Genealogy Chat

Hugh Munro or Munrow - can he be the link between my family and the barons of Foulis? • Probably born about 1747 in Scotland ( Foulis, Culcairn, Ross and Cromarty) • I have found him in the muster book of the Speedwell in 1758 as a Midshipman • I found Hugh Munrow in ADM 32/157 – the pay book of the Speedwell 1758-1760 • I could not find a passing certificate for Hugh Munro • His Captain was Joseph Fraine – I found him in the journal and in ‘Lives and Characters of Naval Officers of Great Britain’ in the N.A. Library. Page 364. he was captain of both the Speedwell and the Surprize. This is his record: o L 2nd December 1745 o CR 13 June 1758 o CA 11 December 1759 o Died 1802 • The Journal that my brother has at home was found in the attic in the sixties. My father put a cover on it that says ‘Sir Thomas Munro on board His Majesty's ships Speedwell and Surprize 1758 – 1762’ . Inside , in handwriting on the Surprize section of the journals, is written ‘Hugh Munro’ and it is clear that the journals are written by Hugh. I am not sure who my father was referring to as Sir Thomas. I wonder if Hugh Munro had another name i.e Thomas • It may have been referring to Thomas Munro of Culcairn who should have inherited the title ‘Baron of Foulis’ but is said, by the historian McKenzie to have died at sea in 1765 unmarried. I have his will which was written on board the ship Worcester in Canton River, China in 1780 so the historian was clearly wrong. He was the second mate of the East India Merchant Ship Worcester. His sister , Isabella Munro who lived at Foulis inherited from him in 1781. He mentioned an illegitimate son by Mary the Clark girl who came on board the ship, Portland, with him. He asked his brothers to do what they thought appropriate for the boy. • George Munro of Culcairn was Thomas Munro’s Grandfather who died as a result of mistaken identity when he was shot by the Jacobites while riding a borrowed horse. A document from the war office of 1747 was in my family attic. It told the family that their relative had been shot while riding a borrowed horse. • His father’s name may have been John if he followed the Scottish naming tradition as he called his son John • In the book John Thomas has written ‘died St Botoplph’s 1808’ • I think John Thomas became an apprentice barrel organ builder and went into business with Benjamin Dobson in the Minories in London. Hugh may have been the founder of the business with Dobson. Munro and Dobson organs turned up in San Francisco and Tasmania around 1800-1820 • Hugh had three children whose births were registered at St Botolph’s without Aldgate : o John Thomas November 1783 o Isabella – August 1779 o Jennet – May 1775 • Jennet married someone with the surname Howe. The Speedwell belonged to a squadron commanded by Lord Viscount Howe. • Isabella ran a boarding house in the Minories. She died in 1857 and left everything to John Thomas who was the executor of her will

Sorry Jennifer - trying to make this readable. Something this long needs to be put into the first 'reply' box since the original thread box wont keep formatting. Hugh Munro or Munrow - can he be the link between my family and the barons of Foulis? • Probably born about 1747 in Scotland ( Foulis, Culcairn, Ross and Cromarty) • I have found him in the muster book of the Speedwell in 1758 as a Midshipman • I found Hugh Munrow in ADM 32/157 – the pay book of the Speedwell 1758-1760 • I could not find a passing certificate for Hugh Munro • His Captain was Joseph Fraine – I found him in the journal and in ‘Lives and Characters of Naval Officers of Great Britain’ in the N.A. Library. Page 364. he was captain of both the Speedwell and the Surprize. This is his record: o L 2nd December 1745 o CR 13 June 1758 o CA 11 December 1759 o Died 1802 • The Journal that my brother has at home was found in the attic in the sixties. My father put a cover on it that says ‘Sir Thomas Munro on board His Majesty's ships Speedwell and Surprize 1758 – 1762’ . Inside , in handwriting on the Surprize section of the journals, is written ‘Hugh Munro’ and it is clear that the journals are written by Hugh. I am not sure who my father was referring to as Sir Thomas. I wonder if Hugh Munro had another name i.e Thomas • It may have been referring to Thomas Munro of Culcairn who should have inherited the title ‘Baron of Foulis’ but is said, by the historian McKenzie to have died at sea in 1765 unmarried. I have his will which was written on board the ship Worcester in Canton River, China in 1780 so the historian was clearly wrong. He was the second mate of the East India Merchant Ship Worcester. His sister , Isabella Munro who lived at Foulis inherited from him in 1781. He mentioned an illegitimate son by Mary the Clark girl who came on board the ship, Portland, with him. He asked his brothers to do what they thought appropriate for the boy. • George Munro of Culcairn was Thomas Munro’s Grandfather who died as a result of mistaken identity when he was shot by the Jacobites while riding a borrowed horse. A document from the war office of 1747 was in my family attic. It told the family that their relative had been shot while riding a borrowed horse. • His father’s name may have been John if he followed the Scottish naming tradition as he called his son John • In the book John Thomas has written ‘died St Botoplph’s 1808’ • I think John Thomas became an apprentice barrel organ builder and went into business with Benjamin Dobson in the Minories in London. Hugh may have been the founder of the business with Dobson. Munro and Dobson organs turned up in San Francisco and Tasmania around 1800-1820 • Hugh had three children whose births were registered at St Botolph’s without Aldgate : o John Thomas November 1783 o Isabella – August 1779 o Jennet – May 1775 • Jennet married someone with the surname Howe. The Speedwell belonged to a squadron commanded by Lord Viscount Howe. • Isabella ran a boarding house in the Minories. She died in 1857 and left everything to John Thomas who was the executor of her will

Thanks Victoria!