Alfred Davidson (1812 - 1872)

Born 22 Jun 1812 in Siston, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Phoebe (Simons) Davidson — married 12 Oct 1847 in London, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary (Owen) Davidson — married 10 Jun 1869 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 7 Nov 1872 at age 60 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Born 12 Jun 1812, Siston, Gloucestershire, England, the son of George Davidson and Elizabeth Francis. Baptised 12 Aug 1812, Siston, Gloucester, England. ^[1]

Alfred was an Agent for the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, and a landed proprietor. ^[2]

He married Phoebe Simmons, 12 Oct 1847, London, England. ^[3]. After their marriage they lived at Siston, Gloucestershire, England, where they had two children. ^{[4] [5]}

Phoebe died in 1862, and in 1863, Alfred emigrated to Brisbane, Australia, on board the ship, the Light Brigade, arriving in May. ^[6] A fellow passenger was Mary Owen. It is not known if they came to Australia together, or if a shipboard romance developed. On the 10 Jun 1869, they married at Brisbane, Australia. ^[7]

Alfred was a member of the Aboriginal Protection Society of London. He became a copious letter writer to the papers re the rights of Aborigines, and Polynesian laborers. He was also a founding member of the Queensland Aboriginal Missionary Society.

He died 7 Nov 1872, Brisbane, Australia. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NL9B-TPB : 21 July 2021), Alfred Davidson, 1812.
   Siston, Gloucester, England
   Birth: 22 Jun 1812; Christening: 12 Aug 1812; Alfred, son of George Madgwick and Elizabeth Davidson
   Reference: Item 3; Digital Folder Number: 007566040; Microfilm Number: 1596176; Originating System: ODM; Indexing Batch: C00841-2
2. ↑ "Advertisement and Notices." Gloucester Journal, 2 Oct. 1852, pp. 1+.
   “PHONIX FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
   Lombard Street, and Charing Corss, London, established in 1782.
   AGENTS FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE
   Warmley (near Bristol), Alfred Davidson, Esq., Gentleman”
3. ↑ https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl Marriages Dec 1847; DAVIDSON, Alfred; Spouse: Simmons, Phoebe; District: London; Vol: 2; Page: 187
4. ↑ https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5b1aacf3f4040b2ba3677476/alfred-davidson-1851-somerset-keynsham-1813-?locale=en; Census: 1851; County: Somerset (SOM); District: Keynsham; Civil Parish: Siston; Ecclesiastical Parish: Siston; Piece: 1944; Enumeration District: 5b; Folio: 169; Page: 6; Schedule: 27
   Census 1851, Warmley Tower, Siston, Somerset, England
   Alfred Davidson; Head;Male; Married; 38, abt 1813; Agent & C; Siston, Gloucestershire
   Phoebe Georgiana Davidson; Daughter; Female; 1, abt 1850; Siston, Gloucestershire
   Hester Haines; Servant; Female; Single; 49, abt 1802; Wick, Gloucestershire
   Elizabeth Spicer; Servant; Female; Single; 20, abt 1831; Bitton, Gloucestershire
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7JQ-ZG5 : 3 March 2021), Alfred Davidson, Somerset, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
   1861 Census, Warmley Works, Siston, Somersetshire, England.
   Alfred Davidson; Head; Male; Married; 49, abt 1812; Proprietor Of...; Warmley, Gloucestershire.
   Phoebe Davidson; Wife; Female; Married; 45, abt 1816; City Of London.
   James Madgwick Davidson; Son; Male; 9, abt 1852; Siston, Gloucestershire.
   Ann Davidson; Daughter; Female; 4, abt 1857; Siston, Gloucestershire.
   Hannah Moss; Servant; Female; Single; 12, abt 1849; ..., Gloucestershire.
   Sarah Scull; Servant; Female; Single; 25, abt 1836; Warmley, Gloucestershire.
   Emma Pulley; Servant; Female; Single; 22, abt 1839; Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire.
   Hellen Morley; Granddaughter; Female; Single; 19, abt 1842; Barton On... .
   Registration District: Keynsham; ; Household Identifier: 2039438; Line Number: 13; Page Number: 16; Piece/Folio: 1698 / 136; Registration Number: RG09; Digital Folder Number: 101817461; Microfilm Number: 101817461; Image Number: 00273
6. ↑ Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1861 - 1864), Monday 25 May 1863, page 2
   Light Brigade, May 11, 1863.
   Dear Sir, We, the undersigned second-cabin passengers "between decks," desire, on approaching the termination of a propitious voyage, to express to you our most sincere feelings of gratitude for the universal kindness and attention which we have received at your hands since we have been on board. Though we have had a longer passage than was anticipated, the disappointment has been fully repaid by the fine weather with which we have been favoured, and the fine-sailing qualities of our noble ship. While thus expressing our feelings of esteem and regard towards yourself, we wish to pay the same highly deserved marks of regard to Messrs. Holland and Holden, the chief and second mates, and the other officers and crew of the gallant ship, for their great courtesy towards us. In conclusion, we would, one and all, wish you every success in your future career, and a speedy and propitious passage home to Old England, to meet the welcome of her near and dear to you, and the well-merited approbation of your friends and well wishers.
   Frank Crosby, Richard F. Howden, Frank Raymond, J. Mackay, Alexander M'Queen, Emilia Addenbrooke, Eliza Marmion, per J.M., Eliza Laugher, Margaret Chowne, Sarah Wicatt, Mary Owen, Louisa Attwater, E. Hodgson, Alfred Davidson, R. Hodgson, John F. Boultbea, John Bright, George Cox, Daniel Cox, William llanailino, John Ledger, John Scott, John Marinion, Thomas Addenbrooke, H. Laugher,Thomas Dunn, Hubert Abbott.
7. ↑ "Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries." Bristol Mercury, 21 Aug. 1869.
   “MARRIAGES – June 10, at Brisbane, Queensland, by the Rev. J. Griffiths, Alfred Davidson, Esq., late of Warmley-house, near Bristol, to Mary, youngest daughter of the late Abraham Owen, Esq. of Wotton-under-edge.”
8. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175546617?searchTerm=%22alfred%20Davidson%22 The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. Australia: 1872 - 1947); Fri 11 Nov 1881, Page 2; Family Notices
   DEATH – On the 7th November, at his residence, Brunswick street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Alfred Davidson, late of Warmley House, near Bristol, England.”