Isabel Peter

ISABEL PETER

(OTHERWISE ISABEL PETERS, ISOBEL PETER, ISOBELLA PETER, OR ISABELLA PETER)

is the daughter of Thomas Peter of Crossbasket and Cardarroch (1723-74). Her mother's name is not mentioned in her baptismal record but there seems hardly any doubt that she is the daughter of Marion Bogle. She was born before 25 August 1751, the date upon which her baptism was registered at Cadder in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her baptismal record informs us that she was baptised at Glasgow and it is possible that she was born there [Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, index, FamilySearch] https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTLH-79D

Baptismal Record

The baptismal record of Isabel Peter reads as follows: "Isabel lawfull daughter to Thomas Peters younger of Crossbasket was baptised at Glasgow the 25th day of Augt jajvijc & fifty one years before these witneses Thomas Peters elder of Crossbasket & James Wardrobe Merchant in Glasgow" [Registrar General for Scotland, New register House, Edinburgh, Cadder Baptisms, 1743-1819, reference OPR.626/2].

The Death of Her Father

On 29 March 1774, Isabel Peter and her husband, James McDowall, Merchant in Glasgow, for his interest, together with her unmarried sisters Jean and Margaret Peter, gave up the testament dative and inventory of her deceased father's moveable estate. William Macdowall of Castle Semple, Isabel's father-in-law, acted himself as cautioner for the sisters on 26 May 1774 and confirmation was granted to them on 26 September following [National Archives of Scotland, Register House, Edinburgh, Commissariot Records of Glasgow, Register of Testaments, the Testament Dative of Thomas Peter of Crossbasket, registered 26 September 1774, reference CC9/7/69 pages 574-82].

Death

According to the Peerage, Isabel Peter died on 28 December 1778 [The Peerage] http://www.thepeerage.com/p45554.htm#i455538 where her surname, and that of her father, Thomas Peter of Crossbasket, is incorrectly given as Peters. Isabel Peter died of fever, probably at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland, where her burial in kirkyard of the Ramshorn and Blackfriars parish church is reported to have taken place of 31 December 1778. The mortcloth record reads as follows: "Isobella Peter sp to James McDowell Esq (cause) fever (age) 27 (fee for the hire of the mortcloth) -15- (shillings)" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Ramshorn & Blackfriars Deaths, 1776-87, reference OPR.644/59].

Marriage

Isabel Peter married James Macdowall, Merchant in Glasgow. According to Lundy's Peerage they were married in 1769 [The Peerage] http://www.thepeerage.com/p45554.htm#i455536 but a late entry in the Glasgow marriage register suggests that the marriage may have taken place in February 1770 [Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910, index, FamilySearch] https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTYB-JN1 The Glasgow marriage record reads as follows: "Mr James McDowal Merct in Glasgow & Isobella Peter l d of Thomas Peter Merct there privately maried in the month of February 1770" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Glasgow Marriages, 1765-86, reference OPR.644/26].

Children

Isabel Peter and her husband, James Macdowall, had five children:

(1) Thomas Macdowall

(2) James Milliken Macdowall

(3) William Macdowall of Garthland

(4) Day Hort Macdowall

(5) Alexander Peter Macdowall