Descendants of William MORRISON

This is the story of just one part of a family history. It is of interest to this county because of two brothers and a sister that settled here. The brothers, Neil and Donald Morrison, cleared their land, built their homes, raised their families and died here. Their journey began following the death of their father, William, back in St-Polycarpe Parish, Vaudreuil County, Quebec, Canada.  

William’s father is reported to be one of the seven Morrison brothers and their families that left Glenelg, Inverness-Shire, Scotland in the summer of 1802 aboard the Neptune bound for Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, of the four ships that sailed that summer, the Neptune was the poorest documented; only 22 of a reported 550-620 passengers were listed anywhere. That is why William’s parents and any sibling have eluded research so far.

Many Highlanders had preceded these families beginning about 1775 into this wilderness of free land and new opportunities. However, by the time the Neptune landed all of the free government land in Glengarry County was gone. The newly landed Highlanders had to look to the Quebec side of the border for free lands.

The reason that they did not settle on the Quebec side originally is one of religious constrictions. It becomes evident when one tries to locate birth, marriage and death records in the region up to about 1840. The Scottish people had to trek through the wooded wilderness from such places as St-Polycarpe to those Presbyterian Churches on the Glengarry side for the recording of their children. Thus it was with William and most of his children.

In doing any research on any of the early families in that area, one must be aware that it was very common that cousins married cousins even as close as first cousins. As a result, you find Morrison’s married to Morrison’s etceteras. In a very closed community this was common. Everyone around there was related, not so now, as most of the old families have moved or died out.

Three of William Morrison and Christian McCuaig’s children eventually migrated to Isabella Township, Isabella County, Michigan. Here then are the details as I have researched them so far.

William L Morrison, ggg grandson of William Morrison & Christian McCuaig.

First Generation

      1. William MORRISON was born on 5 JUN 1802 At sea. He died on 5 JUN 1853.

William married Christian MCCUAIG. Christian was born in 1802 in Scotland. She died on 28 APR 1869.

They had the following children:

               2 M         i.  Duncan MORRISON was born in 1829 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Vaudreuil Co., Canada East.

            3 M        ii.  Neil MORRISON was born on 3 FEB 1831. He died on 11 AUG 1902.

            4 M       iii.  Malcolm MORRISON was born on 2 AUG 1832.

               5 F        iv.  Christy MORRISON was born in 1834 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Vaudreuil Co., Canada East.

            6 M        v.  John W MORRISON was born on 10 MAR 1836.

            7 M       vi.  Donald MORRISON was born on 10 APR 1840. He died on 1 DEC 1904.

               8 F       vii.  Mary (May) MORRISON was born on 25 SEP 1844 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Soulanges Co., Quebec.

               9 F      viii.  Margaret (Marguerite) MORRISON was born on 3 OCT 1847 in Parish of St-Polycarpe, Soulanges Co., Quebec.

             10 F        ix.  Mary Ann MORRISON was born in 18521844 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Soulanges Co., Quebec.

Mary married Albert DICKINSON son of Simion DICKINSON in 1889 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. Albert was born about 1865.

                             Second Generation

      3. Neil MORRISON  (William) was born on 3 FEB 1831 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Vaudreuil Co., Canada East. He was christened on 5 MAR 1831 in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry Co., Ontario, Canada. He died on 11 AUG 1902 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.  The cause of death was Cerebral Apoplexy - Stroke.

Isabella County Portrait & Biographical published 1884 has biographical sketch of Neil Morrison and his family.

Recorded in the b/m/d records of John Bethune of St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Williamstown,

Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada.

In the 1900 census, Sarah was no longer living, stated that his father was born at sea, mother was born in Scotland, daughter, Sarah and possibly son, James were living with him. Also listed was a granddaughter, hard to read but possibly Myrtle. He also stated that he could not read or write but could speak English.

Neil married Sarah GORMLEY daughter of Peter GORMLEY (GORMLY) and Jane GORMLEY on 7 OCT 1857 in Cayuga North Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada. Sarah was born on 14 AUG 1837 in Ireland.

They had the following children:

          11 F         i.  Jane MORRISON was born on 4 AUG 1858.

             12 F         ii.  Christina or Christiana MORRISON was born on 7 SEP 1860 in Cayuga North Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada.

