| Stuart Fraser, the grandson of a Dundee-born man, Ninian, is eager to discover what happened to a family of Fraser males, who seemed to disappear for several years.
Ninian, who joined the navy in 1915, died in Plymouth in 1980, but it’s the year of his birth, 1899, that baffles Stuart’s family.
In March 1899, Ninian’s grandmother Euphemia died. In October, Ninian was born, but 11 days later, his mum Margaret died. Two months later, his other grandmother, Mary Ann Slater, died, having apparently moved in to help look after Ninian and his four-year-old brother James.
And then all the male Frasers disappear.
Stuart (44) said, “From the 1901 census to 1915 there seems to be no record of Grandad, his brother James, his dad James or his grandad James.”
“Brother James, we think, died in 1917 fighting for the Gordon Highlanders at Arras, and we know Grandad was living at Denhead, St Andrews, when he joined the navy in 1915.
“But it’s those missing years we’d like to know about, mainly because of sympathy for the fates of a young husband, a babe in arms and a toddler left with no mum or grandmother.
“I’m hoping any descendants of Grandad’s aunts and uncles, who all lived in the Dundee area, may be able to help.”
Stuart is keen to hear from descendants of his grandad’s Aunt Euphemia (nee Fraser, 1866-1930) and her husband Alfred Bell Watson (c1863-1944), who had a son, name unknown but initial R., and daughters Louise (born 1882) and Mary Ann (born 1892).
Other relatives whose descendents might be able to help include Stuart’s grandad’s Uncle Alexander (c1869-before 1932) and Winifred Fraser (nee Dolan, 1872-1944), whose offspring included William (born 1895), Alexander (born 1897) and Winifred (born 1899, who married Joseph Lamb in 1932).
Stuart can be contacted at 1 Woodland Cottages, Plushayes, Upton Cross, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 5BB, by email at stuartandkathy@btinternet.com or by calling 01579 362667. |
