Hew Morrison

[airdlass]

I am interested in finding any information on Hew Morrison, born c1850 Torrisdale, died in Edinburgh in 1935. On his death certificate his occupation is Chief Librarian,Edinburgh Public Library.
Thanks
Fiona

[MonicaL]

Hi Fiona

There's quite a lot on Hew Morrison if you google him. For example:

Hew Morrison, Chief Librarian, Edinburgh
Born in 1850 in Tongue, Sutherland, to James Morrison & Jane Clark Morrison.

Married twice, the first marriage took place on the 23rd of December 1874, Montrose, to Agnes Jack daughter of Alexander Jack & Mary-Ann Crammond. Second Marriage took place on the 19th August 1881, Newington, Edinburgh, to Agnes Veitch daughter of George Veitch & Agnes Robertson.

He died on the18th January 1935 at 12 Blackford Road, Edinburgh. So far I have not been able to find out exactly how many children, Hew Morrison had. As he was married twice, this was taken from 1881 census when he was a widower, his first wife Agnes Jack had died before the census of 1881 by then there was only one child mentioned a daughter called Emily. In 1901 census list of children was mentioned there was one girl & four boys they were Agnes, Hew, Reay, James & John this to his second wife Agnes Veitch. I have counted 2 daughters & 4 boys but there could be more.

SOURCE: www.caithness.org/community/libraries/wicklibrary/history/appendix.htm

Regards.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Just filling out the family line from the main details I posted above. This looks like Hugh/Hew's family in the 1861 Census, everyone showing as born in Tongue:

James Morrison    38, mason
Jane Morrison    36
Hugh Morrison    12
John Morrison    10
Hellen Morrison 8
William Morrison 6
Mary Morrison    4
Jane Morrison    2
Jane Campbell    58, aunt

Address: Torrisdale, Tongue

William's birth above is an 1855 birth (22 MAR 1855 Tongue). The first year of official registration in Scotland and for one year only, the entries on the BMD registers ran over two pages and included a wealth of additional info. Certainly one to look at for background on the parents.

Their marriage entry, an actual extract from the OPRs:

JAMES MORRISON Marriages:Spouse: JANE MORRISON    
Marriage: 23 MAR 1849  Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland

Regards.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

There is only one death showing between 1874-81 for an Agnes Jack/Morrison:

1877   MORRISON   AGNES       JACK   25   BRECHIN   /ANGUS   275/00 0095

This would fit with Hew's 1881 Census entry:

Hew Morrison 31, teacher, b. Tongue
Emily I Morrison 5, daugh., b. Brechin
James William Morrison    17, brother, teacher, b. Tongue
Mary Morrison    22, sister, housekeeper

Address: Andover Boys & Girls School & School Masters House, Brechin Angus

[MonicaL]

Hew and new family in the 1891 Census:

Henr (Hew) Morrison 41, librarian, b. Tongue
Agnes Morrison    38, b. St Vigeans, Forfarshire
Emily J Morrison 15, b. Brechin
Agnes Morrison    8, b. Brechin
Hew Morrison    6, b. Brechin
Reay S Morrison 4, b. Brechin
James D Morrison 3, b. Duddingston
Ellen Jack 41, sister in law, b. Lawrencekirk, Kincardine
Christina Hay    22, servant

Address: 7 Hermitage Ter, Edinburgh St Cuthberts

And finally, in 1901:

Hew Morrison    51, librarian, b. Tongue
Agnes Morrison    48
Agnes Morrison    18
Hew Morrison    16
Ray S Morrison    14
James D Morrison 13
John F Morrison 9, b. Edinburgh
Ellen M Murdoch 9, servant

Address: 5 Hermitage Terr., Edinburgh

Fiona, hopefully this helps add a bit more detail to the narrative in my first post 

Regards.

Monica

[airdlass]

Hi there
Apologies for not replying sooner.

Many thanks for all the information - it has helped fill in a few blanks!
Hew/Hugh was a nephew of my 2x great grandmother.

Can't understand why I didn't get notification of these posts?

Thanks again

[IanB]

(Dr.) Hew Morrison was also the compiler of the extracts from the Durness Parish Register, which Andy Smed is so kind to look up when requested. I believe he also collected and published most of the poems of the illiterate Gaelic poet, Rob Donn.

Further, he was an adviser to Andrew Carnegie when the latter wished to establish free public libraries.

Apparently a very accomplished man.

Ian

[airdlass]

Hi Ian
Many thanks for the information - I'm beginning to build up a good picture of him - there's certainly plenty of info available.
Fiona

[MingMorr]

Hi Fiona,
It is over a dozen years since you were looking for information on Hew Morrison.  I just saw this in the past month when writing a bio for him.  https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Morrison-11142&public=1
Everything that Monica said was right .. including his parents.  I think that Hew’s first language would have been Gaelic (he could see that much of the Gaelic tradition was oral and likely to be lost)and he was born in and had strong connectins with the north of Scotland.  In our family we are grateful for research that he did including transcribing of parish records, writing up a family tree and gathering and recording personal stories back at the end of 19 th century which would otherwise be lost.