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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: okkool on Wednesday 20 June 18 16:05 BST (UK)
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I am having trouble with a few words
Native place: ...?.. in Oxfordshire
Parents Names: James Davis ??????????
regards okkool
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The occupation of the father may be 'Shiphand'?
The place name is difficult -- looks like Buckham or Auckham -- but there aren't any! There is a Buckham Hill in the nearby county of Berkshire --- Buckham Hill is about 20 miles from Oxford itself.
These suggestions may be completely wrong!
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Could the occupation of father be shepherd?
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Yes -- I agree it could be Shepherd rather than Shiphand.
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I did find a 1841 England census of John Davis, blacksmith, Churchill,Oxfordshire - born +- 1821 Oxfordshire, No other Davis names associated.
The immigration record is unusual in form . On the records before and after this one the form is {fathers name & Mothers Name) example below
No birth or baptisms of John Davis found in Oxfordshire around that time.
Death in 1901 in NSW, Australia lists James Davis father and Hannah mother
a James Davis dies in 1817 at Churchill, Could be illegitimate child of James? registered under mothers name?
The James who dies in 1817 was a farmer and leaves estate to brothers and sisters. No mention of said John Davis, had holdings in nearby Kingham, Oxfordshire
okkool
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Aah -- so do you think that should be a mother's name next to the father's?
It could be his occupation of Shiphand or Shepherd -- Widower (on the line underneath) maybe.
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Thx Pennines
You may be right on widower. In which case the occupation would make sense.
okkool
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Aah Pennines, I can see it may be widower.
Given that the writer's 'o' looks like a 'u' have had another search for place name...and failed!
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Mega-long-shot:
Marcham? ???
There is also a Cookham, but it's in Berkshire... ???
Karen
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I think the word 'a' --- at the end of the line above what we think might be Widower -- sort of precludes it being a place name I think.
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I though it might be Cuxham, Oxon with a weird Australian spelling.
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You need to have a look at the back of the form for more information.
John's baptism was certified by the Rev. Charles BARTER who was the rector at Sarsden for many years. John's employer before he emigrated was James Haughton LANGSTON. You can read about Charles BARTER and the Haughton LANGSTONs here:
http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/2910/history
As far as I can see the baptisms for Sarsden are only available from the Oxfordshire FHS.
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Sarsden_with_Churchill,_Oxfordshire_Genealogy
You are very lucky to have a full set of immigration records, including his disposal certificate - most have not survived.
Debra :)
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Oh sorry --- I misunderstood and now realise we are back on the place name at the top of the form and not the word after his occupation (this age related brain shrinkage has a lot to answer for!!)
If this form was completed in Australia - then it could simply be the scribe writing down what he thought he heard I suppose. Funnily enough the first 2 letters MIGHT be 'Au' -- which could mean 'O' -- is there an Oakham? Might it be an estate or farm name if he is a Shepherd? Or is this just rubbish on my part?
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Oxfordshire parish records, including Sarsden, are on Ancestry.
Sorry I can't do look-ups easily on this phone.
Carol
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Debra
Thanks so much for opening this avenue of exploration. I had not thought to look at his previous employer and birth verifier as a source. The people who certified his character also may a add credibility to the premise that he is a member of of Churchill family of Davises as opposed to elsewhere in Oxfordshire. His birth/baptism remains elusive.
okkool
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back to the occupation of the father. I think it says Shiphand, a Marriner
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Mckha489
Does it seem to be a word with two i's. I see two distinct dots which would eliminate both shepherd and shiphand. Although a mariner would help to explain a lack of birth record of the son?
okkool
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Re John's parentage as per image...
the usual response would be to include the names of both his Mum and his Dad as well as Dad's occupation as that's what the question is asking for. But there's only the name for Dad followed by an occupation, and NO name for Mum, there's then a word that I read as 'Widower'. So I am supporting the earlier posts including: I think the word 'a' --- at the end of the line above what we think might be Widower -- sort of precludes it being a place name I think.
Aah -- so do you think that should be a mother's name next to the father's?
It could be his occupation of Shiphand or Shepherd -- Widower (on the line underneath) maybe.
Dundee's comments are 100% Gold Star.
