Peter Laurence

BIRTH & BAPTISM

Name:	Peter Laurence Gender:	Male Christening Date:	20 Nov 1808 Christening Place:	TRINITY GASK,PERTH,SCOTLAND Birth Date:	30 Oct 1808 Father's Name:	Peter Laurence Mother's Name:	Janet Bayne

The baptism record for Peter says his parents were from South Kinkell which was a farmstead. Kinkell is close to Auchterarder in Perthshire.

All their children except Jane, whose baptism I haven't found, are baptised at Trinity Gask, so I am guessing Janet's parents might have lived in the area.

1841 census, Newtyle, Forfarshire (Angus): Peter is living at Newtyle with Jane, Thomas and David. No James or John, no parents. The Laurances live in Commercial Street Newtyle. Peter is a merchant, and so is David. Thomas is a baker. They live with Robert Reis, baker, and Mary Lamont, 15 yrs who might be a servant.

I have at last found evidence of the Lawrence brothers' business at Newtyle: Dundee Perth and Cupar Advertiser 12 May 1848 DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP THE PARTNERSHIP CARRIED ON in Newtyle in the name of David Lawrence, Baker, grocer, and Ironmonger, has this day been dissolved by MUTUAL CONSENT. All those having claims against the late Firm will have them settled on application to Peter Lawrence; and all those INDEBTED to the late firm will make payment without delay. THOMAS LAWRENCE PETER LAWRENCE Witnesses William M'Pherson & William Anderson Newtyle May 5 1848.

IN reference to the above the Subscriber begs to inform his Friends and the Public that he is to CARRY ON the above BUSINESS in his own name, in all its branches; where he hopes that by strict attention to business, selling at the lowest remunerating profit for ready money, to merit the continuance of those favours enjoyed by the late firm. PETER LAWRENCE

The 1851 census shows Peter living in Commercial Street Newtyle, 41yrs old, ironmonger & merchant, with his mother Janet 73yrs, annuitant, and nephew (son of Thomas) James 14yrs.

1854 Peter marries Ann Taylor. There are two possible records for these names - 10 January at Auchterarder, or 8 January at Blackford. Ann comes from Blackford so I think there is a transcription problem.

1855/56: The Valuation Rolls for Auchterarder Parish show Peter as the tenant of a house and garden in Auchterarder, south side, which he lives in - perhaps meaning the south side of the High Street. The property valued at 13 pounds. He might be working as a bookseller?

Perthshire Advertiser of 27 November 1856 lists Peter Laurence, merchant at Auchterarder, as agent for a sale of books and paintings. In 1854 he donated 5/- to the Patriotic Fund, then listed as a grocer. In 1857 Peter Laurence proposes a toast at the dinner of the Auchterarder Curling Club. Seems to be our man, although Crieff-Drummond Curling Club elected Peter Laurence as vice president, and a coal merchant of the same name lives in Crieff, so perhaps not.

1861 census, Auchterarder Township, Temperance Hotel: Peter Lawrence, head, 52 yrs, born Trinity Gask, Bookseller, at the Auchterarder Temperance Hotel; Ann Lawrence, wife, 43 yrs, born Blackford; John Peter Lawrence, son, 6 yrs, scholar, born Auchterarder; Margaret Smith Lawrence, daughter, 5 yrs, scholar, born Auchterarder. See documents and here: 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription Temperance Hotel, Auchterarder, The Town of Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland

Thomas Stewart Head Married Male 33 1828 Cotton Worsted & Silk Weaver Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland Mary Stewart Wife Married Female 31 1830 Cotton Winder Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland George Stewart Son - Male 3 1858 - Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland Mary Stewart Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland Peter Lawrence Head Married Male 52 1809 Book Seller Trinity Gask, Perthshire, Scotland Ann Lawrence Wife Married Female 43 1818 - Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland John Peter Lawrence Son - Male 6 1855 Scholar Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland Margaret Smith Lawrence Daughter - Female 5 1856 Scholar Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland Jane Miller Servant Unmarried Female 15 1846 Domestic Serv Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland

Dunfermline Saturday Press 2 June 1866: GENERAL NEAL DOW.

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A deputation of Liverpool and Manchester members of the United Kingdom Alliance, met the Peruvian, which arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, from Quebec, to welcome General Neal Dow, who is visiting England and the continent, for the double purpose of improving his own health and promoting the temperance cause. The General was conducted to Laurence's Temperance Hotel, where he was entertained to breakfast by about fifty gentlemen --- Mr Laurence Heyworth, president of the South Lancashire and North Cheshire Temperence Union, taking the chair.

1871 census, 3 College Street, St Andrews, St Andrews & St Leonards, Fife. Peter Laurence, Head, married, male, 62 yrs, b 1809, Perthshire, Temperance Hotel Keeper. Anna, his wife, 52 yrs., b 1819 Blackford Perthshire, Temperance Hotel Keeper. John P , son, unmarried, 16 yrs, born 1855 Auchterarder, apprentice clothier. Margaret S, daughter, unmarried, 14 yrs, born 1857 Auchterarder, scholar. Isabella A McAra, servant, unmarried, 24 yrs, born 1847 Auchterarder, general domestic servant. Samuel W Youngman, Boarder, married, 60 yrs, born 1811 England, annuitant. Harriet C Youngman, Boarder, 61 yrs, born 1810 England, annuitant. James McLintock, Lodger, unmarried, 65 yrs, born 1806 England, commercial traveller.

In the birth and baptism records for his children, Peter is described as a merchant, which is consistent with him being a bookseller, but he has also been a grocer, ironmonger, etc. Brian Worseldine's letters demonstrate how very strong is the family commitment to temperance. The way Thomas John Mills died must have been very concerning for them. Certainly, his daughters who lived with him through the period after their mother died and Thomas John was apparently drinking heavily, constantly warned their brother about the evils of drink. John Peter's death certificate describes Peter as a hotel keeper, deceased, and the informant is John Peter's cousin, Peter Malcolm, a farmer at Kincardine, who should know. John Peter ran the temperance hotel with his mother, Ann, after Peter's death.

Fife Herald 5 December 1878 Deaths At the Temperance Hotel, St Andrews, on the 3rd inst., Mr Peter Lawrence.

In loving memory of John P. Lawrence, Imperial Hotel who fell asleep 1.10.1888 aged 33y and his wife Eliza Aikenhead Stenhouse fell asleep 31.1.1920 aged 64y Because I live they shall live also Peter Lawrence d. 3.12.1878 aged 70y. Also Anne Taylor relict of the above who passed from us 20.3.1905. Also Margaret Taylor d. 21.5.1896 aged 74.

Cemetery St Andrews Eastern Cemetery

Peter's will is now in docs.