Alexander Pirie
M, #1459, b. 26 October 1863, d. 22 November 1887
Alexander Pirie was born on 26 October 1863 at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.1 He was the son of David Pirie and Janet Mair. His family was known by the tee-name of "Buxer".
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1871 census at 119 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Janet Pirie, head; Adam Mair, father; Geo Mair (sic), son; Alex Mair (sic), son.2
Alexander Pirie was a fisherman. He served in the crew of the Zulu fishing boat 'Maggie King.'
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1881 census at 141 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Jannet Pirie, head; George Pirie, son; Alexander Pirie, son; Margaret Pirie, boarder; John Pirie, boarder.3
They was a witness at George Pirie and Helen Anderson Legg's wedding at 109 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 22 April 1881.4,5 He married Jessie Ann Bruce at Seafield Church, Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 11 January 1884.6,7 Alexander died on 22 November 1887 at sea, off Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, at age 24. He perished with the Portknockie Zulu fishing boat 'Maggie King' that foundered 2½ miles off Portknockie harbour. The entire crew was lost. They were Alexander Wood "King" (skipper), Alexander Pirie "Buxer", William Pirie "John", James McIntosh and John McIntosh (owner). The body of John McIntosh was the only one recovered.8,7
On 17 Feb 1889 a man's sea boot containing a foot was found on the beach at Cullen, Banffshire. The news items are consistent with the loss of the Portknockie boat 'Maggie King' and although the name stated was Ann Pirie "Buxer" rather than Jessie Ann Pirie "Buxer", it is believed that this was the foot of Jessie Ann Pirie's husband, Alexander Pirie "Buxer."9,10
Following the loss of the fishing boat 'Polly' BF 1684 on 15 November 1895, the Rev. James McIntyre in concluding this Sunday sermon indentified similarities between the fate that befell the crew of the 'Polly' and the fate on 22 November 1887 of the crew of the 'Maggie King' BF 236.
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1871 census at 119 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Janet Pirie, head; Adam Mair, father; Geo Mair (sic), son; Alex Mair (sic), son.2
Alexander Pirie was a fisherman. He served in the crew of the Zulu fishing boat 'Maggie King.'
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1881 census at 141 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Jannet Pirie, head; George Pirie, son; Alexander Pirie, son; Margaret Pirie, boarder; John Pirie, boarder.3
They was a witness at George Pirie and Helen Anderson Legg's wedding at 109 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 22 April 1881.4,5 He married Jessie Ann Bruce at Seafield Church, Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 11 January 1884.6,7 Alexander died on 22 November 1887 at sea, off Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, at age 24. He perished with the Portknockie Zulu fishing boat 'Maggie King' that foundered 2½ miles off Portknockie harbour. The entire crew was lost. They were Alexander Wood "King" (skipper), Alexander Pirie "Buxer", William Pirie "John", James McIntosh and John McIntosh (owner). The body of John McIntosh was the only one recovered.8,7
On 17 Feb 1889 a man's sea boot containing a foot was found on the beach at Cullen, Banffshire. The news items are consistent with the loss of the Portknockie boat 'Maggie King' and although the name stated was Ann Pirie "Buxer" rather than Jessie Ann Pirie "Buxer", it is believed that this was the foot of Jessie Ann Pirie's husband, Alexander Pirie "Buxer."9,10 Following the loss of the fishing boat 'Polly' BF 1684 on 15 November 1895, the Rev. James McIntyre in concluding this Sunday sermon indentified similarities between the fate that befell the crew of the 'Polly' and the fate on 22 November 1887 of the crew of the 'Maggie King' BF 236.
Children of Alexander Pirie and Jessie Ann Bruce
- David Pirie+ b. 3 Jul 1884, d. 4 Dec 1971
- Jessie Helen Pirie b. 13 Jun 1887, d. 4 Nov 1901
Citations
- [S933] LDS Church, International Genealogical Index, "Alexander Pirie, male. Birth: 26 OCT 1863 Seafield, Banff, Scotland. Father: David Pirie. Mother: Janet Mair."
