Main, Elspet (b. 1869)

Mother of Alexander 'Alec' Miller

Elspet Webster Main in Cambridge, MA
Date unknown, but post 1925
(photo courtesy of myfootdeeancestors.co.uk)

Elspet Webster Main, Alexander Miller's mother, was born 4 December 1869 at 16 South Square in Footdee, Aberdeen.  Her parents, Andrew Main and Elspet Morrice, were married at 16 South Square (same house where Elspet Webster Main was later born) in the Established Church of Scotland by the Minister of St. Clement's Parish of Aberdeen on 14 October 1864. At the time of their marriage, Andrew Main was listed as a 24 year old "bachelor" living at 11 South Square in Footdee, his occupation was a "Whitefisher," and his parents were Andrew Main (deceased), a Pilot, and Elizabeth Main (nee Baxter). Elspet Morrice was listed as a 24 year old "spinster" living at 16 South Square in Footdee, and her parents were Alexander Morrice, a Pilot, and Elspet Morrice (nee Webster). It should be noted that in some documents "Elspet" is spelled as "Elspit" (with an "i"), and in some documents "Morrice" is spelled as "Morice" with one "r". In such cases when the spelling is slightly different, other information contained in the documents (e.g. spouse, address, etc) is used to confirm that it is the same person being referenced. This sort of spelling variation (as well as age discrepancies) was common in the 1800s. According to the Scotlandspeople.gov website, "...the way names were written in different records varied and, when searching for a person in our indexes, the spelling might differ from what you expect. This can be due to one or more of the following factors: transcription error during indexing; misspelling, phonetic spelling or other misinterpretation by registrars and clerks; deliberate or accidental misrepresentation by informants, especially in regard to ages but also with names; name variants."

In the 1871 Census for Aberdeen, Elspet is listed as 1 year old and living at South Square (no house number, but presumably still 16 South Square where she was born) with her parents Andrew (31) and Elspet (32); her sisters Ann (6) and Jane (4); and an unmarried "general servant" named Margaret Corbett, aged 19.  Since both parents were listed as working - Andrew as a "whitefisher," and Elspet as a "fish woman," it is assumed that the live-in servant was needed to help care for the three young girls.

Ten years later, in the 1881 Census, Elspet is now 11 years old and living at 17 Pilot Square in Aberdeen with her mother Elspet (42), her sister Jane (13), and her brothers Andrew (9) and Alexander (5).  Noticeably absent from this census is the father, Andrew Main.  An extensive search in the records could not locate his whereabouts, but he is still living because he reappears in the 1891 Census and doesn't die until 1912.  It's possible he could have been temporarily living in another location for employment, but even in this case he should have appeared somewhere in the 1881 Census.  An intriguing possibility is that he was serving in the British Merchant Marines at this time.  Although no record has yet been found to confirm this either way, there does exist an undated photo of Andrew Main dressed in a sailor's uniform in which he looks to be about 40 years old (photo can be found at the link on this website to Andrew Main).  More research is required.

Also missing from the 1881 Census is Elspet's sister Ann, who would have been 16.  In all likelihood Ann had left home to work as a domestic servant with another family.  Finally, it's interesting to note that in the 1881 Census the family has moved several blocks 16 South Square to 17 Pilot Square in Footdee, Aberdeen.

In 1882, Elspet's mother Elspet died at the age of 42 in their home at 17 Pilot Square.  More can be found about this sad situation a the link on this website to Elspet Morrice.

According to the 1891 Census for Aberdeen, Elspet (21) is still living with her family at 17 Pilot Square, and her profession is "fish worker."  Her father Andrew has returned from his 1881 hiatus and is listed as a widow, head of the household, age 51, and working as a whitefisher.  Also listed on the census are Elspet's brothers Andrew (18) and Alexander (15), both labourers in "iron works"; and her sister Jane (23), who has no profession listed so presumably takes care of the house.

On 20 April 1894, Elspet Webster Main married Alexander Miller (AM2) at the St. Clements Free Church of Scotland, District of St Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen.  The Reverand Andrew D. Donaldson presided over the ceremony.  The marriage record lists Elspet as being 24 years old, a "spinster" residing at 17 Pilot Square in Aberdeen, and working as a domestic servant.  Her father Andrew Main (a whitefisher) was still living, but her mother Elspet Main (nee Morrice) was deceased.  Elspet's husband Alexander was 23 years old, a bachelor residing at 18 1/2 Upper Kirkgate in Aberdeen, and working as a journeyman blacksmith.  His parents, Alexander Miller (a journeyman tinsmith) and Barbara Miller (nee Cook) were both recorded as still living at the time of the marriage.  The marriage was witnessed by Alexander's brother John Miller, and by James Duncan.

According to the 1901 Census for Partick in Lanarkshire (present day Glasgow), Elspet was 31 years old and living at 8 Thomson Street with her husband Alexander (30) and their three children: Christina (6), Barbara (4), and Elspeth (2).  Everyone is listed as having been born in Aberdeen, except for the youngest, Elspeth, who was born in Glasgow.  So while it's not known exactly when the family moved from Aberdeen to Glasgow (Partick), it occurred sometime between the birth of Barbara in 1897 and Elspet in 1899. 

In the 1911 census for Partick, Elspet (41) was living with her husband Alexander (40) at 13 Thomson Square.  Living with Elspet and Alexander (40) were their daughters Christina (16), Barbara (14), Elspet (12), and Jane (10); and their three sons Alexander (7), William (2), and John (3 months).  Not yet born was Andrew.  The only two members of the household listed as employed were the father Alexander as a blacksmith doing "marine boiler work," and the oldest daughter Christina who worked in a "China shop."  The children Elspet, Jane, and Alexander were all listed as being in school.  It's interesting to note that the parents and two oldest were children were born in Aberdeen, while the remaining were children were all born in Glasgow.  

Elspet Webster Main Miller immigrated to the United States in 1925 after the death of her husband Alexander Miller (AM2) in May of 1925.

According to the 1930 U.S. Census, Elspet was 60 years old and living at 174 Putnam Avenue in Cambridge, MA with her son Alexander Miller (AM1) as head of the household at age 26.  Also living at this address were Elspet's daughters Elspet (30) and Janeann (29), and her sons William (21), John (19), and Andrew (15).  Elspet was listed as a widow, and all her children (including Alexander) were single. 

In the 1940 Census conducted in April of that year, Elspet is living at 249 Pearl Street in Cambridge, MA.  She is the head of the household, 70 years old, and widowed.  Living with Elspet (spelled as "Elsbeth" on the Census) are her daughters Elsbeth (39) and Jane Ann (37), both single; her sons William (30), John M. (29), and Andrew W. (24), also all single; and Marilyn S. (8), who is her son Alexander Miller's daughter from his first marriage.

On 11 August 1940, just five months after the census was conducted, Elspet Webster Main Miller died at the age of 70.  The cause of death is officially listed as "Arterio Sclerosis" and "Chronic Endocarditis," and her son William is noted on the certificated as the family "informant."  Two days later, on 13 August, Elspet was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.