Peter Wallace (1755 - 1782)

Descendants

Died 15 Jul 1782 at age 27 in Kingston, Jamaica

Biography

Peter Wallace was born in 1755 into a family of Scottish origin who were possibly Quakers.

In or before 1777, he married Sarah Stoakes Harris, from a wealthy and influential family in Jamaica, and they had four children in quick succession: Thomas in 1778, an unidentified daughter in 1779, Peter in 1780, and Sarah in 1781.

Living at the time at Arnold in Nottinghamshire, they decided to visit Sarah's parents in Jamaica. Leaving the two younger children with relations in Nottinghamshire, they set sail from London with the two older children and Peter's unmarried sister. Since Britain was at war with the USA, France, Spain and Holland, their ship had to sail in a protected convoy. They arrived in Kingston on 26 Jun 1782, but tragedy struck as Peter died on 15 Jul 1782, followed by his son Thomas on 16 Jul 1782.^[1]

His widow stayed on in her father's house with the surviving daughter until May 1784, when she returned with her father to England to rejoin her two youngest children.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ "1782, June 26. The London fleet is safe arrived .... In the fleet came Mrs Neufville & Mr & Mrs Wallace from Notting' " "1782, July 8. Mr Mrs & Miss Wallace & two children, the family we went to visit in Nottinghamshire.." "1782, Sept. 13. Poor Wallace is dead, also his son a fine boy about 5 years old" "Peter Wallace, Esq., died 15 July, aged 28, and his son Tho. Stoakes Wallace died the following day, aged 4 years and 5 months; bur. in Kingston Churchyard (Archer, 152.)" Caribbeana, vol 5, DWARRIS LETTERS, http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/bcarib69.htm
2. ↑ "1784, March 20. Five weeks visit to Mr Harris's family & Mrs Wallace.  Mr Harris & Mrs. Wallace leave Jamaica in May next for England where she is going to stay two or three years with her children which she left there, she means to reside at Notingham. Mr. H. will not stay with her in England as she cannot prevail upon her mother to leave this country." "1784, May 3.  Mrs Wallace & her father .... the little girl which she brought out is to stay here with the grandmother." Caribbeana, vol 5, DWARRIS LETTERS, http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/bcarib69.htm