The Mysterious Sarah Davidson

Post by **Pandabean** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:08 pm

Here is a small mystery for you all.

I have been struggling to find a birth for Sarah Davidson around 1860. Yesterday I was looking at NRH and I checked upto 5 years either way but had no luck in finding it.

The marriage:
14 December 1888 in Prestonpans
Andrew Greenlees (age 27)
Coal Miner
pas: William Greenlees and Jane Fairnie

Sarah Davidson (age 27)
Domestic Servent
pas: John Davidson (Shoemaker - Deceased) & Sarah Bain (Deceased)

The death:
25 May 1918 in Lochgelly
Sarah Davidson (Married to Andrew Greenlees)
Parents are listed as:
------- Davidson (Deceased)
Sarah Davidson M.S -------- (Deceased)
Informant was her husband, Andrew.
She died of Pulmonary TB (Same as her son Robert)

Now the census is where the most of the mystery comes in.

1891 Census
The family are living in Loanhead, Lasswade and it is a small family. Andrew is head. Now the interesting thing is the place of birth. It is Lanarkshire, Glasgow.
Census Link: http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1169

1901 Census in Inveresk
Sarah and Andrew are living with Andrew's mother, Jane Thorburn and she is head of the household. Also living there are Andrew's brother Archibald and Peter (adopted).
Sarah's age is given as 41, the same as Andrew's and her birthplace looks like Inverness-shire (either the next place is Durness or Inverness).
Census Link: http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1170

Now I cannot find a birth for Sarah in either place nor can I find a death for the parents. I did find a possible match in 1871 for the family but it does not look like them as the father, John is a butcher and daughter, Sarah is born in the Gorbals. I checked this up and it wasn't the correct Sarah.

So does anyone have any clues what is going on or how I can find information on Sarah?

Thanks

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:59 pm

Hi Andy,
Yes, I see the wrong family you spoke of in 1881 as well. Sarah, 19, born in Glasgow, is a Shop Keeper. Her father John is a Flesher. They are living on 15 Moore Street, Glasgow St John.

She said she was a domestic servant on the marriage cert, so could this be her in 1881? It would be another bit of evidence for the Glasgow birth. I agree it looks exactly like Inverness in the 1901, but perhaps a mistake?

12 Nicolson Sq, Edinburgh St Giles, Midlothian
Joseph Little, 49, head, born Dumfriesshire, Bath Proprietor
Margt Little, 48, wife, born Edinr
Robt Little, 12, son, born Edinr, Scholar
Sarah Davidson, 20, servant, born Glasgow, Genl Servt
Mary Butterly, 16, servant, born Ireland, Genl Servt

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:41 pm

Hi again,
I'm sure I'm telling you things you already know, but there is a John Davidson, 32, lodger, born Ireland, Shoemaker in with the Panton family at 35 Leith Street, Edinburgh St Andrew in 1871. No wife or children in sight.

There is a Sarah A Davidson, 26, head, born Ireland, Dressmaker on 72 Abercromby Street in Glasgow St John. The only other member of the household is a Boarder, Elizabeth Dogle, also 26, also born in Ireland, a "Frianses Broker". The Ancestry index doesn't give the marital status, so I can't tell if she is married or single. Of course, your Sarah's mother may have already died by 1871.

The only young Sarah I can see of the right age in 1871 who is not with her parents is this one, but that would be giving you a third birthplace to look for, which I'm sure you don't need

She is the great grandchild of the head, so the surname is no clue. Just in case:

Bladnoch, Wigtown, Wigtownshire
Sarah Chalmers, 64, head, born Whithorn, Wigtownshire
Sarah Davidson, 10, Great Grandchild, born Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scholar
Agnes Christison, 6, Great Grandchild, born Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scholar

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:33 pm

SarahND wrote:There is a Sarah A Davidson, 26, head, born Ireland, Dressmaker on 72 Abercromby Street in Glasgow St John. The only other member of the household is a Boarder, Elizabeth Dogle, also 26, also born in Ireland, a "Frianses Broker".

A look at the 1871 census image on SP reveals these two as:

Sarah A Davidson, Unmarried, 26, Dressmaker, born Ireland
Elizabeth Doyle, Unmarried, 26, Licenced Broker, born Ireland

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **Pandabean** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:21 am

I think the one that Sarah has mentioned is more than likely her, but that is just my opinion.

If so then where is her birth certificate? Would she have likely got her parents names wrong on the marriage certificate?

trish1 · Post by **trish1** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:42 am

The Sarah born Wigtown is on the IGI
31 october 1860

Parents John Davidson and Agnes Chalmers.

In 1861

Sarah Chalmers 51 head
Agnes do 20 daughter
Catherine do 13 daughter
Sarah Davidson 5 months grandaughter
living in Kirkinner Wigtown

Trish

trish1 · Post by **trish1** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:03 pm

I spent a few of my voucher credits on SP

There are quite a few Sarah Davidsons born 1859-1861 - they should all be listed on the IGI. Only 2 I could find on the IGI had father John and they both had mother Sarah.

I looked at the certificate for Sarah Davidson (Chalmers). She is listed as illegitimate - her father given as John Davidson, farm servant. They both are listed in the informant column.

The only other Sarah on the IGI with father John is the one you have discounted (father being a butcher).

Trish