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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: ev on Friday 02 November 12 12:07 GMT (UK)
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I was recently sent these extracts and thought they may be of interest to Rootschat members.
The Eadie's are my family line and I have all the details for William and Christina
This is the time I write this part of my record. I was born on the continent of Europe in the island of North Briton or Scotland in the shire of Renfrew in the old Abbie parish of Paisley in a place called Hurlet on January 21, 1821.
Nothing extraordinary happened in my youth. At the age of 8 years, I went to school and learned to read the bible and to write a little. At the age of 10 years, I was sent to the coalmines for my father was a miner. I remained at this kind of work till this time -------- Till the accidents ------ for my life at this dangerous occupation. I intend to write these down. Three times water bursting in on us. -------. One of these times was going on an old pit that had been worked thirty years before. There was not much water in this pit but it came rushing in. Every one made to save themselves caused more danger than the water I ------------------ the rope with seven men with myself there was plenty for the rope to carry, all the men escaped safe. The second time was the coming in of a river. The pit was under the river and the roof gave way and the river came in to a seam twenty fathoms above where I worked and we had to ascend the shaft under a shower of stones and water. I was in the pit and my father and a brother. My father was old and stupid for a time like this my brother was but a boy, who was sickly as bad for a time like this was. I put them on the rope before me and got up safe and I came ------ and got up safe also and all the rest of the men. The third time was in a pit, which belong to a company called the ------- company. The pits name is ---- I put the place through myself on the old pit. I went to my work as usual and thinking no danger -- when one second the water burst the col that was between us and it and -------- I had not far to be --- when I got to the bottom of the shaft I got hold of a post or support for the roof and pulled myself upon my feet, then I climbed the pipe where the water is carried to the tip by the engine and sat until the rest of the men got up.----- I was little hurt with the steam that struck us and got up safe this time. Thank god for it. I was married at this time and Christina had a child born and had one died -----. When I came to the pithead, the men were glad to see me alive for they did not think I could escape such danger. The next time the engineer let me down a old shaft where I ---- twenty fathoms, the reason was the two tubs or bucket stopped right before us and I went on the wrong one and they let me down through the shaft all crushed in and when the bucket came up and us not in it he almost passed away with fear. There was another man with me, we came up without a scratch. The next time was the fall in of the roof on me and there were two or three tons of stones, which caved in. I was very sore hurt at this time but I soon recovered again and the overseer gave me an easy place till I got better. His name was John Hill. God bless him for it.
The night before this happened to me I had a vision in my head, which troubled my mind very much and couldn’t be satisfied till I heard a ‘latter day saint preacher’ preach. He laid out the ancient way of ---- that I could not help becoming a latter day saint. I was not long joined them when I was called to the office of a teacher. I joined them on December 20, 1844. I remained a teacher 2 years and 6 months and then I was called to the office of a Priest, which I rejoiced in, until this time 1849.
At the age of twenty one I take a wife in marriage. It is Christina Eadie. Her age at the time was 16 years. And of 10th July 1843 we had the first fruit of our marriage. Its name was Christina Davidson named after her grandmother. This is the way they do in Scotland.
Nothing extraordinary happened us till I joined the later day saints. I was baptized by Andrew Willison, Elder and confirmed by Natthew Guentherk Priest and Alexander Bard, Elder. At this time our child died on the 25th day of December and on December the 27th, 1844 we had another born. As you will see one the register the one died and the other born on one week. Nothing happened us of any account till our second child died. Her name was Agnes Davidson. She died on 20th December 1845. We moved from place to place. I do not think worthwhile mention as it is of no importance. Nothing happened of account till we had out third child born. Its name was Mary Steel Davidson. She was born on 29th April 1846 on the register and she died on 21st October 1849. This child was three years and a half when she died. She was a good child and greatly lamented by us.