Christina married Francis H. HAMILTON son of Robert Henry HAMILTON and Margarette or Margret MCCLOSKEY on 24 JAN 1882 in Mt. Pleasant, Union Twp., Isabella Co., MI. Francis was born on 30 APR 1853 in Tuscorora Co., Canada. He died on 20 JAN 1917 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

          13 M       iii.  William Neil MORRISON was born on 8 OCT 1862. He died in 1945.

          14 M       iv.  Peter James MORRISON was born on 28 OCT 1864. He died on 19 MAY 1923.

          15 M        v.  Neil MORRISON was born on 24 JAN 1867. He died in 1931.

             16 F        vi.  Sarah MORRISON was born on 2 APR 1874 in Lenox Twp., Macomb Co., MI.

          17 M      vii.  James MORRISON was born on 16 MAR 1880.

      4. Malcolm MORRISON  (William) was born on 2 AUG 1832 in St. Polycarpe Parish, Canada East. He was christened on 13 AUG 1832 in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry Co., Ontario, Canada.

Recorded in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry Co.,

Ontario, Canada.

Malcolm married Christie MORRISON. Christie was born in 1842 in Quebec, Canada.

Malcolm and Christie had the following children:

             18 M         i.  William MORRISON was born about 1858 in Quebec, Canada.

             19 F         ii.  Margaret MORRISON was born about 1860 in Quebec, Canada.

             20 F        iii.  Bella (Isabella) MORRISON was born about 1865 in Ontario, Canada.

             21 F        iv.  Mary MORRISON was born about 1876 in Ontario, Canada.

             22 F        v.  Mary Ann MORRISON was born about 1879 in Ontario, Canada.

      6. John W MORRISON  (William) was born on 10 MAR 1836 in St-Polycarpe Parish, Vaudreuil Co., Canada East. He was christened on 2 APR 1836 in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry Co., Ontario, Canada.

Recorded in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Twp., Glengarry Co.,

Ontario, Canada.

John married C MORRISON (?) .

They had the following children:

             23 F         i.  Christina MORRISON was born in 1856. She died on 29 OCT 1862.

             24 F         ii.  Christina MORRISON was born in JUL 1870. She died on 6 MAY 1877.

      7. Donald MORRISON  (William) was born on 10 APR 1840 in St. Polycarpe Parish, Canada East. He died on 1 DEC 1904 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

I checked in the 1870 census for Michigan and he is not living here yet. So, somewhere between 1870

and 1880 Donald moved to Isabella County.

His birth date was calculated from his death date. He died 1 DEC 1904 at the age of 64y 7m 21d.

He is also recorded as being Daniel in the records.

Central Michigan Times - 9 DEC 1904 Page 2 Column 1 - Donald Morrison DOD 12/00/1904.

Donald is listed in the death records as Daniel - 64y 7m 21d. His father is listed as William. Died of chronic influenza. Still married.

Donald married Mary MORRISON.

Donald and Mary had the following children:

             25 F         i.  Christie MORRISON was born in 1868 in MI.

          26 M        ii.  William D. MORRISON was born on 3 FEB 1869. He died on 22 AUG 1938.

          27 F        iii.  Mary MORRISON was born on 13 OCT 1869. She died on 20 MAR 1894.

             28 M       iv.  Donald MORRISON was born on 4 JUN 1872 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

The birth date of 4 JUN 1872 is taken from the birth records of Isabella County - 1872 listing.

Also found to be 11 JUL 1872 in the LDS International Genealogical Index:

Batch No.:         Dates:            Source Call No.:         Type:

C744025           1867 - 1875          1005117                Film .

Census records for 1880 in Isabella County have him listed as 6.

             29 F        v.  Isabella MORRISON was born on 15 SEP 1875 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Isabella County Births for 1875.

Also found to be 16 FEB 1875 in the LDS International Genealogical Index:

Batch No.:         Dates:            Source Call No.:         Type:

C744026           1867 - 1875          1005117                Film .

Sources

  1.  Rev. John Bethune, Williamstown, Charlottenburgh Township, Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada - registers of births, marriages, and burials:, Microfilm Reference - MS 107, Reel 1 from the Archives of Ontario, 77 Grenville Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.” Neil Son of William Morrison of Cote des Anges and of Christian McCuaig his wife, was born on the 3rd Feb and baptized on the 5th March. This is from a page dated 1831.".

