Elizabeth Janet Semple

SEE "Timeline" for chronological order of life events including any photos and documents as available; SEE "Media" for any documents and photos included from "Timeline" as available.

Elizabeth Janet Ferguson was born July 4, 1858 in Terregles, Kirkcudbrightshire (a), Scotland, daughter of Francis, a general laborer, and Mary (Sloan) Ferguson.

On 27 August 1886, Elizabeth Janet Ferguson married James Semple in Dumfries, Scotland. At the time of their marriage, James was working as a sawyer’s foreman and Elizabeth was a dressmaker.

James and Elizabeth Semple had 11 children including Robert (1 November 1886), Mary Sloan Piper (4 February 1888), Janet "Nettie" Sandilands (19 May 1889), Frank Ferguson (26 May 1890), Margaret (1893), Agnes (1894), James "Jimmy" (16 July 1895), Francis Ferguson (1 February 1898), Elizabeth (5 January 1899), Mary Jane Carson (4 December 1899) and George Piper (4 December 1901) Semple.

In 1891, the family was living in Wolverhampton, England where James was working as a travelling draper. In 1901, the Semple family was living in Dalziel, Motherwell, Lanarkshire. Dalziel lies approximately 8 km northwest of Dalserf and it borders Cambusnethan. Its principle industries were mining coal, sandstone and ironstone. James was working as a sawyer which was work in a saw-mill or timber pit.

In the 1911 census, the family was living in Glasgow where James continued to work as a wood sawyer. Of their 11 children, only 5 were still alive; Robert, Janet, Margaret (Maggie), James and George. All 5 were at home with their parents on the night of the 1911 census.

On 20 May 1915, her husband, James Semple, age 53, died in Glasgow as a result of gallstones and acute hepatitis. Just over six months later on 22 December 1915, Elizabeth Janet (Ferguson) Semple, around age 53, died in Glasgow from angina which is chest pain that's usually a symptom of heart disease.

References: (a) After 1975, county of Kirkcudbrightshire became Dumfries & Galloway; Scotland Census; Scotland Births & Baptisms (1564-1950); Family researcher Sarah Semple Brisk; SEE Documents as available under “Media” or “Timeline” events

Note: Overview arranged by family researcher and her husband's 4th generation 1st cousin, Jim Semple, Jr., subject to additions & corrections.