Thread: My late Uncle James Neilson Crawford

My late Uncle James Neilson Crawford was born 17 Jun 1904 at 6 Rosebey Place, Clydebank, Scotland first child and son of James Crawford and Jessie Lindsay Neilson.



In 1926 he sailed to Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to begin work as an engineer in the tea industry and I have shipping records for him showing that he returned to Ceylon, following periods of leave, in 1931, 1933, 1939, 1952 and 1956. I also have a postcard he sent from Marseilles to his father in Aberdeen when en route to the UK from Ceylon in August 1938. Addresses in the UK for him shown in the shipping records are Eskbank, Midlothian; Sawbridgeworth, Herts.; Banwell Somerset and Offerton, Stockport, Cheshire. The first two tie in completely with other family information that I have. The final one is presently awaiting confirmation.



In the ship manifests of 1939, 1952 and 1956 he is shown as being accompanied on the voyage by his wife Edith Blanche Crawford but no maiden name is given. These dates tie in with the addresses given in the UK in Somerset and Cheshire. Names associated with the Cheshire addresses are 'Mellor' at Brookside Farm and 'Johnson' at The Fairways (both Offerton) - and these have been confirmed from the 1960 and 1965 Polling Lists held in Stockport Library. Her maiden name could be Johnson as there is a lady called Blanche Johnson residing at The Fairways (?her mother or sister) in the lists.



Present generation family belief is that Edith was a widow with two daughters when she and James married and, at or about the time Uncle James was seriously ill or perhaps had died (circa the late 1960's), one of his 'daughters' apparently telephoned the family home in Aberdeen to let them know and said that they didn't want anyone to travel to his funeral. I am awaiting receipt of a Death Certificate from Stockport, Cheshire dated in 1967 that I am sure is for Uncle James. A'cousin' from another branch of the family who lives in Stockport located this information for me.



Edith is first mentioned in 1939 following his stay at Pond House, Banwell, Somerset.



My question ... did James and Edith marry in the UK either in Somerset or Cheshire.?

I said I'd be back on this one!



Success yesterday when the copy of Uncle James's Death Certificate arrived in the post from Stockport.



It appears that his usual residence was 'The Steps', High Street, Banwell, Axbridge, Somerset - the UK address I had for him in 1939 and also the telephone directory address from 1960 - although he died at his step-daughter's house 18 Princes Drive, Marple, Stockport as the 'informant' was his Step-son-in-law 'H Mellor'. That was the name I had at the UK address for him in 1956.



Alas no maiden surname for his wife Edith Blanche Crawford!!



WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

Hi Chiad Fhear,



If you can hang on a bit longer, I will see what I can do.

No rush Starlight ... at your leisure ... HONEST!!

Have checked BMD's for 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939..and nothing is jumping out at me...



Have also checked Find my Past for overseas marriages and nothing there either..

Hi Raven ... I appreciate your help here.



The marriage COULD have been a bit before 1936 ... he was born 1904.



A wee complication though ... current generation belief is that 'Aunt Edith' may have been a 'half-caste' and they were married in Ceylon. I'm not convinced of that though ... but then my recollection of her is of some 50 years vintage !!!



Quite how the connection to Somerset works in I don't know ... but I WILL get to the bottom f it SOMEHOW!

Will try back another 10 years and see what I can see... I did try the overseas marriages on find my past...but there was nothing there...

Checked 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935

Have checked on the off chance for a marriage in Scotland between 1925 and 1932 but again no luck..

OMG ... they must have been married SOMEWHERE!!



I've never met or spoken to any of his step-family but it looks as if I might just have to try a letter to ALL the Mellor folk in and around Stockport in the hope one of them is the right one ... AND REPLIES TO ME!!



I found my cousin Ian in Stornoway that way and he got his twin brother Charles in Inverness to contact me! Cousins I knew about and have NEVER met ... and we're now all OVER 21!!



Appreciate you all searching for me nevertheless