Ralph Davison/Little?- Navvy?

[marniemo]

I am trying to locate my maternal great grandfather all we know of him is that his name is Ralph Davison and he could possibly have been a navvy.  We think that he travelled from job to job, married to my grt grandmother whos surname was little. Unfortunately she had sisters and we do not know which one she was.

Any info on how I go about trying to locate them would be great.  We think he may have been in the Lanchester, Co Durham area as that was where all their children were born.

Any help would be greatfully received.

Margaret

[tiggi]

There are several Ralph Davidson listed by Census as early as 1841 in toxteth park Liverpool Lancashire and many more listed in Co Durham area

Do you know roughly his date of birth etc, would you share your information regarding his children it would make it easier then to back track with dates

Do you know his wifes 1st name ?

The more you can say will help, there are some wonderful researchers on here and I am sure if you can give as much detail as you want to, you will get some help, but a name alone is not going to be enough
I hope you find him good luck

[marniemo]

Tiggi Thank you so much, names of children are the easy part they are, (Oh my god Ive just realised, mum always said  that it was her mother that didnt have to change her name so I automatically thought that that would mean she was a davison but she wasnt. shes a LITTLE so that must mean that I should be looking for a Ralph Little)

I can be soo thick so Im looking for a Ralph Little (navvy ) not sure of his wifes first name going to have to check that one out as there are more than one daughter and that's if the children were raised by their maternal family but now Ive seen more than one Ralph Little in that family maybe they were taken care of by their paternal family.

oh god was a mess anyway the children are: (in 1901) Arthur Little 17, jane Isable Little 12, Margaret Ellen Little 9 (my grandmother), and Ralph William Little 25:

Got to get hold of my grandmother's birth certificate (which no one has!) that will help wont it.

Thanks

a very confused and brain-dead
margaret

[tiggi]

No problem Margaret I will see what I can do for you

Lets start with 1901 Census I have found family, so anyone can follow:

Satley St Cuthbert Butsfield Durham

Ralph little 48 b 1853 Lanchester, Durham, England (HD)
Ann Little   51 b 1850 Lanchester, Durham, England ( sister)
Ralph William Little 25 b 1876 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Nephew)
Arthur Little 17 b 1884 Lanchester, Durham, England (Nephew)
Jane Isabel Little 12 b 1889 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Niece)
Margaret Ellen Little 9 b 1892 Lanchester, Durham, England ( Niece)
William Scott  48 b 1853 Lanchester, Durham, England ( boarder)

This family appears to be living on a Farm.. Ralph Sr is a road labour... Ann the sister is living on own means and keeper of Cows /Cattle
The boys look like carters working on farm and the boarder is doing the milking of the herd

All the older ones are Single...... so it would seem that the younger ones are living with their Uncle & Aunt

I will try and go back another 10yrs by census

[tiggi]

1891 Census St Cuthbert West  Butsfield Durham

Elizabeth Little 66 b 1825 Lanchester (HD)
Ann                  39 b 1852 Lanchester  ( Daughter)
Ralph               38 b 1853 Lanchester  ( Son)
Arthur                7 b 1884 Lanchester  ( Grandson)
Elizabeth           5 b 1886 Lanchester  ( Grand-daughter)
Jane Isabel       2 b 1889  Lanchester  ( Grand-daughter)

So now you have family Elizabeth is Widowed and Grandmother to younger children...... she is a housekeeper
Ralph is a Farm Labour/Single ....as is Ann his sister

What I need to find now is the parents of these children ?
They must be alive because they went on to have another child Margaret Ellen in 1892

There is on same census yet another Ralph little aged 15 b 1876 working on neighbouring farm called  surname>Willis
this is Elizabeth grandson listed in 1901

[deb usa]

Hi 

in 1891 .... Ralph William Little ( b 1876) is not with his siblings.... maybe he is with the parents?

In 1881
Lanchester
Arthur Little head 67 farmer of 15 acres b Wolsingham , Durham
Elizabeth wife 54 b Durham
Ann Dau 28 b Durham
Ralph son 26 gen lab b Durham
Ralph gr son 5 b Durham
Jane Robson mother-in-law 8? b Houghton le Spring

 deb

ps Nice to see you cousin tiggi

[tiggi]

1881 Census West Butsfield Farm ( so they did own one 15 acres)
Arthur Little  67 b 1814 Wolsingham, Durham ( HD)
Elizabeth      54 b 1827  Durham   (Maiden name Robson)
Ann              28 b 1853                  Daughter
Ralph           26 b 1855                   Son
Ralph             5 b 1876                  Grandson
Jane Robson 80 b 1801 Houghton Le Spring Durham ( mother in law/ Widowed)

1871 Census we have the family in same area, but arthur now is only a farm labour .......... but there is a new person aonther daughter
Mary J little 20 b  1851 Lanchester, Durham, England
unmarried
This has surely has to be the mother of the children in later census
 

[tiggi]

Hi cousin debs .......... glad you are on board lol you will find them I know how good you are

Yes I did  put Ralph 1876 in 1891 was working on a farm close by

Need to find Mary J little marriage now can you help there

[deb usa]

ooopsss sorry ...see that now

will check around

deb