Matthew Orr

Glasgow and then Caribbean merchant, dying in Tobago in 1790, brother of Thomas Orr and John Orr (each of whom q.v.).

1. Will of Matthew Orr merchant of Glasgow Lanarkshire [but now bound for Tobago] [made in 1778] proved 24/11/1790. He left his share in Brotherfield estate and his interest in the Sandy River estate to his brother John Orr of Barrowfield and his heirs (excluding John's son - also named John - and any other children by John's present wife), in default of whom to another brother James.

2. 'Mattheus Orr filius natu secundus Guilielmi nuper de Barrowfield Armigeri. Of Stobcross. Coalmaster in Glasgow. dies at King's Bay Estate, Tobago, without issue 1st August 1790.'

3. Probably the uncle of Thomas Orr, planter of Tobago, whose will was proved 12/02/1817.

4. Both Matthew and Thomas Orr were among the signatories in 1781 of inhabitants of Tobago of an address 06/06/1781 on the departure of Lt Governor Ferguson. This Thomas Orr was Matthew's brother, Thomas Orr (son of the deceased William of Barrowfield), who died in Tobago in 1787.

5. 'Matthew Orr, second son of William Orr of Barrowfield, a merchant in Glasgow and then in Barbados [sic], testament confirmed on 14/02/1791 commissariat of Edinburgh [NAS].'

1. PROB 11/1199/175

2. The matriculation albums of the University of Glasgow from 1728-1858 no. 2079, which shows him as son of 356; nephew of 647 (John Orr); brother of 1885; uncle of 4835 (Gilbert Kennedy), 5622, 6060.

3. PROB 11/1589/203.

4. The Remembrancer Vol. 12 (1781) p. 250; The Scots Magazine Vol 49 (August 1787)p. 413.

5. David Dobson, Barbados and Scotland Links, 1627-1877 p. 110.