Nothing of any account till our fourth child was born, her name was Janet Davidson. She was born 2nd September 1847 and she died on 16th October 1849. Remember we were in America when these two children died but in Scotland when they were born. The later was two years and one month and both died in one week in the register. After I joined the church I was diligent in order to save means to take us to the land of spice which is the land of America according to Isia the Prophet-------------------
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This is the time I write this part of my history. We left Glasgow 12th February 1847 and sailed to Liverpool. We stayed in Liverpool 6 days then we were towed into the river, we stayed there two days. The river is called the Mersey. Liverpool is built on the side of it. I did not see all so as to give a description. Its harbour is six miles long constantly filled with ships from every country and Island in the world. We sailed from the river on 22nd February. I got sick the first day. We were 14 days in the Irish Channel, this is along the Irish island. I was sick all the time. We were driven back twice into the channel called Georges. We got through into the Bay of Biscay then a storm arose which lasted twelve hours and drove us back within sight of the Irish lighthouse on Cape Clare in Ireland. When the storm was over we sailed away with the wind ahead at the time we left Liverpool. It is reef strewn, the Bay of Biscay. When we were eight days out after the storm we met a Dutch ship which had been in the same storm. They hoisted up their colours to let us know they were in distress. Their masts were all torn away and the bulwarks were all taken away. Some of the men were hurt. They told us they had seen four other ships as bad as themselves. Its name was William the Second. It was laden with coffee and sugar. They told us they had thrown overboard four hundred barrels of coffee to lighten the ship. They did not need nourishment nor drink, they had both, They just wanted a main sheet or sail which we gave them and they went away and we went away.
The passage was pleasant on the way after that. Nothing happened to us worthwhile to mention but Near the Van Tague a old man died and his body was buried in the sea. Next morning we saw Van Tague, one of the West Indian Islands. Then we came to Mount Siratt and high mountain then we came to the Gulf of Mexico. It is one thousand miles to the mouth of the Mississippi. We sailed over two thousand miles very quick. When we saw the land of America we were all overjoyed to see the land of our destination ------------. I would have had something to say about my two children had they been alive. To let them know how we took both of them and toiled to keep them alive. They were young both of them, in order that they night honour us for our protection. As a father and mother we were kind to them and they were dear to us. Before I leave the history of our passage over the sea I want to refer to the character of the captain and the crew. The captain was a fine man and he was good to the saints! His name is Captain H. Kingsey. He loved the saints and was kind to the sick. Several times he treated them to brandy and every privilege on the deck and in the ------. The crew was also kind and treated the saints with respect and would do anything for their favour. We went up the river Mississippi in the boat called Marmaluke we were eight days coming up the river to Saint Louis. We were in good health at the time except little Janet was sick on the river and we thought she would die but she recovered on landing, We stayed in Saint Louis ten days. Then we started to go up the Missouri river to Council Bluffs. We went up the river in ten days. We stayed at Council Bluffs five months. Then I came down to ------ to work for some --. I was there when Christina came down to me with the ---- and the two children. I was at this time working in Alton and was doing well. I was glad to see her. We next moved to the ------ coal diggings were I built a house and worked at the coal diggings. I have plied that kind of work for 17 years and to this day I am tired of it. I say so. It was here my two children died Mary and Janet. We have the ague and fever five months, both Christina and myself have also. We have one born alive since is Ann Smith Davidson. She is our fifth born to us, four are dead and one is alive. February 16.
May 6th 1850. I left the coal diggings to come to the great Salt Lake. I came up the river called the Missouri in a steam boat called the packet boat to Council Bluffs, then traveled by land to great Salt Lake the distance from Saint Louis to Salt Lake was 1500 miles. I left Salt Lake and came to Provo City and while there was ordained a Seventy by Brother Young, and Brother ------. In Provo my son William was born and my son James was born there,
In Cedar City, December 25, 1854. And in the year 1853 by orders of the president I moved to Cedar City, Iron County, Utah. Here my son James died and my daughter Christina was born.
