John Rawson

John Rawson (b.1875) was the son of Joseph Rawson and Mary [Ann] Gillott who married in the Basford registration district in 1868. Their other children included: Betsey (b.1868), Mary Ann (b.1870), Thomas (b.1872), Samuel (b.1873), Sarah (b.188), Margaret (b.1883), Matilda (b.1884), Joseph (b.1886), Charles (b.1889/d.1892) and Jemima Winifred (b.1891). The two youngest children were born in Nottingham, while the birthplace of all the others was given as Heanor. The Rawson family lived at: Langley, Heanor [C.1871]; Hands Road, Heanor [C.1881]; 35 Medway Street, Radford [C.1891]. In 1893 John’s mother, Mary Ann, died at Nottingham, aged 43. In 1901 Joseph Rawson, now a widower, and employed as a coal miner, could be found living at 3 Pleasant Place, Whitemoor Road, Old Basford. The only children still residing with him by this time were Matilda, Joseph and Jemima Winifred. Joseph Rawson senior does not appear to be listed in the 1911 census but died in 1923, when he was aged 77. At the time of his death he was living at 66 Whitechapel Street, Old Basford. In 1911 John Rawson can be found as a Lance Corporal serving with the 2nd Bn. The Gordon Highlanders out in India. He gave his former occupation as miner and stated that he was currently married. Listed along with the soldiers of the 2nd Bn. was his wife and their two daughters. His wife was Mary Ellen, aged 31, born in Glasgow. They had probably married in Scotland 15 years earlier. The birthplace of their eldest child, Mary Ellen, aged 13, was given as Aberdeen while their other daughter, Gordona Ellen, aged six months, had been born in Cawpore, India. John Rawson had not been listed in the 1901 census because he was serving out in South Africa. However his wife and eldest child were staying in Scotland with his wife’s uncle, Hugh Carlin, at 299 Caledonia Road, Glasgow Govan. The CWGC entry for John Rawson merely refers to him being the husband of the late Mary Ellen Rawson. When and where her death took place is unclear. However we do know a little more about his daughter, Mary Ellen, as a death notice in the local newspaper gave her address as Ryehill Cottages, Kirk White Street, Meadows [n.e.p.14.7.1915]. A later reference to his death in the newspaper mentioned he was ‘late of Radford’ [n.e.p.31.7.1915].

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