MORSE

Family

NOTE
FROM AN EMAIL 5 JUL 2006 BY JANE OWENS GREAT GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF ELIZABETH MORSE

Esther (Durrans) was born a Vandersteen and her sister - Mary Ann Vandersteen - married Edward Benger and then, 5 years later, Stephen Morse. Mary Ann and Stephen had three daughters - Mary Ann, Esther and Elizabeth. Esther and Elizabeth married two Butler brothers - Esther married Alexander Butler and Elizabeth (unfortunately for her) married my great great grandfather Edward Essex Short Butler. I think he was the reason why, at the end of her (Esther Durrans) will, she said that the money and property she was leaving her nieces was not to be affected by their husbands' behaviour - E E Short Butler was a drinker and gambler.
Presumably Harriet Vandersteen was the daughter of one of Esther Durrans (nee Vandersteen's) brothers and sisters.
I don't have Elizabeth Morse's birth certificates but tracked various bits of information down from the censuses. Interestingly, Elizabeth died at Rose Cottages, Old Ford Rd in 1874 so was presumably living in the house that Esther Durrans left. I think that, by 1870, Esther and Alexander were living in Australia so they probably left all the household goods with Elizabeth. By 1870, she had 6 children with another two to arrive by the time she died 4 years later.