Third Generation

    11. Jane MORRISON  (Neil, William) was born on 4 AUG 1858 in Cayuga Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada.

In the Marriages for Isabella County in 1880 it lists her birthplace as Albany County, Ontario.

Jane married Thomas SWINDLEHURST son of Hugh SWINDLEHURST and Unknown SWINDLEHURST on 2 JUN 1880 in Isabella Co., MI. Thomas was born in 1854 in Petersborough Co., Ontario, Canada. He died on 10 OCT 1900 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., MI.

SWINDLEHURST, Thomas. Of Calkinsville, MI. Died 10 Oct 1900 in Ann Arbor, MI.

    Sister was Mrs. Alex BURK.

Note: Calkinsville is now Rosebush.

3421. SWINDLEHURST, Thomas               W            M             28                           M             X              Farmer

                            O/CA       N ENG ENG

3422. SWINDLEHURST, Jane     W            F              21           wife         M             X              Keeping House   O/CA

            N SCOT                 IRE

Thomas and Jane had the following children:

             30 F         i.  Mary SWINDLEHURST was born on 8 DEC 1887 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Recorded in Isabella County Births for 1887 - line 426.

    13. William Neil MORRISON  (Neil, William) was born on 8 OCT 1862 in Cayuga Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada. He died in 1945 in Rosebush, Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Buried in Rosebush Cemetery.

In 1900 he is renting farm from his father. With him are wife, Ann Jane, son's William James, Neal

Peter & Edward Arthur, and daughter's Mabel & Grizelda.

Was 57 at the time of the 1920 census still had his wife Annie (age 65) and daughter Grizelda (age 20) living with him on the family farm.

At the time of the 1930 census his wife (An) and two grandchildren (William and Kenneth) were living with him on the family farm.

William married Ann (An) Jane GORMLEY (GORMLY) daughter of Peter GORMLEY (GORMLY) and Winifor GORMLEY on 24 DEC 1885 in Mecosta Co., MI. Ann was born on 25 SEP 1854 in Cayuga Twp., Haldimand Co., Ontario, Canada. She died on 25 FEB 1939 in Rosebush, Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

This was from the 1861 census for Cayuga North Township, Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.

William and Ann had the following children:

          31 M         i.  William James MORRISON was born in 1887. He died in APR 1936.

             32 M        ii.  Edward Arthur MORRISON was born on 7 NOV 1890 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. He died on 8 DEC 1905 in Rosebush, Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

From the Isabella County Death Records in 1905

460 9-Dec-05 Edward Arthur Morrison Male Child/White 15y 1m 1d Isabella twp

Rheumatic fever Michigan Student, Father Wm Morrison Rosebush, MI, Mother Jane

Gormely Rosebush, MI

Isabella County Enterprise - 15 DEC 1905 Page 8 Column 1 - Edward Morrison DOD

9 DEC 1905, DOB 00/00/1890.

          33 M       iii.  Peter Neil MORRISON was born on 28 OCT 1893. He died in MAY 1967.

             34 F        iv.  Mabel Verna MORRISON was born in SEP 1896.

          35 F        v.  Grizelda MORRISON was born on 26 JUL 1899. She died in APR 1984.

    14. Peter James MORRISON  (Neil, William) was born on 28 OCT 1864 in Lenox Twp., Macomb Co., MI. He died on 19 MAY 1923 in Mt. Pleasant, Union Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

This notice in the Isabella County, Isabella Township, Death notices for 1923. They had him listed as

88 years old but he really was only 58.

Line # 126 - Date of Death May 19, 1923 Name Peter J. Morrison, Sex Male, Marital Status Widowed, Age 88y6m22d, Place of death Mt. Pleasant, Reason: Cerebral Apoplexy, Occupation - Michigan County Treasurer, Father Neal Morrison, Birthplace of Father Canada, Mother Sarah Gormley, Birthplace of mother Ireland - Date recorded Aug. 7, 1923.

Mount Pleasant Times dated May 24, 1923 Pg.1 Col.1 has Peter J Morrison - DOD 5/19/1923, DOB 10/

28/1864.

He was 55 at the time of the 1920 census still had his daughter Irene (age 26) and son James Wesley (age 22) living at home with him. James was now going by the name of Wesley. Gone is Anne E. (Sharp)

Morrison.

