Finding my ggg-granny Margaret Cavers in the 1841 Scottish census
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“A Troublesome Mongrel”
Spotted in the Hawick Express, 7 October 1882:
A TROUBLESOME MONGREL
At the Small Debt Court in Hawick on Wednesday, Nellie Scott, Lothian Street, and John Cavers, greengrocer, for £2, for loss and damage caused to her, by being attacked and bitten by a vicious dog, belonging to the defender, or under his control, in Bridge Street on the 6th June, £1 being for value of a black cashmere dress destroyed by the dog, and £1 as solatium for fright and injury sustained.
Mr Purdom appeared for pursuer, and Mr T. Turnbull represented defender. Sheriff Pattison – Have you any evidence that the dog is vicious? Mr Purdom – I don’t think it is necessary to prove that. The Sheriff – A dog is said to be entitled to one worry during its career. Mr Turnbull – The father has been sued, whereas the son is the owner of the dog. Defender – I don’t keep the dog. Mr Purdom – If you go to the father he says the son is the owner, and if you go to the son he says it is the father. Defender said he was described as a greengrocer, now he was not that. The Sheriff – What are you? (Laughter.) Defender – I sell vegetables from a cart. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – For whom? Defender – For my son. The Sheriff – Are you paid wages? Defender – No, I get nothing. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – Then how do you live? Defender – The best way I can; my son supports me. The Sheriff – Do you stay with him? Defender – No, he stays with me. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – Does he keep the house? Defender – No, I keep the house. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – On nothing! (Laughter.) Are you the tenant of the house? Defender – No, I’m laird. (Great laughter.) The Sheriff – Well, laird, was the dog with you when it sprang upon pursuer? Defender – No, it was following the pony. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – The dog was there, but you can’t tell whether it followed you or the the pony. (Laughter.) What kind of a breed is the dog? Defender – It’s a mixture I think. (Great laughter.) I rather think it’s what’s called a “Mongrel.” (Renewed laughter.) Mr Haddon, the clerk – You ought to have had it here. (Laughter.) Defender – It is not given to bite people. It widna bite a mouse. (Laughter.) The Sheriff – Then why is it kept? Defender – It’s a hobby of my son. The Sheriff – If it would not even bite a mouse it seems to be a useless kind of dog. (Laughter.) Defender said he did not see the dog attack the woman. The dog was in below the lorry. The Sheriff remarked that it would be difficult to proof the ownership of the dog as it seemed to be a family animal. Pursuer in evidence stated that she was going to her work on the morning of the date mentioned, when the dog, which was following Cavers, who was in the cart, sprang upon her and tore her dress. She did not suffer from the bite. The Sheriff said if defender chose to allow his dog to run after the women – (great laughter) – he must stand the consequences. Mr Purdom said his client offered to accept 10s. His lordship gave decree for 20s, without expenses, remarking that the laird and the son would have to settle between them.
The defender in this case was John Cavers or Irvine (ca1823-1910), husband of Janet Graham. At this time John was about 58 years old and his son George 34 years old. The family appear – with head of household John, wife Janet, and children including “fruit merchant” son George, at Mid Row in the 1881 Hawick census. I’ve previously blogged about George as a greengrocer in Hawick, in 1876 and 1889. As a young man George was cornet for the town’s annual Common Riding.
References to dogs for Cavers folk in the historic Scottish newspapers are rare. But there are other references to later members of this same Hawick family owning dogs in the town, though less dramatically.
A Cavers mariner in the Liverpool area of England
I recently checked some newly digitised Hawick newspapers in the online British Newspaper Archive. Here is one Cavers reference I found, shedding light on a Cavers man from Roxburghshire, Scotland:
Hawick Telegraph, 10th August 1882
MR CHARLES CAVERS, son of William Cavers, formerly of Lilliesleaf, who has for some years been chief engineer on board the Yacht Sunbeam, has just passed his examinations before the Local Marine Board at Liverpool, and gained a first class engineer certificate.
