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Comment by Trevor Cree on January 16, 2014 at 4:39

Elva,

The 'clothier' on David's marriage certificate for his father certainly seems to fit and confirms we have the correct David Cree who married in West Ham. I would send the information that you have on Duncan (1852-1939) to Mike and I'm sure that he will enter it on www.cree.name as soon as he can. You can also add it to the Network if you wish since others may be interested.

Comment by Elva Jean Brooke on January 15, 2014 at 12:02

Trevor

David's marriage certificate gives his Father as a "Clothier".  He didn't have a death certificate because he was lost at sea with no body recovered.

I have more info on Duncan Cree (David's brother) b 1852  d 1939, do you want me to send it as a comment, not too sure how I go about these things.

Elva

Elva

Comment by Trevor Cree on January 15, 2014 at 6:14

Elva,

I have just checked the 1851 Scotland Census and it shows that the family lived at 116 Green Street, Calton, Lanarkshire. The family consisted of David Cree (34 yrs), Euphamia Cree (28 yrs) David Cree (7 yrs), Dugal Cree (5 yrs) and James Cree (2 yrs). This would give David a birth year of approx 1844.

The 1861 census gives David Cree (42 yrs), Euphamia Cree (38 yrs), David Cree (16 yrs), Dugald Cree (14 yrs), James Cree (12 yrs), Duncan Cree (10 yrs), Hugh Cree (8 yrs) and Ann Cree (5yrs). This would give David Cree a birth year of approx. 1845.

David Cree is recorded as 2nd Engineer on the Otago in 1876 when he gives his age as 30 years, giving an approx birth year of 1846.

David Cree is recorded as Chief Engineer in 1880 on the Keilawarra when he is stated to be 34 years, giving an approximate birth date of 1846.

These records do seem to indicate that David Cree was actually born between 1844 - 1846 but I can find no birth record in Scotland's People for these dates. I cannot find a death of a David Cree who might have been born in 1841 but death records are very extensive at that time.

As you say the 1841 birth is beginning to look a bit doubtful. I guess that his death certificate also gives his age at death whilst his marriage certificate should give his father's occupation as tailor?

Comment by Elva Jean Brooke on January 15, 2014 at 5:22

Hello Trevor

I am aware of that birth but a put a question mark after the birth date because on all his shipping documents sign on the coastal steamers he was shown as being younger although I must say he wasn't too sure of his age. From a page in the Family Register he is shown as being born on 15/7/1846 and on his marriage certificate he is shown as 25 years of age and that would take him back on 1846.  I thought that perhaps the David born 1841 may have died although I couldn't find a death certificate.  I don't suppose we will ever know for sure.  I also feel that the Henderson in his name was added later, he had it in his name in Oz although not on his marriage certificate.

Many years ago now we visited Blantyre and it was sad to see that vandals had ruined the small cemetery.

Elva

Comment by Trevor Cree on January 15, 2014 at 4:14

Elva,

Endorsing what Mike has already said, welcome to the Cree Family History Network. I have looked up the original church entry for David Cree's birth on the 8th March 1841 in Blantyre. It reads:

"David, lawful son of David Cree and Euphemia Henderson in Kirkton was born on the 8th March 1841."

It is assumed that he adopted the middle name Henderson later in life. It would appear that he married in 1871 as David Cree.

(Blantyre, a parish of north-west Lanarkshire, containing the villages of Blantyre, Blantyre works, Auchinraith, Auchentibber, Barnhill, and Stonefield.  Blantyre village, called also High Blantyre or Kirkton of Blantyre, stands near the right bank of the Rotten Calder, 3 miles W by N of Hamilton and 8 1/4 SE of Glasgow. (http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/10.html))