Walter Edward Fairbairn

     
     Walter Edward Fairbairn was born cir. Mar 1871 reg. Mile End, London, MDX, ENG, Although the 1881 census indicates Walter was born c 1870/1, in Roxburghshire, he does not appear in the records there. He is most likely the Walter Edward Fairbairn in the St Cath's index for the 1st qtr of 1871, reg. Mile End (Folio 1c p 595) which id is partially confirmed by the 1891 census showing him as born England.^2,3,6
     Walter Edward Fairbairn married Davina Oswald MacDonald, daughter of John McDonald and Jane Oswald, on 11 Apr 1890 at 28 Canongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, cert shows: Walter E Fairbairn joiner - apprentice and bachelor; s/o Walter Fairbairn (joiner - master) and Eliza Chaple; age 19; usual residence - 21 New Bongate, Jedburgh; Davinia McDonald weaver in woolen mill and spinster; LD of John McDonald (compositor - dec) and Jane Oswald; age 19; usual residence - 28 Canongate, Jedburgh. marr. after banns; according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland; minister Arch. Cameron; witnesses - William Aitchison and Jessie McDonald (assumed to be Davinia's elder sister).^7,8,5
     Walter Edward Fairbairn died on 29 Mar 1930 at 14 Temple Park Cres, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT; cert reads: Walter Edward Fairbairn, joiner journeyman, married to Davina MacDonald; son of Walter Fairbairn, joiner master, dec. and Eliza Chaple, dec. Died aged 59, of nephritis (assumed - transcribed as nephestes?) and arteriosclerosis. Inf. son H Fairbairn, 26 Yeaman Pl, Edin, present.^4,7
     Walter Edward Fairbairn appeared on the census of 7 Apr 1871 at 13 Sidney Sq, Mile End Old Town, London, LND, ENG, in the house of Walter and Eliza Fairbairn, as the son of Walter.⁶
     By the census of 3 Apr 1881 Walter Fairbairn was still in London shown as son of Walter (and Elizabeth Fairbairn) but now at 69 Maplin St, Mile End Old Town.^2,9
     In Apr 1890 Walter Edward Fairbairn was an apprentice of 21 New Bongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, when he married.⁵ By Feb 1891 he was an insurance agent, when his first son Walter Archibald was born at 9 Old Bongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, (and a couple of months later in the census).¹⁰
     Walter Edward Fairbairn appeared on the census of 3 Apr 1891 at 27 Richmond St, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, as a lodger of Joseph Broomfield and Agnes Broomfield (Walter being Joseph's 1st cousin once removed, via Joseph's mother Margaret Fairbairn).¹¹
     Fr 1894 - 1899 Walter Edward Fairbairn was now described as a joiner, for the remaining Jedburgh birth certs at 12 Old Bongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, and for the rest of his life.⁸
     The census of 1901 showed Walter with his wife Davina, their sons Walter, James and Henry, their dtr Mary at 2 Leslie Pl, Edinburgh St Bernard, Dist of St George, MLN, SCT, household enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: Walter E (indexed as William E) 30, joiner b ENG ; wife Divina C (assumed mistranscription of O) 30 b Edin; Children: Walter A 10, James 6 scholar, Mary J 4, Henry E 1 all b Jedburgh, ROX; Visitors (both McKenzie): Thomas 23 wax refiner, & William 20 grocer & ironmonger both b Linlithgow.¹²
     Fr 1901 - 1903 Walter Edward Fairbairn and Davina Oswald MacDonald were living at 2 Leslie Pl, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT.¹³
     Walter Edward Fairbairn was the informant for the death of his child Mary Jane Fairbairn on 2 Jun 1902 at 2 Leslie Pl, Edinburgh, MLN, SCT.^12,14
     Walter Edward Fairbairn was the informant for the death of his father Walter Fairbairn on 5 Dec 1904 at New Bongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT.⁴ By Sep 1978 he was described on a son's dth cert as a dec'd joiner, so any spell as an insurance agent appears to have been temporary.¹⁵