Charles Cavers was born at Lilliesleaf on 8th February 1852, the 5th child and eldest son of shoemaker William Cavers and his wife Margaret Grieve. Charles was still living with his parents in Lilliesleaf in 1861, but is absent in later Scottish census returns.
In 1886 he married Liverpool-born Ann Martin in Tranmere, Cheshire. Tranmere is a suburb of Birkenhead, on the other side of the River Mersey from Liverpool. Charles Cavers’ occupation is recorded at his marriage as “Mariner”. In 1891 he appears in the English census returns, living with a wife and two children in Tranmere. Charles died in 1895. The Birkenhead News carried a lengthy report of his funeral:
Birkenhead News, 12th October 1895
THE LATE MR CHARLES CAVERS
FUNERAL AT BEBINGTON CEMETERY
It is with regret we announce the death of Mr Charles Cavers, of the Fleece Inn, Old Chester-road, Tranmere, which occurred early on Sunday morning last. The deceased, who was the eldest son of Mr William Cavers, of Selkirk, was for many years the chief engineer on board Lord Brassey’s famous yacht, the “Sunbeam,” and since his location in Tranmere has made himself highly esteemed by those who came into contact with him. The funeral, which was very largely attended, took place at Bebington Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon … [then a very long list of mourners and those sending wreaths] … The coffin, which was of polished oak with brass mountings, was inscribed “Charles Cavers, died October 6th 1895. Aged 40 years.” “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr B. Bell, of Tranmere, and Mr Charles Stevens (representing Messrs Higgins and Smith), Birkenhead.
For more information about the yacht “Sunbeam”, see its Wikipedia page. That page includes a photograph of the yacht, which is quite striking.
For more information about the Cavers family of Lilliesleaf, which includes a branch that went to Canada, see Sheila Wood’s extensive family history website.
Belatedly pinpointing a Cavers birth more precisely
Reflecting on the Guild blogging challenge and looking ahead
Over recent weeks I’ve been posting a series of Cavers one-name study blog posts. This was prompted by a challenge set to Guild of One-Name Studies members. The goal was to write 10 new blog posts over a 12-week period. Which I’ve managed, starting with an opening blog post written shortly before the New Year bells, followed by 9 subject blog posts between January and early March 2020.
The range of topics covered has been very broad, ranging over newspaper articles, mysteries over strays and Cavers individuals popping up in unexpected places, Cavers surname references spotted in new online databases, and posts about some of the Cavers surname gems I found for sale on eBay. I’ve been really pleased with the variety of material covered. Each blog post required new research to be undertaken, as well as writing, but was a delight to prepare and post. And although I’ve been blogging about Cavers topics here since 2011, it has been very encouraging to know that I can still blog about things this easily, and cover an interesting variety of topics and subjects.
Looking ahead I am to build on this momentum, and continue to blog regularly, though less frequently than in recent weeks. That rate is not sustainable for me long-term, especially with my severely disabling progressive neurological illness. But blogging more often is something I can continue doing, albeit at a more leisurely pace.
I also aim to continue the mix of subject matter explored recently. So expect a wide variety of upcoming posts over the next year and beyond. If readers have specific topics that they would like me to explore do please let me know in the comments section below. Otherwise my plans are as outlined above.
An employer’s letter of reference for a WW1 Cavers soldier
I’ve blogged before about finding unexpected gems on eBay related to my Cavers one-name study. Recently I was able to buy another, this time a letter of reference dating from 1916. The letter was written by a hop merchant in London, England.
Transcribing the letter it reads as follows:
9 Southwark Street, London
December 7th 1916This is to certify that Harold C. Cavers, now a private in the 1/7th Battalion London Regiment (No. 8234, Lewis Gunner), has been in our service since 1907 and will, we sincerely hope, return to our service when the War is over. We have always found him truthful, faithful, attentive to business, most punctual and as honest as the day, and from our knowledge of him during the time he was with us, we know that under no circumstances or under any temptation would he wittingly commit any breach of trust.