- [S5417] 1871, Scottish Census, "Alex Mair (sic), son, unmarried, male, age 7, born in Banffshire, scholar, resident at 119 Portknockie."
- [S2480] 1881, Scottish Census, "Alexander Pirie, son, male, age 18, born in Portknockie, Banffshire, fisherman, resident at 141 Portknockie."
- [S4139] George Pirie to Helen Anderson Legg, Statutory Register of Marriages in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "1881, on the Twenty-Second day of April at 109 Portknockie, Seafield (Rathven), After Banns, According to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland. George Pirie, Shoemaker (Master) (Bachelor), 22 years, resident at Portknockie, Father: David Pirie, Fisherman (Deceased), Mother: Jessie Pirie M.S. Mair. Hellen Anderson Legg, Master Shoemaker's Daughter (Spinster), 23 years, resident at Portessie, Rathven, Father: John Legg, Shoemaker (Master), Mother: Margaret Legg M.S Smith. James McIntyre, Minister of Seafield. Alexander Pirie Witness. George Smith Legg Witness. Registered: 1881, April 22nd at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre Registrar."
- [S1054] Dr Guy D Sutherland-Barnicoat, Neil Pirie, Information kindly supplied by Dr Guy Barnicoat of Commerce Township, Michigan, USA.
- [S935] Alexander Pirie to Jessie Ann Bruce, Register of Marriages in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "1884, on the Eleventh day of January at Seafield Church. After Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland. Alexr. Pirie, Fisherman (Bachelor), age 21, usual residence Portknockie, parents David Pirie Fisherman (Deceased), Janet Pirie M.S. Mair. Jessie Ann Bruce, Fishergirl (Spinster), age 22, usual residence Portknockie, parents Robert Bruce Farm-Servant (Deceased), Ann Baillie. James McIntyre, Minister of Seafield. John Pirie Witness. James Pirie Witness. Registered 1884 January 11th at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre Registrar."
- [S772] Robert Mair, Neil Pirie, Information kindly supplied by Robert Mair of Durham, England.
- [S936] Alexander Pirie, Statutory Register of Deaths in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "See Reg. of Cor. Ents., Vol. 1, p.40, December 21st 1887. Alexander Pirie, Fisherman (Married to Jessie Ann Bruce), died 1887 November Twenty-second, at 3h 30m P.M. About 2½ miles off Portknockie Harbour, Domicil Portknockie Seafield (Rathven), Male, 25 years. Father: David Pirie "Buxer", Fisherman (Deceased), Mother: Jessie Pirie M.S. Mair "Edzie". Cause of death: Drowning By Boat Foundering. Informant: George Pirie, Brother, 150 Portknockie. Registered: 1887, November 29th at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre, Registrar."
- [S5700] "MAN'S FOOT FOUND ON THE BEACH AT CULLEN", "MAN'S FOOT FOUND ON THE BEACH AT CULLEN - On Sunday a fisherman's sea-boot was found cast up on the beach at Cullen, and when examined was found to contain a man's foot in a decomposed state. The stocking was, however, in good preservation, and from markings on it was yesterday identified by Mrs Ann Pirie, "Buxer," Portknockie, as having belonged to her husband, who drowned off the coast of Portknockie along with four other fishermen by the capsizing of a small fishing boat in November, 1887. Only one of the bodies was afterwards found."
- [S5701] "THE PORTKNOCKIE BOAT DISASTER OF 1887", "THE PORTKNOCKIE BOAT DISASTER OF 1887 - On Sunday, when two persons were walking along the sands of Cullen Bay they came upon a sea boot which was found to contain a man's foot in a state of decomposition. The stocking was, however, in a sufficiently good state of preservation to be identified by Mrs Ann Pirie "Buxie" (sic), Portknockie, as belonging to her husband, who was drowned off Portknockie with four other fishermen, by the capsizing of their boat in November, 1887. Only one of the five bodies was recovered, and no further trace of the others has appeared till the present time."