John Durie

John Durie, son of James Durie and Jane Liddell Braidwood, was born in Clyde, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on December 9, 1860. He was the seventh of nine children—Mary Durie, Agnes Durie, Elizabeth Durie, George Durie, Jemima Durie, Andrewina Durie, John Durie, Robert Durie, and Jane Durie. He is my husband’s 1st cousin 2x removed with their nearest common relatives being his parents, my husband’s 2nd great grandparents. His sister, Jemima Durie, is my husband’s great grandmother. 

On April 7, 1861, John and his family lived at 62 Brown Street in Clyde, St. George civil parish, Glasgow, Scotland. His father was an engine smith, making parts and repairing engines, much like what a blacksmith did. John was just three months old when the 1861 Scotland census was taken. Other siblings in the home at the time were Mary (11), Elizabeth (10), George (8), Jemina (4), and Andrewina (2). I believe his sister Agnes, born about 1851, was most likely dead. Mary, Elizabeth, and George were scholars. One week after the census was taken, John’s sister Andrewina contracted dothinenteritis, also known as typhoid fever. She suffered from the disease for six weeks, as well as from “water in head” for two weeks, before her death at home on May 26, 1861. Andrewina was buried at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow. The family suffered another loss when John’s sister Jane died of croup at their home located at 22 Pitt Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland on November 6, 1866. 

John (10) and his family were still living at the Pitt Street home in Blythswood in 1871. Other siblings in the home at the time were Mary (21), Elizabeth (20), George (18), Jemima (14), and Robert (8). His father was now an engine fitter, a job where he was “mainly responsible for properly fitting the engine and other electrical parts required in the engine room of a ship” according to Marine Insight. Mary and Jemima worked as warehouse girls, George an iron turner, and both John and Robert were scholars. There were two rooms in the house with one or more windows. 

John was not living with his parents in 1881. I did find a John Durie, age 21, living as a lodger in the Govan District of Glasgow, Scotland. This John was born in Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Scotland and worked as a clerk. I found one other John, age 21, living in Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland. This John was born in Edinburgh. He worked in a general lab. My guess is the John living in Govan is the correct person.

John married Annie Frew, daughter of Alexander Frew and Jane Stevenson, at 5 Belmont Street in Hillhead, a community located in the district of Partick, Glasgow, Scotland, on December 30, 1881 after banns according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland. John worked as a house joiner (journeyman) and Annie an envelope maker. Both John and Annie lived in Glasgow at the time. John and Annie’s fathers both worked as engine fitters (journeymen).

Marriage record for John Durie and Annie Frew

I can document three children born to this couple—James Durie, Jane Frew Durie, and Annie Durie. James was born January 9, 1883 and Jane on December 4, 1884, both at 194 Main Street in Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. In both cases, John worked as a joiner/journeyman. 

James Durie birth record

Jane Frew Durie birth record

Sadly, Jane died from gastroenteritis at 139 Garscube Road in Milton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on September 2, 1885. She had been ill for seven days when she died. Her maternal grandfather, Alex Frew, was the informant on the death record. Jane was buried on September 4 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

Jane Frew Durie death record

Based on census records, John’s sister Annie was born in England about 1890. Unfortunately, I have found no records documenting a move to England but do know there were other families that lived there for a while. In 1891, John and son James (8) lived with his parents (James and Jane Durie) in Glasgow, Scotland. The census enumerator recorded him as being married but if that was the case, Annie was not living in the home. John worked as a house joiner and his son James was a scholar. His father James worked as a marine engine fitter.

Scotland census record, 1891

John, son James (18), and daughter Annie (11) lived with his parents in Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland in 1901. The census record enumerated him as being married but, again, Annie was not living in the home. I have searched for Annie, but her paper trail has gone cold, at least for me. John worked as a joiner, his son James worked as an engine fitter’s apprentice, and daughter Annie was a scholar. This census record is the only record I find her the daughter Annie listed on.

Scotland census record, 1901

John’s father James (74) died of a cerebral hemorrhage at 33 McIntyre Street in Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on December 13, 1902. He was buried on December 16 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

John’s second marriage was to Annie Callan Barrie, daughter of Thomas Barrie and Catherine McFarlane. Their wedding took place on September 11, 1907 at 35 Hutcheson Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland, by declaration in the presence of James Forsyth Draper and Agnes Callen Livingston. John was listed as a widower so while I could not find a death record for his first wife Annie (Frew) Durie, this record tells me she had died, date unknown. John lived at 33 McIntrye Street in Glasgow and Annie lived at 42 Stewartville Street in Partick. John moved into the Stewartville Street home where he lived the rest of his life.

