A-Z Challenge: Family Traits - N for NE''ER DO WELL

My Theme for the A-Z  Challenge 2023

Family Traits, Quirks and Characteristics 

 

N for NE'ER DO WELL 

 

My great grandfather James Danson ( 1852-1906)

 

 Little knowledge has come down through the family on James Danson who died in 1906 before the birth of my mother and aunt. Anecdotal evidence does not reflect creditably on him - he was by all accounts of his grandchildren a bit of a NE'ER DO WELL - in contrast to the obvious respect for “Granny”. This is borne out by the only photograph of him  - the bearded figure posing merry in the old stocks in Poulto le Fylde, Lancashire.  

 

 The  starting point for research into  my great grandfather James Danson (1852-1906) was the family bible which recorded his marriage in 1877 to 18 year old Maria Rawcliffe and the birth of his first four sons - entries petered out after that. The births of six more sons (two did not survive infancy) and one daughter were not recorded.

The 1881 Census Return   provided the information  that enabled  me to trace James'  birth certificate.  He was born on 7th August 1852 at Trap Farm, Carleton, Lancashire (below).  He was third son, tenth and youngest child of Henry Danson, yeoman farmer and Elizabeth Calvert. 

Trap Farm, Carleton c. 1998

The 1881 census showed the family living at Pott's Alley, off the Market Square at Poulton-le-Fylde. In the various literature on Poulton, Potts Alley earlier in the century comes in for some condemnation, described as “the town’s slum quarter….contained some of Poulton’s most squalid over crowded properties…..the subject of severe criticism in a public health report of 1852”🕊🕊

Barrett's  1904  and Commercial Directory  for the Fylde area of Lancashire listed James Danson, joiner of 2 Bull Street, Poulton - a row of terraced houses just off the Market Square, which around the 1960's was demolished to make way for a small shopping centre. 

James died at the age of 53 on 20th September 1906, A report in "The Fleetwood Chronicle and Fylde Advertiser" of 28th September noted: 

"The deceased gentleman who was 53 years old was a native of Poulton. His father was toll collector at Shard Bridge for 14 years.  Mr Danson had been ill for some time but had only recently taken to his bed.  The chief mourners were Mrs Danson (wife), Messrs Robert, John, Tom, Willie Danson (sons) and Mr John Danson (brother from Clitheroe), Miss Cookson (niece),  Mrs Riley, Mrs Roskell and Mrs Geo Riley (sisters-in-law), Mrs Porter, and Mr Threlfall.  There were a number of beautiful wreaths

There was no reference in the funeral report to James' first born son Harry who died a year later at the age of 30, nor to the younger sons Albert, Frank and George, and  only daughter Jennie, but perhaps as children they did not attend or  did not warrant a mention. 

James was buried in Moorland Road Cemetery, Poulton-le-Fylde, leaving his  widow, with a large family all still at home, including 3 children  under 14 years old.

Funeral Card for James Danson

A new headstone for James Danson and family was erected a few years ago by his surviving granddaughter, to replace  the original one which was badly worn away.  The white stone behind remembers James's second son John who died during the First World War. 

 

(I cannot help wondering if such a funeral report would have appeared in the press had James been such a NE'ER DO WELL character.)

 

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 Onto O for ORPHANED 

 

A for ADVENTUROUS, B for BIGAMOUS, C for CRIMINAL,  D for DEVOUT

E for ENTERPRISING  & ESTEEMED,   F for FEISTY

  

G for GENIAL & GOOD LOOKING,  H for HEROIC    I  for INSOLVENT  

 J for "JOINER", K for KEEPER OF THE FAMILY ARCHIVES,

 

L for LONG LIVING,  M for MYSTERIOUS