Moria Elizabeth Stuart – Madam/The Witch

This weeks theme is “Nickname”.  There aren’t very many nicknames in our family. There are plenty of variations of names, i.e. Bert, Rob or Robbie for Robert, Alex or Sandy for Alexander, Nell or Nellie for Helen etc.

The one nickname I came across was for my maternal Granny Moira Elizabeth STUART (1928-2010) was Madam.  After emailing with the daughter of Moira’s cousin Doug, she messaged saying her dad was asking how Moira was (or Madam as he calls her).   I had never heard her called Madam and queried it with mum.  She said “oh yes, she was known as Madam to everyone”.  Seemingly as she was the youngest child she was spoilt by her elder siblings who later called her Madam and it stuck.

Left to Right: Doug (Moira’s Cousin), Moira (Madam), Isabella and Alexander (Moira’s parents)

Moira also got the nickname “The Witch”. This nickname was caused by my brother, who asked her to buy him some sweeties from the shop, she said no. Upset as he was not getting his sweets, he loudly called her an old witch in the middle of the shop.  She bought her shopping, and marched him out, much to the snickering of those who were in the shop. This name also stuck.

Mini Bio

Moira was born at Crachie in Dufftown on 26 February 1928. The youngest child of Alexander STUART (1898-1971) and Isabella GARDEN (1898-1942). She had one elder half sister (Nell) and four elder brothers (Sandy, Peter, Donald and Bert).

In 1942, Isabella passed away at the age of 44. Moira had to leave school to look after the house and her father and brothers. Her friend Helen and her sister Jean would come and help her with her chores.

On 26 July 1947, Moira married Robert George STEPHEN (1922-1994) in Elgin. Helen SMITH, Moira’s best friend, was bridesmaid and Kenneth STEPHEN, Robert’s brother, was best man.

The newlyweds moved into Tininver Cottage, Crachie, and lived there until the early 1950s, when they moved into their own house in Mount Crescent, Dufftown. Where they raised their five children, three daughters and two sons.

Moira and Robert on their Wedding Day

Moira worked as a typist, a housekeeper and had also worked at the bottling plant at Glenfiddich distillery.

Later in life, she was diagnosed with emphysema and osteoporosis.

Moira died 30 December 2010 in Aberlour; she was 82 years old. At the time of her death, she had 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is buried in Mortlach graveyard.

Moira and Robert at a Wedding 1989

When I think of my Granny, the witch, I remember that she taught me how to knit, and I knitted her a little witch in a green outfit. I can’t remember if she found this funny or not, I like to think she did. I remember her baking, her armchair dancing, her love of a game of cards and doing the crossword. She loved to listen to Dolly Parton and Daniel O’Donnell. She had a sharp wit and a great sense of humour.

To me, she wasn’t “Madam” or “The Witch”. Okay, sometimes she was “The Witch”. Most of all, she was just Granny. I think of her often which always brings a smile to my face.

Footnotes

1. Photographs from Stephen family collection.
2. Birth details from Moira Elizabeth STUART birth certificate, Stephen family documents.
3. Death details from Moira Elizabeth STEPHEN death certificate, Stephen family documents.