Marriage record for John Durie and Annie Callan Barrie

John and Annie’s daughter Catherine was born prematurely on February 20, 1908 at 42 Stewartville Street in Partick. 

Catherine McFarlane Durie birth record

Catherine only lived 15 hours and died on February 21 at their Stewartville Street home. She was buried on February 22 in Lair 384 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

Catherine McFarlane Durie death record

John’s mother Jane (Braidwood) Durie (77) died on October 28, 1908 of senile cardiac arterio sclerosis at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow. John’s wife Annie was the informant on the death record. Jane was buried on October 31 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

A son they named Thomas Barrie Durie was born on February 10, 1910 in the Stewartville Street home in Partick. John still worked as a joiner (journeyman).

Thomas Barrie Durie birth record

The Durie family still lived in the Stewartville Street home in Partick when the 1911 census was taken. The enumerator noted John and Annie had been married for three years and that Annie had given birth to two children, with only one still living. John worked as a ship joiner in the shipyard. His son Thomas was one year old.

Scotland census record, 1911 (page 1)

John’s father-in-law, Thomas Barrie (56), lived in the home as well, along with a niece named Annie Durie (20), and a lodger named James Gillespie (41). Thomas Barrie worked as a ship’s steward, Annie as a dispatch clerk in a bakery, and James as a railway signalman. 

Scotland census record, 1911 (page 2)

A daughter they named Georgina Wark Braidwood Durie was born on April 5, 1912 in the Stewartville Street home in Partick. John worked as a ship joiner (journeyman). It appears John and Annie honored two family members when they named their daughter. “Georgina Wark” was the daughter of John’s sister Mary Durie Wark and “Braidwood” was the maiden name of John’s mother, Jane Liddell Braidwood.

Georgina Wark Braidwood Durie birth record

The Durie family still lived in the Stewartville Street home in Partick in 1921. Thomas was enumerated as “Tom” and Georgina as “Ina. This census record tells me there were three rooms in the home. John worked as a joiner in the shipyard and both Thomas and Georgina were scholars.

Scotland census record, 1921

John died at the age of 66 on December 11, 1928 from an intestinal obstruction and cardiac failure at the Western Infirmary in Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland. He was buried on December 14 in Lair 384 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

John Durie death record

John’s second wife Annie Callen Barrie Durie lived to be 90 years of age. She died on May 24, 1963 of a coronary thrombosis/broncho pneumonia in Provan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Note: click images to enlarge.

References

• Andrina Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/5442, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Annie C. Barrie, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 993, National Records of Scotland, 1907.
• Annie Callen Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/1 595, National Records of Scotland, 1963.
• Catherine McFarlane Durie, Statutory Registers Births 646/3 323, National Records of Scotland, 1908.
• Catherine McFarlane Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 646/3 157, National Records of Scotland, 1908.
• Gastroenteritis; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroenteritis. 
• Georgina Wark Braidwood Durie, Statutory Registers Births 646/3 627, National Records of Scotland, 1912.
• James and Jane Durie, Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland, daily interment books, December 1897–August 1912.
• James Durie, Census 644/147/15, National Records of Scotland, 1851.
• James Durie, Census 644/555/7, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• James Durie, Statutory Registers Births 644/10 148, National Records of Scotland, 1883.
• James Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/10 734, National Records of Scotland, 1902.
• Jane Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 881, National Records of Scotland, 1908.
• Jane Frew Durie, Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland, daily interment books, July 1878–December 1885.
• Jane Frew Durie, Statutory Registers Births 644/10 1650, National Records of Scotland, 1884.
• Jane Frew Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/8 660, National Records of Scotland, 1885.
• John Durie, Census 644/1013/10, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• John Durie, Census 644/1017/3, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• John Durie, Census 644/12 41/7, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• John Durie, Census 644/1241/7, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• John Durie, Census 644/69/19, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• John Durie, Census 646/321/14, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• John Durie, Census 681/1/12, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• John Durie, Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland, daily interment books, August 1912–February 1944.
• John Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/12 1137, National Records of Scotland, 1928.
• John Durie, Statutory Registers Marriages 646/322, National Records of Scotland, 1882.
• Thomas Barrie Durie, Statutory Registers Births 646/3 278, National Records of Scotland, 1910.