Difficult DC. Sharp eyes requested.....

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:32 pm

I have downloaded a DC for Gideon Duncan which is giving me trouble. Both the "Residence" and the "Informant" are slightly unclear; any hints gratefully received. Hope it´s not upside down.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-492

He lived in Eccles I think, so perhaps the informant is a hospital employee, as his mother´s name is not correct.

Thank you,

Thrall

image url added by JustJean

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:55 pm

Hi Thrall,

I think the residence is "Leithholm, Parish of Eccles, Berwickshire".

Go to www.streetmap.co.uk and search for Leitholm (only one "h"). Zoom out and you will find Leitholm to the north-east of Eccles.

It is as good a guess as any that the informant is some hospital employee, but I cannot make any sensible estimate of who, or what title. The only way for you to clarify this is to send in a contact form to SP seeking a photocopy by post. Then, all going well, you may have a copy where that name is legible.

All the best,

AndrewP

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:22 am

Hello Thrall,

Like Andrew said hopefully a hard copy will read better.

Not that this helps much but I think the informant's surname could be McDougall.

Regards,
Annette M

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:40 am

Thank you Andrew and Annette, this fits very well. He was born in Coldstream which is close by, had children in Tarbat and Alness...yes! not quite next door, Rosshire, but returned to the Borders. Why he went north is another question, yet to be answered. Bit of a business flitting with eight bairns, ag. lab.......

His name is interesting. Not many Gideons out there who are not Duncans, but why?

Anyway, thank you again for the help. Good to know that the Gallery can be uploaded to, and does work....

Thrall

Now my warped mind wonders where the name came from? "Holm" a small island in Norse, but miles from the sea....????

Montrose Budie · Post by **Montrose Budie** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:58 am

Thrall wrote:....snipped......
Now my warped mind wonders where the name came from? "Holm" a small island in Norse, but miles from the sea....????

Quite possibly!, - as there are Nordic derived names all the way up the East coast from England to Scotland, - see how many placenames that can be found ending in "-by", on or within a few miles of the coast !

David

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:52 pm

Hi MB,
Yes, of course, the "-by"s, are common, it was just the fact that "-holms" should be so far from the sea, or not in rivers. A little more searching on my part did however reveal that it could also mean an unmowed patch of grass. So there we are.

And I half expected Mr. Webster to get in first!.......

This DC is a problem, as there were TWO gideon Duncans on the same patch at Eccles/Swinton, and trying to find whether this DC is certain to be my gr.gr.grandfather is proving troublesome. Even looking at all the Gideons in Scotland does not solve matters as there is the unfortunate window 1851-1854 when men could have died without a trace.

Thank you MB for the interest,

Thrall

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:12 pm

Hi all, though I doubt you´re waiting with baited breath.

Yes, I sent a contact form and was offered a hard copy which arrived today, a week later; good service. It is full size and so readable I´m amazed and, yes, Nelmit the informant was an Alex McDougall, at a guess, "Superintendant", and Andrew spot on with Leithholm.

I also got very prompt service from the cemetery people in Edinburgh who could give me a position for the grave, though I gather it may be difficult to find a headstone if any due to the heavy undergrowth, which is however, slowly being cleared.

So don´t hesitate if there is anyone out there who has not got on well deciphering onscreen, and TS cannot assist, go for it. (I probably won´t be thanked at GROS if there is now a deluge!)

Good hunting,

Thrall

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:52 pm

Hi Thrall

difficult to find a headstone if any due to the heavy undergrowth, which is however, slowly being cleared

Hmmm... let me guess... wouldn't be Warriston Cemetery by any chance would it??

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **AndrewP** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:09 pm

LesleyB wrote:Hi Thrall
difficult to find a headstone if any due to the heavy undergrowth, which is however, slowly being cleared
Hmmm... let me guess... wouldn't be Warriston Cemetery by any chance would it??

There's a choice for overgrown cemeteries in Edinburgh. Add North Merchiston and Dalry to the list (there may be more).

All the best,

AndrewP

mallog · Post by **mallog** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:25 pm

I had relatives in N Merchiston and visited there when I was a child. I went back there a few years ago and couldn't even find the graves. I found one after much searching and it was in the undergrowth. The cemetery was a disgrace.