(Signed) Arthur Morris Co.
of Arthur Morris & Co., Hop Merchants
I was curious about the circumstances in which such a letter might have been written for a serving soldier. Sadly this soldier’s detailed army service records don’t survive. Many soldier records were lost in the bombing of WW2. But another record reveals that he received the Silver War Badge, given to invalided soldiers to wear to show what had happened to them. This record also reveals that he enlisted in the 7th London Regiment on 15th November 1915, and was discharged on 11th July 1918, due to “Wounds”. At this time he was 26 years old, and had served overseas. An army pension record notes that he was living at Redcar in the northeast of England.
Harold Charles Cavers belonged to the large London Cavers family, probably of Scottish descent originally. He was born at Camberwell in 1892, son of licensed victualler (publican) Augustus Cavers and his wife (and cousin) Alice Fussell. In the 1891 census, the year before Harold was born, this Cavers family appear running the Black Raven pub in Bishopsgate, London.
Harold’s father Augustus Cavers died in 1895, aged just 39. By the 1901 census Harold, now aged 7, was living at the Licensed Victuallers School in Upper Kennington Lane, Lambeth, S.E. London.
By 1911 he was back living with his widowed mother Alice at 23 Cavour Street, Kennington, S.E. London. His occupation was noted in the census as “Junior Clerk, at Hop Merchant”. He was only 18 at this point, so must have started working for the hop merchants when he was 14 or 15, if the date in the letter is accurate.
Harold Charles Cavers survived the war, and in 1921, now aged 29 and a commercial traveller, he married 26-year-old Florence Winifred Elsie Davies. Both were living at 181 Dalling Road, Hammersmith, London.
Harold Charles Cavers died on 9th December 1935 at Hounslow Hospital, Hounslow, Middlesex. At the time he was living at 52 Paddenswick-road, Hammersmith, Middlesex. His wife Florence survived him.
An unusual funeral in Hawick
Among the recent additions to the British Newspaper Archive was this Hawick Express issue of 29 November 1879.
FORESTERS’ FUNERAL – On Sunday last a large number of the brethren of Court Flower of Teviotdale turned out to attend the funeral of their deceased brother, George Cavers. Preceding the coffin, which was borne shoulder-high by four of their number, they went by way of High Street to Wellogate Cemetery, where, after the body had been committed to the grave, Bro. R. Waddell, C.R., impressively read the service for the dead prescribed by the order. Large numbers congregated at various parts to witness the cortege, and at the cemetery many gathered together to hear the service read.
From this report we know that the deceased man was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters. This was established in 1834, and was a mutual aid society, providing financial support and savings options for members, in an era long before the British welfare state or readily available banking facilities.
A little genealogical digging identified the deceased man as 24-year-old waiter George Duncan Cavers, son of master tailor John Cavers and his wife Sarah Duncan. George had died of tuberculosis on 25 November 1879 at 2 Howegate, Hawick. He grew up in Hawick, but was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA in 1855, where his parents had emigrated to. Sadly his father died not long after, and the widowed Sarah returned to Scotland and Hawick with her four surviving young children.
By the 1861 census widowed Mrs Sarah Cavers and her children were living in Langlaw Place, Wilton parish, Hawick. All but the eldest child had been born in America. Sarah Duncan or Cavers later married again, to a Thomas Rattray, engineman. Her daughter Janet Cavers returned to the United States, and married English-born Thomas Binns at Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1876.
This Cavers family was one of those descended from James Cavers and Isabella Coltherd, part of the line of their grandson Thomas Cavers (b. 1791).
Cavers people in the Radio Times archive
The Radio Times is a UK radio and TV listings magazine which has been in print since the dawn of broadcasting in the UK, starting in 1923.
More recently an online digitised archive of its old BBC listings was created. This can be searched by keyword, meaning that it is possible to look for Cavers references.
