McManus 168

Wiliam Crosthwaite was born in England c.1800.^[3] His death certificate lists his parents as William Crosthwaite, farmer, and Jane Edmondson.^[1] The Ancestry website provided the transcript of a baptismal entry for a William Crosthwaite, father William and mother Jane Edmundson, 20th January 1800, at Crosthwaite, Cumberland.

By 1841, the  census recorded William as having lived at Albert Street, Dundee and is shown in the Dundee Postal Directory, 1840-41, as a merchant, living at 1 Victoria Street (probably the same address). He had a number of home addresses in Dundee in the years following, ending up by 1853 in King Street House (4 King Street) where he stayed before moving to Fife. William’s home of King Street House was advertised for sale in 1863. The properties comprised – “King Street House and Dwelling Houses, Counting Houses and Warehouses for sale by Public Roup.” The advert went on to define the boundaries – “King Street House and Ground attached, situated on the North side of King Street all as presently occupied by William Crosthwaite Esq. The ground attached extends from King Street, North to the Bucklemaker Wynd.”^[27]

The Dundee Postal Directories note that his office was in St Andrew’s Street which is confirmed by the 1855 valuation roll. The valuation roll for 1865 shows that, by then, he rented a factory in Cotton Road. This was later to be let in 1871, as advertised in the Dundee Advertiser – “To let, the Handloom Factory at No 23 Cotton Road, presently occupied by William Crosthwaite, Esq. Apply to Mr McLauchlan, manager, Dens Road Factory.”^[28]

It would appear that, by the mid 1860s, William’s dealings in trade took place in Dundee and Pitlessie in Fife. His will stipulated that by his death in 1873, he had an office and stock in Dundee, manufactories in Fife (at Collessie and Pitlessie) and interests in Perthshire also.^[29] Curiously, another Crosthwaite (Thomas) also operated as a linen manufacturer in Pitlessie. No mention was made of any other Crosthwaite in William’s will, his estate going to his immediate family only.^[29]

Although, doubtless, there is a likelihood of a connection between the two (William and Thomas), it has not become immediately evident (Thomas was the son of Thomas Crosthwaite). A piece of evidence which does suggest a connection is the fact that Thomas’ daughter, Elizabeth subsequently resided at a house she named ‘Ferrybank,’  39A Mains Loan in Dundee – the very name of William’s home near Cupar, Fife. Thomas also had a son named William – the name of the informant on William’s death record.^[29]

No children have been traced from William’s first marriage to Elizabeth Powell whose father was Caleb Edward Powell, Solicitor to the Mint.^[4] Elizabeth died 26 April 1856, aged 48, cause of death dropsy.^[4] He married his second wife, Emma Waller (many years his junior), in 1857 in Kingston on Hull^[8]. At the time of the 1861 census, Emma was staying in lodgings in Bridge of Allan with her ten month old daughter, Louisa. In his later years the family lived at Ferrybank House in the parish of Cupar, county of Fife. The household included a governess (his will indicated that his children were to be educated at home) together with servants.

William Crosthwaite died at Bridge of Allan, aged 73.^[1] At the time of his death, William left a relatively young wife, together with a young family of 4, to mourn his loss. For his wife Emma, this was not to be her only brush with grief. She outlived two of their children. Their daughter Louisa Edmondson Crosthwaite died, aged 28, in 1888. Their only son, William Waller Crosthwaite died in 1890, aboard the Royal Mail steamer “Merkara” at Suez, while on passage home from Australia.^[30] He was merely 30 years old.^[30] Only their daughters Emma and Octavia outlived their parents.