Hi,
I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with the mystery of Daisy Jane Dickson Strickland.
I'll start off with the history of her parents. Please bear with me for the long story - its a bit of a challenge, so will understand if no one wants to respond!
One thing I need to mention is that the surname was sometimes spelt STICKLAND, and sometimes STRICKLAND (though in later years it stayed as STRICKLAND)
Thomas James STICKLAND was born at High Littleton in Somerset in 1855.
Later on he moved to Co Durham and married there.
Marriages Dec 1878 Free bmd
STICKLAND Thomas James Durham 10a 423
WILKINSON Mary Ann Durham 10a 423
Here they are in the following census:-
1881 census
STRICKLAND, Thomas James Head Married M 26 1855 Railway Signalman Local
Methodist Preacher
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Wife Married F 30 1851 Helmington Row Durham
Piece:
4925 Folio:
80Page:
82 Registration District:
Auckland
Civil Parish:
Hunwick and HelmingtonMunicipal Borough:
Address:
Hunwick Station, Hunwick And Helmington
County: Durham
-------------
In 1891 Thomas James was living and working away from home.
1891 census
STRICKLAND, Mary A Head Married F 39 1852 Seamstress Darlington Durham
Piece: 4043
Folio: 138
Page: 56
Registration District:
Darlington
Civil Parish: Darlington
Municipal Borough: Darlington
Address:
11, Regent Street, Darlington
County: Durham
1891 Census
STRICKLAND, Thos J Head Married M 35 1856 Station Master N E R
High Littleton Somersetshire
Piece: 4269
Folio: 58
Page: 4
Registration District: Berwick
Civil Parish:
Ancroft Municipal Borough:
Address: Wind Mill Hill, Cheswick, Ancroft, Windmill Hill
County: Northumberland
----------------
1901 census
STRICKLAND, Thos J Head Married M 46 1855 Signalman N E Rly High Littleton Somersetshire
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Wife Married F 50 1851 Samybone Durham (should be Sunny Brow)
STRICKLAND, Daisy J Daughter Single F 13 1888 High Littleton Somersetshire
Piece: 4570
Folio: 59
Page:52
Registration District: Guisbrough
Civil Parish:
Redcar Municipal Borough:
Address:
10, West Dyke Road, Redcar
County: Yorkshire (North riding)
As you can see in the 1901 census, they have suddenly got a 13 yr old daughter, Daisy, who was born in High Littleton, Somerset - Thomas birth town.
Thomas died
Deaths Sep 1903
STRICKLAND Thomas James 48 Guisbro' 9d 320
---------------
1911 census - On the 1911 census image, it says that Mary Ann had one child born alive, one died, and none living.
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Head Widow F 60 1851 Durham Sunny Brow
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
29749 Reference:
RG14PN29749 RG78PN1721 RD547 SD1 ED47 SN262
Registration District:
Auckland Sub District:
Bishop Auckland Enumeration District:
47 Parish:
East Thickley
Address:
19 Thickley Terrace New Shildon Court Durham
County: Durham
So from the above entry, it suggested that Daisy the daughter had died.
HOWEVER,
I found Daisy's marriage entry.
Marriages Dec 1908
STRICKLAND Daisy Jane D Auckland 10a 322
VICKERS Frederick William Auckland 10a 322
From that, I found Daisy and Frederick on the 1911 census
VICKERS, Fredrick William Head Married M 25 1886 Furnaceman Forge Co Durham New Shildon
VICKERS, Daisy Jane Dickson Wife Married 2 years F 23 1888 Co Somerset High Littleton
VICKERS, Ena Daughter F 1 1910 Co Durham New Shildon
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
29748 Reference:
RG14PN29748 RG78PN1721 RD547 SD1 ED46 SN330
Registration District:
Auckland Sub District:
Bishop Auckland Enumeration District:
46 Parish:
East Thickley
Address:
11 Thomas St New Shildon
County: Durham
--------------------------------------
From the above census, I now know that Daisy's full name is Daisy Jane Dickson (STICKLAND/STRICKLAND) VICKERS, and that she was born in High Littleton, Somerset, the same as her "Dad"
So why can't I find her birth registration? I've done every variation of Strickland etc, done a general search of England, done a Christian name only search and Phonetic search surnames. Looked in Somerset and Co Durham for her, as well as the whole of England.
Then just as I was about to give up, I put her middle name of DICKSON into the surname search and did a Phonetic search on it.
This entry came up:-
Births Dec 1887
Dixon Daisy Jane Clutton 5c5_7
Clutton is the registration district for High Littleton where Daisy was born.
I then went to the High Littleton website which has baptisms on and found this.
Baptism at High Littleton,
1887 Nov 23 Daisy Jane (P.B.) (b. Aug 2 '87) d Margaret Ann DIXON New Road, Farmborough
Farmborough is 2 miles from High Littleton, and people from Farmborough often used High Littleton Church for baptisms etc.
Finally, I will come to my point!
Do you think that Daisy Jane DIXON is "my" Daisy Jane Dickson Strickland?
If so, the only thing I can think of is that Thomas James and Mary Ann Strickland/Stickland adopted her in later life - she only appeared with them as a 13 yr old on the 1901 census. (I know that she could have been living with them between the census's)
I've looked for Daisy Jane's mother, Margaret Ann DIXON on the census, looked to see if she married, or died and can't find anything about her.
Wondering if anyone has any other thoughts about this please?
