Lucy Elizabeth Kirby was born on the 4th of  May 1887 in Portland  Street, Troon, at 09.15 am (Ref 590/2 49). She was the second of nine known children born to John Kirby and Elizabeth Taylor of Troon. The birth was registered on the 19th of May 1887, by Elizabeth Kirby. Presumably,  John Kirby, her father, some sort of seaman, was away during this period. Lucy was named after , John Kirby's mother, Lucy Payne and the Elizabeth would probably been taken from her mother Elizabeth Taylor, as there is no real history of the name Elizabeth in the Kirby family otherwise.