1856. In this year my wife Christina E. Davidson died in Cedar City, Iron county, Utah Territory. She was born in Scotland, in Lanarkshire, in the parish of Old Monkland on April 1, 1826. Her father’s name is James Eadie, her mother’s name is Christina McLaren
In this year I married again to Ellen Neish. She was born In Lanarkshire, Scotland
Her fathers name is Thomas Neish and her mothers name is Elizabeth Penman.
My wife Christina died in childbed with a son. His name is Thomas John Davidson . He was born 14th December 1856. He is alive and doing well at this date 23rd February 1857.
ev
ADDED- Think they left Glasgow Feb. 1848(daughter born Sept. 1847 Lanark)
I have a passenger list April 1848 ship Carnatic(Liverpool to New Orleans)
William Davidson 27
Christina 22
Mary
Janet
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Oh my, what a tale. Fascinating in its detail, although harrowing to think of how many babies they lost over the years.
Thank you for posting, Ev :)
Monica
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As far as I know only 3 children survived into adulthood(out of 9)
Ann Smith Davidson(1849-1937), Mary Christina Davidson(1854-1884), and Thomas John Davidson(1856-1934)
I've been informed that William Davidson(1821-1902) had 3 wives after Christina's death , and another 17 children.
He may have been married to the 3 wives at the same time.
ev
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Wonderful extracts to have - they give tons of information and insight into their lives.
Jules
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26 children in all :o A sign of the times (not so much the four wives!), but nevertheless, still a big number of children. What happened to William up to 1902, do you know? Did he carry on being a miner?
Monica
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Monica ,
William died 1902 Indian Valley Adams Idaho.
Since Christina is the sister of my direct line(Andrew Eadie born 1832) I haven't spent a great deal of time(or money ::) ) following the Davidsons after her death.
An Eadie contact in England was in touch with a lady in America(the grand daughter of Ann Smith Davidson) , and all the later information on the Davidsons came from this source
ev
This a bit from the start -
I William Davidson intend this to be a record which is to contain the birth and the death of my children and to give an account of our country and my religion and its principles and the government of the church and the -------priesthood. That my children be not towed to and fro with every kind of doctrine whereby cunning men lie in wait to deceive but that you comply with the truth, the doctrine of faith and repentance, and beatification and the laying on of hands for the holy ghost, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Then I do hope my children will pay attention to what I do write when it is for their own good.
Part 1 The history of Scotland. This is a thing of great importance to my children. I am sorry that I am not better acquainted with the above-mentioned thing. Scotland is not spoken of until the reign of Julius Caesar, he came with his army to invade the Country, then historians take up its history. They say they (the Scots) were a savage people and went naked, painting their skins of a light blue color. They were a warlike people and they compelled the Romans to leave their shores. ------------------------
And in the year 1853 by orders of the president I moved to Cedar City, Iron County, Utah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham_Young
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Thank you for posting these extracts Ev, they make fascinating reading.
My great great aunt and her family made the journey to Utah in 1868. I can trace her life from Aberdeenshire to the USA through the records and newspaper accounts (a harrowing account of her husband and son drowning in the Weber river in 1875) but these are mainly facts...it's wonderful that you have found something much more personal, however distressing, that gives an insight into William's life and those times.
Elaine
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1856. In this year my wife Christina E. Davidson died in Cedar City, Iron county, Utah Territory. She was born in Scotland, in Lanarkshire, in the parish of Old Monkland on April 1, 1826. Her father’s name is James Eadie, her mother’s name is Christina McLaren
In this year I married again to Ellen Neish. She was born In Lanarkshire, Scotland
Her fathers name is Thomas Neish and her mothers name is Elizabeth Penman.
My wife Christina died in childbed with a son. His name is Thomas John Davidson . He was born 14th December 1856. He is alive and doing well at this date 23rd February 1857.
ev
Hi ev,
I read the whole posting, ev, and a very moving story at times, being a miner's son myself, but this bit disturbs me a bit.
