Williamina Saida Davidson

Williamina Saida Davidson 1859-1937
Williamina was born 15 November 1856, the daughter of Patrick Davidson and Mary Anne Leslie, at Banchory-Ternan, Kincardine, Scotland.
She never married.

Birth

Williamina Saida Davidson

b: 15 Nov 1856 Banchory-Ternan, Kincardine, Scotland
daughter of Patrick Davidson and Mary Anne Leslie

1871 Census	1871-154	3 April 1871	Cramond, Midlothian, Scotland
Craigcrook
Francis Boyd Outram Jane Ann (Wife) Mary Frances (Dau) Margaret Caroline(Dau) James (Son) Francis Davidson (Son) Jane Ann Eleanor (Dau) Margaret Clementina Outram (MothLaw) Williamina Saida Davidson (SisLaw) Fanny Hene (GrDau) Plus 9 Servants	Age 34 Age 32 Age 8 Age 7 Age 6 Age 3 Age 10 Mon Age 58 Age 14 Age 15	Baronet	Bombay Aberdeen Old Macher Banchory Kensington Peterculter Aberdeen Lambeth Banchory	India Aberdeen Aberdeen Kincardine Middlesex Aberdeen Aberdeen Surrey Kincardine Switzerland	23 Sep 1836 abt 18xx 17 May 1862 27 Jul 1863 abt 1864 4 Aug 1867 23 May 1870 abt 1812 15 Nov 1856 abt 1855

1881 Census	Vol 252	4 April 1881	Banchory Ternan, Kincardine, Scotland
Inchmarlo House
Patrick Davidson Mary Ann (Wife) William L. Frances Mary Katherine H. Mary M. Matilda R. Wiliamina S. Plus 13 Servants	Age 71 Age 63 Age 31 Age 40 Age 35 Age 33 Age 27 Age 24	Professor of Law DI JP LLD Captain Royal Artillary	Aberdeen Warthill Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen	Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen	abt 1809 abt 1817 31 Jan 1850 22 Jun 1840 5 Jul 1845 21 Dec 1846 6 May 1853 15 Nov 1856

1891 Census	1891-352	6 April 1891	St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
41 B George Square
Alice M. Maswell Janet Milligan (Boarder) Martha J Adamson (Boarder) Emily A Riddell (Boarder) Williamina S. Davidson (Boarder) Plus 1 Servant	Age 34 Age 35 Age 24 Age 34 Age 34	Private Means Private Means Private Means Private Means Private Means	Troqueer Gutherie Forfar Birmingham Aberdeen	Dumfrieshire Forfarshire Forfarshire England	abt 1856 abt 1855 abt 1866 abt 1856 15 Nov 1856

1901 Census	1901-241	1 April 1901	Maryhill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Soldiers' House, 496 Gairbraid Street
Williamina S. Davidson Franciesque C Reid (Visitor) Alice C I Margery (Visitor) Elizabeth Murdoch Isabella Shirreff Duncan Mcneill Justina Mcmill James Reid William Stanning (Lodger) Thomas Russie (Lodger) Elizabeth Russie (Lodger) Frances Mary Rusise (Lodger) Thos W Rusise (Lodger)	Age 44 Age 52 Age 37 Age 33 Age 16 Age 43 Age 36 Age 57 Age 28 Age 35 Age 26 Age 2 Age 1	Living on Own Means Living on Own Means Living on Own Means Parlor Maid House Maid Janitor Cook Porter 1st Royal Scots Royal Field Artillery	Aberdeen Madler residency bontay residency Stirling Glasgow Campbeltown Earls Mill Glasgow royaub mamtabro	Aberdeenshire India India Sterlingshire Lanarkshire Argyleshire Morayshire Lanarkshire India England England England India	15 Nov 1856 abt 1848 abt 1863 abt 1867 abt 1884 abt 1857 abt 1864 abt 1843 abt 1872 abt 1865 abt 1874 abt 1898 abt 1899

The Scotsman, Wednesday, Feb 2, 1916

PROPOSED PERMANENT SOLDIERS' HOME
AT REDFORD
Redford Soldiers' Home, Colinton, Midlothian
January 31, 1916
Sir, __ Last autumn I appealed through your columns for £5000 before Christmas to enable us to begin to build the Permanent Soldiers' Home at Redford. The response has been encouraging but has not reached the sum we required. In addition to what we then had, one Edinburgh lady has most kindly promised £1000; the Women's Patriotic Service League have efficiently helped and are helping with flag day collections (though the bulk of the Edinburgh city collection was, under stipulation by the Lord Provost's Committee, restricted for use by the Temporary Home.) From the Glasgow Flag Committee (of which Lady Lindsay is the energetic convener) we expect to receive a sum of £600 for the Permanent Home, and many others have given smaller sums.
Amongst the multitude of encouraging letters that I have received there have been two or three urging the inadvisability of building at the present time on account of the greatly increased prices, both of materials and labour. Our Committee are carefully considering the existing conditions, and taking expert advice, as it is feared that building prices will remain at a high figure for some time even after the war is over, Had the public responded to our appeals two or three years ago the Soldiers' Home at Redford would have been built by this time at a reasonable cost, there would have been no need to expend any money on providing the existing temporary premises, and our soldiers of today would have benefited very much more than is possible under the present conditions.

