My mother in law is Beryl Pansy Davidson. She was born in April 1925 in Maymyo, Burma. She married James William Burns born 1916 Amble, Northumberland. They married in July 1941 at the garrison Church in Maymyo. James died in 1966 and Beryl died in 1971 in York

Beryl was better known as Pansy and she had 10 brothers and sisters. Two sisters and one brother are still living - one in Australia and two in the UK.


Beryl's parents were Robert George Davidson and Florence Leonara Hutchinson Lopez.

Florence was born in 1901 in Yamethin, Burma to Frank Bruno Hutchinson Lopez and Agnes Morton. Frank worked on the Railways as an Inspector. George also worked on the railways and this is how he met Florence.

Robert was born in 1892 in Shulapoor, India. He was the youngest of three sons to William Davidson and his wife whose name we think is Isabelle. His brothers were William Hugh born 1887 and james born 1890 but died in 1894. William Hugh went on to marry Adelaide Genevieve Hutchinson Lopez - the sister of Florence. They had 8 children.



William Davidson was born in August 1856 in 28 Dean Street, Edinburgh. He was the youngest child of four to William Davidson and Elizabeth Rankine. The other children were John Davidson Davidson (no typo) born 1848, Alex(ander)Davidson born 1853 and George Rankine Davidson born 1861 all in Edinburgh.

The family have been found together on the 1851 census but only William senior, Alex and William can be found in 1861. They cannot be found later though we know William senior died in 1869 and Elizabeth in 1889. I have been unable to find a marriage for William (1856) and Isabelle so there is the possibility that he married in India and was not in the UK in 1881.



William (senior) was born in 1816 in Blair Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland. He married Elizabeth Rankine in 1846 in Edinburgh. Elizabeth was born in 1826 to George Rankine, a butcher and Mary Caw.
William was a Hackney Coachman and in 1851 they were living iat 22 jamaica Street, Edinburgh. He died in Nov 1869 of Broncho - pneumonia. Elizabeth died in 1889 of Lung and Heart disease.


William was the son of John Davidson and Catherine Cumming. John was born about 1790 in Blair Atholl.He was a Street Porter for cabs in 1861 at the age of 71. He lived with his son Donald ( born 1818) and family. This is also where William and two of his sons were living in 1861. Catherine was the daughter of Donald Cumming and Katharine. She was born in Jan 1796 in Blair Atholl.



I have been unable to locate any records for marriages or births in India or Burma and family still living are in their 70's and 80's making recollection of memories hard. Does anyone have any ideas about how I could find out anything in these two countries. I don't think William (1856) was military so there is no way of finding him in military records.


The photo is of my in laws James William Burns and Beryl Pansy Davidson on their engagment.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing from anyone with links to this family or info

Carol