Wednesday 20 June 2012

What's in a name?

The name of Daniel Tennant is inscribed on a family gravestone stone in
Denny Cemetery, Denny, Stirlingshire.

The Monumental Inscription lists that he was killed in action in France
on 6th June 1916 aged 27 years.

The Commonwealth Graves Commission database lists
a Daniel Tennent who had served in the 6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment,
but his date of death was the 8th June 1918 and also,
the surname was spelt Tennent rather than Tennant.

The Scottish National War Memorial’s database echoed the same information,
but had the additional information that his place of birth was Dunipace, Stirlingshire.

On checking the Denny & Dunipace Roll of Honour, there is a Daniel Tennant
included as enlisting during January 1915, living at 21 Milton Row, Dunipace
but at the time of publication, no further information was known as to his ‘fate’.

Daniel’s name appears on Denny Town Civic Memorial, Denny Cemetery Memorial
and Dunipace Church’s external Memorial
(which was originally sited at the old Dunipace Church in Denovan Road).

Denny Cemetery Memorial

Denny Town Memorial

Dunipace Church & Memorial


This is Daniel and his mother’s story ……

(The ‘life events’ have been listed in date order as much as possible).

According to the Monumental Inscription, Daniel’s mother was Susan Montgomery,
who, is listed as being the widow of Thomas Chalmers,
so Susan had previously been married to a Mr. Tennant, but on carrying out further research
a wealth of information was revealed.

Daniel’s mother Susan was born 26th January 1862 at East Borland in Denny Denny,
daughter of James Montgomery & Mary Ann Rae (or Ray/Reay)
and was christened on 30th March in Dunipace Free Church.
(IGI, Batch No. C19013)


Her parents were married at Dunipace on 2nd October 1857
(Susan’s Birth registration)

The 1871 Census finds Susan with her grandparents:

1871 Census (2nd/3rd April 1871)
Nob Row, Dunipace, Stirlingshire

George Busby, Head, Labourer, age 45, born c1826, Ireland
Agnes Busby, Wife, age 40, born c1831, Ireland
Joseph Busby, Son, Labourer, age 17, born c1854, Dunipace
William Busby, Grand-Son, age 7, born c1864, Dunipace
Susan Montgomery, Grand-Daughter, age 7, born c1864, Denny

The 1881 Census finds Susan with her Aunt and Uncle,
previously listed in 1871 as her grandparents:
1881 Census (3rd/4th April 1871)
Milton Row, Dunipace, Stirlingshire

George Busby, Head, Ironstone Labourer, age 45, born Ireland
Agnes Busby, Wife, age 48, born Ireland
Joseph Busby, Son, Ironstone Labourer, age [illegible], born Dunipace
Susan Montgomery, Niece, Papermill Worker, age 17, born Dunipace

Susan gave birth to a son on 19th May 1881 at ‘Row’, Dunipace
His Birth Registration lists his full name as Matthew Cram Montgomery.
No father was listed but just over a year later Susan went on to marry Matthew Cram.

Susan Montgomery married Matthew Cram at the Row, Dunipace on 24h July 1882.
Susan is listed as age 19, the daughter of James and Mary Ann Mongomery.
Matthew is listed as age 20, son of James and Ellen Cram.

Susan’s marriage to her 1st husband was only to last just over 2 years.

The couple had 3 (known) children:
Matthew Cram (Montgomery), born c1881
Mary Cram, born c1883
James Cram, born c1885
(James & Mary’s  years of Birth based on age listed on 1901 Census)


Matthew Cram died of Typhoid Fever at, Denny on 8th November 1884 aged 22
which means that Susan would have been pregnant with son James.



Susan then married Daniel Tennant at the Manse, Denny on 17th July 1885.

She is listed as a widow, age 23, the daughter of James and Mary Ann Mongomery.
Daniel is listed as age 22, son of John and Mary Tennant.


Susan and Daniel  had 3 (known) children:
John Tennant, born c1886
Agnes Tennant, born c1889
Daniel Tennant, born 13th March 1890
(The years of birth of John & Agnes are based on their listed ages on 1901 Census)


Susan’s marriage to her 2nd husband was only to last just over 6 years.


Once again, Susan was left a widow and was living with her Father-in-Law

1891 Census (5th/6th April 1881)
Nob Row, Dunipace, Stirlingshire

John Tennant, Head, Coal Miner, age 63, born c1828, Cumbernauld
Susan Tennant, Sister-in-Law, age 27, born c1864, Denny
Matthew Cram, ‘Visitor’, Scholar, age 10, born c1881, Dunipace
Mary Cram, ‘Visitor’, Scholar, age 8, born c1883, Dunipace
James Cram, ‘Visitor’, Scholar, age 7, born c1884, Dunipace
John Tennant, ‘Visitor’, Scholar, age 5, born c1886, Dunipace
Agnes Tennant, ‘Visitor’, age 3, born c1888, Dunipace
Daniel Tennant, ‘Visitor’, age 6 months, born c1890, Dunipace


Susan then married Thomas Chalmers Prow at Milton of Dunipace
on the 10th December 1894.