PS ADD, I am familiar with transcribing from those records. :)
JM
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Hi okkool,
A bit off-topic but there is a probate packet at NSW State Archives which I could photograph for you
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132346719 A probate packet will have a will, should have a death cert and details of heirs - occasionally there are extra certs.
There are several obits for this man (which I presume you have?) but none mention his birthplace :(
His entry into the police force is too early for the records at the archives :(
I was cheating looking for an alternative source for the information - but no luck so far. ;D
Ros
adding : some obits http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144727974 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132353315 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102112452
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Oxfordshire parish records, including Sarsden, are on Ancestry.
Carol
I don't think they are, they only seem to have the non-conformist baptisms for the parish.
Debra :)
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Rosball
Thanks so much for the offer. I do already have the information you have offered. Thanks for the thought.
okkool
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Oxfordshire parish records, including Sarsden, are on Ancestry.
Carol
I don't think they are, they only seem to have the non-conformist baptisms for the parish.
Debra :)
Sorry for the delay in replying while I've been travelling.
Debra, shortly after your message arrived I received one from someone else thanking me for explaining that Ancestry's library edition - including Oxfordshire PRs - is available in Australian libraries.
I made the following comment on another thread:
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(continued)
I don't know where you've looked, but if you go to Ancestry's 'Card Catalogue' and enter the single word 'Oxfordshire' in the Title box, all will be revealed :D
Carol
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Unfortunately it appears that the Oxfordshire records are incomplete. A search for the birth of John Davis born within 5 yrs of 1820 in Oxfordshire to a father named James yield no results.
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It's not necessarily the case that the records aren't complete. Maybe he was baptised as an adult, or under a different name, or Ancestry have mistranscribed the record, or he was baptised in another county, or he wasn't ever baptised ...........................
You could ask Oxfordshire Family History Society for a surname search. They only charge £1.50 for up to 70 results - details here: http://searches.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk
Carol
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A question ... how to link John Benjamin DAVIS to the chap on the 1845 voyage of the Elizabeth ...
Hi okkool,
A bit off-topic but there is a probate packet at NSW State Archives which I could photograph for you
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132346719 A probate packet will have a will, should have a death cert and details of heirs - occasionally there are extra certs.
There are several obits for this man (which I presume you have?) but none mention his birthplace :(
His entry into the police force is too early for the records at the archives :(
I was cheating looking for an alternative source for the information - but no luck so far. ;D
Ros
adding : some obits http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144727974 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132353315 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102112452
Rosball
Thanks so much for the offer. I do already have the information you have offered. Thanks for the thought.
okkool
In the cutting Ros quoted at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132353315 there's mention of that John DAVIS as being a sergeant of police during the old bushranging days ... From my understanding of NSW history, there were 'bushrangers' (labelled as such by government admin and newspapers etc) in the 1830s chasing the local residents for their cash, cheques, jewellery, etc ... https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12864016 6 Nov 1837 Sydney Herald :)
and
of course in the 1850s and 1860s etc chasing the gold escorts en route to Sydney. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72811598 12 June 1867 SA Advertiser :)
St Michael’s Wollongong, Burial Register (C of E)
John Benjamin DAVIS,
died 19 December (1901), buried 20 December 1901, aged 83.
Burial Register notes he was Late Sergeant, (retiring rank Inspector) of Police, and his residence was Garden Hill, , W’gong. He was interred New Cemetery, W’Gong, (Rev’d) G D’Arcy read the Service.
There is no mention of your John DAVIS, per the Elizabeth, a Blacksmith in that 1901 burial entry. The NSW Archives index for police includes several named John :) who joined in the early 1850s https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/search_form?id=31 :) (you don't need to fill out all the boxes)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=795815.0
JM
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NSW ER 1870 WELLINGTON
In the Molong Police District
John DAVIS, residing in Wollongong, qualified to vote in Wellington Electorate, freehold land in West Molong.
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If your ancestor was at Molong, pre Gold Rush, as police ... try NSW State Archives ...
:) for example ...
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/search_form?id=33 (NICHOLSON is the surname for the Surveyor)... :)
[3931] M.4.1325 Molong - Nicholson 31 Dec 1849 Molong West, County Ashburnham. Chief Constable's house and huts, Courthouse, Pound Keeper's house and paddocks shown
JM