Hi

The GRO index for the marriage gives her name as Gertrude Melena,


1904
Dawson Walker Sheffield 9c 1043
Griffiths Gertrude Melena Sheffield 9c 1043

Angela

Hi yes it does, but on others her name is changed. I have tried all different ways. Thanks Dave

Dave

There is a birth in 1882 in Croydon for a Gertrude Melina....is this correct.

Angela

Hi got her birth as 1877 this is from a relative of Walker who lives in Canada. I am related to walker but I am working backwards from when Walker left for Canada 1909 where he remarried Dave

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Dave

Does this relative have the marriage certificate for Gertrude and Walker?

Something is not right here.

Angela

No I don't think its right What I know just does not add up I don't think he has anything from England. Walker married twice after he went to Canada(1909) he also took his daughter with him she was Lena Lillian Dawson 1905 His relation has loads of information in Canada but not much from here
Dave

Hi Dave,

If I have the right Walker, he was born Dec Q 1876 in Sheffield.

On the 1881 census, 2ct 3 Sussex Street, Sheffield, Walker aged 4yrs is with his parents Thomas and Selina. Both his parents were born in Lincolnshire. There are five siblings.

By the 1891 census, the family are at Layfield Street, Burnley, Lancs.
Walker is 14yrs, a creeler and born in Sheffield.
His father is now Charles Thomas.

On the 1901 census, 46 Marlboro Street, Burnley, Lancs.,
Walker is head of household, 24yrs, machine moulder, born Sheffield.
With him is a brother and two sisters + neices and nephews.

Did he meet Gertrude in Burnley, or came back to Sheffield and
met her here?

I think to solve this mystery you might have to order
the marriage certificate.

Moira.

Hi Gertrudes (Ellen) death was reg in Oct 1909 Sheffield age 32 and Walker married in Canada on the 16th June 1909 and she died 15th March 1916 He married again 1918 The problem Ihave are the first two, don't know when he left for Canada
Dave

Hi Dave,
May I suggest a different scenario. Walker immigrated to Canada (Nova Scotia more specifically) in Aug. 1906 aboard the ship Siberian. He was coming to Canada to work as a miner. In the 1911 and 1921 Canadian census he is working in coal mining in Nova Scotia and lists his year of immigration as 1906. He is with his wife Maud in 1911 with daughters Lilian age 5 and newborn Sarah. So first wife Gertrude is deceased by now as Walker married Eliza Maud Reeves in 1909. By 1921 he is married to Christina and has daughters Lilian age 15, Sarah age 10, Fanny age 2 and Maud 6 months all living in Glace Bay, N.S. So my theory is that Gertrude died in Canada between 1907 and 1909 and you will have to look for her death in Nova Scotia. I am basing this on the immigration of Lena Dawson age 25 and Lille Dawson age 2 immigrating from England to Quebec City in June 1907 aboard the ship Lake Erie and the reason is to join her husband and the word MINER has been stamped over her line on the passenger list. I think Gertrude Ellena went by the name Lena. I could be wrong, but its worth consideration.
Helen C.
P.S. If this Lena is Walker's first wife then the Gertrude Melena Griffiths that Moira found earlier born in Croyden is likely the correct one as the age of 25 in 1907 on the passenger list matches with a birth date of 1882.

Sorry, it was Angela that mentioned the birth of Gertude Melena in Croyden. Apologies to Angela.
Helen C.

Evening Helen,

Could it also be that we are talking about two Walker Dawsons?

The Dec qtr 1876 one Registered in Sheffield his mothers maiden name was Dawkins. (GRO)

However Thos Dawson & Selina that married in June of 1872 in Burnley and her maiden name was Smith. More confusion.

I only have Ancestry for England so couldn't see the full information for Canada. BUT what you have quoted looks to be possible due to a tree that is on Ancestry.

Also noted on Walkers attestation paper in 1901 where he was attested in Burnley he states his father was Charles Thomas Dawson. Walker purchased his discharge in 1903.

1881 census they are in Sheffield by 1891 in Burnley Lancs.

Walker died in Glace Bay Nova Scotia 1949. He was a member of the Orange Lodge.

Two or should I say 22 heads are better than one. LOL.

Elaine in Ottawa.

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Hi Elaine,

On FreeBMD, the marriage for Selina Smith in the June Q of 1872,
gives the place as Barrow (in italics)and they seem to have a problem
with the registration district.
On another site Selina Smith marries Robert Bait Q2 1872 at
Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire.
If using FreeBMD and enter Robert Bait it matches him to Selina Smith.

I would think the marriage in 1861 between Charles Thomas Dawson and
Selina Dawkins is the right one.

Moira.

