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Hi,

For several years I have a been searching for the descendants of a James Davidson (b 1891 in West Lothian). I thought that after WW1 James emigrated from Motherwell to South Africa, married and brought-up a family there. My father met with some of that family in 1943 while traveling to India and Burma.

Last summer I had a breakthrough (with help from RootsChat regulars), when I discovered some letters between my parents and two of James’ daughters. This allowed me to contact several of the next generation.

All was well.

The elephant in the room was that I knew nothing about James’ wife Margaret. So I searched SP and came up with 16 possible marriages, none of which ‘looked right’. I then looked at Ships Passenger Records for SA between 1920-1930 and found that there was a family (minus father) of:

Mother: Mrs. Margaret Ann Davidson
Child 1: William
Child 2: Mary Helen
Child 3: Robert Edward
Child 4: John
Child 5: Susannah

who were travelling from Motherwell to Capetown.

The names of the children match with the names already supplied by current family members from SA. I obtained the original Birth Certificates (from SP) for William, Robert Edward and Mary Helen Davidson, and discovered that the mother, Margaret Ann Davidson (ne Williams) was married to a William Davidson!

And I cannot find any other list of names in Scotland that match.

So, has anyone got any ideas as to where else I can check?


Many thanks,

Kenneth.

Hi,

I'm trying to find the death certificate for my GG grandfather, William Davidson (died 1904-1909). In particular, I'd like to check for details on his parents.

William Davidson was born in London about 1828 and moved to Glasgow in the 1840's to work as a house joiner in the emerging West End of Glasgow. I have a marriage certificate for him from 1850, and all his Census records from 1851 to 1901. He died sometime between 1904 and 1909.

I've checked all the online ScotlandsPeople records and, as far as I can see, none match.
Is there any other source of Death Records?

Many thanks,

Kenneth.

Hi,

I’ve come across a study of Pettinain Parish in South Lanarkshire where there are entries of family members from throughout the 1700s and 1800s. While I’m familiar with the census records of 1841, 1851, etc, I don’t know of any similar sources for the 1700s.

I’d love to know if there is an additional resource online for this data?

Thanks,

Kenneth.

Hi,
I'm trying to find out about the early life of Mary Flinn. According to the 1851 Census, she was 62 and born in Bucks. She was married to my GGG Grandfather, William Davidson, who was a French Polisher in St James Parish, Westminster. They were married in 1827 in St Leonards, Shoreditch.

All my searches so far have drawn blanks.

Thanks.