Elizabeth Houston M'Lean Duff

[mona lisa]

I was very pleased to note that on my GtGtAunt Elizabeth  DUFF (48)  nee Houston's death certificate in  January 1881 Glasgow  95 Candleriggs St; that it listed her 2 husbands. I only knew of William Duff.

I. John McLean    2. William Duff  who witnessed her passing.
I have been looking for the McLean Marriage . have no idea if there were any children of that union. I do know that there are 2 Duff offspring.

1. William Butler Duff born 1858 August 24 and 2. Mary Duff ca 1864/65


I'm thinking that if Elizabeth was born ca 1832 ish probably Co Down or Co Armagh Ireland the 1st Marriage  was ca 1849 to 1856 = John McLean  as she married William Duff 1857. I just realized that I got that info from  son William Butler Duff's  Birth particulars  so I  havent viewed actual Marriage Cert.

Elizabeth was 1/2 sister of my GtGtGrdad Valentine ARMSTONG. They both shared Isabella JOYCE as their mother. He died at her place in 1859. Noted that 95 Candleriggs St was the residence of the Duff family for many years.
156 Mathieson St was an address from atleast 1891 to 1901 of Wm Butler Duff

[goldie61]

On pilot.familysearch a John Mclean marries an Elizabeth Houston 13 Dec 1846 Glasgow. No other info given. Any chance this might be her?

[mona lisa]

hmmm I really couldnt say...but thanks for replying. 
Elizabeth Houston on her 22 January 1881 Death reg's age is given as (48)  so that would give a Birth year of :
1832/ so an 1846 Dec 13 Marriage = aged 14? How many Houston/ McLean  Marriages could there be? Mind You all you'd need to do is add 2 years and she'd be 16 ...As we know with women age can be a funny thing. Are some of the OPR's very informative/informational?  John McLean would've had to have died by 1856  as she married again.  A funny but true story about my Granny..she never gave the same year of birth twice and when being interviewed for her annual pension ...the official remarked that most people got older and  it was amazing that she just kept getting younger ! Well - she just thought he was "very impudent"

[goldie61]

From what I understand, (I have a lot of Scottish ancestors) it was legal to marry at 14. And as you say, you only have to add a couple of years and she's 16. And I wouldn't necessarily go with how old somebodyelse thought she was when she died. I've found informants who hadn't got a clue about the persons age, or who the parents or spouses were.
Great story about your granny changing her age! Wish it was as easy now - we're all so much more constrained with documentation everywhere. I'd drop a few years off mine if I could!!

[sancti]

1861 census has this record

Name: Elizabeth Duff
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1826
Relationship: Wife
Spouse's name : William Duff
 
Where born: Ireland

Registration district: Central District
Civil parish: Glasgow St David
County: Lanarkshire
Address: 95 Candleriggs
Occupation: Boot Binder


household

William Duff 32 born Port Glasgow Occupation: Boot Clser 
Elizabeth Duff 35
William Duff 2
John Houston 17 born Ireland occ Boot closer app
 
 

[mona lisa]

Thank you goldie61 and sancti for your input and look ups.
 So. thanks for that.. on the 1861 Census =  it shows that Elizabeth is 3 years older than Willam..somehow it seems in those cases, the woman will decrease her age as to be younger than the man. If she is born 1826ish that would make her 20 at the 1846 Dec 13th Marriage..I believe that they were Protestant.  My granny's age was always a few years earlier than granddad's so he always appeared "older" than her..So I wonder if Elizabeth Houston Duff did that. I do know that some people really are unaware of a persons age. It just isnt  of any importance  to them. Of course, to those of us searching, it can make a big difference in time and  possibly money, when it is necessary to look thru a lot of data.As an aside I know that one of my inlaw's mother married at 14 and that was in Canada 1915 ish...

I noticed that the same address 95 Candleriggs in 1881 became Blythswood District and prior was Central District.  When looking at BMD's and with a sometimes great variety of names to choose from; I often "opt" to stay in the same district and then not knowing its changed names...of the districts. Of course, sometimes I'm wrong.
 

[sancti]

1871 and she is starting to be economical with her age 

William Duff 41
Elisabeth Duff 30
William Duff 42 
Mary Duff 6
Samuel Graham 38
William Cook 19
William Mckenzie 16

Address: 20 Candleriggs St

[sancti]

Can't see the McLeans on the 1851 census

[sancti]

1881 census

Name: William Duff
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1831
Relationship: Head

Where born: Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire

Registration district: Blythswood
Civil parish: Glasgow St David
County: Lanarkshire
Address: 95 Candleriggs
Occupation: Boot Closer


William Duff 50
William Duff 22
Mary Duff 18
William Maxwell 19 Boarder occ upholsterer