Mary Elizabeth Drew

MARY ELIZABETH DREW (1797-1874)

is the second child and only daughter of James Drew, surgeon in Pollockshaws, and his wife, Elizabeth Fairlie. She was born on 7 November 1797, probably at Pollockshaws, and her baptism was registered at Eastwood Parish Church shortly thereafter [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Baptisms for Eastwood Parish, reference OPR.562/3, frame 563].

MARRIAGE

Mary Elizabeth Drew married William Reid. They had nine children, five boys and four girls, among whom was Ann Hamilton Reid.

WISCONSIN PIONEERS

By means of a disposition and settlement which was drawn up at Glasgow on 25 May 1832, John Drew of Burnbrae and Claddens appointed William Reid, Writer in Glasgow, as one of his Trustees and left £100 Sterling to: "Mrs Mary Drew, spouse of William Reid aforesaid". He made further provision, by means of a codicil dated 23 June 1841, for: "James Drew, Writer in Glasgow, for behoof of himself and his sister Mary Drew presently in America" [National Archives of Scotland, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills, Disposition and Settlement by John Drew of Burnbrae, registered 1 April 1843, reference SC36/51/18].

DEATH

Mary Elizabeth Drew Reid died in 1874. She and her husband were buried in the “Brick Church cemetery a little west of Fontana, WI.

CHILDREN

Mary Elizabeth Drew married William Reid. They had nine children, five boys and four girls, among whom was Ann Hamilton Reid.

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CALENDAR OF EVIDENCE FOR THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM REID AND MARY ELIZABETH DREW PREPARED BY NEIL REID FORD, 2010

                  1 

10 June 1820. William Reid in this parish & Mary Drew in the parish of Eastwood. 2 days.

Source: Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Marriage Register for Cathcart, reference OPR.560/2, frame 445.

                  2 

12 June 1820. Mr. William Reid, Writer in the parish of Cathcart, residing in Glasgow, & Miss Mary Drew in this parish registered for procln. 2 days.

Source: Ibidem, Marriage Register for Eastwood, reference OPR.562/5, frame 1128.

                  3 

22 April 1821. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: son John bo: 22d April Wit: The Revd. James Thomson & Dr. John Gibson.

Source: Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Baptismal Register for Glasgow, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 3621.

                  4 

25 May 1822. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: daur. Elizabeth Fairlie bo: 25 May 1822 Wit: John Gibson & John (Thomson).

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 3768.

                  5 

23 October 1823. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: daur. Ann Hamilton bo: 23d Oct: Wit: John Nimmo & John Gibson.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 3810.

                  6 

16 December 1824. William Reid, Writer, and Mary Drew a law: daur. Mary Drew bo: 16th December. Wit: Dr. John Nimmo, and John Gibson.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 3904.

                  7 

11 July 1826. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: daur. Mary Drew bo: 11th July. Wit: Dr. John Nimmo & Dr. John Gibson. Source:

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 4038.

                  8 

11 July 1829. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: son James Drew bo: 11th July. Wit: The Revd. James Thomson & James Drew.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 4254.

                  9 

20 October 1831. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: son William bo: 20th Oct: Wit: Revd. Jas. Thomson & James Drew.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 4457.

                 10 

15 June 1834. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: daur: Agnes. bo: 15th June. Wit: Dr. William Young & John Gibson.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 4712.

                 11 

7 February 1836. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: son William bo: 7th February. Wit: William Young & John Gibson.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 4902.

                 12 

8 September 1837. William Reid, Writer, & Mary Drew a law: son Robert bo: 8th Sept: Wit: John Gibson & Dr. David Gibson.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.644.1/33, frame 5082.

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A CALENDAR OF EVIDENCE FOR THE FAMILY OF JAMES DREW AND ELIZABETH FAIRLIE (OTHERWISE ELIZABETH FAIRLEY)

1

28 March 1795. James Drew Surgeon in this parish & Eliz. Fairlie in the Barony parish of Glasgow are booked 28th March

Source: Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Marriage Register for Eastwood parish, reference OPR.562/3, frame 667.

2

29 March 1795. James Drew Surgeon in the parish of Eastwood and Eliz. Fairlie in this parish. 1 day.

Source: Ibidem, Marriage Register for Barony parish, reference OPR.622/7, frame 1801.

