William Rea, Brewer in Dundee

WILLIAM REA

Fake Pedigree

Please note that this man is not the same person as William Rae who is the second son of John Rae, Coalhewer in Carntyne William Rae, the brewer in Dundee, here treated, is noticed in four pedigrees held ny My Heritage, where he is incorectly identified as the son of John Rae in Little Govan and his wife Jean Mann. Jean Mann's husband was a coal hewer in Carntyne John Rae, Coalhewer in Carntyne and he is not the father of the Dundee brewer. Moreover, neither he or his son William Rae, or William the brewer, have any known connection with the family who owned the Lanarkshire estate of Little Govan

The Question of Identity

William Rea, here treated was a Brewer in Dundee. He is first noticed in Dundee on 4 June 1791. Dundee Marriage Records

Birth

William Rea, brewer in Dundee, is reported to have been born in the Angus parish of Kirriemuir. If his age as it was reported at the time of his death is correct then he was probably born there during the twelve month period which began on 6 July 1758 and ended on 5 July 1759 [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Dundee Burials, 1835-43, reference OPR.282/27] and Friends of Dundee City Archives: Howff Graveyard

Lilybank, Dundee, 1801

William Rea was a resident of Lilybank in Dundee when the census return of 1801 was enumerated. At this time there were two males and two females living in his household. In Dundee at this time there was another seven households headed by male members of the Rea family. The most notable of these is Charles Rea Friends of Dundee City Archives: 1801 Census Return for Dundee who should probably be identified with the Dundee brewer of the same name Friends of Dundee City Archives: Howff Graveyard of Dundee It cannot be regarded as certain but it is possible that Charles Rea is that son of Charles Rae whose baptism was registered at Kirriemuir on 4 January 1758 Scottish Baptisms

Death

William Rea, brewer in Dundee, died of old age, aged 80 years, on 5 July 1839 [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Dundee Burials, 1835-43, reference OPR.282/27]. He was buried in Dundee's New Howff Graveyard on 7 July 1839 Friends of Dundee City Archives: Howff Graveyard

Marriage

William Rea, brewer in Dundee, married Barbara Anderson Dundee Marriage Records They were contracted on 4 June 1791 and married on 17 June 1791.The marriage record reads as follows: "William Rea brewer & Barbara Anderson daughter of Thos Anderson both in this parish" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Dundee Marriages, 1783-1803, reference OPR.282/13]

Children

William Rea, brewer in Dundee, and his wife, Barbara Anderson, had five children whose names have been identified from their baptismal records. They follow:

1. Margaret Rea
2. Matilda Johnston Rea
3. Robert Rea
4. William Rea, seaman
5. James Rea, mill foreman