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Davidson
  Probable Ancestry of James Davidson
 
Assuming that James Davidson was actually born in Aberlemno in 1811, the probability of his ancestry is laid out here.  There is, however, some confusion regarding the parishes of Aberlemno and Forfar, and is a possibility that the James Davidson who married Mary Smith was born in Forfar and not in Aberlemno.  A closer look into the Old Parochial Records of the parish of Forfar have not yet produced any further confirmation of this - so please consider the ancestry of James Davidson to be nothing more than a probable scenario.

This Davidson line, however, can be followed with documentation from William, son of James born in 1811 in Aberlemno, Angus, Scotland, there onward.

  1. Alexander Davidson christened 8 February 1716 in Aberlemno who married Helen Nichol.
  2. James Davidson christened 9 June 1745 in Aberlemno who married Isabel Irvine.
  3. James Davidson christened 25 May 1777 in Aberlemno who married Janet Ross.
 

JAMES DAVIDSON 1748 VS. JAMES DAVIDSON 1745
 

Born within a few years of each other, Old Parochial Records offer two possibilities for the grandparents of James Davidson who was born in 1811 and was listed in these records as the son of James.

There was found in these records a James Davidson who married on the 7th day of June in 1745 in Aberlemno, an Ann HEPBURN who had been born in Inverarity and Methy, in the shire of Angus, who had had a son James born in Aberlemno on the 28th of April in 1748. Although Ann Hepburn, like her husband, can not be proven as yet to be the grandmother of James, the parochial records state she was the daughter of Andrew Hepburn. Only one other child is listed in the parochial records for James and Ann (Hepburn) Davidson besides their son James - this being daughter Elizabeth who had been christened in Aberlemno on the 27th of September 1750.

The Old Parochial records also listed a James Davidson who was born on the 9th of June in 1745, son of Alexander Davidson (christened on the 8 Feb 1716 in Aberlemno) and his wife Helen NICOL whose marriage record does not appear in the Aberlemno records. One other child is listed in the records as their child, this being John who was christened in Aberlemno on the 27th of September 1747.
JAMES DAVIDSON & ISABEL IRVINE
Although not verified, an examination of the Old Parochial Records indicates that the parents of James Davidson born in 1811 are more probably James Davidson and Isabel IRVINE. As no other James Davidson was born in the parish between the births of the James 1745 and James 1748, it would seem likely then that the son James who was born to James Davidson and Isabel Irvine, is the father of James Davidson who was born in 1811. As this seems the case, a listing of what appears to be all of James and Isabel’s children, is given below taken from the Old Parochial Records of Aberlemno.

  1. Ann Davidson - christened 1 Sep 1771; may have married William Hunter 26 Jul 1794.

  2. Elspet Davidson - christened 13 Dec 1772; may have married John Henderson 17 Aug 1790.

  3. Jean Davidson - christened 14 Feb 1775.

  4. James Davidson - christened 25 May 1777.

  5. Robert Davidson - christened 23 May 1779.

  6. Charles Davidson - christened 4 July 1781; may have died early.

  7. Agnes Davidson - christened 30 Sep 1783; may have married William Brown on 16 July 1810.

  8. Charles Davidson - christened 23 Apr 1786; may have married Margaret Donald on 9 July 1808.

  9. Katherine Davidson - christened 3 Apr 1789; may have married David Petrie on 10 Dec 1814.

  10. Isabel Davidson - christened 4 Dec 1791; may have married John Binny on 14 June 1817.
 

JAMES DAVIDSON & JANET ROSS

An examination of the 1851 census record for Aberlemno taken on the 30th of March, listed James Davidson as born in Forfar/Aberlemno and his recorded age on the census as 41, leading to conclusion (by verifying the births in the Old Parochial Records of Aberlemno) that the only possible James Davidson was the son of James Davidson and Janet Ross. The only possibility that this James Davidson was not the son of James and Isabel Irvine, would be if another James Davidson of a parish other than Aberlemno, married Janet Ross in Aberlemno. According to parochial records, Janet was born in Aberlemno on the 25th of December in 1781 and was the daughter of Charles Ross. Upon examining the records for the children of James Davidson and Janet Ross, only two children are listed, lending to the possibility that Janet may have died after the birth of their second son James. Thus far, there are no death or burial records which can confirm Janet’s death, but it does seem likely.
Children of
James Davidson & Janet Ross
  1. George Davidson - born 18 April in Muirside Melgand and christened on the 23rd day of April 1809 in Aberlemno - appears to have married Charlotte Louden.
  2. James Davidson - born 24 July 1811 in Crosstown, Angus, Scotland; christened 31 July 1811 in Aberlemno, Angus, Scotland. He married Mary SMITH.
 
Upon checking the parochial records only one George was found, and he is listed as having married Charlotte Louden on the 15th of August 1835.  They are listed in the 1841 and 1851 Aberlemno, Angus County Census of Scotland.
 
Children of George Davidson & Charlotte Louden
Listed in the Old Parochial Records
  1. Mary Ann Davidson - born 6 September 1835 in Aberlemno, christened 6 September 1835.
  2. James Davidson - born 26 June 1837 in Aberlemno, christened 3 July 1837.
  3. George Davidson - born 11 August 1839 in Aberlemno, christened 28 August 1839.
  4. Alexander  Davidson - born 14 May 1842 in Aberlemno, Angus, Scotland.
  5. William Davidson - born 14 January 1845 in Aberlemno, christened 28 January 1845.
 
 
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