William Pirie

M, #2934, b. 7 March 1854, d. 22 November 1887
     William Pirie was born on 7 March 1854 at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.1 He was the son of John Pirie and Ann Ross. William Pirie was baptized on 12 March 1854 at Parish of Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland.1 His family was known by the tee-name of "Skipper".
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1861 census at 178 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: John Pirie, 42; Ann Pirie, 40; Mary Pirie, 12; Margt Pirie, 9; William Pirie, 6; Ann Pirie, 3.2,3
He was a fisherman.
He was listed as head of household's son in the 1871 census at 178 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: John Pirie, head; Ann Pirie, wife; Mary Pirie, daughter; William Pirie, son; Ann Pirie, daughter.4

He was listed as head of household's son in the 1881 census at 211 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Ann Pirie, head; William Pirie, son; Mary Pirie, daughter; Ann Pirie, daughter.5
His family was known by the tee-name of "Johns". He was the informant for Margaret Pirie's death at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 14 November 1885.6,7 William died on 22 November 1887 at sea, off Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, at age 33. 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
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.

Citations

  1. [S2282] LDS Church, International Genealogical Index, "William Pirie, male. Birth: 07 MAR 1854. Christening: 12 MAR 1854 Cullen, Banff, Scotland. Father: John Pirie. Mother: Ann Ross."
  2. [S6398] 1861, Scottish Census, "William Pirie, son, unmarried, male, age 6, born in Banffshire, Rathven, scholar, resident at 178 Portknockie."
  3. [S5427] 1861, Scottish Census, "William Pirie, male, age 6, born in Rathven, Banffshire, scholar, resident at Portknockie."
  4. [S5355] 1871, Scottish Census, "William Pirie, son, unmarried, male, age 16, born in Portknockie, Banffshire, fisherman, resident at 178 Portknockie."
  5. [S5356] 1881, Scottish Census, "William Pirie, son, unmarried, male, age 25, born in Rathven, Banffshire, fisherman, resident at 211 Portknockie."
  6. [S5957] Margaret Pirie, Register of Deaths in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "Margaret Pirie, Fisher-girl (Single), died 1885, November Fourteenth 2h 0m A.M. at Portknockie, Seafield (Rathven), Female, 32 years, Father: John Pirie Fisherman (Deceased), Mother: Ann Pirie M.S. Ross (Deceased), Cause of death: Endo-Carditis, 10 Months, as cert. by S. Clark M.D.C.M., Informant: William Pirie, Brother, Registered: 1885, November 14th at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre Registrar."
  7. [S772] Robert Mair, Neil Pirie, Information kindly supplied by Robert Mair of Durham, England.
  8. [S2280] William Pirie "Johns", Statutory Register of Deaths in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "See Reg. of Cor. Ents., Vol. 1, p.39, December 21st 1887. William Pirie "Johns", Fisherman (Single), died 1887 November Twenty-second, at 3h 30m P.M. About 2½ miles off Portknockie Harbour, Usual Residence Portknockie Seafield (Rathven), Male, 31 years. Father: John Pirie "Johns", Fisherman (Deceased), Mother: Ann Pirie M.S. Ross. Cause of death: Drowning by boat foundering. Informant: John Pirie Skipper, Second Cousin, 162 Portknockie. Registered: 1887, November 29th at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre, Registrar."