Robert Pirie (abt. 1785 - 1827)

Born about 1785 in Kent, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Booth) Pirie — married 29 Mar 1807 in St Botolph, Aldgate, England

Husband of Mary (Pearcey) Pirie — married 25 Jun 1815 (to about 1817) in St Mary's, Rotherhithe, England

Husband of Mary Rachel (Horn) Richardson — married 27 Aug 1818 (to 1827) in St Margarets Church, Lee, Kent, England

Descendants

Died 1827 at about age 42 in Grahamstown, Cape Colony.

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Biography

Robert Pirie South African 1820 Settler and Descendants

Very little is known about Robert Pirie.^[1]

Robert Pirie traded as a baker in Turnmill St, Clerkenwell, London. His premises in 12 Turnmill street are listed in the 1820 Robson London directory.^[2][3]

Robert Pirie and his third wife, Mary Rachel Horn, were 1820 Settlers to South Africa.^[4]

Marriages

He married at least three times:

His first wife was Elizabeth Booth. Robert and Elizabeth were married at St Botolph, Aldgate, City of London, on 29 March 1807.^[5] Robert and Elizabeth had one child, Margaret, born in 1808. Margaret accompanied George to South Africa in 1820.^[6] Elizabeth died in 1812 and was buried at St George in the East, Tower Hamlets on 8 February 1812.^[7]

Baptism of Margaret Pirie:

Pirie. 18th. Margaret. Dr. of Robert Pirie, baker, by Elizabeth. Ship Street. born the 29th of February1808. (Page 288, 1808 December)^[8]

After the death of his first wife, Robert Pirie married Mary Pearcey at St Mary, Rotherhithe. Southwark on 25 June 1815. Robert is noted as a widow in the Marriage Register.^[9]

A son, Robert George was born on 26 May 1816, and baptised at St. Mary, Rotherhithe on 21 June. ^[10] Baby Robert was barely one year old when he was buried at St. Mary, Rotherhithe on 11 May 1817.^[11]

Mary died in 1818 at age 31 and was buried at St. Mary, Rotherhithe, Surrey.

Burials in the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe, Surrey in the year 1818. Name: Mary Wife of Robert Pirie, Baker. Abode Adams Street. When Buried: April 5. Age 31.

His third wife was Mary Rachel Horne whom he married at St Margarets Church, Lee, Kent on August 27, 1818. ^[12]

Appeared personally Robert PIRIE and made oath that he is of the parish of Lee in the County of Kent, a widower, and intendeth to marry with Mary Rachel HORN of the same parish, a spinster, of the age of twenty one years and upwards, and further made oath that the usual place of abode of him the appearer hath been in the said parish of Lee for the space of four weeks last past.^[13]

Baby Robert was born on 16 December 1819 and baptised on 26 December 1819, at St. John, Clerkenwell, shortly before the family departed for South Africa, and is not reflected on the Settler returns.

Baptisms solemnised in the Parish of St. John Clerkenwell in the County of Middlesex in the year 1819."

^[14][15]

1820 Settlers

On 23 August 1819 Robert Pirie applied for information about the scheme to send settlers to the Cape of Good Hope:^[16]

No. 12 Turnmill St.

Clerkenwell

London

August 23, 1819

Sir,

Having got the given number of persons to emigrate as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, we wish to be informed with the particulars of your proposals as soon as convenient that we may send a list of the names.

Sir I remain your most obedient humble servt.

Robert PIRIE

On 20 September he wrote again, enclosing a list of fourteen able bodied industrious sober men with eight women and sixteen children desirous of emigrating and are willing to the conditions proposed in the circular. Pirie was prepared to pay the deposits himself (indicating that he had sufficient capital).^[17]

His initial proposal was not accepted, and on 1 October he wrote again asking for the names of individuals prepared to pay their own passage and asking if, in this case, said individuals would be able to receive land grants equivalent to those accepted into the scheme. ^[18]

Robert and Mary were 1820 Settlers to South Africa.^[19]

Ultimately Robert joined the party led by Thomas Willson, one of the biggest joint stock parties, sailing to the Cape Colony on La Belle Alliance.

Robert and Mary, together with Margaret, his daughter from his first marriage and baby Robert,^[20] sailed aboard La Belle Alliance on Feb 12, 1820, arriving in Algoa Bay, South Africa on May 2, 1820.^[21]

Robert was a signatory to the Settler statement of 10 March 1823, setting our the hardships experienced by the Settlers.^[22] On 1 March 1826 he aligned himself with Settlers opposing a Memorial submitted by William Howard which contained allegations about several of the authorities and others in this District.^[23]

In his Will he described himself as "being very sick and weak in Body". He left his entire estate, included landed property to his wife Mary Rachel, and upon her remarriage to pass to his daughter Margaret Pirie (who it would appear with still unmarried in 1827) The will names his "dear Children" Robert, Sarah Ann, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.Will of Robert Pirie, dated 10 May 1827. Registered with the Orphan Chamber 3 August 1832. Photocopy in possession of Sharon Caldwell bearing inscription MOOC 711/117, nr. 111. Providence unknown.]