Susan is listed as a widow, age 32, the daughter of James and Mary Ann Mongomery.
Thomas is listed as age 30, son of Thomas Chalmers and Jane Prow nee McIndoe.

Thomas Prow was the illegitimate son of Jane Prow.
Jane’s husband Arthur Prow has died died on 13th March 1860 age 33
and was buried in the U.P. Churchyard (or Broompark), Denny.
(No existing stone).

Broompark Churchyard

On the 1871 Census, Thomas age 7 is listed with his mother at No. 2, Nob Row, Dunipace
On the 1881 Census, Thomas age 17 is listed with his mother at Stirling Row, Dunipace
On the 1891 Census, Thomas age 27 is listed with his mother at Nob Row, Dunipace

(Daniel Tennant and Thomas Prow (husbands 2 & 3)
lived in the same building in 1881)

Jane Prow, Thomas’ mother died on 16th April, 1891 aged 61
shortly after the taking on the 1891 Census.

Thomas and Susan’s first child, Jane Chalmers Prow was born on 10th December 1894,
19 days after their marriage.

They went on to have 6 more (known) children:

William C. Prow (or Chalmers), c1896
Helen Stalker C. Prow (or Chalmers), c1898
Margaret C. Prow (or Chalmers), c1900 (died 21st February 1904, age 3)
Arthur Chalmers Prow c1902 (died 15th October 1903, age 13 months)
Robert c1905  (died 19th December 1935, age 30)
Jessie, c1909


1901 Census (31st March/1st April 1901)


4 Rosebank Court, Dunipace, Stirlingshire
 
Thomas Prow, Head, Coalminer, age 40, born c1861, Dunipace
Susan Prow, Wife, age 41, born c1860, Denny

Mary Cram(b), Step-Daughter, Brickwork Labourer, age 18, born c1883, Dunipace
James Cram(b), Step-Son, Coalminer, age 16, born c1885, Denny

John Tennant, Step-Son, Iron Dresser, age 15, born c1886, Dunipace
Agnes Tennant, Step-Daughter, age 12, born c1889, Dunipace
Daniel Tennant, Step-Son, Scholar, age 11, born c1890, Dunipace

Jane C. Prow, Daughter, Scholar, age 7, born c1894, Dunipace
William C. Prow, Son, Scholar, age 5, born c1896, Dunipace
Helen C. Prow, Daughter, age 3, born c1898, Dunipace
Margaret C. Prow, Daughter, age 6 months, born c1900, Dunipace

By 1911, Thomas Prow has become Thomas Chalmers?

1911 Census (2nd April 1911)

4 Rosebank Court, Dunipace, Stirlingshire
 
Thomas Chalmers, Head, Coa Pit Screenman, age 47, born Dunipace
Susan Chalmers, Wife, age 48, born Denny

Mary Cram(b), Step-Daughter, Brickwork Labourer, age 18, born c1883, Dunipace
James Cram(b), Step-Son, Coalminer, age 16, born c1885, Denny

John Tennant, Step-Son, Iron Dresser, age 15, born c1886, Dunipace
Agnes Tennant, Step-Daughter, age 12, born c1889, Dunipace
Daniel Tennant, Step-Son, Coalminer, age 20, born Dunipace

Jane Chalmers, Daughter, Scholar, age 16, born Dunipace
William Chalmers, Son, Iron Dresser, age 14, born Dunipace
Helen Chalmers, Daughter, Scholar, age 12, born Dunipace
Margaret C. Prow/Chalmers, Daughter, age 6 months, born c1900, Dunipace
Robert Chalmers, Son, age 6, born Dunipace
Jessie Chalmers, Daughter, age 2, born Denny

Daniel Tennant was killed in action on 6th June 1918.

His name is amongst over 14,000 UK casualties commemorated on
Pozieres Memorial in France all of whom have no known grave
and were known to have lost their lives on the Somme
between 21st March and 7th August 1918.

Pozieres Memorial

Thomas Prow or Chalmers, Coalminer died age 66 at
132 Broad Street, Denny
Susan Montgomery (Cram/Tennant/Prow/Chalmers)
died aged 84 at Kirkslap, Denny.


In Loving Memory of
THOMAS CHALMERS, husband of Susan Montgomery
Who died 17th February 1930 aged 66 years
ROBERT their son
Died 19th December 1935 aged 30 years
Also
ARTHUR and MARGARET
Who died in infancy
Also her sons
JOHN TENNANT
Died 5th February 1905 aged 19 years
DANIEL TENNANT
Killed in action in France
6th June 1916 aged 27 years
Also the above
SUSAN MONTGOMERY
Died 16th January 1947 aged 85 years


So, the moral of this wee story is .....

No matter what's written on an inscription,
NOTHING can be taken for granted!!



http://www.memento-mori.co.uk/


 

 

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