I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with the mystery of Daisy Jane Dickson Strickland.
I'll start off with the history of her parents. Please bear with me for the long story - its a bit of a challenge, so will understand if no one wants to respond!
One thing I need to mention is that the surname was sometimes spelt STICKLAND, and sometimes STRICKLAND (though in later years it stayed as STRICKLAND)
Thomas James STICKLAND was born at High Littleton in Somerset in 1855.
Later on he moved to Co Durham and married there.
Marriages Dec 1878 Free bmd
STICKLAND Thomas James Durham 10a 423
WILKINSON Mary Ann Durham 10a 423
Here they are in the following census:-
1881 census
STRICKLAND, Thomas James Head Married M 26 1855 Railway Signalman Local
Methodist Preacher
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Wife Married F 30 1851 Helmington Row Durham
Piece:
4925 Folio:
80Page:
82 Registration District:
Auckland
Civil Parish:
Hunwick and HelmingtonMunicipal Borough:
Address:
Hunwick Station, Hunwick And Helmington
County: Durham
-------------
In 1891 Thomas James was living and working away from home.
1891 census
STRICKLAND, Mary A Head Married F 39 1852 Seamstress Darlington Durham
Piece: 4043
Folio: 138
Page: 56
Registration District:
Darlington
Civil Parish: Darlington
Municipal Borough: Darlington
Address:
11, Regent Street, Darlington
County: Durham
1891 Census
STRICKLAND, Thos J Head Married M 35 1856 Station Master N E R
High Littleton Somersetshire
Piece: 4269
Folio: 58
Page: 4
Registration District: Berwick
Civil Parish:
Ancroft Municipal Borough:
Address: Wind Mill Hill, Cheswick, Ancroft, Windmill Hill
County: Northumberland
----------------
1901 census
STRICKLAND, Thos J Head Married M 46 1855 Signalman N E Rly High Littleton Somersetshire
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Wife Married F 50 1851 Samybone Durham (should be Sunny Brow)
STRICKLAND, Daisy J Daughter Single F 13 1888 High Littleton Somersetshire
Piece: 4570
Folio: 59
Page:52
Registration District: Guisbrough
Civil Parish:
Redcar Municipal Borough:
Address:
10, West Dyke Road, Redcar
County: Yorkshire (North riding)
As you can see in the 1901 census, they have suddenly got a 13 yr old daughter, Daisy, who was born in High Littleton, Somerset - Thomas birth town.
Thomas died
Deaths Sep 1903
STRICKLAND Thomas James 48 Guisbro' 9d 320
---------------
1911 census - On the 1911 census image, it says that Mary Ann had one child born alive, one died, and none living.
STRICKLAND, Mary Ann Head Widow F 60 1851 Durham Sunny Brow
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
29749 Reference:
RG14PN29749 RG78PN1721 RD547 SD1 ED47 SN262
Registration District:
Auckland Sub District:
Bishop Auckland Enumeration District:
47 Parish:
East Thickley
Address:
19 Thickley Terrace New Shildon Court Durham
County: Durham
So from the above entry, it suggested that Daisy the daughter had died.
HOWEVER,
I found Daisy's marriage entry.
Marriages Dec 1908
STRICKLAND Daisy Jane D Auckland 10a 322
VICKERS Frederick William Auckland 10a 322
From that, I found Daisy and Frederick on the 1911 census
VICKERS, Fredrick William Head Married M 25 1886 Furnaceman Forge Co Durham New Shildon
VICKERS, Daisy Jane Dickson Wife Married 2 years F 23 1888 Co Somerset High Littleton
VICKERS, Ena Daughter F 1 1910 Co Durham New Shildon
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
29748 Reference:
RG14PN29748 RG78PN1721 RD547 SD1 ED46 SN330
Registration District:
Auckland Sub District:
Bishop Auckland Enumeration District:
46 Parish:
East Thickley
Address:
11 Thomas St New Shildon
County: Durham
--------------------------------------
From the above census, I now know that Daisy's full name is Daisy Jane Dickson (STICKLAND/STRICKLAND) VICKERS, and that she was born in High Littleton, Somerset, the same as her "Dad"
So why can't I find her birth registration? I've done every variation of Strickland etc, done a general search of England, done a Christian name only search and Phonetic search surnames. Looked in Somerset and Co Durham for her, as well as the whole of England.
Then just as I was about to give up, I put her middle name of DICKSON into the surname search and did a Phonetic search on it.
This entry came up:-
Births Dec 1887
Dixon Daisy Jane Clutton 5c5_7
Clutton is the registration district for High Littleton where Daisy was born.
I then went to the High Littleton website which has baptisms on and found this.
Baptism at High Littleton,
1887 Nov 23 Daisy Jane (P.B.) (b. Aug 2 '87) d Margaret Ann DIXON New Road, Farmborough
Farmborough is 2 miles from High Littleton, and people from Farmborough often used High Littleton Church for baptisms etc.
Finally, I will come to my point!
Do you think that Daisy Jane DIXON is "my" Daisy Jane Dickson Strickland?
If so, the only thing I can think of is that Thomas James and Mary Ann Strickland/Stickland adopted her in later life - she only appeared with them as a 13 yr old on the 1901 census. (I know that she could have been living with them between the census's)
I've looked for Daisy Jane's mother, Margaret Ann DIXON on the census, looked to see if she married, or died and can't find anything about her.
Wondering if anyone has any other thoughts about this please?
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