'Wigtownshire Pirries in Lancaster and the Isle of Man'

Date(s): 2023

Creator(s): Alford, Clare

Scope & Content: Illustrated Perrie and McWilliam family history research notes comprising an introductory summary of contents and notes set out in three chapters with an additional article about 'John Miller Mor(r)ison (1832-1911), master mariner'. The author, daughter of Basil Megaw, notes her father's interest with family connections to ancestor Captain William Pirrie and her subsequent investigations.

The three chapters cover the children of William Perrie (1735-1826) and his wife Catherine McHarg. Chapter one focusses on Adolphus Alexander St George Perrie (1765-1839), baptised in 1765 at Glenluce, Scotland. About 1798 Adolphus became land steward of Quernmore Park, a large estate near Lancaster. He retired to the Isle of Man in about 1822, living with his wife Elizabeth on South Quay, Douglas. Adolphus's widow Elizabeth is recorded in the 1841 census living at South Quay with Alice Fildes aged 20, born in England. Said Alice was the orphan daughter of Captain Robert Fildes who went to the Antartic in search of seal furs. She was married at Braddan in 1846 to Christopher Morrison, a letterpress printer.

Chapter two focuses on William Perrie (1774-1815) who became a stone mason, involved in building Capernwray Hall, near Lancaster (previously known as Kier Bank). His son, William Perrie (1803-1852) continued in the building trade. He visited the Island in 1837 and following his aunt's death in 1847 retired there too with his wife. William bought several plots of land in Douglas, including land at Archway, and about 1850 built the tower house for himself, known as Arch Tower House (later the home of P H J Baume) behind his uncle Adolphus's house. He is commemorated on the same grave as Adolphus.

Chapter three covers Elizabeth Perrie (1779-1850) who married an architect, Thomas McWilliam, and remained in Glenluce. However four of her children ended up in the Isle of Man. One, Adolphus McWilliam, was involved in various business and property dealings in the Island. He obtained a mortgage from George Dumbell of the Isle of Man Joint Stock Bank, buying land at Woodville, Douglas. However the scheme fell through and he left for Australia in 1849 with his brothers Thomas and Peter McWilliam.

Elizabeth Morison (?1828-1909), the sister of John Miller Morison (JMM), was born in Jamaica. About 1884 she moved from Belfast with her sister in law and niece to the Isle of Man where they ran a boarding house in Douglas. According to the 1901 census the widowed John Miller Morison joined them there in retirement. Elizabeth's father was a brother of Eliza Morison, wife of Captain William Pirrie.. The daughter of JMM, Elizabeth La Trobe Morison (1867-1930), became a Sunday School teacher at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Douglas and was known for her work with young people.

Language: English

Extent: 1 file

Item name: genealogical notes

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FILE

ID number: MS 15472

Record class: Private

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