Introduction

A Record of the MORRISON Family History (South Shields) Chapter 1 An Introduction to the 'Morrison' Family Tree The South Shields Morrison Family lived in the Eldon Street, Tyne Dock area of South Shields. As a child I was a regular visitor to my 'ganny Mossie's' 3 bed roomed upstairs flat which only had cold running water in a scullery and a draughty outside toilet. She lived there with her two unmarried sons George and Jim and her cat. I never knew my grandfather Charles Alexander, who had died before I was born. He had been a seaman but had received a head injury while on board ship and was never the same after that. His family thought the injury eventually led to his death but that was not the verdict of the coroner. (see Inquest Chapter 3). I was told by family that my grandfather was Scottish, (He was born 1878 Aberdeen - source 1891 Census) and I remember there was a large picture on the wall of my grandmother's sitting room showing a very stern looking man with a large moustache sitting next to a cannon. He may have been wearing a kilt, but I am not absolutely certain. My grandmother was stone deaf and communication with her was almost non-existent. I would go every day from my nearby school in Barnes Road to have my lunch and also on a Saturday morning to get her shopping in, and I would be rewarded every time with a silver sixpence. The shops are still clear in my memory as I visited them so many times. The butcher was Jimmy Scrafton, the pork shop was Mattimore's and there was also a veg. shop opposite Scraftons. I sometimes went to the Dean Road Post Office as well. Nanna Mossie also liked to have a flutter on the horses every day, as did her son George. George hardly ever said a word to anyone and lived his life almost as a recluse. The other son, Jimmy was the exact opposite of George and was always full of fun. He was like his sisters Betty, Belle, Jean and my mother Peggy. Charlie was another brother and he was very much like Jimmy. I never met Uncle William who had moved to Southampton and married down there, where I believe he started his own family. (In January 2005 Steve Morrison, the grandson of William, came across my web-site and has been in touch with me by email. He has a great deal of information and some family photos which hopefully will be added to this site in the near future). My Great Grandfather was Alexander Morrison born 7 March 1844 in Banff, Scotland and he married Helen Gow who was born 1849 in North Leith, Scotland. My G/G/Grandfather was William Morrison and he married Elizabeth Booth. I sent details to the Shields Gazette of the Inquest into my Grandfathers death when I saw an article about the type of ship he was injured on. A few days later I received a phone call from someone who said he was a relative and that he had Information and photos of the Morrisons of South Shields. I sent in a follow up article which was published 15/06/05;- Setting out to discover family ties. Setting out to research your family history The Family Tree will eventually be listed below. The heading is followed by an alphabetical list of all of the surnames in the tree. Dates are not shown for the sake of privacy of living members of each family, but information to interested relatives is available from the author and with the consent of the third party. Please note that the Family Tree Pages are still under construction The 'Morrison' Family Tree - South Shields, County Durham, England (c1860 - Present) Surnames included in this tree;- Bage, Bedlington, Cross, Curry, Dawson, Fairlamb, Haynes, Hodges, Husband, King, Kinghorn, Morrison, Robertson & Watling.