Written on the back of this watercolour painted by Mole in 1842: “Eliza dau of John Grey eldest of the sisters. M. W. Morrison, a judge or doctor (not sure which) in Hong Kong. Voyage there took 3 months and her first son was born at sea on the way and cradled in a turtle shell. He became a sailor very appropriately. M. 2nd Mr. Masson. After she was a widow the second time she had a school at the Manor House, Wandsworth, where Queen Anne's children had lived, since pulled down. Later she lived with a daughter outside Genoa. Aunt Eliza was a most awe inspiring lady!”

Hannah Eliza Grey (Eliza)

Born 10 April 1819 at Milfield Hill.

Died 30 April 1893

Married 1st Dr. William Morrison in 1836.

Her parents John and Hannah.

For information on the lives of Hannah and her five sisters read "The Six Brides of Dilston" by A.R.C. Bolton. The details of this family tree (right) comes from it.

Edith Leupold, Eliza's daughter.Thanks to Jane Jordan for this picture reproduced in her book on Josephine Butler.

"The following notice of this gentleman's death appeared in one of the colonial prints at the time of his decease:— “ It is with feelings of deep regret that we place in our obituary the name of William Morrison, Esq., F.R.C.S., who died on the morning of the 13th instant, from abscess in the liver, after an illness of seven weeks. Mr. Morrison was appointed by the Home Government as surgeon of this colony, and arrived in November, 1847, when he entered upon the duties of his office; and from that period, up to the commencement of his fatal illness, his services met the entire and cordial approval of the Local Government. To a very thorough knowledge of his profession, Mr. Morrison joined an ease and freedom of manner, a warmth of heart and amiability of disposition, which endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Mr. Morrison was born on the 12th of June, 1812, at Llanelly, Carnarvon, Wales; he was the first licensed lecturer on anatomy and physiology at the Newcastle-on-Tyne School of Medicine, established in 1836, which situation he continued to occupy for five years. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons when that degree was first instituted; his funeral was attended by His Excellency the Governor, the Honourable the Major General, the Honourable the Chief Justice, the government officials, the leading merchants of the colony, and by a large concourse of sorrowing friends. Mr. Morrison had a mind truly catholic; whatever his religion—whatever his creed—the man wanting his advice freely and readily obtained it. The attendance at his funeral obsequies of Sisters of Charity—of Roman Catholic priests— proves what we could but badly express in words, that he was a man who lived esteemed, and died lamented by all who knew him.”—HONG KONG REGISTER, 18th October, 1853."

“ The catholicity of soul and kindness of disposition which characterized the late Dr. Morrison, were well known to his numerous friends in this colony; he was ever doing good by stealth, and blushed to find it fame; his professional services were freely and gratuitously bestowed on all the Roman Catholic Missionaries, who found themselves compelled to leave their stations in the interior to seek medical relief and rest in this colony. These services were brought to the notice of the Emperor of the French, who forthwith desired Dr. Morrison's acceptance of the decoration of the Legion of Honour. In connection with this honourable Imperial tribute paid to worth, at once deserving and modest, we have the following in a private letter, dated Paris, 29th December last. ‘ I saw Monseigneur Forcade previous to his leaving Europe for Martinique, where he has been appointed bishop: he told me that as Dr. Morrison had not been authorised by H. M.'s government to accept the Legion of Honour, the Emperor had decreed that a-medal in gold should be struck, with a suitable inscription, and sent out to him. Poor man he is now removed from hence.' " We may take this opportunity of mentioning that a very handsome subscription has been made among the late Dr. Morrison's friends, patients, and the public, for the purpose of erecting a monument over his grave, which is being designed by Charles St. George Cleverly, Esq."—THE OVERLAND REGISTER, March 27th, 1854.”

Hong Kong. Letter of the Emperor of the French to Dr. Morrison Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paris, 12th January, 1855. "Sir, I have had the satisfaction to make known to His Majesty the Emperor, the devotion and self-denial with which, for many years, you have not spared yourself in the service of the French community in Hong Kong, and especially of the members of the catholic mission. His majesty would very much like to confer on you, as witness of his high esteem, the decoration of his imperial order of the Legion d’Honneur; but as the laws of your country do not allow this distinction to be accorded to you. The Emperor has asked me to offer you, in his name, the medal which accompanies this letter. I am personally happy to be sending you this gift which will be doubly precious to you, since it will be a souvenir of your services as well as a mark of the personal esteem of his Imperial Majesty. Please accept, dear Sir, the assurance of my most sincere respect."

Top left: The monument as represented in Hepple. Accurate although exaggerated in size. Above: The actual monument which stands in Hong Kong Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Plot Sec 13.

Photographed by Chris Nelson for the web site findagrave.com and added in July 2012.

Left: The inscription:

Sacred to the memory of

William Morrison F. R .C. S.

Colonial Surgeon,

Who departed this life

on the

13 October 1853

Aged 41 years.

Universally and Deeply Regretted.