On the evidence of her 1895 death certificate, Catherine Arkison was born c. 1817, almost certainly in Ireland.

‘Catherine Arkieson’ was identified as the widow and second wife of Bernard Dinning on his 1855 death certificate, although he was upwards of twenty-five years older than her and she survived him by nearly forty years. Her surname admitted of alternative spellings. On the 1874 marriage certificate of Bernard and Catherine’s son Henry, it was rendered as ‘Arkison’ and as ‘Harkison’ on his death certificate in 1911.

Catherine Dinning acted as informant on her grandson Robert Dinning’s 1864 death certificate. She signed the Register with her X mark and was entered as having been present in the house at the time of death.

On the evidence of the marriage certificate cited supra, Catherine was deceased by January 1874. In fact, Catherine Dinning, widow of Bernard Dinning, labourer, died on 19^th January 1895 at nine in the evening, in Cunningham Street, Tarbolton. Her age was entered as 77. The cause of death was certified as senile debility. The informant on the 21^st at Tarbolton was the deceased’s son, Bernard Dinning.

Forebears

Catherine’ parents were recalled on her 1895 death certificate as Charles Arkison, weaver, and Catherine Arkison MS Hanlan, both deceased.