ELIZABETH   WILSON

 

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Elizabeth Wilson  was born 1780 probably in Delaware. re her tombstone noted below. Her parents are unknown.  Unfortunately, Wilson is a very common name. 

Elizabeth Wilson married Douglass Morrison about 1796. His family had lived in White Clay Hundred, New Castle County Delaware for many years. The new couple continued in this community.   He was about 31 years old when they married.  Could this have been a second marriage?  Scharfe in his  History of Delaware refers to the 1767 survey on White Clay Creek Hundred and that by 1804  Douglas Morrison is on the Assessment list as owning acres in White Clay Hundred, as well as Robert and David Morrison.   James Wilson and Samuel Wilson were also land owners in the same neighborhodd. .  Perhaps related to Elizabeth?

The 1800 Census of White Clay Hundred lists James Wilson on film 6413, roll 4, page 223:  The family is noted as:
1 male >45
1 male 16-25
1 female >45
1 female 16-25 - could be Elizabeth
1 female 10-16

On the same 1800 Census is found "D. Morrison and brothers".  I'm not sure what the brothers names were.
3 males 26-44 - id Douglass and 2 brothers (Doug would have been 35)
1 male 16-25
1 male 10-16
1 male <10    - George
2 females 26-44 - 1 must be our Elizabeth, though she was only 20.
2 females 10-16
1 females <10

It would seem that 2 of the 3 brothers are married.   One online source listing The History of the Morrison Family by Leonard Allison Morrison as their source, stated that  Elizabeth Wilson and Douglass Morrison married in 1796 and had 6 children. This is a reasonable number.   I can confirm 2 children, Catherine Ann and David.  All six are listed below.
1.  George Morrison born Jan 15, 1797.
2.  Catherine Ann Morrison
born  January 18, 1801 wed William Kelly.  She died October 18, 1891 and is buried at White Clay Presbyterian Church.
3.  Matilda Morrison born June 11, 1805
4.  David Morrison born 1808, died 1900 and is buried at White Clay Presbyterian Church.
5.  Robert Morrison
6.  Elizabeth Morrison born 1815

Douglass' family had been part of the establishing White Clay Presbyterian Church.  Douglass was a ruling elder there between 1826 - 1839.  The family stayed active members.

I cannot find any Census listing for 1810 or 1820.

The 1830 New Castle County Delaware Census had the Douglass Morrison family in white Clay Creek Hundred :   the names attached are pure guess work.
1 male <5        a grandson? or nephew
1 male 10-14   a grandson?  or nephew 
2 Males 20-29 - David and Robert
1 male 30 -39  -  could be George
2 males 60-69 - Douglas was 65, the other must have been a brother
1 female 15-19 - Elizabeth
2 female 20-29 - Catherine, Matilda or a young bride of George
1 female 40-49  - Elizabeth was over 50, but this must be her.
and 1 free black male 10-23

A news clipping from the Delaware Historical Society reads:

            "Oct 19, 1821 Married Tuesday evening by Rev. A.K. Russel
            William Kelly to Catherine Morrison, daughter of Douglas Morrison.
            Both of White Clay Hundred."

Elizabeth Wilson Morrison died Nov. 6, 1831 and is also buried at White clay Presbyterian church.  Her tombstone can be found at Find A Grave Memorial.
It reads:        Elizabeth
                        ?    can't read
                Douglass Morrison
                Died November 6, 1831

                     age 51 years

The online source, Richard Morrison, stated that Douglass remarried 12 years later, in 1843 to Jane Morrison.  It would be interesting to know who she was.
He died in 1849 and is buried next to Elizabeth at White Clay Presbyterian Church.

Unfortunately, the White Clay had a fire that burned all their existing church records.  The only records left are those in stone in the cemetery.

 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US 

1.  Who were her parents?
2.  What was her birthdate.
3.  What were the names, birth dates and spouses of all her children?

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Date created: 10/29/2012
Date Updated 4/20/2015