Mary Edith Stirling1,2,3

#23457, (1881 - 1959)
FatherWilliam Stirling1 (c 1845 - 1912)
MotherElizabeth Lewis1 (c 1854 - 1901)
Extended Family
ChartsJames Graham & Agnes Finlayson - collapsible 7-generation descendant chart
William Reid & Lilias Sharp - collapsible 5-generation descendant chart

Children of Mary Edith Stirling and John Reid Cumming
  • Gordon Cumming6 (1901 - 1974)
  • Edith Muriel Cumming6 (1904 - 1966)
  • William John Cumming6 (1907 - 1981)
  • Marion Cumming8 (1913 - 1992)

Life Events

Overview
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[submitted by Colin Bendall, Stirling, Scotland, 2013]. Mary Edith, known as Edie, was born on April 2nd 1881, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Sterling. Her Birth Certificate shows that she was born at her home of 46 George Street Birkenhead, and that the family were still living there on May 16th, when her mother registered the birth. It also shows that her father, William, was a whitesmith.

Despite the fact that Mary Edith was born only the day before the 1881 Census, a study of a micro-film copy of the Returns held at Cheshire Record Office showed that there was no mention of any member of the Sterling/Stirling family in the Census at their George Street home. The absence of the family from the Census Returns was subsequently confirmed by reference to the Index of the 1881 Census for the County of Cheshire, also at Cheshire Record Office.

Nothing else is known of her early life; searches of the 1881 and 1891 Censuses initially failing to uncover the family's whereabouts. Several years later Mary was found in the 1891 Census, living with her mother and brother. Her father was boarding just a few streets away!

In the 1901 Census for England and Wales Edith Stirling was aged 19 and born in Birkenhead, a resident of Birkenhead although her occupation was given as "None". However, the family of father, mother and two children was together again.

What little that is known of her married life is detailed in the Notes for John Cumming, her husband. However, Mary Edith lived to the age of 78 years, staying at 268 Borough Road, Birkenhead until near the end; she died of heart failure in the then Deva Hospital, Chester, on October 2nd, 1959..

* * * * *1

 
BirthMary Edith Stirling was born on 2 Apr 1881 in Birkenhead, Cheshire.1,3
 
(with Mother) 1891 CensusMary E Stirling appeared on the 1891 Census of Birkenhead, Cheshire with her mother and brother. She was 10 years old, a scholar, and born in Birkenhead. Mary's father was enumerated at his sister's place nearby.4 
(with Parents) 1901 CensusEdith appeared on the 1901 Census of Birkenhead, Cheshire with her parents. She was 19 years old and born in Birkenhead.5 
MarriageShe married John Reid Cumming, son of David Cumming and Elizabeth Graham Reid, on 25 Dec 1901 in Birkenhead.1,2
 
1911 CensusJohn and Edith Cumming appeared on the 1911 Census of Birkenhead, Cheshire, at 18 Cook View. John was 31 and was a labourer in an iron foundry. Edith was 30 and the mother of 3 children, all still living. They had been married 9 years and lived in 3 rooms. Their children were Gordon (8), Muriel (6), and William (3). The eldest two attended school. All the family were born in Birkenhead.6 
DeathMary died on 2 Oct 1959 in Upton by Chester, Cheshire.1
 
ProbateHer estate was proved on 24 Nov 1959 in Chester. Entry from the probate calendar:

CUMMING Mary Edith of 268 Borough Road Birkenhead, widow, died 2 October 1959 at Deva Hospital Upton-by-Chester Cheshire. Probate Chester 24 November to David Gordon Cumming electric cooker assembler. Effects £101 2s 3d.7
 
Last Edited28 Jan 2014

Citations

  1. [S2843] Colin Bendall, Stirling, Scotland, research carried out in the period 1994-2012.
  2. [S387] FreeBMD. John Cummings & Edith Stirling, Dec Q 1901, Birkenhead RD.
  3. [S387] FreeBMD. Mary Edith Sterling, Jun Q 1881, Birkenhead RD.
  4. [S572] 1891 Census for England & Wales, RG12/2878 folio 75. Image viewed at Ancestry.
  5. [S744] 1901 Census for England & Wales, RG13/3390 folio 99. Image viewed at Ancestry.
  6. [S1656] Image of the 1911 Census for England and Wales (1911 Census.co.uk, http://www.1911census.co.uk/), RG14, RD 452, SD 1, ED 30, Schedule 86.
  7. [S2280] England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858-1966. Images viewed at Ancestry.com. Mary Edith Cumming, 1959.
  8. [S387] FreeBMD. Marion Cumming, mother's surname Stirling, Mar Q 1914, Birkenhead RD.