The Sherriff Family, Part 1

Our story begins in the year 1761 when, on the 12^th of December, Thomas Sherriff married Marion Cowie at Bothkennar and the couple subsequently had 4 sons and three daughters:

(The year 1761 also an important year for the Muir Family, see: ‘Larbert to the Carribean’, (20^th September 2011)

Christian – born 1762 (Christened at Bothkennar 19^th December 1762)

Marion – born 1765 (Christened at Larbert 26^th May 1765)

George,  born 1768 (Christened at Larbert 8^th May 1768, died 1843)

William, born 1776, Christened at Larbert 22^nd December 1776)

Thomas born 1778, (Christened at Larbert 3^rd December 1778)

Alexander , born 1780 (Christened at Larbert 1^st September 1780)

Mary – (no verifying information found)

George Sherriff the eldest son of Thomas & Marion was a notable engineer. He served his apprenticeship in the famous firm of Boulton & Watt, of Birmingham (Watt being the celebrated  James Watt). He was recommended by them for the post of manager of the Imperial Engineering Works in St. Petersburg, and while in the service of the Russian Government he received numerous tokens of appreciation of his work, which extended through the reigns of the Tsars Nicholas and Alexander. He was decorated by one, received a gold snuff box from the other and later, on leaving the firm of Boulton & Watt, he was given a handsome desk from James Watt.

George was also the founder of Dalderse Iron Foundry and builder of Abbotshaugh house. He spent much of his working life in St. Petersburg, Russia and is reported as having died there on 10^th December 1843 aged 75 although no verification of this can be found.

He married his first wife, Sarah Roper of Kirkcaldy c1792 who died shortly after the birth (c1795) of their first and only child, daughter Sarah Roper Sherriff and was presumably buried in Russia.

Daughter Sarah Roper Sherriff died of Peritonitis at Pollokshields, Glasgow on July 13^th 1855 aged 59. Her Death Registration lists her as having lived in Pollokshields for 2 months, previously in Russia, but she is known to have been in Scotland in 1851 at the time of the 1851 Census. She was buried in the Southern Necropolis, Glasgow.

On the 17^th January 1808 at Falkirk, George married Margaret Bell, born 19^th July 1784, daughter of John Bell and Marion Cuthill of Camelon, Falkirk.

Margaret Bell’s siblings:

John born 1786, Christopher born 1788, Thomas Allan born 1797 died 2^nd June 1870, Christopher born 1799 died 4^th July 1861, Archibald born 1782, Margaret born 1784, James born 1789, James born 1791, Marion born 1793 and Ann born 1794 died 22^nd August 1859.

(The dates of death for Ann, Christopher and Thomas Allan Sherriff were taken from the Monumental Inscription)

George and Margaret Sherriff nee Bell’s children:

Marion – born 1808* (Christened at Falkirk 21^st December 1808, died 26^th December 1883 age 76)

Margaret – born 1810 (Christened at Falkirk 18^th April 1810, died 1^st May 1887)

Thomas – born 1811 (Christened at Falkirk 27^th October 1811)

Ann – born 22^nd March 1813 (Christened at Falkirk 3^rd April 1813, died 1^st May 1887 age 74)

George William – born 1819 (Christened at Falkirk 26^th February 1819, died July/August 1835 in Russia)

John Bell Sherriff – born 1821 (Christened at Falkirk 18^th November 1821)

Alexander Sherriff, born 1826 died 1826 in Russia)

The above births are all listed on the International Genealogical Index (Family Search).

The deaths/burials of George William, Alexander and their mother Margaret are recorded in he ‘Records of the Congregational Church, St. Petersburg, Russia.



In memory of MARION born 13^th December 1807 died 26^th December 1883

Eldest daughter of GEORGE SHERRIFF, St. Petersburg

Also of her sister ANN born 22^nd March 1813 died 1^st May 1887

Youngest daughter of GEORGE SHERRIFF, St. Petersburg

*Note that the Monumental Inscription lists Marion’s date of birth as 13^th December 1807)

The Inscription on the cross above the gravestone of Marion and Ann Sherriff reads: Erected by John Bell Sherriff, Carronvale, 1^st January 1881 which indicates that although the first burial was his aunt, Ann Bell in 1859, this stone was not erected until 22 years later.

