The first official record that I have found for her is her marriage certificate. She married on 22nd June 1861, at the parish church in Comber, Co. Down, Ireland and her husband was David Gilliland. The certificate says that her occupation was 'sewer' and that both she and David were 'of full age'. Their witnesses were David Thompson and Sarah McCollough.

In the 1871 census Elizabeth was recorded with her husband, David, at Whitelee, Crook and Billy Row in Co. Durham.  David was a miner and he was also born in Ireland. By this time they'd already had five children, but sadly their first son James who was born in 1862, died in 1864. Those recorded on the census were: Jane (7), James (4), who was named for his older brother who had died,  Elizabeth (2) and the baby was William, just 5 months old.

By the time of the 1881 census Elizabeth was 38 and she and her husband, David, who was still working as a miner, had moved with the family to Grahamsley, Cook and Billy Row. Another four children had arrived. In addition to  Jane (17), James (14), Elizabeth (12) and William (10) she now had David (8), Mary Ellen (6), John Edward (3) and Hugh (1).

In the census of 1891, the family were recorded in Gladstone Street, Sunniside, Crook and Billy Row. Elizabeth was 49 and her husband David was 54 and listed as a 'Retired Coal Miner'.  Her eldest daughter Jane had married and left home but the other seven children were still living with their parents.  The oldest boys James (24), William (20), David (18) and John Edward (13) were all working in the pit.

Sadness for the family in 1893 when Elizabeth's youngest child, Hugh, died. He was only 13 years old.

In the 1901 census, Elizabeth was 58 and David was 64. They were still living in Gladstone Terrace but were now on their own, all the remaining children had left home. Their son John Edward and his wife Ada lived in the house next door.

The census of 1911 showed Elizabeth and her husband at 14 Charlton St., Wallace Village, Springwell, Gateshead. Elizabeth was 71 and the form stated that they had been married for 50 years and they'd had 9 children, 7 of whom were still living. David was 74 and he gave his occupation as retired miner.

Elizabeth died on the 2nd of September 1924 at Front Street, Sunniside, Crook, she was 83 years old. Her death was registered by her son in law, John M Cape.

Her burial took place at St Thomas, Stanley on 6th September 1924 as recorded in the parish register.