The Birkmyre Connection

In 1792 Henry Birkmyre I joined the Gourock Rope Works Company.
Born in Lochwinnoch in 1762 he came from Kilbarchen to Port Glasgow and in 1814 having worked in the factory and made the position as foreman he was then made a partner in the firm.
Henry was married to his full cousin Agnes Birkmyre (B:12/04/1761) of Kilbarchen.She was the daughter of John Birkmyre and Marion Hare.
Henry died at the age of 82 on 1/5/1844. His wife died on 18/09/1849 at the age of 88.

One of their children WilliamI was born in 1802. He was to be the one that followed in his father foot steps and was trained and pointed in the right direction from a young age. He was sent to Glasgow at the age of 14 to observe and learn from the merchants. By the age of 19 he was off to America where he spent three years making connections which would prove usefull to him in the furture.

He returned to Port Glasgow in 1823 and went to work at the Gourock Rope Works as works manager.
He was married to Margaret Aitken .

William greatly improved the fortunes of the company, in all aspects he laid down the foundation for the sucess that was to follow.
He died at the age of 59 on 8/01/1862 at the family home Ashgrove in Port Glasgow.(Thought to be around the Bouverie Street area)
Margaret died in Broom Lodge in Kilmacolm 20/6/1883 at the age of 79. She had at this time one female unmarried servent/domestic help from Port Glasgow Miss Mary Moody.

Childrens Details For William I

Henry Birkmyre II
B:1832 D:1900

John Birkmyre I
B: 1834 D:09/08/1910

Adam Birkmyre
B:11/02/1884 D:22/05/1906

William Birkmyre II
B: 1838 D:1900

Agnes Marion Hair Birkmyre
Christening: 30th October 1836

Jessie Birkmyre
B: 1846 D:07/03/1909

William Birkmyre

William Birkmyre I

Helen Maclarty
B: 1835 D:01/01/1915

Married

eldest daughter of Malcom Maclarty, merchant of Greenock.

29/11/1855 in Port Glasgow

No issue.

There is conflicting information about these details!

Married?

Isabella Aitken
B:12/04/1850 D:05/10/1899

Married

27/06/1854

Margaret Somerville
B:1831 D:26/03/1889

Large Family of 12 Children

Only daughter of James Somerville

Married

15/04/1856

John Laird
Merchant

Archie (Rev)
B: 1839 D: October1901

Married

25/06/1853

Rev George Allan Coltart
B: 1833 D:25/07/1882

From Isle of White

Second Marriage

Grave stone details her as:
Wife of Henry T Wallace (Liverpool) but she shares a plot with GA Coltart.

No further deatails

Married

Fanny ?
B: ? D:21/12/1889

At Garnethill Glasgow

His home

Henry Birkmyre was also responsible for building Springbank house.

I am in no way any good at "family Trees" or genealogy so if you can help me put these pages into a better order or help in any way PLEASE get in touch.

Died as the result of an accident at Port glasgow Railway station.

This page last modified on Friday, February 28, 2003

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