The loss of time and war costs have seriously enhanced the price of labour and of all goods, and we are compelled to recognise that to build the Permanent Soldiers' Home now will probably cost several thousand pounds in excess of the original estimate; but it is the public who should bear that burden -- the soldier should not suffer. Though the public made a mistake in not supplying the funds two years ago, they will surely not let our brave men return from the war to Redford Barracks to find that a temporary wooden hut (in which rats abound) is all that Scotland has been able to provide for them as a Soldiers' Home. I refuse to contemplate such an idea, and am confident that generous hearts will meet the soldiers' need in a worthy manner, even at the cost of personal sacrifice on the part of the public for whom our Scottish regiments have made "the great sacrifice," and suffered so many hardships and losses.
Contemplating the prospect of high prices continuing even after the war, little can be gained by delay, and we therefore propose to begin to build as soon as reasonable contracts can be obtained, and shall continue to collect funds for the furnishing and other necessary expenses while the Home is being erected, so that it may be possible to have a right Royal opening and welcome for the troops when they " come home."
Large and small sums will be gratefully received by the Redford Soldiers' Home Hon. Treasurers at the Union Bank of Scotland (Ltd.), 64 George Street, Edinburgh; or by John C. Caesar, Esq., Manager, The Union Bank of Scotland (Ltd.), St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, or by myself. -- I am, &c.

(Miss) W. S. Davidson. Hon. Supt.

Death

Williamina Saida Davidson

Died 20 Dec 1937, Age 81
Burial: Banchory Kirkyard

The Times, Wednesday, Dec 22, 1937 Death

DAVIDSON. -- On Dec. 20, 1937, at Inchmarlo Cottage, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Williamina Saida Davidson O.B.E, Honorary Serving-Sister of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and Foundress of the Royal Soldiers' Home, and other soldiers' homes in Scotland, sixth and youngest daughter of the late Patrick Davidson of Inchmarlo Kincardineshire, in her 82nd year. All soldier friends and others are asked to accept this (the only) intimation and invitation. Funeral to-day (Wednesday), leaving Inchmarlo Cottage at 2:30 p.m. to Banchory Kirkyard. No flowers, by request, unless made by disabled soldiers.

The Scotsman, Wednesday, April 8, 1938

WILLS AND ESTATE
Kincardineshire
Davidson, Miss Williamina Saida, Inchmarlo Cottage, Near Banchory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £19,192

LONDON 12 May 1938 Probate

DAVIDSON, Williamina Saida - of Inchmarlo Cottage, near Banchory, Kincardineshire, spinster, died 20 December 1937, Confirmation of George Louis Outram Davidson. Sealed London 12 May.

The SCOTSMAN, Wednesday, Dec 22, 1937

LIFE WORK FOR SOLDIERS

The Late Miss W. S. Davidson

AN APPRECIATION

The late Miss Williamina S. Davidson, whose life-long work on behalf of soldiers was referred to in our columns yesterday, is the subject of an appreciation from a correspondent, who says; --
In the passing of Miss Davidson, our soldiers have lost a real friend. The Davidsons are a well-known Deeside family, and come of military stock, and have long been noted for their social and religious work in the community. Miss Davidson became Honorary Lady Superintendent of the Soldiers Home at Maryhill Glasgow in 1894, and remained there for over twenty years. She thereafter founded the commodious Soldiers' Home at Barry Camp, which has all along proved to be a home from home for our soldier boys when in camp. WORK AT COLINTON During the war she carried on a Soldiers' Home at Colinton, which was a great boon to the thousands of soldiers who occupied Redford Barracks from time to time. After the war Miss Davidson established the Royal Soldiers' Home in place of the former temporary premises. The new home has been frequently visited by Royalty, and as a high mark of appreciation was granted the designation of the "Royal Soldiers' Home." Miss Davidson raised many thousands of pounds for the erection, equipment, and maintenance of these homes.
The name of Miss Davidson was a household word in barracks and married quarters, and she endeared herself to all by her charming personality and sincere helpfulness. Her genius for friendship influenced many men in the formation of character and in the shaping of the ir destiny in life. Miss Davidson was awarded the O.B.E. for long and devoted services amongst our soldiers, and to-day there will be many old and young soldiers who feel themselves better men for having come under her influence.
A poppy wreath has been sent for the funeral bearing an inscription which speaks eloquently of the esteem in which Miss Davidson was held by her soldier friends:--"In affectionate and grateful remembrance of a real soldiers' friend, who shall never be forgotten by those who had the honour of her friendship. From her first Sargeant -Major. TELEGRAM FROM THE KING Mr. G. L. O. Davidson, a brother of Miss Davidson, has received a telegram of condolence from the King.