3

21.08.1796. William, lawful son to James Drew Surgeon & Elizabeth Fairley was born 21st Aug:

Source: Ibidem, Baptismal Register for Eastwood parish, reference OPR.562/3, frame 559.

4

7 November 1797. Mary, lawful daughter to James Drew Surgeon & Elizabeth Fairley was born 7th November.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.562/3, frame 563.

5

21 March 1802. John son lawful to James Drew Surgeon in Pollockshaws & Elizabeth Fairley his spouse was born 21st March.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.562/3, frame 584.

6

29 May 1804. James son lawful to James Drew Surgeon in Pollockshaws and Elizabeth Fairley his spouse was born 28th May.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.562/3, frame 592.

7

7 July 1806. Robert son lawful to James Drew Surgeon in the Shaws and Elizabeth Fairley his spouse born 7th July.

Source: Ibidem, reference OPR.562/3, frame 602.

8

1835. James Drew, Writer in Glasgow, & Janet Nimmo, residing in ….. l. d. of the deceased Dr. John Nimmo, late physician in Glasgow, married 28 July by Mr John .......... Burgher Minister in Edinburgh.

Source: Ibidem, Glasgow Marriages, ref. OPR.644.1/41, frame 7185. Comment: Janet Nimmo's place of residence cannot be read from the microfilm copy of this register, although it may be Barmuir, or possibly Barhead. Neither can the surname of the minster be read. If this information cannot be identified from another source then the original record may need to be consulted.

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EARLY REFLECTIONS OF LAKE GENEVA

George Manierre II (1845-1924) asserted in his article “Early Reflections of Lake Geneva (Big Foot Lake), Wisconsin” published in the Illinois State Historical Society Publications that, “Her [Mary Elizabeth Drew’s] niece was the first wife of William Gladstone” (1809-1898), who was a British liberal party statesman, for many years the main political rival of Benjamin Disraeli, and four times the Prime Minister of Great Britain between 1868 and 1894. In 1839, Gladstone married Catherine Glynne, to whom he remained married until his death 59 years later. It does not appear that he ever married any other woman, which makes George II’s assertion about his great-aunt’s relationship to Gladstone’s “first wife” suspect. Whether or not he was confused, perhaps there was a connection. Catherine Glynne was the daughter of Sir Stephen Glynne of Hawarden Castle. The Glynnes were an old Whig family and Catherine was related through the maternal line to the Grenville family. The couple had a family of four boys and four girls.

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WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE

Neil Reid Ford's information about the Drew-Gladstone connection [emails June and July 2010 to Michael Delahunt] reveals that William Ewart Gladstone is Mary Reid (Drew)'s sister-in-law's first cousin (her mother's brother's son).

Here's the path:

Mary Reid (Drew)

→

James Drew

her brother

→

Jessie Drew (Nimmo)

his wife

→

Mary Nimmo (Gladstone)

her mother

→

Sir John Gladstone

her brother

→

William Gladstone

his son

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[Following are transcriptions made July 2010 by Neil Reid Ford of original records archived in Glasgow, Scotland, in the Glasgow Room in the Mitchell Library which adjoins the Archives Department for the former Strathclyde Region. This facility also houses a family history research facility.]

THE NIMMO DESCENDANTS OF JANET HAMILTON

1

11 January 1756. Janet daughter lawfull to Robert Hamilton, Kirktoun & Agnes Alexander, Janr 11, 1756.

Source: Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, East Kilbride Baptisms, ref. OPR.643/2, frame 337.

Comment: This is probably the date of the baptism.

2

26 December 1779. John lawll son to William Nimmo, Surg in Kirkintilloch, & Janet Hamilton born the 22d Decr 1779 and bapt 26th same month by .........

Source: Ibidem, Kirkintilloch Baptisms, ref. OPR.498/2, frame 136.

Comment: The name of the minister who baptised John Nimmo cannot be identified because of damage to the register.

3

1 September 1781. Robert lawful son of William Nimmo, Surgeon here, and Janet Hamilton his wife born 1st Sepr 1781 bapt by Mr Thomson.

Source: Ibidem, ref. OPR.498/2, frame 152.

