Elizabeth Jack was born on 21^st October 1815 at Errol, Perthshire, and baptised on the 29^th.

Elizabeth Jack was married to James Boyd at Errol. The Parish Register records that they were ‘contracted March 17^th & proclaimed March 18^th 1832’.

Elizabeth was widowed when James died on 1^st August 1850 and, as ‘Elizabeth Jack or Boyd residing at Cowlairs Station of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway’, compeared at Glasgow on 16^th September 1850. After being solemnly sworn and examined she deponed that she had ‘entered upon the possession and management of the deceased’s personal and moveable estate and effects as Executrix Dative qua relict decerned to him by the Commifsory Depute of the Commifsariot of Lanark’ on the 11^th. It is difficult to know what to make of a marginal note, ‘Confirmed 18 Sept^r 1845’. Presumably Confirmation was granted on 18^th September 1850 and the ‘45’ is a clerical error.

At the time of the 1851 census, Elizabeth was a widow, aged 35, and living at Springvale, Glasgow, in a house with more than one windows. She does not appear to have had an occupation. Living with her were her unmarried brother George Jack, a railway engineer aged 28, and a native of Errol, Perthshire, like his sister; her daughter Janet, aged 16, a dressmaker, born in Dundee; her son George, aged 12, a scholar, also born in Dundee; her daughter Mary, aged nine, a scholar, born in Dundee; her daughter Ann, aged seven, also a scholar, and born in Edinburgh; and John, aged two and born in Glasgow. Somewhat worryingly, the ‘Whether Blind, or Deaf and Dumb’ box is ticked for brother George and all of the children except for John. This may have been a mistake, as they all appear to have made a remarkable recovery ten years later.

In 1861, she was resident at 8, Bankhead Cottages, Springburn. Once again the house had five rooms with one or more windows. She was 45 years of age, and was living with her daughters Janet, Mary, and Ann, her sons James and John, and her brother George Jack. Janet was still unmarried and a dressmaker, now aged 26, and her place of birth was given on this occasion as ‘Forfarshire, St Mary’s’. Mary, 19, was a dressmaker, as was Ann, 17. James, 14, was an engine man’s apprentice, while John, 11, was a scholar. Elizabeth’s brother, George, was an engine man, aged 38, and still unmarried.

By 1871, the household had contracted considerably. Elizabeth was now aged 54 and resident at 11, Craigton Terrace, Springburn, in a dwelling having two rooms with one or more windows. Her place of birth was entered simply as as Perth. She was now alone but for her unmarried son John, who was 21, a ‘fitter at works’ and born in Glasgow.

Elizabeth Jack appears in the 1891 census as resident at 5, Bellview Terrace, Glasgow. There were five rooms having one or more window. She was stated to be a widow, and her age was given as 75. Her place of birth was entered as Errol, Perthshire.

Resident with her were her unmarried daughter Mary, aged 49, a dress and mantlemaker (employer), born Forfarshire, Brechin, and a granddaughter, Elizabeth J. Boyd (the ‘J’ stood for ‘Jack’), who was a scholar, aged 15, born in Glasgow. She is almost certainly the daughter of John Boyd and Elizabeth Pinkerton, who was born at 8, Gourlay Street, Springburn on 18^th November 1875.

There was also a boarder, Ernest A. Ebworth, unmarried, aged 25. He was employed as a locomotive engineer, and he had been born in England. An unmarried lodger, John Gibb Duncan, aged 31, was a Minister of the Cowlairs Church of Scotland and had been born in Stirling. Mr Duncan apparently occupied a separate apartment within the property.

Elizabeth Boyd, maiden name Jack, died on 26^th January 1898 at 11^h 30^m am, at 5, Bellevue Terrace, Balgrayhill, Glasgow. She was 82 years of age. The cause of death was senile decay, and the informant was John Boyd, her son, of 141, Wellfield Street, Glasgow.

Brothers and Sisters

Elizabeth Jack was the first of five (known) children. Her two younger brothers and two younger sisters were:

James, born 22^nd October and baptised on 9^th November 1817.

Ann, born on 18^th January and baptised on 2^nd February 1820. Ann appears in the family home in Leetown, Errol Parish, Perthshire at the time of the 1841 census, aged 20, and again in 1851, at which time 31, and designated as a house servant. In 1837, Ann had an illegitimate daughter, Jean. The event was recorded in the Parish Register:

Melville Jean, daughter of Wm Melville, Farm-servant & Ann Jack, Lee-town, both unmarried, was born 19th April & baptized 22nd Novr 1837

All five siblings were born and baptised at Errol, Perthshire.