John Glasson and Moorshead wives

[Deleted]

CT, et al

I said that the Lawhitton marriage had a story to it and I will relate it here, although it is not necessarily the mystery that I supposed it to be.

It starts with the National Probate Calendar for 1886:

Glasson, John. On 15th May 1886 Administration (with the Will) of the Personal Estate of John Glasson, late of 4 Portland Road, Devonport in the Parish of Stoke Damerel in the County of Devon, gentleman, who died 21st March 1886 at 4 Portland Road was granted at the Principal Registry to Elisabeth Valentine Moorshead of 4 Portland Road, spinster, one of the Universal Legatees.

Two things immediately become obvious:
1. From BMD John was aged 70 years.
2. Elizabeth Valentine Moorshead was not a spinster, she was John's wife, and had been from 1881 and was also the mother of three children to John, namely Elizabeth Wilmot, Ellen Jane and Annie Beatrice.

Looking at John we see that he was the son of John Glasson and Wilmot Glasson, formerly Quick. The younger John was born about 1815 in or near Truro.

This younger John married first in 1859 in Lawhitton. And his wife was another Moorshead - Elizabeth Weekes - who died early in 1880.

I do know that the second wife remarried following Johns death - in 1889 to William John Williams. In the 1891 census Elizabeth's mother had the initial M, whereas in 1901 she was Elizabeth. I also have a note that says that George Moorshead married Elizabeth Anthony in 1843 in Knightsbridge and I am thinking that this couple is the first Elizabeths parents.

So that is the story CT, the enigma is simply the reference to spinster.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

Lannanta - John son of John and Wilmot Glasson of Street was baptised at Kenwyn 8th October 1815.

The reference in the Admon. is interesting and the very first question I need to ask is - When was the Will written???

If it was written prior to his second marriage then that would certainly explain the reference to 'Elizabeth Valentine Moorshead, spinster'.

It is not just the fact that she is referred to as 'spinster' in 1886 but also the fact that she was recorded as 'Elizabeth Valentine MOORSHEAD, one of the Universal Legatees'.

That, to me, implies that she was named in the Will as Moorshead which would indicate the Will was written prior to her marriage to John Glasson.

I also have a note that says that George Moorshead married Elizabeth Anthony in 1843 in Knightsbridge and I am thinking that this couple is the first Elizabeths parents.

If by 'first Elizabeth' you mean Elizabeth Weeks Moorshead then I would have to disagree on two counts.

1. She would have been just sixteen when she married John Glasson
2. On the marriage record her father is named as JOHN. ( )

I may be misreading things so could you confirm exactly which Elizabeth you are referring to please?

CT

[Cornish Terrier]

Lannanta - a couple of things to go on with while I have a little hunt around.

Elizabeth Weeks daughter of John and Elizabeth Moorshead was baptised 2nd October 1812 at Dittisham, Devon.

John Moorshead married Elizabeth Weeks 28th August 1798 at Dittisham, Devon.

Both the above from FamilySearch.

FreeBMD has a birth record for an Elizabeth Valentine Moorshead in the Plympton R.D. in 1852.

This is very likely the daughter of George and Elizabeth Moorshead whose family appears in the 1861 Census at Buchland Monachorum, Devon.

Most interesting that George Moorshead was born at Dittisham and even more interesting is the fact that he was the brother of Elizabeth Weekes Moorshead! ;D

So John Glasson's second wife was the niece of his first wife!

George son of John and Elizabeth Moorshead baptised 19th June 1810 at Dittisham, Devon.

We just need to find out if that Will was written before John Glasson's second marriage and, if so, all your questions should be answered.

CT

CT