Peter married Annie E SHARP on 12 APR 1893 in Isabella Co., MI. Annie was born in 1871.

Peter and Annie had the following children:

             36 F         i.  Irene MORRISON was born on 22 SEP 1893 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

 497     Sept 22, 1893   Irene Morrison   F   Isabella   Peter  Morrison   Isabella                  Michigan  Farmer   Anna Morrison   Canada   May 29, 1894

          37 F         ii.  Minnie L. B. MORRISON was born on 10 OCT 1894.

             38 M       iii.  James Wesley MORRISON was born on 31 MAR 1897 in Isabella Co., MI. He died on 22 JUL 1992 in Venice, Sarasota, FL.

 787     Mar 31, 1897   James W. Morrison   M   Isabella   Peter J. Morrison   Isabella       Michigan   Farmer   Anne E. Morrison   Canada   July 20, 1898

Went by Wesley most of his life

    15. Neil MORRISON  (Neil, William) was born on 24 JAN 1867 in Lenox Twp., Macomb Co., MI. He died in 1931 in Owen Sound, Grey Co., Ontario. He was buried in 1931 in St. Mary's RC Cemetery, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario.

Neil married Philomena (Mena) Victoria Agnes HORAN daughter of Michael HORAN and Rose Ann DONOHUE in JUN 1892 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.  Philomena was born on 28 SEP 1866 in Sydenham Twp., Grey Co., Ontario. She died in 1916 in Owen Sound, Grey Co., Ontario. She was buried in 1916 in St. Mary's RC Cemetery, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario.

They had the following children:

             39 M         i.  Joseph Austin MORRISON was born in JUL 1896 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

             40 M        ii.  Basil V. MORRISON was born in MAY 1899 in Owen Sound, Grey Co., Ontario.

    17. James MORRISON  (Neil, William) was born on 16 MAR 1880 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

He was 39 at the time of the 1920 census and was living with his wife Margaret (age 36) and Son Francis

(age 1+).

In the 1900 census he is recorded with his father, Neil. He is recorded as being married for 6 years.

James married Margaret BATTLE daughter of James BATTLE and Julia (Judith) MCGUIRE. Margaret was born in 1883.

They had the following children:

             41 M         i.  Francis MORRISON was born on 18 OCT 1918 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. He died on 26 APR 1923 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

 9   Apr. 26, 1923   Francis Morrison   Male  4y6m8d White  Isabella Twp Michigan            Scarlet Fever  James Morrison  Michigan  Margaret Battle  Michigan  July 28, 1923.

Isabella County Enterprise - 4 MAY 1923 Page 2 Column 8 - Francis Morrison s/o

James - DOD 26 APR 1923.

    26. William D. MORRISON  (Donald, William) was born on 3 FEB 1869 in Canada. He died on 22 AUG 1938 in Isabella Co., MI.

Isabella County Times News - 1 SEP 1938 Page 8 Column 1 - William D. Morrison s/o Donald - DOB

3 FEB 1869.

Isabella County Times News - 1 SEP 1938 Page 8 Column 1 - William D. Morrison s/o Donald - DOD

22 AUG 1938.

William married Clara MORRISON. Clara was born on 20 NOV 1885. She died in SEP 1975 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

They had the following children:

             42 M         i.  Eugene MORRISON.

    27. Mary MORRISON  (Donald, William) was born on 13 OCT 1869 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. She died on 20 MAR 1894 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Date of birth is based upon her age at her death.

Died in childbirth. Stated that she was 24y5m7d old.

Mary married William FUNNELL son of John FUNNELL and Ruth HALL on 3 JUL 1889 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

They had the following children:

             43 F         i.  Mary J FUNNELL was born on 12 MAR 1894 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Fourth Generation

    31. William James MORRISON  (William Neil, Neil, William) was born in 1887. He died in APR 1936 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI.

Buried in Fairplains Cemetery - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Obituary published in the Grand Rapids Herald on April 9, 1936.

William married Myrtle Jane HOYLE daughter of John W. HOYLE and Estelle Almira SAGE. Myrtle was born in 1894. She died in MAY 1927 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI.

