Eta (Morris) Idriess (1902 - aft. 1979)

Born 1902 in Horsforth, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas J Gibson — married 1927 (to before 1932) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Eta (Morris) Idriess was born in England.

Eta Morris was born on 10th December 1901 in Wharfedale, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom. She was the second of three daughters of Welsh-born Thomas Morris, a former coal miner and then a foreman stoker for boilers at a stuff and cotton dye, and Lancashire-born Eta Miller. ^[1][2] She was christened on 8th June 1902 in St Margaret's Church of England, Horsforth, Yorkshire. ^[3]

In the 1911 UK Census, Eta, aged 9 years, and her family were recorded as living at 33 Wollaston Road, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire; her father a motor garage owner. ^[4]

Eta was a nurse

At the 1921 census, Eta was working as a sick nurse at Caddington Hospital, near Epsom, in Surrey. She was age 19 and her birthplace was recorded as Horsforth, Yorkshire. ^[5]

Eta (Morris) Idriess migrated from England to New South Wales.

Very soon after after her mother passed away, Eta migrated to New South Wales, Australia, aged 24 years, aboard the Bendigo, arriving on 11th November 1926. Her UK residence was recorded as Brook Hospital, Woolwich, and occupation as Probationer (indicating that Eta was a nurse at the hospital of less than ninety days standing). ^[6]

Aged about 25 years, Eta married Thomas Gibson in 1927 in North Sydney, New South Wales. ^[7] They separated by 1932 but do not appear to have formally divorced.

In 1932 in Greater Sydney Eta began a life-long de facto relationship with Great War veteran, adventurer and budding author, Ion 'Jack' Idriess, thirteen years her senior. Jack's biographer, Julian Croft, has mistakenly claimed that they married, with Eta recorded by her maiden surname. ^[8] Eta and Jack had two daughters:

1. Judith Idriess (c1932-), married Joseph Peacock in 1957.
2. Wendy Eta Idriess (c1933-94).

One biographer states that their's was a 'love-hate' relationship, and that she left for a younger man in the mid-50's, returning eight years later. ^[9] Her return was probably about 1964, when Jack suffered a stroke severe enough to curtail his prolific writing (he had published a book a year for some 30 years). When Jack died in June 1979 Eta is said to have refused to attend his funeral. ^[9]

Time Line

Eta "Gibson" was registered to vote in 1930 in Orme, Marathon avenue, Darling Point, Woollahra, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. Thomas Jesse was with her at this time.^[10]

Eta and Thomas Jesse were also registered to vote in 1930 in 21 Duxford street, Glenmore, East Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[11]

Eta "Gibson" was registered to vote in 1933 in 59 Epping road, Edgecliff, Bellevue Hill, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. Thomas Jesse was with her at this time.^[12]

Eta "Idriess" was registered to vote in 1934 in 27 Jellicoe avenue, Maroubra North, Watson, New South Wales, Australia. Ion was not recorded as being there. ^[13]

Eta "Idriess" was registered to vote in 1943, 1949 and 1958 in 20 Isaac Smith Street, Daceyville, Botany, Cook, New South Wales, Australia. Ion was with her at this time.^[14][15]* "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
(Ancestry au Record 1207 #74415241 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Daceyville, Watson, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Idriess, Electoral Date 1958, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.

Research Notes

It is noted that Ion Idriess' ADB bio states that Eta passed away in 1959, aged 48 years. ^[8] The death of an Elizabeth Amy Owen Idriess is listed for that year, with parents recorded as William and Ellen. ^[16] There is an Eta Josephine Morris listed on NSW BMD as died in 1975. Nothing listed under Idriess or Gibson in NSW.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Mar qtr 1902, vol 9a, page 115
2. ↑ UK GRO Birth Index: Name: MORRIS, ETA; Mother's Maiden Name: MILLER; GRO Ref: 1902 M Quarter, WHARFEDALE Vol. 09A, Page 115
3. ↑ Baptism: "West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, Yorkshire Parish Records, New Reference Number RDP43/6
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2252 #5214805 (accessed 27 July 2023)
   Eta Morris baptism on 8 Jun 1902 (born 10 Dec 1902), child of Thomas Morris & Eta Morris, in Horsforth, St Margaret, Yorkshire, England.
4. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 England Census"
   The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England, Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, Registration District Number 422, ED, institution, or vessel 39, Piece 19990
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2352 #24113114 (accessed 27 July 2023)
   Eta Marris (9) daughter in household of Thomas Marris (40) at 33 Wollaston Rd Cleethorpes, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England. Born in Horsforth, Yorkshire, England.
5. ↑ "1921 Census Of England & Wales". The National Archives; Piece number: 03096; Page: 2. FindMyPast Image FindMyPast Transcription. Eta Morris; Census date: 19 June 1921; Age: 19 y 6 m; Sick nurse; Single; Birth place: Horsforth, Yorkshire; Registration district: Epsom.
6. ↑ Passenger Record: 11 Nov 1926

   Ship Name, Bendigo

   Miss Eta Morris

   Age, 24

   U.K. residence, Brook Hospital, Woolwich

   Occupation, Probationer. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27-145603

   Ancestry Sharing Link
7. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #11619/1927; Name: GIBSON, THOMAS J & MORRIS, ETA; Place: NORTH SYDNEY
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Croft, Julian. Idriess, Ion Llewellyn (1889–1979). Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1983; accessed online 31 May 2018
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Google Books: Ion Idriess; accessed 28 Jul 2021
10. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #2417722 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Woollahra, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Gibson, Electoral Date 1930, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
11. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #3860184 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Glenmore, East Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Gibson, Electoral Date 1930, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
12. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #15821527 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Bellevue Hill, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Gibson, Electoral Date 1933, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
13. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #188875640 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Maroubra North, Watson, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Idriess, Electoral Date 1934, Gender Female, Residence Address 27 Jellicoe avenue; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
14. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #22171810 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Botany, Cook, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Idriess, Electoral Date 1943, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
15. ↑ "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
    (Ancestry au Record 1207 #25183740 : subscription required, accessed 28 July 2023), Electoral Place Botany, Watson, New South Wales, Australia, Name Eta Idriess, Electoral Date 1949, Gender Female; citing Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia, Electoral Rolls.
16. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #18215/1959; Name: IDRIESS, ELIZABETH AMY OWEN-; Parents: WILLIAM & ELLEN; Place: SYDNEY