William Peterswald

Planter in Jamaica, owner of Petersfield Pen, married to Jane Gray (1790-1868). Resident in the 1830s but in Britain by 1841 and dying in Liverpool c. 1848. After his death his widow and son moved to South Australia.

1. William Peterswald's sisters-in-law Elizabeth Gray (1787-1815) and Williamina James [in fact Wilhelmina Jemima] Gray (1789-1869) were married to Charles Reynolds (q.v.) of Clermont, St Mary's and Hugh Walker (q.v.) of Carron Hall, St Mary's respectively, and were the nieces of William Gray (q.v.) of Skibo and Jamaica.

2. Will of William Peterswald [now residing at No.19 Rodney Street] Liverpool Lancashire [made 18/01/1847] proved 03/10/1848. He left one-third of his estate to his wife Jane and the balance to his son William John Peterswald, then learning the business of a merchant, at 23 (which would be in 1851). If William John died, one half of the residual estate was to go to William Peterswald's reputed children of colour by Hellen Cunningham since Hellen Walker of St Mary Jamaica, and the other half to his wife's relatives around Edinburgh. His executors were Netlam Tory, Thomas McWhinney and John Hoyes, now or lately merchants of Liverpool, and Robert Fotheringham of Edinburgh.

3. He was almost certainly the William Peterwald age 60 shown with Jane Peterwald age 50 and William Peterwald aged 12 on Claremont Street in Edinburgh with two female servants in 1841.

T71/856 St Marys Nos. 431 and 434.

1. Email from Allan Gray, 02/09/2011. Hugh Walker's daughter who drowned with Charles Reynolds in 1815 was shown as Reynolds' niece, so the men were certainly brothers-in-law. Although the Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America, 1625-1825. Vol. III gives Hugh Walker's wife as Wilhelmina Jemima Young, daughter of Capt. Walter Young, marrying 28/01/1812, an online reproduction of a notice of the marriage shows 28/01/1811 and Wilhelmina Jemima Gray.

2. PROB 11/2082/155.

3. 1841 Scotland census.

We are grateful to James Brennan for his assistance with compiling this entry.