If I am reading this correctly, Christina died in childbed(childbirth?) with Thomas John on 14th December 1856 and William Davidson has remarried this year to Ellen Neish. Does that mean between 14th December 1856 and 31st December 1856, or was this a polygamous marriage when Christina was still alive.
I am not a Latter Day Saint, but this is not something I am familiar with, and just worried about the circumstances of her death, and concurrent or subsequent marriage. I am not saying it is wrong but just I am uncomfortable with it. I am looking at this from the point of view of period of mourning. If this was a concurrent polygamous marriage, I can understand slightly, although not approved by my religion.
Tom
PS Hopefully you understand what I am trying to say, just the way the bit about death of Christina in childbirth and marriage to Ellen Neish came across to me. I did not intend to criticise the LDS or their beliefs, although they are different to my own.
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Hi Tom ,
Although not sure of the exact details it reads like he married Ellen before Christina died. :o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_and_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement
and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890
It's not something I agree with myself
ev
Added -
Here is the diary I said I would send. I have left out a lot of it, his history of Scotland and a lot of meanderings about the Mormon church. My grandmother was the Ann Smith Davidson. When she and my grandfather left the Mormon church she changed her name to Anna Isobel. William Davidson was quite the old boy. After Christina died he had three wives. All at the same time and fathered seventeen more children. I don't know just what happened to all his wives. He ended up living with my grandparents, the only ones who weren't Mormon
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Hi Ev,
Just come across this. Christina Eadie born 14 April 1826 in Old Monkland is in my tree. Her parents James Eadie (Coal Miner) and Christian McLaren who married in February 1816 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire are my direct ancestors. I have part of the diary you have quoted courtesy of Eleanor S. It sounds like I am the Eadie contact in England mentioned in your posting to Monica and that Eleanor is the lady in America?
If you have any more information on James Eadie and Christian McLaren I would love to hear from you direct. Eleanor will give you my email address.
Alan Eadie (Kent, UK)
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Hi Alan ,
The diary extracts quoted are indeed courtesy of Eleanor and you are the Eadie contact in England.
It's great to hear from you again.
Don't really have anything new on James and Christina Eadie although it is several years since I've looked at that line.
Will have to dig out all the information on the Eadie's and have another look.
ev(Angus , Scotland)
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Hi Ev,
I guess you must be Evelyn then? So you will have my email. if so, perhaps we can pursue direct that way?
I have the parents of Christian McLaren but assume that James Eadie died in a cholera epidemic circa 1832.
Regards.
Alan
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Yes , I have your email address.
Looks like James Eadie died sometime between 1831 and 1840(Christina McClaren remarried 1840)
ev
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I am so excited to find this! William and Christina are my 3rd great grandparents. Thank you for sharing it!
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Thanks for this posting Ev, I found it fascinating as it gives an insight
into the life of a miner. I confess that all those marriages and at the same time, perplexes
me but then no doubt it makes perfect sense to adherents of that religion.
Joy
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Ev is there a way that I could contact the person who has the whole diary and other information? Can I give you my email address? I'm in Utah, USA.
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Hi Bonnelle , welcome to RootsChat :)
I've received your email address.
I'm going to have to search through my information to see what I have.
Busy this weekend so it might be next week before I can get back to you.
ev
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Thank you ev! When you can that would be lovely! :)
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Well , after 2 house moves and many computer crashes I no longer seem to have the information :(
I'll PM Alan Eadie and see if he can help further.
ev
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Ev,
My email to you with Eleanor's email has just bounced. It has been a long time since I have been on this site hence the delay in picking up Bonnelle's correspondence.
I would be obliged if you and bonnelle would kindly email me on *. (I have broken up my email as some outfits do not accept them.)
Regards. Alan
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Hi Alan ,
I've removed your email address as per RC policy.
Will send you a Personal Message(PM) with my email address -
http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
ev
Added -
PM'd Bonnelle with you email address.
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What a very poignant and interesting piece of your family history to have! Thank you for sharing the story!
Jeanne :)