Death and Burial

Robert Pirie was buried in Grahamstown 10th July 1827. The burial registers gives that he was a Baker and living in Grahamstown and was 43 years old.^[24][25]

Research Notes and Additional Resources

MEMORIALS RECEIVED. MARY RACHEL PIRIE, WIDOW OF ROBERT PIRIE. REMISSION OF FINES. Identifier: KAB CO_3958_88_1 Start Date: 1832 End Date: 1832 Type and Form of Archive: Correspondence File Repository: Cape Town Archives Repository Name of Creators: CO

Sources

1. ↑ He must not be confused with Robert Pirie, who also a baker, Son of George Pirie, who is associated with Fetter Street and who is shown to be in England after 1820.
2. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories p.463
3. ↑ John, brother of Robert Pirie is listed in Grays Inn Lane, Holborn.
4. ↑ Source: The Genealogical Society of South Africa:eGSSA branch, South African Records Transcribed. A selection of historical transcriptions.(http://www.eggsa.org/1820-settlers/ :accessed March 25, 2016), Letter of Application to Immigrate from Robert Pirie Seen and added by Gwyn (Lloyd)Johnson March 25, 2016.
5. ↑ Marriage register St. Botolph, Aldgate. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1931; Reference Number: P69/BOT2/A/01/Ms 9230/6
6. ↑ See Settler Return details, below.
7. ↑ Burial Register, St. George in the East, London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P93/GEO/073
8. ↑ Transcribed from image views at Ancestry.co.uk by Sharon Caldwell. Baptism Register, St. George in the East. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812; Reference Number: P93/GEO/005
9. ↑ Marriage Register of St. Mary, Rotherhithe. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1931; Reference Number: p71/mry/035/001
10. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, Rotherhithe St Mary, Register of Baptism, p71/mry, Item 015. Added by Sharon Caldwell on 30 December 2017. Note the register names the father as Robert Pirie as Baker, Adam St.
11. ↑ London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980, Call Number: p71/mry/045. Added by Sharon Caldwell on 30 December 2017. Robert George is identified as the son of Robert Pirie, Baker.
12. ↑ Source:The Genealogical Society of South Africa:eGSSA branch, South African Records Transcribed. A selection of historical transcriptions. (http://www.eggsa.org/1820-settlers/ :accessed March 24, 2016), Additional information about Robert Pirie Seen and added by Gwyn (Lloyd)Johnson March 24, 2016.
13. ↑ 20 August 1818 Marriage Licence (transcribed Sue Mackay, eggsa)
14. ↑ When Born: December 16, 1819. Baptised December 26th 1819. Child's Christian Name Robert. Parents Names Robert and Mary Rachel Pirie. Abode 12 Turnmill Street. Quality Trade or Profession. Baker.
15. ↑ Note: The Bishop's Transcript has the Church as St. John the Baptist, Finsbury.
16. ↑ National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 153. Transcription by Sue Mackay, eggsa
17. ↑ National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 228. Transcription by Sue Mackay, eggsa
18. ↑ National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 248 Transcription by Sue Mackay, eggsa
19. ↑ Source: The Genealogical Society of South Africa:eGSSA branch, South African Records Transcribed. A selection of historical transcriptions.(http://www.eggsa.org/1820-settlers/ :accessed March 25, 2016), Letter of Application to Immigrate from Robert Pirie Seen and added by Gwyn (Lloyd)Johnson March 25, 2016.
20. ↑ Baby Robert Pirie was not on the passenger lists which were compiled a few months before his birth, however he is mentioned in his father's will ..."which I leave to my dear children Robert, Sarah Ann, Mary Ann and Elizabeth Pirie at the death of their mother. Signed Robert Pirie."
21. ↑ Source: British 1820 Settlers to South Africa, 1820 Settler Names P (http://1820settlers.com) Seen and added by Gwyn (Lloyd)Johnson March 24, 2016.
22. ↑ National Archives, Kew, CO48/61, 401 Transcribed by Sue Mackay.
23. ↑ National Archives, Kew, CO48/86, 200 Transcribed by Sue Mackay.
24. ↑ https://www.eggsa.org/cgi-bin/dosearchBurials.pl
25. ↑ 1820settlers citing Lower Albany Chronicle, Lower Albany Chronicle, Part 2 1825 - 1840, (p 16).