Author Topic: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA  (Read 1108 times)

Offline KennethDavidson

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Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« on: Saturday 23 December 17 10:18 GMT (UK) »
Hi,
I'm trying to find out more about one of my Grandfather's brothers - James (b. 1891, Queensferry, Scotland), and his family.

All I know for certain is that my father (David) tried to meet with his cousins James and John in 1943 in Durban while being transported to India. He managed to find the family house, but both his cousins were away on service (RN?). He did meet his two female cousins, one of whom later married into a Watson family.

I've tried the usual FamilySearch, and some of the SA family websites, but with no success.

All suggestions welcome!

Kenneth.
Davidson, Gibson, Douglas, Cairns, Robertson, Stanners, Anderson, Edmond, Samuel, and many more!

Offline pampoen

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 23 December 17 20:47 GMT (UK) »
Austin, Ayling, Alborough, Bescoby, Cheal, Groom,Rathbone,Tarboton,Lyell and Smith.

Offline pampoen

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 23 December 17 20:50 GMT (UK) »
Could this be James?
EPOT     NAB                                                                   
SOURCE    MSCE                                                                 
TYPE      LEER                                                                 
SYSTEM    01                                                                   
REFERENCE 4426/1969                                                             
PART      1                                                                     
DESCRIPTION          DAVIDSON, JAMES. BORN IN SCOTLAND. SINGLE. DECEASED ESTATE.           
STARTING  19690000                                                             
ENDING    19710000   

DEPOT     NAB                                                                   
SOURCE    MSCE                                                                 
TYPE      LEER                                                                 
SYSTEM    01                                                                   
REFERENCE 360/1952                                                             
PART      1                                                                     
DESCRIPTION          DAVIDSON, JAMES. BORN IN SCOTLAND UNMARRIED DECEASED ESTATE.         
STARTING  19510000                                                             
ENDING    19540000 
Austin, Ayling, Alborough, Bescoby, Cheal, Groom,Rathbone,Tarboton,Lyell and Smith.

Offline KennethDavidson

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 24 December 17 12:39 GMT (UK) »
Thanks pampoen.

I think I found the graves webpage a few years ago (or a very similar one). I will check it again as I have a bit more information now.

Your database search is interesting. I will need to work out the mnemonics first, but I know that James senior had a family of at least 3 children - I think named James, John and Margaret.

Many thanks, and Happy Christmas to you.
Kenneth.
Davidson, Gibson, Douglas, Cairns, Robertson, Stanners, Anderson, Edmond, Samuel, and many more!


Offline KennethDavidson

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #4 on: Monday 15 January 18 16:45 GMT (UK) »
From some Christmas family investigations, it turns out that there was a Bert & Peggy Watson (ne Davidson) living in Verreniging, probably in the 1970's.

FamilySearch and SA Graves records haven't come-up with anything yet, so I'm still searching.
Davidson, Gibson, Douglas, Cairns, Robertson, Stanners, Anderson, Edmond, Samuel, and many more!

Offline KennethDavidson

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 12 May 18 15:08 BST (UK) »
Well, I've had a very successful week on this project.

It started off with the discovery of two Christmas letters in a box in my mother's garage. The names in the letters made little sense until I got a fortunate partial match to a search with one of the free websites. Further checking resulted in a speculative email to one of the younger names, which resulted in success!

Since then I've been in contact with other members of James' family.

Just for the record, James Davidson had a family of 6; 5 born in Scotland and one in South Africa.
Davidson, Gibson, Douglas, Cairns, Robertson, Stanners, Anderson, Edmond, Samuel, and many more!

Offline pampoen

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 13 May 18 11:16 BST (UK) »
Glad to hear we could help.
Austin, Ayling, Alborough, Bescoby, Cheal, Groom,Rathbone,Tarboton,Lyell and Smith.

Offline KennethDavidson

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Re: Looking for James & John Davidson from Durban, SA
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 13 May 18 11:26 BST (UK) »
Hi pampoen,

Your help in negotiating the SA records system is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Kenneth.
Davidson, Gibson, Douglas, Cairns, Robertson, Stanners, Anderson, Edmond, Samuel, and many more!