Elspet Murison (abt. 1824 - 1913)

Born about 1824 in Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Alexander Murison — married 16 Dec 1845 in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 17 May 1913 at about age 89 in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

Most of what we know about Elspet is contained with the autobiography of her son, Professor Alexander Falconer Murison. A transcribed copy has been uploaded to the images. All information provided here without attribution is taken from this autobiography.

Elspet was born in late 1824 or early 1825 (exact date not known) and was baptized on 4 January 1825 at Rathen Auld Kirk, Aberdeenshire^[1]. She was the daughter of William Murison and Elizabeth Catto. Elspet married Alexander Murison on 7 December 1845 at New Deer, Aberdeenshire^[2]. She met Alexander while she was a domestic servant at the nearby farm Mains of Auchorthie, also known as 'Aquorthie' or 'Afforthie'. Although both Alexander and Elspet had the surname Murison, neither were related to each other. Incidentally, at the time of their meeting, the tenant of Mains of Auchorthie was almost certainly named William Murison, and he was no known relation to neither of them!

Elspet and Alexander went on to have five children together, four sons and a daughter. Quite remarkably, they provided three of their sons with a thorough education, each of them graduating with doctorates from Aberdeen University and becoming respectively a professor of law, a doctor, and a church minister. The fourth son had mental difficulties due to a childhood accident, but the daughter did not receive an education because Elspet did not apparently believe that was a woman's prerogative.

Elspet died in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, on 17 May 1913^[3], and was buried alongside her husband in New Pitsligo.

• Scotland Census of 1841^[4]: Elspet lived at the Mains of Cairnbulg, Rathen (parish), Aberdeenshire, where she was a Farm Servant.
• Scotland Census of 1851^[5]: Elspet lived at the Cottage at Wellhowe, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband, three children, and her mother-in-law.
• Scotland Census of 1861^[6]: Elspet lived at the Cottage at Wellhowe, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband, four children, and her mother-in-law.
• Scotland Census of 1871^[7]: Elspet lived at Hope Cottage, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband, two children, her grandson, and her mother-in-law. They also had four boarders. It was a really small house!
• Scotland Census of 1881^[8]: Elspet lived at Hope Cottage, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband and grandson.
• Scotland Census of 1891^[9]: Elspet lived at Hope Cottage, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband.
• Scotland Census of 1901^[10]: Elspet lived at Hope Cottage, New Deer (parish), Aberdeenshire, with her husband.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: Elspet Murison. "Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950" [database on-line], via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021. Ancestry uk Record 60143 #1601476 (account required, no free-to-view record available). A copy of the baptismal record can also be obtained from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk for a nominal fee (free registration required).
2. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910" [database on-line], via Ancestry.co.uk Ancestry uk Record 60144 #1473755 (account required, no free-to-view record available). A copy of the marriage record can also be obtained from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk for a nominal fee (free registration required).
3. ↑ Death: A copy of the death record can be obtained from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk for a nominal fee (free registration required).
4. ↑ 1841 Census: 1841 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: Rathen; ED: 3; Page: 4; Line: 1350, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1004 #1459194 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
5. ↑ 1851 Census: 1851 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 2; Page: 6; Line: 13; Roll: CSSCT1851_49, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1076 #742757 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
6. ↑ 1861 Census: 1861 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 4; Page: 12; Line: 17; Roll: CSSCT1861_31, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1080 #2236736 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
7. ↑ 1871 Census: 1871 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 4; Page: 7; Line: 16; Roll: CSSCT1871_41, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1104 #1136826 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
8. ↑ 1881 Census: 1881 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 4; Page: 9; Line: 21; Roll: CSSCT1881_64, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1119 #1442654 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
9. ↑ 1891 Census: 1891 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 4; Page: 3; Line: 14; Roll: CSSCT1891_68, via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1108 #764816 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)
10. ↑ 1901 Census: 1901 Scotland Census [database on-line], Parish: New Deer; ED: 4; Page: 1; Line: 10; Roll: CSSCT1901_73 via Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 22 September 2021 Ancestry uk Record 1101 #3357255 (account required, no Free-To-View record available)