My Paternal Grandparents, Malcolm and Kathleen Davis – Chapter I

Kathleen Davis, 1900 – 1993

Kathleen Davis was the longest surviving of my four grandparents, and she was the only one known to my children. In her last years she wore a neck brace because of a circulation problem. My children referred to her as the “granny with the neck brace.”

On the 8^th July, 1900, Kathleen was christened Amy Kathleen Harding, but she was known as Kathleen. She was born on the 17^th of May, 1900 at Briar Hall, Christ Church, Barbados. She was the second child of Clarence Leslie Harding and Evan Elizabeth (Davis) Harding. Her father was probably the manager of a sugar cane plantation. This information can probably be found in the baptismal records of the Anglican Church in Barbados.

I (Ian Davis) was born in 1951, so I knew my grandmother for over 42 years. My recollection was that Granny Davis was very kind and lady-like. I have an early photograph marked Kathleen 1907. It presumably shows Kathleen at age seven posing with her mother Evan Elizabeth, age 42.

My other grandmother was Amy Blanche (Niccolls) Farmer (b. 1894), and she was called Amy. Amy Kathleen Harding was always called Kathleen, with the exception that Malcolm called her K.

It is amusing to think that Amy Niccolls taught Kathleen Harding, who referred to her as Miss Niccolls! It seems that they were also friends. Here is an entry in Amy’s big autograph book. The date is the second of December, 1916. Amy was 22 and Kathleen 16. Kathleen is wishing Amy a Merry Christmas and hopes that their friendship would last forever. Their friendship endured until Amy’s death on 17^th November, 1976!

In the above autograph, Kathleen gives her address as Hope Plantation, Christ Church. From 1913 Hope was owned by various members of the Evelyn family, and in 1929 it became part of Wotton, later owned by my wife’s relatives, the Deanes.

On the 31^st January, 1923 Kathleen married my grandfather, Malcolm McCarthy Davis. Malcolm was 25. I do not have any wedding photographs, but I do have a portraits of each taken around that time.

Here is Kathleen as a young lady, possibly taken before she was married at age 22.

Malcolm Davis appeared to be a handsome young man. I could not recognize him in this portrait above!

Clarence Fitzherbert McCarthy (Herbert) Davis was born on 25^th October 1923, just ten months after the wedding of his parents. I will try to identify everyone in the photo above, which was taken at River Plantation in St Andrew. River was part of Bawden Plantation, which was purchased in 1921 by Kathleen’s uncle, Frederick Fitzherbert Cornelius (Fitz) Gill. Fitz was a major landowner and looked out for his relatives.

Back row, left to right: unidentified couple, Kathleen Davis, Malcolm Davis, possibly Malcolm’s sister Rita, possibly Leslie Harding, K’s sister Edith? Harding

Front row: Gladys Davis, Dibbon Davis holding Herbert, unknown

Harold Malcolm Davis was born on 31^st July, 1926. Uncle Harold married June Bethel. I can still remember the wedding (28^th July, 1956) even though I was only four! I remember I was wearing a suit with broad chocolate and cream stripes which my parents had bought in the US. I was very impressed that Aunt June spent some time talking to me!

Harold passed away on 7^th May, 1987. He was very good to me and I will never forget him.