CHAPTER I THE BEGINNINGS OF BONSHAW

WILLIAM WALTER IRVING 1811 - circa 1870

In 1 837 William Walter Irving (WW) was recorded converting a one year lease for 200 acres on the West River in Lot 30, into a purchase agreement. The lease was between WW and the Montgomery brothers of Stobo Castle, Peeblesshire, Scotland. Whether it was arranged prior to WW coming to PEI so that the record would not be found here or the record of lease has not survived is not clear. WW took possession of the 200 acres which he named Bonshaw Farm. The sale of it to WW took place on 10 November 1837 for the sum of 5 shillings (1).

The branch of the Irving family from which William Walter Irving was descended had lived in the area near Bonshaw Tower (the home of the Irving Clan chief) Dumfriesshire, Scotland for at least four generations. It is, therefore, not surprising that when WW moved to Prince Edward Island, he would name his farm Bonshaw (2).

Bonshaw Tower, Kirtlebridge, Dumfriesshire, Scotland photo by W. M. Glen 1989

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