The inclusion of the ‘Bells’ on this stone not only verifies their relationship with the Sherriff Family,

but also their ‘half-ownership’ of the lair.

The above ‘Oval Plot’ sits in the centre of the ‘New Burial Ground’ in Larbert Old Parish Churchyard.

It was purchased by John Bell Sherriff of Carronvale and Christopher Bell (his uncle) of Abbotshaugh

on 9^th October 1857. The total amount paid for the ground was £4

(equal to the cost of 10 Lairs @ 8/- each). John and Christopher each paying £2.

The dimensions of the lair measure 21 feet in length x approximately 12 feet in breadth.

 

To the memory of CHRISTOPHER BELL Esqr., who died at Abbot Haugh 4^th July 1861 

Also his sister ANN BELL who died 22^nd August 1859

And their brother THOMAS ALLAN BELL who died 2^nd June 1870

The following information, in the form of a 'Time-Line' is the most straightforward way of tracking John Bell Sherriff, son of George Serriff & Margaret Bell.

1841 Scotland Census – Age 20, living at Abbotshaugh with members of the Bell Family

(siblings of his father’s first wife Margaret Bell, i.e. his uncles & aunt)

1851 Scotland Census– Age 29, living at Westercommon, Glasgow, Occupation: Wine & Spirit Merchant

Also living there was his half-sister Sarah Sherriff, age 56, a British Subject born Russia)

Marriage On 27^th September 1854, at the Parish Church of Stepney

John Bell Sherriff, age 32, Merchant, residing in Glasgow, son of George Sherriff, Engineer

And Flora Taylor, age 20, residing in Stepney, daughter of Colin Taylor, Merchant

Son George born 24^th March 1856 (later to marry Catherine Jane Nimmo).

Daughter Margaret Eugenie Flora born 30^th March 1857 (later to marry William Kinross Gair).

The couple were to have no children.

Carronvale House was purchased in 1857 by John Bell Sherriff

1861 Scotland Census– Age 39, living at Carronvale House, Occupation: Merchant

Also living there were his wife  Flora, age 26, born in Killarow, Isle of Islay, Argyll and their 2 children, George age 5 and Margaret Eugenie Flora Sherriff age 4.

1871 England Census– Age 49, living in London, Occupation: Landowner

Also living there were his wife  Flora, age 26, born in Killarow, Isle of Islay, Argyll and daughter Margaret Eugenie Flora, age 14

(The whereabouts of son George age 15 – is unknown, he does not appear with the family)

John’s wife Flora Taylor died 11^th August 1876 and is buried in Larbert Old Parish Churchyard.

In memory of FLORA wife of (John Bell) Sherriff, died at Carronvale 11^th August 1876.

The above stone lying to the right of Flora’s stone has no visible inscription

1881 Scotland Census– Age 59, living at Carronvale House, Occupation: Distiller

(Also living there was son George age 25

and sister-in-law Margaret Taylor  age 41, born Kilmeny, Isle of Islay, Argyll)

1891 Scotland Census– Age 69, living at Beechmount, Occupation: Distiller

In memory of MARGARET EUGENIE FLORA wife of William Kinross Gair
and only daughter of John Bell Sherriff

Born 30^th March 1857, died at Stenhouse 30^th June 1895

 In memory of JOHN BELL SHERRIFF died at Carronvale 25^th November 1896 aged 75 years.

According to the publication ‘The Lands & Lairds of Larbert & Dunipace Parishes’ John Bell Sherriff died at Carronvale on Tuesday 10 November 1896 aged 73 and was buried in the Family Burial Ground at Larbert on Friday 13^th November 1896 - the M.I. lists his date of death as 25th November.

Continued in 'The Sherriff Family, Part 2'