9th Generation

Born - 1796 - Ireland

Died - 20 July 1862 -  Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Starting a story from someone’s death isn’t really the best way to start, however, if it wasn’t for William dying in Scotland after the change to statutory records in 1855 I wouldn’t have any story at all.

William was born in Ireland to Bernard Murray and Ann Castello around 1796. They were Roman Catholic. Ireland had been a Christian country since Patrick brought Christianity over in 432. It is said that St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover (shamrock) to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans. The shamrock thus reflects the deep connection between Catholicism and the Irish identity. The majority of the people of Ireland were Catholic peasants. They were very poor and largely impotent politically during the eighteenth century. Many of their leaders had converted to Protestantism to avoid severe economic and political penalties. Catholics had also been barred from holding office in the early 17th century in Ireland thus leaving the poor at the mercy of their landlords.

William brought his family over to Scotland in 1840’s so I can only assume it was due to the famine. William was a Tin-Smith like his father was before him; A Tinsmith is a metal craftsman who makes and repairs items using sheets of tin or reusing materials such as old biscuit tins. He would have made a stock of tin containers in the winter and took to the roads in the summer selling his wares. This travelling life would have given him a job in Scotland and a way out of poverty.

William and his wife, Helen Laing had 8 children together. I have no records of William’s marriage or the birth of his children, However, census records and death records confirm this is correct. In the 1861 census the family are living on a farm in Alford. William was a Servant Tin-Smith, his job would have be to make/fix the pots and other items used in on the farm. 1861 census below

I also know from records of William’s children that common lodging-houses (Victorian era term for a form of cheap accommodation in which the inhabitants, who are not members of one family, are all lodged together in the same room or rooms, whether for eating or sleeping) was a standard practice for their living conditions since moving to Scotland. This was also the life of some Irish Travellers.

At the time of William’s death he was living in Shuttle Lane. Shuttle Lane was known as a home of thieves, prostitutes, drunkards and many other undesirables. That along with the fact that his death certificates states his son as ‘inmate’ tells a tale of taking the wrong path in life. Cause of death states “habitual constipation ending in complete emaciation”. Defecation occurs because of prolonged retention of stool in the colon. The death certificate was signed by a Surgeon, this can mean many things, however non good.

This man may have survived the Irish Famine however he carried the scars with him for the rest of his days.

Son – Peter Murray

Wife – Helen Laing