A-Z Challenge: Family Traits - O for ORPHANED

My Theme  -  A-Z Challenge 2023  

Family Traits, Quirks and Characteristics 

O is for ORPHANED

My mother's First Cousin - Annie Maria Danson

Annie Maria Danson was the only daughter of my great uncle John Danson and his wife Sarah Haydon Lounds of Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire.    Born in 1905, Annie was only  a year old when her 21 year old mother died of consumption (TB).  Eleven years later her father committed suicide under tragic circumstances, leaving young Annie an ORPHAN.

 Early Life 

 Following the death of her mother, the infant Annie was immediately taken in by her grandmother  Maria Danson, nee Rawcliffe and made her home there with her grandparents, aunt Jennie (only eight years her senior)  and her seven  uncles. 

 Her grandfather James Danson died in 1906.

Maria with her only daughter Jennie and young Annie c.1910

By the time of the 1911 census, both Annie and her father John were living with his mother, with John's occupation described as a steward in the men's working club.

The First World War broke out in August 1914 with five Danson brothers  (John, William, Tom, Frank and George)  serving over the course of the conflict. 

 

 In this photograph of Annie with her grandmother, Annie looks about 11-12 years old , and I suspect it was taken about the time John was called up into the army.  We tend to think of First World War soldiers as being young men in the 20's,  but John was 38 years old,  with happiness on the horizon. For  he was engaged to be married to Dorothy Chisholm.

John and Dorothy

Yet tragedy was to strike again for Annie.   For in 1917 John committed suicide in army training camp, without ever serving abroad, leaving his only child, Annie, now an ORPHAN.    We shall never know why - were the rigours of the army training and what he knew he could be facing in the trenches too much to bear?  His youngest brother George, aged just 22,  had been killed on the Somme in September 1916. 

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Onto Marriage

On 4 October 1928  Annie,  "gowned in delphinium blue"   married Harry Ditchfield.   The local press report provided a colourful description of the wedding fashions of the day -  do take time to read it as it gives such an evocative description of the dresses.  Jennie was one of the two bridesmaids

 

“A member of an old Poulton family,  Miss Annie M.  Danson, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Danson was married in the Parish Church, Poulton. 

The bride, who was given away by her uncle Mr R.. Danson, was gowned in delphinium blue georgette, the sleeveless bodice being plain, while the circular skirt was side slashed and bordered all round with deep silver lace.  Her hat was ruched georgette to tone and she wore silver shoes and hose to tone.  Her bouquet was of pale pink chrysanthemums.  

The bridesmaids were Miss Jennie Danson (aunt) and Miss J. Ditchfield (sister of the bridegroom).  Miss Danson wore pale shell pink georgette over silk, the picot edged skirt having shaded crystal motifs at intervals.  Her hat was of fine black felt with alternate shades of pink chiffon velvet on the drooping brim to tone with the gown.

Miss J. Ditchfield was in mauve taffeta, veiled with fine Brussels lace, with a hat of fine grey felt.  Both bridesmaids carried bouquets of russet chrysanthemums.

The reception was held at the home of the bride’s uncle, after which Mr and Mrs Ditchfield went to New Brighton for the honeymoon, the bride travelling in a dress of rose-rust silk, with ecru lace en relief, over which she wore a cost of dove grey, with fox fur trimming and hat of grey felt”.  

 

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In Later Life

 Annie had  two children - Derek and Josie .   I have vague memories of them coming round to our house in Blackpool and Josie's gymslip was passed down to me.  But we moved away with my father's work and I had no connection with Annie and family after that.  

 

 It was many years later when my family history activities led me to try and reconnect with my mother's cousins.  The result was a long telephone conversations with Derek's daughter J.  who had been very close to her grandmother and shared memories and photographs. 

 

J wrote this beautifully  expressed tribute  to her grandmother:

"Yes, I loved her. I was a teenager when she died. She was gentle and always kind. Her arthritis was heartbreaking, to this day I have never seen anyone so bent-up and crippled by it as she was.   She had a small frame and fine boned, as is my Dad although a male version at 5ft 9 and an athletic body type.  She felt the cold and would always have  blankets on her in later life. 

My Grandparents had a big house in Blackpool when we were children, with nine bedrooms and very, very, very creepy!  No wonder she was cold!  Yet it does hold wonderful memories for myself and my brothers.  

Nana, also had a lovely sense of style as a younger person with suits and clothes tailor made. Such a beautiful lady.  Dad says her hair was black when younger, so with her grey eyes she was stunning.  I actually have a black skirt suit of hers that fits me! So special. I also have some jewellery of hers left to me by my Mum.  When I was little girl, Nana took me to one side and gave me a little ring she had been given to wear when she was a bridesmaid as a young girl herself. I have since past it onto my niece.  She knows the story and will keep it in the family".

I supect the ring was given to Annie when she was a bridesmaid at her young aunt Jennie's wedding. 

 

 

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I was delighted to make this late contact with more of my Danson relations -

 it is never too late to find out more about your family history. 

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Onto P for POETIC

 IN CASE YOU MISSED

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, N for NE'ER DO WELL