In the 1901 census aged 1 - but no birth? .....

[LesleyB]

Hi all
This is a census question but its also a SR question and I'm clearly having one of those "blank" moments! (except its lasted a few days now -should I start to worry?? )

• 1901 census, Burntisland Fife RD: 411/00 ED: 002/000
  24 Sommerville Street, Burntisland
  Catherine Dick H W 48 Housekeeping born Charlestown, Fife
  Robert, son single 23 General Labourer, born Charlestown, Fife
  William, son single 19 General Labourer, born Burtisland, Fife
  George, son single 17 General Labourer, born Burtisland, Fife
  James, son single 12 scholar, born Burtisland, Fife
  David, son single 10 scholar, born Burtisland, Fife
  David Davies son-in-law married 23 general labourer born Lanarkshire Glasgow
  Mary Davies dau married 21 born Burtisland, Fife
  George Davies grandson aged 1 born Midlothian, Edinburgh

But can I find a birth for baby George?? puh...

Background info:
Mary Dick and David Davies were married on 3 March 1899 at 24 Sommerville Street, Burntisland. His parents were: John Davies, carpenter and Isabella Hamill (dec) Her parents were: George Dick, merchant seaman (dec) and Catherine Meldrum (m. Charlestown 1st January 1877)

Mary Dick/Davies (aged 21 in 1901 above) died in 1935 aed 57 at 100 Station Road, Thornton, Markinch but the death informant is John Ballantyne, occupier, so no clues there.

If George Davies was 1 in 1901, how difficult can it be to find his birth?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Ina]

Hi Lesley,

Census records are not always accurate when it comes to ages. The child you are searching for may be older. Have you extended the age on your searches?

On the 1891 census it lists both my grandfather and his sister as age 9 months. For a while I thought they were twins. Turns out my grandfather's age was actually 2 years and 9 months.

Ina

[Russell]

Lesley

It could be the other way.
I have a return where the child was 5. Only a much closer (well magnified) look showed a squiggle after the 5 which turned out to be five DAYS. I think 6 days was the permitted time in which a birth was registered. If the child died un-named you have only a surname to go by.
My ancestor was ok and survived for quite a few years but many didn't. You've probably come across the pages of 'surnames only' early deaths registered by the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (and other hospitals)

Russell

[LesleyB]

Russell, Ina
Thanks for your replies. As far as I remember when I was in NRH I did a search of all years 1897 - 1901 with no success, also tried different spellings - Davie, Davy, Davies. Nothing that I could see. And I'm not the only one who is looking for him - he "belongs" to a contact who may have a connection through the Dicks. But maybe I missed it.... but the name Dick always leaps out at me, being "one of mine" and I usually spot them even if I've drifted off!

Really don't feel like spending more money on SP just going over the same ground again as I don't feel too confident that he's there. Another one for the next day at NRH I think....

Best wishes
Lesley

[CatrionaL]

Lesley

Have you tried DAVIS?

Catriona

[WilmaM]

Have you looked at George DICK ?

There is one for 1898 in Edinburgh City, and another comes up for Midlothian [ whether they are one and the same I don't know - no credits left]

[sporran]

Hello Lesley,


this one defeated me. The census image is clearly 1 and there is no obvious candidate under any variation of Davies or Dick, and bizarre wildcard searches. Mary was only 21 and appeared not have been married before.

The layout on the form suggests that George is the son of David and Mary, but it struck me that George may have been the child of one of the sons. Do you know anything about his later life? Otherwise, it may be a long wait for the 1911 census to shed further light.


Regards,

John

[Jack]

Hi folks,
Any chance George wasn't born in Edinburgh? and it was somewhere else?
Jack

[ninatoo]

I thought if that too jack, given that his father was born in Glasgow. I did a general search for the years 1899-1901 for George Davi*s, all records and found only 7 matches. Restrict it to Glasgow and you get 3 matches. Still three matches if the wildcard is removed.

Poor little guy has to be there somewhere!

Nina

[LesleyB]

Hi all
and thanks for trying!

this one defeated me.

big ditto there - nothing at NRH that I could see...

Do you know anything about his later life?

No. To cut a long story short, I was contacted by someone who thought this might be their "lost" grandfather, George Davies, who died in England, so no parents names given on the death cert, but it was stated he was born in Scotland. She had been looking for likely candidates in the 1901 and had found this one, but had then been unable to find his birth. She contacted me via GR as I have a lot on a Dick family from the same area, with many Georges in the line. But I don't think this 1901 branch is one of mine - well, not a very close branch, but I think I do know the branch this lot are - the Dicks who were mariners, as opposed to my lot who were mostly masons. I was sucked in at this point (voluntarily!) cos it seemed an interesting case and also Dicks were involved so I was happy to help, even if it turns out not to be him. Her grandfather married - but she has been unable to find a document to support this (with at least a father's name on it!) either in Scotland (via direct contact with GROS) or England so she is kinda stuck - no parents names for him. We have found lots of stuff on his wife, who was from Glasgow so at least that line has opened up for her, but George Davies remains a mystery.

Poor little guy has to be there somewhere!

Seems a reasonable assumption, and I thought he'd be really easy to find!

Thanks for all your help and suggestions everyone. I'll keep at it!
Best wishes
Lesley