Hi the parents were Charles Thomas Dawson 1833-1898 and Selina Catherine Dawkins 1840-1898. These were my Great-great-grand parents Dave

Hi Moira & Helen,

There is a tree on Ancestry that bears out most of what we already know.

All seven children of Charles Thomas Dawson a fishmonger (1881) & Selina Dawkins are registered.
Charles the eldest and the next child who is either Ada or Selina were registered in Lincoln and Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas, Walker, Fanny & Harry(1880) in Sheffield.

1891 census all in Burnley.
Parents died prior to 1901 and Walker is head of the household.

Walker joins up Sep 1901 in Burnley, Royal Lancs Reg.
buys himself out 14th May 1903.
He had stated that his occupation was a moulder when he joined.
Married Gertrude Griffiths Dec qtr 1904 in Sheffield
Supposedly had a daughter Sep 1905 in Ecclesall Bierlow.
(I am not turning that up)

I can't see the date when he came to Canada.
His marriage 14th Dec 1907 is in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
Where his name is listed as Walker William Dawson.
No brides name listed on the certificate thats on the tree on Ancestry.
He died in 1849 in Glace Bay.N.S.

That's as far as I can go I am afraid.

Elaine in Ottawa.

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Hi
The record of Walker Dawson's immigration in 1906 is free to view on familysearch.org and can be double checked free on the Government of Canada Library and Archives website http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/genealogy/Pages/introduction.aspx . The same with the entry I found for a Lena and Lillie Dawson in 1907. The 1911 census is on familysearch and the Library and Archives site, again free to view. The 1921 census can be viewed for free from any Ancestry site, no subscription required, just register with ancestry and go to the Canadian Census 1921. The Nova Scotia Genealogy society has a website https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ResultsPage.aspx which also has the death cert. for Walker's second wife Maud, the marriage of Walker to 3rd wife Christina McDonald and the marriage of his daughter Lena Lillian in 1925. These can be viewed on line for free or pay for a copy. Canadian marriage certs offer much more information than the English ones so both parents names are entered and religion. Walker and Christina were married by a Major in the Salvation Army and give their religion as Salvation Army so perhaps this is causing some of the difficulty finding where the marriage of Walker and Gertrude Melena took place in Sheffield. I think that will require a certificate being ordered from the GRO ref. 9C 1043 to sort that out. I don't know anything about Salvation Army practices, did they keep records of marriages? Does anyone know where those records would be? Unfortunately, there seems to be a gap in the death records available on line for Nova Scotia. They have 1864-1877 then 1908 to 1965, though Walker isn't coming up for 1949. Unfortunately neither is Gertrude Melena or Lena as she most likely died in 1907 or 1908. Just conjecture, but it seems likely that Walker came ahead in 1906 to secure employment and a place to live then his wife and child followed a year later. Gertrude Melena died shortly after arriving, and Walker needed someone to care for his young daughter and keep house so he chose a new wife by 1909. Second wife died Mar. 15, 1916 which left Walker with 2 young daughters and still needing a housekeeper so he married wife #3 on Jan. 1, 1918. The daughter, Lena Lilian's birth was registered in Eccelsall Bierlow Sept. 1905. That's all I've got.
Helen C.
P.S. I just found Walker's death certificate on the Nova Scotia genealogy site mistranscribed as Walter. He died of carcinoma of the stomach on June2, 1949. He had been in Canada 40 years at time of death, he was still married to Christine and his birth date was Sept. 17, 1876 in England.

Hi Helen,

Bit by bit its all coming together.....

There is a photo of Walker in a Salvation Army Uniform on Ancestry. Though I nursed at a Salvation Army Hospital here in Ottawa I dont know that their religious practices are any different from other Baptist/Methodist religions. I wonder if that is why Walker suddenly has a middle name of William by 1907. William Booth being the founder of the Salvation Army.

Thanks for letting us know what trail you took when obtaining your information saves us taking the same steps. Also reminds us what is out there for free.

Always grateful of your suggestions.

Elaine in Ottawa.

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Found the following on FreeBMD.

Births Mar 1905   
Dawson Lena Burnley 8e 192
  

Births Sep 1905   
Dawson Lena Lilian Ecclesall B.9c 404

Mmmm. I wonder if the Burnley one could be a daughter of Charles (1865) Dawson

Now see why on my last search for the EB one didn't come up.

Elaine.

PS DaveW have we answered all your questions so we can put Walker to bed?
Elaine.

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Hi first of all Thank you all for everything. Some times I wonder if there is two Walkers, with him suddenly when he went to Canada calling himself William. As for the two birth regs my granddad is reg twice once in Sheffield the other in Burnley. Thanks Again and GOOD NIGHT Walker Dave W