Obituary published in the Grand Rapids Herald on May 4, 1927

William and Myrtle had the following children:

          44 M         i.  William Edward MORRISON was born on 31 MAR 1915. He died on 19 NOV 1993.

          45 F         ii.  Marie MORRISON was born on 9 JUN 1916. She died on 26 APR 1989.

          46 M       iii.  Kenneth Raymond MORRISON was born on 27 JUL 1917. He died on 6 AUG 1993.

          47 F        iv.  Living MORRISON was born on 22 JUL 1919.

             48 M        v.  Robert MORRISON was born on 7 FEB 1921 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI. He died on 10 JUL 2001.

          49 F        vi.  Living MORRISON was born on 9 MAY 1922.

             50 M      vii.  John MORRISON was born in 1924 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI. He died on 8 JUN 1924 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI.

          51 F      viii.  Living MORRISON was born on 18 JUN 1925.

    33. Peter Neil MORRISON  (William Neil, Neil, William) was born on 28 OCT 1893 in Rosebush, Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. He died in MAY 1967 in Mt. Pleasant, Union Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Daily Times News of 6 DEC 1965 Pg.2 Col.1 has his death as 5 DEC 1965.

Peter married Anna L MARSHALL on 18 SEP 1919. Anna was born in 1897.

In Anna Koyl's Scrapbook (1919 Marriage Licenses) she is listed as 28 at time of marriage - this would put her as being born in 1891.

Peter and Anna had the following children:

             52 M         i.  Francis MORRISON was born on 28 MAR 1920 in Mt. Pleasant, Union Twp., Isabella Co., MI. He died on 12 JAN 2004 in Mt. Pleasant, Union Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

             53 M        ii.  Living MORRISON was born in 1922.

             54 F        iii.  Living MORRISON was born in 1924.

             55 F        iv.  Living MORRISON was born in 1926.

             56 M        v.  Living MORRISON was born in 1928.

             57 M       vi.  Living MORRISON.

             58 M      vii.  Living MORRISON.

             59 F      viii.  Living MORRISON.

             60 F        ix.  Living MORRISON.

    35. Grizelda MORRISON  (William Neil, Neil, William) was born on 26 JUL 1899 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. She died in APR 1984 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co., MI.

Was 20 at the time of the 1920 census and was living with her parents on the family farm in Rosebush.

Grizelda married Leland BLANCHARD. Leland was born on 5 OCT 1900. He died on 9 SEP 1970 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co., MI.

They had the following children:

             61 M         i.  John N BLANCHARD was born on 17 JUN 1921 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co., MI. He died on 6 NOV 1994 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co., MI.

             62 F         ii.  Living BLANCHARD was born in 1923.

             63 F        iii.  Living BLANCHARD was born in 1929.

    37. Minnie L. B. MORRISON  (Peter James, Neil, William) was born on 10 OCT 1894 in Isabella Co., MI.

 788     Oct 10, 1897   Minnie Morrison   F  Isabella                   Peter J. Morrison  Isabella   Michigan  Farmer                             Anne E. Morrison   Canada   July 20, 1898

From the Death Notices of Isabella County, Isabella Township, Michigan for 1924 - Line number 185,

Date of birth 7/5/1924, Name Morrison/Johnston, Sex and Color M/White, Marital status Single, Place of death Isabella Twp., Age Stillborn, Father H. D. Johnston, Residence of Father Michigan, Mother Minnie Morrison, Residence of Mother  Michigan.

Minnie married Hugh D. JOHNSTON on 26 APR 1917 in Rosebush, Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. Hugh was born in 1895.

JOHNSTON, Hugh  (Minnie)  Stock Buyer, Rosebush Village,  (Ford)

Isabella Township Officers

Supervisor – Ira Walton, Rosebush

Clerk – Hugh Johnston, Rosebush

Treasurer – Arthur E. Johnston, Rosebush

H. Com’r – Hugh McLachlan, Rosebush

Burial Agent – John Y. Johnston, Rosebush

Hugh and Minnie had the following children:

             64 M         i.  unnamed - stillborn JOHNSTON was born on 5 JUL 1924 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI. He died on 5 JUL 1924 in Isabella Twp., Isabella Co., MI.

Recorded in Isabella County deaths for 1924.

185     7/5/1924 Morrison Johnston  M/White Single                 Isabella Twp. Stillborn       Michigan  H. D. Johnston (father) Michigan           Minnie Morrison (mother)  Michigan

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