David Murray Lyon (1819 - 1904)

Born 9 Aug 1819 in Ayr, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elspeth (Cooper) Lyon — married 4 Dec 1840 in Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland

Husband of Mary (McColm) Lyon — married 8 Sep 1859 in Ayr, Scotland

Descendants

Died 30 Jan 1904 at age 84 in Liberton, Edinburgh, Scotland

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Biography

David Murray Lyon, the son of Captain Robert Lyon and Janet Murray was born in Newton on Ayr in 1819. ^[1]

David became a Master Printer by profession. He entered the employment of the Ayr Advertiser, as an apprentice compositor, in 1833.

In January 1840, he fathered an illegitimate* but acknowledged son, Thomas Stewart Lyon, by Sarah Stewart.

After the birth of this first son, David Murray Lyon was packed off to Aberdeen where he worked for some seven years, learning his trade, where after he returned to Ayr to take up the position of foreman printer with the Ayr Advertiser, where he remained until retirement.

In 1850 he won first prize in a competition promoted by the Sabbath Protection Society for essays by working men, with “The Shadow of a Great Rock in a Weary Land”, which was later published. He enjoyed researching local history, pouring over the old records and minutes of Ayr Town Council and the Kirk session records, producing a series of articles on the history of Ayr, which appeared in book form some years after his death.

In 1856 he joined the Lodge Ayr St Paul of the freemasons, joining Grand Lodge seven years later. Freemasonry became one of the major influences in his later life and he wrote a number of histories of local lodges.

In 1877 when the office of Grand Secretary became vacant he was elected to that position by a large majority, a position he retained until shortly before his death. This new post necessitated his retirement from the Ayr Advertiser, and his removal from Ayr to Liberton, Edinburgh, where he remained for the rest of his life.

David Murray Lyon became the recognised authority on all matters Masonic and brought Grand Lodge more closely in touch with Scottish Lodges abroad. He was the author, in 1873, of “The History of the Lodge of Edinburgh” and of a much expanded History “embracing an account of the rise and progress of freemasonry in Scotland” published in 1900.

The Glasgow Evening News of 23rd February 1892 said of him that the “Grand Secretary has by his works elevated himself to a very high position in the world of literature, it is not too much to say that his successful administration of Grand Lodge affairs has won for him a lasting reputation as an administrator; for to him, in all justice, must be awarded much of the credit of the honourable position which the Grand Lodge of Scotland now possesses amongst the Craft throughout the world.”

In December 1840, not long after his arrival in Aberdeen, he married Elspeth Cooper, from Peterhead, ^[2]

David and Elspeth had 7 children, i.e. Janet Murray Lyon, 1842; Mary Garroch Walker Lyon, 1845; Margaret Murray Lyon, 1847; David Murray Lyon, 1850; Annie Cooper Lyon, 1852; unnamed son, 1854 and Elspeth Lyon, 1855.

Elspeth Lyon, i.e. David's wife, died at Darlington Cottage, Newton on Ayr in May 1858, perhaps worn out with constant child bearing, aged not quite 37 years old.

Following the death of Elspeth Cooper, David Murray Lyon married for a second time, in September 1859, to Mary McColm (a corruption of McCallum and carried down through the family as Malcom). ^[3]

David and Mary had eight more children, these being, Thomas Malcom Lyon, 1860; William Malcom Lyon, 1862; Agnes Malcom Lyon, 1864; James Malcom Lyon, 1866; Margaret Malcom Lyon, 1868; Robert Murray Lyon, 1870; Janet Drennan Lyon, 1872 and Donald MacDonald Lyon, 1875.

David Murray Lyon fondly known as, "Old Whiskers" by his grandchildren died at his home in Liberton, Edinburgh on 30th January 1904. ^[4]

Note

(*)The term illigitimate was a derogatory title imposed by church & state on children whose parents weren't married before their birth. Its origin dates from 1530s, "born out of wedlock," formed in English (and replacing earlier illegitime, c. 1500), modeled on Late Latin illegitimus "not legitimate" (see il- + legitimate). Sense of "unauthorized, unwarranted" is from 1640s. Fortunately, nowadays the church in particular has less influence on ones birthright & family life.

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTKF-Y9Z : 2 January 2015), David Lyon, 09 Aug 1819; citing , reference 2:15GVQZ6; FHL microfilm 1,041,406.Name: David Lyon Gender: Male Christening Date: 16 Aug 1819 Christening Place: , ST. QUIVOX AND NEWTON, AYR, SCOTLAND Birth Date: 09 Aug 1819 Father's Name: Robert Lyon Mother's Name: Janet Murray Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11612-7 System Origin: Scotland-VR GS Film number: 1041406 Reference ID: 2:15GVQZ6
2. ↑
   Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTJX-T8X : 8 December 2014), David Murray Lyon and Elspet Cooper, 04 Dec 1840; citing Saint Nicholas,Aberdeen,Aberdeen,Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 991,201.Name: David Murray Lyon
   Spouse's Name: Elspet Cooper
   Event Date: 04 Dec 1840
   Event Place: Saint Nicholas,Aberdeen,Aberdeen,Scotland
   Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M11168-5
   System Origin: Scotland-ODM
   GS Film number: 991201
   
   
   
   
3. ↑ Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTKG-B5W : 11 February 2020), D. Murray Lyon, 1859.
4. ↑ Death Registration: National Records of Scotland, Deaths Database, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 April 2023), David Murray Lyon death registered 1903 in Liberton, Edinburgh; citing Parish Number 693, Reference Number 11

With thanks to Tom Brown of Belfast, family member who provided the above biography.