Harris - Donald Morrison

Donald Morrison presented me with quite a few problems in research. The Napier report quotes him as living at Geocrab, but the Donald Morrison at Geocrab that the census records show up to 1881 in fact passed away in July 1882 - nearly a year before the Commission arrived in Harris. My guess is that the other Donald Morrison from South Harris, who lived in Strond in 1881, could have been the witness at Obbe. However, there is too much uncertainty for me to give his family history.

Direcleit suggests the following:

Donald Morrison of Geocrab is first found in the 1841 census as a Tenant in Geocrab with his wife and 4 children. There is a 60 year-old Marion Campbell there too and I shall return to her later. He is listed in the censuses of 1861 & 1871 as a Crofter and in that of 1851 as a Farmer of 5 acres employing no labour. His wife, Mary, has borne him 8 children aged from 1 to 19. his mother-in-law, Marion Macdonald, was formerly a Weaveress and living with them.

A decade later sees 7 of the children still living with their parents and Marion Macdonald the mother-in-law has become Marion Campbell mother-in-law, the same Marion Campbell who we first met in 1841. This reminds us of the old custom for a widow to sometimes revert to her maiden name. In this instance, we now know that Mary Morrison was born Mary Macdonald to Marion Macdonald, MS Campbell; unless she was born Mary Campbell to Marion Campbell MS Macdonald!

By 1871 it looks as if Mary has died and Donald is left with 4 of his children and a grandchild.
Like you, i have not been able to pin-point him in 1881 but looking at his evidence to the Napier commission convinces me that this is the same man whose words are recorded there.

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