Tuesday 17 May 2011

Napier witnesses: Murdo Morrison

Murdo Morrison gave evidence to Lord Napier's Commission at its hearings in Ness on 7 June 1883. He was a wool weaver, aged 72½ according to the Report. He was living with his wife Margaret at 3 Lionel. Murdo and Margaret show up in the censuses for 1871, '81 and '91; she was a year younger than her husband. The 1891 census shows their son-in-law John Maclean (58) and daughter-in-law Christina Maclean (48) with their children Alexander (25), Donald (23), Mary (14) and Angus (9). The address in 1891 is 4 Lionel. This remains unchanged in 1901, except we no longer find Murdo's wife Margaret. His age is listed as 91 on the census.

Murdo Morrison passed away only a few days after the 1901 census was taken, on the night of 31 March / 1 April 1901; he died on 16 April 1901 aged 90, the widower of Margaret (nee Gillies) who had pre-deceased him in 1897, aged 85. His parents' names were Donald and Christina (nee Maclean). Murdo's cause of death is listed as "supposed to be cerebral, with hemiplegia, 4 days". His grandson Angus Maclean reported the death.

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