military records of Chelsea Pensioners. You'll need an approx birth date as there are several James Wards. I don't have any Cape records, just that the record for Louis Dinnervell mentioned his being in the Cape.
:-\
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Hi Isk
I to have several family members either born, married or emigrated to the Island of St Helena, usually from Scotland, then, (usually) either back to Scotland, or to South Africa, and in a couple of cases, to America.
The Archive Section at the Museum in Jamestown (St Helena), have brilliant researchers who would be willing to help you for a small fee. (Google the Museum for contacts).
Cheers
Danchaslyn
:)
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Hi Isk,
Not sure why you are researching the Dinnerville name, however, I am a great grandson to Lawrance Robert Dinnerville who immigrated to Oz from Scotland via St. Helena. My grandfather was Leonard Dinnerville the youngest son of Lawrence(Bob) and Sarah, whom I have an early photo. My father was Keith(Roy), the eldest son of Leonard(Len) and Emma(Cis). Lawrence and Sarah had four children, Lawrence, Charles, Beth, and Leonard(sometimes spelt Lennard). The three 'boys' all served and survived in the Great War.
I was told that the Family Bible, which came out with Lawrence in about 1873, is in the Archives of the Mitchell Library in Sydney and has various family name spellings as well as some 'blanks' for the name of some brides!
Lawrence and Sarah lived in both Strathfield and Homebush, suburbs of Sydney and Lawrence was one of the local Constabulary, and affectionate called 'Scotch Bob'.
Lawrence's brother, Robert, immigrated to the USA from Scotland in about 1870. There are many 'dinnerville' in the USA and I have meet a few cousins and an Uncle Robert who cruised into Sydney back in 1972 and introduced himself, and wife, to my father and filled-in some interesting details about the 'US Connection'.
As a note, I was told by my Grandmother (Cis) that the dinnerville name was originally the French name Den(n)eville, who were vignerons in Normady region and escaped the guillotine to Scotland in about 1790. The surname was said to be bastardised to escape the French who had spies out looking for those who fled France during the 'purge' by Louis XIV.
Dinnervilles in Scotland in 18th and 19th Century were also associated with Scotch Wiskey production, and a brother also had a laundry business in London.
In my research and being told by relatives, that names, both christian and surname was often mispelt because of either poor spelling or writting skills. I have seen this in many examples of records and letters.
Hope some of this helps your research.
Cheers, Keith B L Dinnerville
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Hello Keith,
My conection to the Dinnerville family comes through Jean or Jane Dinnavall (one of many sundry spellings) who married my 2x great grandfather, James Reynolds, in the Parish of St. Cuthbert's in Edinburgh on 10th August, 1840. She was the widow of Joseph Brannan or Brennan and according to both the notice of her Marriage and her Death Certificate on 21st October, 1866, her father's name was William, her mother's name Jane but no surname appears on the Certificate.
At the time of the 1861 census in Scotland 2 boys, James and Laurance, were living with the James & Jane Reynolds with the relationship appearing as grandsons. This is obviously incorrect and I think they may have been nephews or great-nephews. My cousin and I have enjoyed trying to untangle the strings of this name.
No indication so far in the Scottish records of any connection to the whisky industry.
I am delighted to have contact with you and I am thrilled to know that a Family Bible has survived, even on the other side of the world.
If you are interested in any further info from the Scottish records, let me know.
Maureen Walker :) :)