Of course there is the usual problem of non surname results. Though unlike the British Newspaper Archive the issue this time is not Cavers the place name. Rather it is finding numerous references to potholers, people who explore caves!
Nevertheless there are useful surname references to be uncovered, albeit a tiny proportion of the 102 search results for “Cavers” (all meanings).
For example from 1924 and 1925 we find a Mr A.S. Cavers Secretary of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society appearing in the programme “Farmers’ Corner”, talking about “Clean Milk”. He was probably Adam Scott Cavers born in Yorkshire in 1854, son of Francis Cavers and Agnes Scott, but grew up in Hawick, after his parents returned to his father’s home area. He was an older brother of the Argyll siblings I blogged about recently. Later he appears living in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, married with children. I suspect he was probably Adam S. Cavers whose death was registered in nearby Hinckley registration district in 1931, aged 76.
More recently, from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, we find actress Terry Cavers, accounting for 43 search results. She was a prolific performer on the BBC between 1971 and 1990, appearing in numerous plays and dramas, on television and on radio. Many were Scottish works, such as the “Kidnapped and Catriona” 1985 radio version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novels. Likewise she appeared in the 1982 television series of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s “Cloud Howe” and modern Scottish classic play “The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black, Black Oil” on BBC One in 1975. From her entry in the Internet Movie Database (which also covers TV programmes) we find that she also appeared in ITV’s Scottish television stalwart “Taggart”.
Cavers brothers in 1891 Argyll
Although Cavers people frequently turn up in the Hawick area and elsewhere in the Scottish Borders the surname rarely appears in much more distant parts of Scotland. So along those lines I was rather surprised to find a large Cavers household in 1891 Dunoon in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland.
The household was living at a house called Ingleston in James Street, Dunoon. Living together there were two brothers and their families. Firstly William Cavers, aged 33, a boot salesman born in Yorkshire, his wife Georgean, and their children Francis and Agnes. Then also in the household were William’s younger brother John Cavers, a gardener aged 31, born Lincolnshire, plus his wife Sarah and their son Francis.
Although both brothers were born in England they grew up in Hawick, two of the children of gardener Francis Cavers and his wife Agnes Scott. I’ve blogged about this family before, including the circumstances of Francis’s death, and more recently discovering his illegitimate daughter.
William and family were still living in Dunoon in 1901 but John and family by then were in Leith, by Edinburgh. I have not traced either family further forward, though it should be possible to discover more about what happened to them afterwards.
A century old USA Cavers baby photo
I keep an eye on eBay for Cavers related artefacts. Usually my saved search for “Cavers” emails me about potholers, or – and surprisingly frequently! – “carver” chairs. But sometimes real gems turn up.
One item I got hold of recently was a baby photo of a young James Frederic Cavers, the photo taken in North Dakota, circa 1907. On the back of the photo a handwritten note says “To Aunt Mulla, Aint I kute in my pants & blouse?”. And above is noted “James Frederic Cavers age One year old”.
These clues were enough to identify the child, because he shows up in the 1910, 1915 and 1920 census returns for North Dakota, USA with his parents James and Martha, and younger siblings William, George and Ruth. The family were living in Churchs Ferry, Ramsey, North Dakota, with James Frederic born in North Dakota in 1906. His father James William Cavers was born in Iowa.
Although some American Cavers references around this period remain something of a mystery, I can confidently identify this family. The father was born in Iowa in 1870, the son of Scottish emigrants James Cavers (born Roxburghshire, son of Adam Cavers and Janet Clark) and Isabella Broomfield (born Berwickshire, daughter of James Broomfield and Janet Armstrong). For more information about this extensive Roxburghshire Cavers family see Jim Richmond’s Cavers site, including its page about the baby’s grandfather James who emigrated from Scotland.
From Ancestry.com member family trees here is a photo of baby James Frederic Cavers all grown up:
Ancestry trees also reveal that James Frederic Cavers married, and had several children, before dying in Minnesota, USA in 1974.
Cavers One-Name Study Blog 