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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: KennethDavidson on Saturday 23 December 17 10:18 GMT (UK)
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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.
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Have you searched this site http://www.eggsa.org/cgi-bin/library/dosearchGraves.pl
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Glad to hear we could help.
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Hi pampoen,
Your help in negotiating the SA records system is much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Kenneth.