M. 28 Dec 1790 in Durnford, England2
Wife: Mary Browne
D. 19 Jan 1841 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island1
In the early 19th century, when Canada was opening up for settlers and England had an unstable economy, some like William Pepperell saw an opportunity to relocate his family.
It's uncertain exactly where William came from, but he was born in about 1764, most likely in Wiltshire County, England.1 He first appeared in records on December 28, 1790, when he married Mary Browne in the village of Durnford.2 Perhaps this is the place of his birth, or near where he was born. Durnford is close to many ancient ruins, and it's less than three miles from Stonehenge. William and his wife Mary had at least six children born in England between 1791 and 1805. The family may have been in St. Albans in 1798,3 and in Bristol in 1803.4 It isn't known how long they were in those towns or where else they might have lived.
William and Mary's marriage record in Durnford, England.
During this time, the industrial revolution and other factors were taking a toll on the working class in England, and many men found themselves out of work. While it isn’t known if this was the case for William, it seems likely, because by 1809, he took the drastic measure of moving his family to Canada.5 His destination was Prince Edward Island, and the Pepperells made Charlottetown their home, where two more daughters were born. William worked as a tailor,6 but devoted considerable time to duties with the local Anglican church, St. Paul's. He was a sexton, and was said to have “laid many in the ground” in the main cemetery in town.7
A column written in a Charlottetown magazine in 1899 recalled that the house William lived in was long and low, and built of clay. The article stated, “The walls were thick and bore the appearance of some rude structure which existed in England in the time of the Druids.”7 The population during William’s lifetime was about 3,500, in a town that was laid out on wide streets which were “intersecting each other at right angles.”8
Mary passed away on August 28, 1838,9 and William survived her for a couple of years, dying on January 19, 1841.1 They were buried in Elm Cemetery in Charlottetown. The name Pepperell didn’t pass down to any of his descendants because his only son died childless.
Unproven parents
There is a baptism dated March 24, 1765 for a “William Bartle Pepperel” in Baydon, Wiltshire, England.10 The father’s name is Daniel and mother’s name is Christian. While this might be the same person as the William Pepperell of this biography, the definitive proof isn’t there, so I’m not assigning this data to him.
Children:
1. Sarah Pepperell — M. James Foster, 2 Jan 1813, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island11
2. Hannah Pepperell — M. James Marshall12
3. Mary Pepperell — B. about 1797, England;13 D. 11 Nov 1860, South Rustico, Prince Edward Island;13 M. William Craswell (~1788-1862), 25 Oct 181813
4. Rebecca Pepperell — B. 1798, (possibly) St. Albans, England;3 D. 17 Dec 1868, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island;14 M. Job Bevan (1793-1862), before 182015
5. Marie Pepperell — B. Dec 1803, (possibly) Bristol, England;4 M. Patrick Callaghan (1798-?)16
6. William Pepperell — B. 1805; D. 18 Oct 1825, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island17
7. Louisa Pepperell — B. 31 Dec 1809, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island5
8. Lucy Pepperell — B. 4 Apr 1812, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island;5 M. Theophilus Desbrissay Rodd (1819-1851), 6 May 1841, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island18
Sources:
1 Death notice of William Pepperell, The Colonial Herald and Prince Edward Island Advertiser, 23 Jan 1841, p. 3
2 Marriage record of William Pepperell and Mary Brown, England, Wiltshire Church Records, 1518-1990, FamilySearch.org
3 Research of Alva Brooks suggests daughter Rebecca was born in 1798 in St. Alban’s, although it isn’t clear what the original source was.
4 Research of Alva Brooks suggests daughter Marie was born in 1803 in Bristol, although it isn’t clear what the original source was.
5 William’s daughter Louisa was listed in St. Paul’s Anglican Church records as being born in Charlottetown on December 31, 1809.
6 Per Alva Brooks, this was mentioned in the genealogical notes of St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
7 “The Old Charlottetown Cemetery, Elm Avenue,” The Guardian, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 20 Apr 1946
8 A Complete System of Geography, Ancient and Modern, Frederick Guest Tomlins, 1845
9 Death record of Mary Pepperell, St. Paul’s Anglican Church records
10 Christening record of William Bartle Pepperel, England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FamilySearch.org
11 Marriage record of James Foster and Sarah Pepperell, S.P.A.C.R.
12 Marriage record of James Marshall and Hannah Pepperell, S.P.A.C.R.
13 The Descendants of James Craswell, islandregister.com
14 Obituary of Rebecca Bevan, The Islander, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Dec 1868
15 Marriage date of Job Bevan and Rebecca Pepperell is based on birth year of oldest child, Maria Bevan, noted on her death record dated 14 Dec 1888 in Boston, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925, FamilySearch.org
16 The Descendants of Patrick Callaghan and Maria Pepperall, islandregister.com
17 Research of Alva Brooks gives birth and death information for William Pepperell, although it isn’t clear what the original source was.
18 We Relate listing of Theophilus Desbrisay Rodd
