Elizabeth Durie

Elizabeth Durie, daughter of George Durie and Mary Elisabeth Taylor, was born 1834 in Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland. Elizabeth had at least four siblings—James Durie (1824), Agnes Durie (1830), John Durie (1836), and Robert Durie (1839). Her parents had been married for 14 years at the time she was born. Elizabeth is my husband’s 3rd great-aunt with their nearest common relatives being her parents.

In 1851, the Durie family lived at 230 Holm Street in the Civil Parish of Barony, County Lanarkshire, Scotland. At age 17, Elizabeth worked as a milliner.

Elizabeth married John Morris, son of Joseph Morris and Ann Martin, at her parents’ home at 53 Cadogan Street in Blythswood, County Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Scotland on January 31, 1856 . Their marriage (after banns) was solemnized between them according to the banns of the Parish of the United Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth, a spinster, worked as a milliner, her father a storekeeper. John, a bachelor and photographic artist, lived at 49 Mains Street in Glasgow. His father was a shawl weaver and his mother deceased. The ceremony was witnessed by Arch. Robertson and her sister Agnes Durie.

Marriage record for Elizabeth Morris and John Morris (click to enlarge)

Elizabeth and John had five children—Elizabeth Morris, Joseph Morris, Ann Morris, Margaret Morris, and Susan Morris. 

On February 10, 1857 and less than 10 days after Elizabeth and John’s first wedding anniversary, her father died of apoplexy at his Cadogan Street home. George Durie was buried at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

Elizabeth’s first child, a daughter they named Elizabeth, was born at 49 Mains Street in the District of Blythswood, County Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Scotland on March 28, 1857. 

Birth record for Elizabeth Morris (click to enlarge)

Their son Joseph was born on December 2, 1858 at 63 Surrey Street in the District of Hutchesontown, County Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Scotland. Sadly, Joseph did not survive infancy and died at home of whooping cough on May 24, 1859. He was buried at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow. 

Birth record for Joseph Morris (click to enlarge)

Death record for Joseph Morris (click to enlarge)

Southern Necropolis Cemetery burial record for Joseph Morris (click to enlarge)

The year ended on a happy note though with the birth of a second daughter. Ann was born on December 29, 1859 at their Surrey Street home in Hutchesontown. 

Birth record for Ann Morris (click to enlarge)

Margaret was born in the Surrey Street home on January 4, 1861. The family lived in the same home that year when the census taker came around and found the new addition to the family just three months old. Elizabeth’s husband John was enumerated this year as a book binder and journeyman.  

Birth record for Margaret Morris (click to enlarge)

By the time their daughter Susan was born on August 9, 1864, the family had moved to 66 Carrick Street in Glasgow. On Susan’s birth certificate, Elizabeth was listed as Janet Morris in one column and Elizabeth Morris in another. John was again working as a photographic artist. The paper trail for John ends with Susan’s birth certificate, at least for me so I believe he died sometime after Susan was born and before the 1871 was taken. 

Birth record for Susan Morris (click to enlarge)

In 1871, Elizabeth, daughters Elizabeth, Ann, and Susan, and a sister-in-law named Agnes Devine lived at 19 Maclean Street in the Govan Church district of County Lanarkshire, Scotland. Elizabeth worked as a seamstress. I assume the sister-in-law was actually Elizabeth’s sister Agnes Durie.

By 1881, Elizabeth had moved to a home located at 30 Breadalbane Street in the Kelvin District of Glasgow, County Lanarkshire in Scotland. She lived there the rest of her life. The home apparently belonged to her sister Agnes who was listed as the head of the household that year. Daughter Elizabeth (enumerated as Lizzie, age 22) and Susan (age 16) lived in the home. Elizabeth worked as a ladies cap maker. 

In 1891 and as mentioned above, Elizabeth (age 57) continued to live in the Breadalbane Street home of her sister Agnes. Daughters Elizabeth (age 33) and Susan (age 26) continued to live there as well. All four women worked as white muslin cap makers. 

Elizabeth died at home of a cerebral hemorrhage on May 2, 1897 at age 63. Her daughter Elizabeth was present when she died.

Death record for Elizabeth Durie Morris (click to enlarge)

References

• Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1857-1962 (1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1890, 1893).
• Joseph Morris, Cemetery Records for Southern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Burial Registers, vols. 3, 6-7 (4 and 5 missing), June 1850-December 1851, September 1853-October 1854, June 1862-July 1865, 1857-1864.
• Scotland Census, 1851, Civil Parish of Barony, County Lanarkshire, Scotland.
• Scotland Census, 1861, Registration District Hutchesontown, Civil Parish Glasgow Govan, County Lanarkshire.
• Scotland Census, 1871, Registration District Govan Church, Civil Parish Govan, County Lanarkshire.
• Scotland Census, 1881, Kelvin District, Glasgow, County Lanarkshire, Scotland.
• Scotland Census, 1891, Registration District Kelvin, Civil Parish Glasgow St. Vincent, County Lanarkshire.
• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564–1950 (Elizabeth Morris, Ann Morris, Margaret Morris, James Durie).
• Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561–1910 (Elizabeth Durie, John Morris).
• Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561–1910 (George Drury, Elizabeth Tailer).
• Statutory Registers Births 644/10 127, Margaret Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Births 644/10 1811, Joseph Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Births 644/10 88, Ann Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Births 644/5 787, Susan Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Births 644/6 1811, Elizabeth Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Deaths 644/10 483, Joseph Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Deaths 644/9 5518, Elizabeth Morris, National Records of Scotland.
• Statutory Registers Marriages 644/6 28, Elizabeth Durie and John Morris, National Records of Scotland.