Devon advice/information

Post by **Hilary** » 21 Oct 2009 19:47

This is not a Liverpool question just hoping someone could advise.

On Sunday I met for the first time some distant Australian cousins. It was great fun. I said I'd try and help with other bits of their family research.

I wondered if anyone could advise me on how to get any information on this in Devon.

William Douglas and his wife Susan and 4 children go to Australia in 1854. The wife is Susan Chapman parents Joseph and Susannah Chapman and she was born in Black Torrington. I can find all about her and her family back to the early 1800s on the IGI. William was apparently from Scotland. His parents Peter and Margaret (possibly Mary) Douglas. Her maiden anme may be Lamont. The first child of the couple was christened in Okehampton he's called William, the next Koseph is christened in Loch Maben Scotland the next Edwin (Edward is christened as Edward in Wallasey. The family in 1841 are in Oxton. I can't find them in 1851.

My real puzzle is where to look for a marriage of William Douglas and Susan Chapman it's not at Black Torrington. Could it be in Okehampton? Even more odd is how William and Susan ever met.

Ed Officer

Post by **MaryA** » 21 Oct 2009 21:18

Just to give a clear picture I'll give below the 1841 census

Oxton, Woodchurch, Cheshire
William Douglas 30 Constable Scotland
Sushana 30 No
William 7 No
Joseph 4 Yes
Edwin 1 Yes
Thomas Clarke 24 Stone Mason Scotland
HO107; Piece 128; Book: 14; Civil Parish: Woodchurch; Enumeration District: 3A; Folio: 8; Page: 9

My suggestion would be to contact Chester Record Office and enquire if there are any records for Police Constables, could there be a possible clue in where he had worked previously?

Post by **Hilary** » 21 Oct 2009 21:23

Good idea Mary. By 1854 and on the passenger list for Australia he's a stone mason! The son William born 1833ish is a Policeman!

Ed Officer

Post by **MaryA** » 21 Oct 2009 21:36

Well I noticed that many of the neighbours were stone masons also.

Post by **northmeols** » 22 Oct 2009 01:48

23 sep 1832 Yarmouth, Norfolk, Eng is a date given on ancestry on a family tree.
looks like they may have the wrong people

England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1940
Name: William Crowfoot Douglas
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Susannah Howlett
Marriage Date: 23 Sep 1832
Marriage Place: Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Post by **northmeols** » 22 Oct 2009 01:58

England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906
Name: Edward Douglas
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1840
Christening Date: 21 Jun 1840
Christening Place: Wallasey, Cheshire, England
Father's Name: William Douglas
Mother's Name: Susanna

Post by **northmeols** » 22 Oct 2009 02:52

3 oct 1854, Lady Ann origin, seacombe , cheshire
DOUGLASS, william, 45, stonemason b. loch Mabon, Dumfrieshire, scot, parents, peter and margaret, both dead

susan, 44, b. black torrington, devon. parents joseph and susannah chapman, both dead

Post by **Hilary** » 22 Oct 2009 09:55

Many thanks North Meols.

They have the passenger list and I found Edward's christening. The marriage in Yarmouth is defintely not this couple. As far as I can see they must have married in Devon. It's not Black Torrington and it's not Okehampton. Despite William saying he was born in Loch Maben there is no christening for him. The Australians went to Scotland and to Loc Maben and checked the records.

Ed Officer