Thread: Information on Donald Swanson/Lillian Robinson

Good morning all, i am looking to find out more information about my partneral great grandad, Donald Swanson - i have limited information but will list what i do have.... Donald was born in Inverness Scotland i think between 1880-1885 approx, he had a sister Jane Swanson who's birthday is 30th Sept, their mother's birthdate 10th November.
Donald served in the 1st world war in the air arms fleet - he eventually married my great grandmother Lillian Robinson (her dad is Syndey Robinson & apparently owned/or managed a pub). Donald owned a fashion business on Bond Street - to cut a long story Lillian assumed Donald was having an affair so left him quite abruptley, she was pregnant at the time with my grandad Bill (William) i have been led to believe that at the time she was not aware of her predicament or did not wish Donald to know! Eventually Lillian met and married Douglas Campbell (hence my surname). They eventually immigrated to New Zealand - My grandad eventually took the name of Campbell when he turned 21.
I would dearly love to see a pic/know about my great grandad as there is a great deal of intrigue in their story! Thanks for reading.....

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl


Welcome to Ancestry Aid.

I think that you will find the following Marriage Index Records relate to Lilian.

Marriages Jun 1911

Robinson Lilian E St. Geo.H.Sq. Vol: 1a Page: 997
Swanson Donald St. Geo.H.Sq. Vol: 1a Page: 997

Marriages Sep 1922

Campbell Douglas S Swanson Croydon Vol: 2a Page: 973
Campbell Douglas S Robinson Croydon Vol: 2a Page: 973
ROBINSON Lilian E Campbell Croydon Vol: 2a Page: 973
Swanson Lilian E Campbell Croydon Vol: 2a Page: 973

using a free 1911 index census search brings up the following - which i believe is him as he married in 1911 in st george.

Swanson Donald 1882 born Thurso Caithness residing St George

that woulld give a birth year and place to go on.

this could then be the 1901 census for him

Name: Donald Swanson
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: abt 1882
Relationship: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Thurso, Caithness
Registration Number: 578/1
Registration district: Ayr
Civil Parish: Ayr
Town: Ayr
County: Ayrshire
Address: 126 High St
Occupation: Shop Assistant
ED: 1
Household schedule number: 98
Line: 5
Roll: CSSCT1901_217
Household Members: Name Age
Mary Thomson 46
Elspith Millar 85
Alexander Thomson 44
Henry Mcculloch 22
Donald Swanson 19
John Craig 20
Helen Dunn 18
Alexander Brown 10

Source Citation: Parish: Ayr; ED: 1; Page: 21; Line: 5; Roll: CSSCT1901_217; Year: 1901.

and 1891

Name: Donald Swanson
Age: 8
Estimated birth year: abt 1883
Relationship: Son
Father's name: John Swanson
Mother's name: Isabella Swanson
Gender: Male
Where born: Thurso, Caithness
Registration Number: 41
Registration district: Thurso
Civil Parish: Thurso
Town: Thurso
County: Caithness
Address: Durness St
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 44
Line: 19
Roll: CSSCT1891_10
Household Members: Name Age
John Swanson 34 - stone cutter born thurso
Isabella Swanson 31
Isabella Swanson 11
Donald Swanson 8
Nellie Swanson 4
Mary Swanson 2
Benjamin Swanson 29 fereman ( fireman?) brother John Swanson 12

Source Citation: Parish: Thurso; ED: 5; Page: 7; Line: 19; Roll: CSSCT1891_10; Year: 1891.

all born thurso , caithness except wife isabella born freswick caithness

This link takes you to the reference page for Lilian and Donald's 1919 divorce papers at the National Archives, which you can order online - these may give you more information about his life and family

http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/catal...thod=0#summary

i see they do confirm her middle name was edith

This record confirms Donald’s sister “Jane’s” birthdate and gives you their mother’s maiden name

Collection: Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

Name: Margaret Jane Swanson
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 30 Sep 1891
Birthplace: Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Father's Name: John Swanson
Mother's Name: Isabella Manson

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C01884-8
Source Film Number: 255083
Reference Number: v 41 p 36
Collection: Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

And this 1901 Census Record confirms Welsh Lady’s earlier census finding for the family

Name: Margaret J Swanson
Age: 9 Estimated
birth year: abt 1892
Relationship: Daur (Daughter)
Father's name: John Swanson
Mother's name: Isabella Swanson
Gender: Female
Where born: Thurso, Caithness
Registration Number: 41
Registration district: Thurso
Civil Parish: Thurso
County: Caithness
Address: Durness St
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 63
Line: 14
Roll: CSSCT1901_11

Household Members:
Name, Age

John Swanson, 44
Isabella Swanson, 41
Isabella Swanson, 21
Helen Swanson, 14
Mary Swanson, 12
Margaret J Swanson, 9

Did he have any other names? There are many Donald Swansons in the Highlands.
My own paternal Great Grandfather was Donald Sutherland Swanson born 1848,