The Quilietti Family

The story of a Scots Italian family

MORRISON Eric Alex. 1983

Eric Alexander Morrison is the son of Derek or Eric Morrison 1960-2003 and Elizabeth Stewart 1961-2008.

  • Eric with his son Archie Alexander 2015
  • Eric’s dad Derek or Eric and Eric’s mum Margaret McGovern.
  • Eric’s mum Elizabeth Stewart
“My mum and dad split when I was 5. My mum then got together with Jimmy Bennett. They great thing was they all got on brilliantly. Jimmy was was a great friend of my dad and my Mum and Dad always stayed in touch and were always close. Even when my dad was bad at the end, he was in a wheel chair and Jimmy Bennett would lift him in his wheelchair up the stair to our wee flat in Southouse Crescent so he could have dinner etc. Jimmy got on great with all dad’s brothers etc. My mum and Jimmy had 2 daughters. My sisters. Dawn and Megan Bennett. You will see them in my photos. Great girls. They called my dad “uncle ecky or uncle chill chill”

My dad couldn’t get around well in chair in the end but jimmy used to walk up to his and take him out in chair to bookies then for a couple pints in cabin.

I was/am blessed to call them both dad.”

Sisters Dawn and Megan Bennett
  • Eric Graduated in 2008 and now works as Operations Manager for Barratt Homes for Central Scotland.
  • Shortly before Mags died in 2015
When my partner Theresa was pregnant we had a laugh about the sea of Alexanders, Johns and Anguses. . It seems Morrisons don’t like to deviate from names much.
I managed to get Alexander in though Alfie Alexander Morrison
  • With sister Dawn Bennett
  • Me, Jimmy Bennett. My nephew Robert Galloway (sister Dawns boy) and young Archie Morrison
  • Eric’s partner Theresa Trotter with son Archie 2020
My dad and bro Joe were always at ours at weekend for brekkie etc. They were some pair when they stayed together at Hyvots. Barefoot ended up there too at some point when Gran Mags kicked him out. I remember my Dad, Joe, Barefoot, Pud and Den being there at one point for some reason. Prob all kicked out cause of the bevvy.

  • John or Pud with Eric and Jimmy I think
  • Eric’s mum
Ma Morrison’s Walker line stretching way back to 1680 and beyond. They were from down the East Coast from Inveresk in Musselburgh and Haddington and surrounding villages.
  • The Morrison family. Our branch from Tongue in North West Scotland

The line originated in Tongue in North West Scotland where the family were well assimilated with the McKays and MacKenzies for many generations. They stayed at an area called Midtown in Tongue and they were fishermen with small crofts. The wee Church there will hold many secrets. Further back the branch were located in Durness just around the coast.

Eric’s 4th Great Grandfather

George Morrison was born in Tongue in Sutherland on 4th August 1831-1911. We find him in a couple of census’s, first in 1841 when he was 10 living in Midtown in Tongue, then again when he was 19 working on a Farm with family Munro. This was the time of the Highland Clearances so many men joined the Army to earn a living. George signed up c 1852. to the 93rd Highlanders of Foot Soldiers.

  • The family Morrison in 1841 – you will notice how the names carry on through the years.

He married Elizabeth Cowie 1839-1903 in Aberdeen on October 14th 1863.

Marriage between George Morrison and Elizabeth Cowie. [93rd Highlanders ]
You can also see Eric’s 5th Great Grandparents Angus Morrison [farmer] and Mary McKay and James Cowie [mason journeyman] and Ann Thomson.

George Morrison served in the Army for most of his adult years. You can see below at the time of his son Angus’s birth in 1871 he was in the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders and after just returned from India his Battalion was based at Edinburgh Castle.

He fought in Crimea 1854-1855 and we find him in the Medal list for this. Then he served in India. There is a Medal for the year 1857-1858 for India whilst he was serving in the 93rd foot soldiers. His daughter Mary was born on another sea crossing in 1864. Then son Alexander was born in Thansi in the East Indies in 1869.

Eric’s 3rd Great Grandfather Angus Morrison

The family returned from India and at first were stationed at Perth Barracks. Then back down to Edinburgh when their third child Angus was born later that Summer. By 1881 George had left the Army and moved to Aberdeen where his daughters worked in the Jute Industry. By 1891 George and Elizabeth were back in the Lawnmarket with their Son Angus.
Known children of George Morrison and Elizabeth Cowie were Mary, Alex. Angus, James and Margaret Morrison.
  • Angus Morrison was born in Edinburgh Castle. Very smartly turned out.

Information given by Eric’s Father-in-Law – need name Eric please

I Think he was a Regimental Policman and going by the badge on his sporran my best guess is The Gordon Highlanders I think. One of the fine Highland regiments consigned to history a long time ago and now come under the collective name, the Highlanders.The 4th Btn The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Eric, I have another theory on why he is dressed as he is. This could be the CO ( Commanding Officers stick orderly ) the way this would come about was, the camp guard would mount at 1800 the Orderly officer would inspect the guard and the smartest man would be picked to be the COs Stick Orderly, he would fall out go to the guard room and collect the white belt, normally a cross belt with a pouch on his back and a swagger stick which he has in his hand, the next day he would report to the CO’s office and sit out side his door ( no phones) if the CO wanted to send a message to some one normally the company commanders he would summons the stick Orderly put the message in the pouch on his back and off he would go with the message. The good thing about it was because you were delivering a message for the CO every one saluted you. It was a good duty to be on. If you got the stick Orderly 5 times in a row you got to keep the stick and didn’t do guards for 6 months, also the stick would have your name on it. I lost mines years ago , so I think the Grandad in the photo was a very smart Soldier.

Angus Morrison married Margaret Brady, 1877-1927. She was of Irish descent. They had 7 children, all with the same Christian Names going back through the Morrison history. Marion, Angus, George, Alex. Annie, John and Margaret.

Eric’s 2nd Great Grandfather Alex. Morrison

  • Alex Morrison marriage to Helen Crawford 1901.
Children of Alex. Morrison and Helen Denholm Crawford were, Jessie, Alex, Margaret, Edward, George, Robert, John, Helen, Mary, Anne, James and Sheila Morrison. Only Robert died in infancy.
  • Eric’s great Grandmother Helen Denholm Crawford Morrison
  • Helen in her teens
  • Helen in middle years
  • Eric’s grandad Alex. Morrison right front. 1924-2002 He was the eldest of the brothers. Eddie at front left 1928-2000. George or Podge in the middle 1929-2006. Back right John Morrison 1932-1994. Back left is the youngest brother Jimmy 1942-1997. They were all bricklayers and general builders.

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