Comments: William was a miner and had met a brother of his future wife when they both worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
They returned to the UK and he was introduced to Hannah Cairns, who had been born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
He married Hannah Cairns (19), housekeeper, at 53 Sunnyside Row, Cambusnethan, Wishaw, Lanarkshire, on December 31, 1874. She was the daughter of Robert Cairns, coal miner, and Sarah Ann McIntyre.
They lived for a time in Drygate Street at the corner of Montgomery Street, opposite what is now a petrol station. The base of the old cottage can be seen as a low wall fronting a modern bungalow.
He died aged 60 on July 19, 1916 at Claremont Place, Larkhall, at 3-30pm "from gunshot wounds of chest" according to Dr Steele.
There is understandable Davidson family reticence about his sudden death, but this is my father's account:
Apparently William had a sum of money saved in the Co-operative and his wife, Hannah Cairns, had given some of it to her brother, Robert.
On learning this, William flew into a rage, and being a gamekeeper as well as a miner, possessed firearms.
He seized a gun and threatened to shoot his wife. His son, Sandy, tried to stop him and in the struggle the gun went off, killing the father.
William Davidson brought his mother Janet from Wales to settle in Larkhall and she died aged 84 on July 5, 1907 in Claremont Place, Muir Street, Larkhall, otherwise known as the Dookity Raw (Dovecote Row) because of the triangular shape of the attics. The site is now an open space opposite Larkhall Library.
Spouse: Hannah Cairns married 31-Dec-1874
Children: Sarah Cairns Davidson, William Davidson, Robert Davidson, Janet Davidson, Joseph Davidson, Hugh Davidson, Isobel (Belle) Davidson, Christina (Teen) Davidson, Sandy Davidson
William's Heritage
Parents: Benjamin Davidson, Janet Cochrane
Siblings: Joseph Davidson