WCP613

[1]

83 Port Street

Stirling

8 Feb[ruar]y 1899

Sir,

Since I wrote you ten days ago I have been making[?] inquiries but I can find no family of the name of Wallace in Stirling[?] in the last century except the one I mentioned to you, the Wallaces of Forteshire[?]. They were not originally a Sterling family and may have come from [1 word illeg.] but I cannot tell at present.—

Mr. Andrew Wallace became a member of the Merchant Guild of Stirling[?] (an ancient [2] corporation similar, on a small scale, to the great [1 word illeg.] companies of London in 1748 and in the recorded of his entry he is described as "[1 word illeg.] in & ancestry[?]" to [1 word illeg.] is a small town in Forteshire[?]—

Mr. Wallace usual have come to Sterling Down after that time as in 1756 he was elected Dean of Guild—that is chairman or president of the incorporation.—

I paid a visit on Tuesday to the family burying ground but found it surrounded by an [1 word illeg.] iron railing which prevented me [from] getting on it remove new moss the which [1 word illeg.] that in sculptures. [3] For the most part unreadable. There are these large real stones, one is that of Andrew Wallace himself but I could not get at the date of birth and death.

Our next stone was unreadable but I think it would [be] that of Andrew Wallace’s wife or wives for I think he was twice married.—

Now[?] [the] third stone[?] is inscribed

In memory of Janet-Wallace Burd relief of John Burd of Seafield and daughter of Andrew Wallace of Foreshire[?]. Died 3rd June 1864 in has 90th year.

[4] Here is also an upright stone in the churchyard Wale.

In memory of Captain Andrew Wallace of this in a jesty’s 3-6th Nov[?] Died on Lampore[?], India. 1 July 1810.

There is a [1 word illeg.] in tour (the sister of our Town Lalence[?]) who possesses an unrivalled knowledge of all Sterling[?] [1 word illeg.]. She has rivalry[?] furnished me with a list of Andrew Wallace’s family[?] which I now enclose. On the death of Mr. Burd in 1864 the property passed [5] to a Mr. Wallace Milroy said to have been a cousin of Mr. Burds but have not been able yet to discover what was the precise relationship Mr. Milroy was succeeded by her son the Rev. Wallace Milroy and by him the property was sold to a[?] [1 word illeg.] officer for the erection of Army stones.

The large and handsome Mansire house is now used partly as the residence of the officer in charge of the Ordinance stone and partly as offices. Now Rev. Mr. Wallace Milroy was formerly Reader[?] in his Temple—London, and is now I understand [6] Rector or Vicar of Paris—Brook, Isle of Wiglet.

If you were to apply to him I have no doubt. He would be able to supply fuller particulars regarding his family history and should you find that the Portteside[?] Wallaces were really your relatives I shall be very glad to send you future details regarding these gatherings from the local records.

I am | Sir | Yours very sincerely | W. L. Shirra [signature]

Alfred R. Wallace Esq.