Help with Lawson from South Shield, Durham, please

[emanimac]

Great great aunts, Wilhelmina/Wilirand/Minnie Lawson b. 15 May 1878 and sister, Alice M. Lawson b. 1876. Parents John Lawson & Mary Scott (dates unknown). Immigrated to US in 1884 or 1885. Other siblings born in US were Catherine (Katie) b. 4 Oct 1888, Sarah J. b 7 Aug 1890 and William b. Oct 1893, all in Illinois. Katie born in Streator, LaSalle County, Illinois. Unknown what happened to their parents or William. I am Katie's gr granddaughter. Thank you.

[lizdb]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Where are the family in 1881?

Presumably still England, but I cant see a family that fits well.

Nor a birth for Wilhelmina

[davidft]

Marriages Dec 1874
Gordon    Daniel        Sunderland  10a   971
Lawson    John         Sunderland  10a   971
 Odgers    Elizabeth Jane     Sunderland  10a     971
 Scott    Mary Eleanor     Sunderland  10a     971
   


Marriages Jun 1875   
GARVEY    Elizabeth Ann     Sunderland   10a   931
Lawson    John Thomas     Sunderland  10a      931
Pinkney    George Septimus     Sunderland  10a     931 
Scott    Mary Jane A      Sunderland  10a   931
   

There are two possible marriages. Using the Sunderland BMD site reveals that in 1874 John Lawson married Elizabeth Odgers so that one is not yours. In 1875 John Thomas Lawson married Mary J Scott so the 1875 marriage is probably that of your people’s parents.

[davidft]

Great great aunts, Wilhelmina/Wilirand/Minnie Lawson b. 15 May 1878 and sister, Alice M. Lawson b. 1876.

Can I ask where you get Wilhemina's birth date from as I cannot find a birth registration for her. I can find a Wilhemina Scott but that is after the wedding cited above so something odd.

(having no luck with the 1881 census either)

Have you found them on any US census if so does it give a place of birth?

[davidft]

Well I have had no success finding them in 1881

I think we need more information. I suggest you put a request on the USA board

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,164.0.html

with a link to here and ask if anyone can find the family on the US census (I cannot look as I do not have access to them) and this should reveal John and Mary's ages and their places of birth

[emanimac]

Woww!! Thank you all for the swift responses. Forgive my lateness in replying as we had a minor medical emergency involving our Westie, Wee Jock. All is good on that front now. On to replies and ideas. I obtained birthdate for Wilhemina from a transcribed copy of her death certificate. I am trying to contact the source of that date, which includes her birthplace .. I fear that they, as some do, found circumstances that "sort of" fit her profile and is using it as Gospel. I will put out a search on the US side of RootsChat, as was suggested. Again, thank you all for your assistance and ideas; you are a great group of folks!!! Elaine McElroy

[AMBLY]

Success I think,  hopefully X,  on the US board:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,649771.0.html

In part... Williamina LOWSON birth reg Mar Qtr 1878 Sunderland (I think she was born March, not May) and I  think the parents married Mar Qtr 1876 Sunderland as LOWSON /SCOTT (and are not John Thomas LAWSON and Mary Jane Agnes SCOTT, who married 1875 and who BTW, had a son William end up in BC, Canada).

Cheers
AMBLY