Biographical notes

The first record of this family is that of the marriage of George Daw and Elizabeth Reynolds in the BMD indexes for 1837 at Bristol, Gloucestershire. Elizabeth's father is recorded as Nicholas Reynolds, a Turner, and he has also signed the certificate as one of the witnesses. George's father is recorded as James Daw, Mason.

In the 1841 Census the family is living in White Hart Street in Bedminster. George (25) is described as an Iron Trimmer, his wife Elizabeth (27), and two children, George (2) and Amelia (4 Months). There is no Amelia Daw in the GRO Birth Index, but there is an Emma Daw registered in Bristol in the April-June quarter of 1841. The puzzle is compounded in the later Censu returns as a daughter of equivalent age is recorded as Seland (10) in the 1851 Census, Selenea (20) in the 1861 Census and finally resolved as Selena A[melia] (30) in the 1871 Census.

The 1851 Census sees the family living (the surname transcribed as Dawe), at 3, Harford Street in Bedminster. George (34) is an Iron Trimmer, born in Trull, Somerset. Elizabeth (36), born in Bristol, and their Children George (12), daughter Selmer [Selina] (10), and Charles (2) and Emily (6 months). Elizabeth and all the children are ascribed a Bristol place of birth.

Living with the family is George's widowed father in law Nicholas Reynolds (73), an Iron Turner born in Ashwick, Somerset, and George's brother; Isaac Daw (24), unmarried, a Milkman, also born in Ashwick [actual birthplace of Isaac was Trull].

By the time of the 1861 Census, the family have moved to 5, Yard Street, Bristol. George (43), Elizabeth Daw (46), George Daw (22), Engineer, Selenea Daw (20), Charles Daw (Son, 12), Emily Daw (Daughter, 10), Alfred Daw (Son, 5), Nicholas Reynolds (Head, 85)

In the 1871 Census the family are still in Bristol and are described as follow: Address is 3, Dunraven Terrace, Bristol, George Daw (Head, 53, Fitter), Elizabeth Daw (Wife, 56), Selina A. Daw (Daughter, 30), Emily M. Daw (Daughter, 20), Charles W. Daw (Son, 22), Alfred F. Daw (Son, 15)

Neither George or Elizabeth have been traced in the 1881 Census and a possible entry for George's death has been found in the BMD registers for 1872 when he would have been aged about 55 (certificate not examined).