William McDowall of the Ordnance Survey Office, Dublin

In Grenada claim no. 592, the Commissioners of Slave Compensation corresponded with William McDowall of the Ordnance Survey Office of Dublin. A William McDowall appears as widower aged 53 'portrait and historical engraver' born Grenada who was living at 22 Hazel Street, Hulme in Lancashire in 1851 with his daughters Mary Frances 26, Emma 23 and Harriot 17, Jemima 14 and Elizabeth 11. The two oldest women were born in London and are described as dress-makers, the third was born in Lancashire and was an apprentice milliner; the fourth was also born Lancashire and the fifth in St Paul's Dublin Ireland. Both his occupation and the birthplace of his fifth daughter suggest that this is the same man as the William McDowall of the Ordnance Survey Office of Dublin. In 1861 William McDowall was at 68 Walnut Street Hulme with four daughters. By 1871 only the daughters were living in Hulme. The death of a William McDowall was registered Q1 1862 at Chorlton Lancashire: no sign of a will or probate has yet been traced.

1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses online; England and Wales FreeBMD Death Index 1837-1915; T71/1609 correspondence from Wm Macdowall of Ordnance Survey Office Dublin on one slave, Martha Rose and her children, under Grenada no. 592. T71/1594 p 150 4/12/1837 letter sent to William M'Dowall, Ordnance Survey Office Phoenix Park Dublin, re Grenada no. 592.