4

14 February 1782. John Paterson of Middle Shields gets renunciation January 14 and 19, 1782, by Agnes Hamilton, spouse of Robert Brown of Nether Kilwanet, Margaret Hamilton in Kirkton of Kilbride, Ann Hamilton, spouse of John Reid senior of Kittochside, and Janet Hamilton, spouse of William Nimmo, surgeon, Kirkintilloch, daughter of Robert Hamilton, smith, Kirkton of Kilbride; - in parts of Middle Shields, parish of Kilbride; - and of 3000 merks Scots in a bond and disposition to the said Robert Hamilton, September 16, 1757.

Source: Lanark Sasine Abridgements for 1782, abridgement no. 194, which cites Particular Register 21/203.

5

20 September 1783. Jean lawful daur of William Nimmo, Surgeon here, & Janet Hamilton born 15th bap 20th Sepr 1783.

Source: Ibidem, ref. OPR.498/2, frame 172.

6

26 October 1808. Dr. John Nimmo, Physician in Glasw. & Mary Gladstone l. d. of Thos. Gladstone, Merchnt, in Leith married 26th of Octr. by Mr. John ...... Relief Minister in Glasgow.

Source: Ibidem, Glasgow Marriages, ref. OPR.644.1/28, frame 3137.

Comment: (1) The name of the minister who married John Nimmo and Mary Gladstone cannot be read from the microfilm copy of the register. If his name cannot be identified from another source then the original record may need to be consulted. (2) This entry confirms that Mary Gladstone is the daughter of Thomas Gladstone, merchant in Leith, and it might reasonably be deduced, therefore, that she is the sister of Sir John Gladstone, merchant in Liverpool, and the aunt of William Ewart Gladstone, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on more than one occasion. For confirmation of the relationship between Mary and John Gladstone see S. G. Checkland, The Gladstones. A Family Biography, 1764-1851 (Cambridge University Press, 1971), page 137-8.

7

February 1826. Dr John Nimmo, Physician, & Mary Gladstone, a law: son William bo: 18th August 1809. a law: daur: Helen bo: 10th June 1811, a law: daur: Janet born 4th March 1813, a law: son Thomas bo: 17th March 1815, a law: daur: Ann Jane bo: 23d April 1817, a law: son John bo: 25th April 1819, a law: son Murray, bo: 23d December 1820. Wit: Andrew White & Andrew Bannatyne

Source: Ibidem, Glasgow Baptisms, ref. OPR.644.1/32, frame 4006.

Comment: This is a late entry. All of the surviving children of Dr. John Nimmo and Mary Gladstone appear to have been recorded here.

8

1835. James Drew, Writer in Glasgow, & Janet Nimmo, residing in ……. l. d. of the deceased Dr. John Nimmo, late physician in Glasgow, married 28 July by Mr John .......... Burgher Minister in Edinburgh.

Source: Ibidem, Glasgow Marriages, ref. OPR.644.1/41, frame 7185.

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William Ewarts Gladsone's daughter Mary (1847-1927) was married to a fellow named Rev. Harry Drew (died March 31, 1910). Rev. Harry Drew was curate of Hawarden, 1883-93, served as First Warden of St. Deinol's Hostel and Library, founded by Mr. Gladstone for the promotion of sacred study, and was rector of Hawarden from 1904 to his death. Rev. and Mrs. Harry Drew had two children, Nancy and Dorothy.

Although what George Manierre II (1845-1924) erroneously asserted [in his article “Early Reflections of Lake Geneva (Big Foot Lake), Wisconsin” published in 1915(?)] that, “[Mary Elizabeth Drew’s] niece was the first wife of William Gladstone,” it is true that a Drew was the husband of William E. Gladstone's daughter Mary. Given that there was a connection between Mary Elizabeth Drew and the Gladstone family through the Nimmos, was there any other connection between Mary Elizabeth Drew and Rev. Harry Drew?

Source of data cited here regarding Rev. Henry Drew:

Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 1558.

His obituary in the NY Times, April 1, 1910: "London, March 31. The Rev. Harry Drew, rector of Hawarden since 1904, died today. He was curate of Hawarden, 1883-93, and served as First Warden of St. Deinol's Hostel and Library, founded by Mr. Gladstone for the promotion of sacred study."