Thomas Peter, (the younger) of Crossbasket and Cardarroch, was born on or before 22 April 1723, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Cadder in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His mother is not mentioned in his baptismal record but James Dunlop of Garnkirk was the principal witnesses present (godfather, or sponsor), and this suggests that Thomas Peter (younger) was the son of Jean Dunlop. His baptismal record reads as follows: “Thomas lawll son to Thomas Peters of Corsbasket baptised. Witnesses thereof James Dunlop of Garnkirk and Archibald Roberton merchant in Glasgow.”

1737 – He matriculated at the University of Glasgow. W. Innes Addison identifies him as the brother of Colin Peter and the son of Thomas Peter of Crossbasket. He joined the class of Alexander Dunlop, Professor of Greek, who was born in colonial Carolina, but he did not graduate.

1747 – He was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of Glasgow on 28 May 1747, perhaps just 24 years old. The Town Council admitted him, in right of him being the eldest son of Thomas Peter of Crossbasket, merchant, burgess and guild brother of Glasgow.

1763 – Thomas Peter, younger of Crossbasket and Cardarroch, and James Dunlop, younger of Garnkirk were equal partners in a business which traded under the name of Dunlop and Peter. Garnkirk younger became insolvent in November 1763 and thereafter Thomas Peter younger of Crossbasket was the sole active Partner and Manager of the said Company.

Thomas Peter, younger of Crossbasket and Cardarroch, held a one tenth share in the firm of Dinwiddie Crawford & Company, a company “carrying on Trade to and from the Tobacco Colonies under the firm and title of Dinwiddie Crawford and Company Merchants in Glasgow.

Thomas Peter (younger) had a long association with Cardarroch House in the Lanarkshire Parish of Cadder. He was likely born at Cardarroch. It would seem too that most if not all of his formative years might have been spent there for the baptisms of all fourteen of his younger siblings were registered at Cadder during the years 1724-36. The family probably also spent some time in Glasgow, perhaps during the working week, or when Thomas senior was away on business, but it is noteworthy, that when his sister Helen was buried in Glasgow, her father is identified as Thomas Peter of Cardarroch in her burial record, rather than Crossbasket.

1750 – Thomas Peter (younger) married Marion Bogle (Otherwise Mene Bogle), in Glasgow, on or before 30 September 1750. The Church of Scotland marriage register for Glasgow records this event thus: “Thos: Peters Mene Bogle irregularly married“. The fact that they were irregularly married suggests that one or other of them may have been a member of one of the dissenting churches, rather than the established Church of Scotland. This was after all, approaching reformation years.

1751 – The association with Cardarroch House continued after his marriage to Marion Bogle and the baptisms of four out of five of his children were registered at Cadder during the years 1751-59: The baptism of Isabel Peter was registered at Cadder on 25 August 1751.

Thomas Peter and his wife, Marion Bogle, had six children whose names have been identified from the baptismal register of Cadder parish in Lanarkshire: (1) Isobel Peter (2) Jean Peter (3) Janet Peter (4) Thomas Peter, afterwards Lieutenant-General Thomas Peter of Crossbasket and Craigmaddie (5) Margaret Peter (6) Lillias Peter.

He maintained a residence at Crossbasket, although it might only have been one or two rooms in his father’s main house, or a small house in the grounds. The possibility that he did is suggested by his testament dative which informs us that he had a house in Glasgow, another at Springvale, near Glasgow.

1773 – Thomas Peter (younger) inherits Crossbasket in October, after his father had died.

1774 – On 2^nd January, Thomas Peter (younger) died. So here is the shortest ownership of Crossbasket. He had passed away just 3 months after inheriting the estate, lands and the tower. He didn’t live to see it formerly and legally handed over. The tower was eventually passed through inheritance to his own son, also Thomas, herewith known to avoid confusion by his commonly known name, Lieutenant General or General Thomas Peter.

The Cardarroch estate should also have passed to Thomas Peter when his father died in October 1773 but Thomas Peter (younger) died in January 1774 before he could take formal possession and it was given to Alexander. The household furniture belonging to the late Thomas Peter (younger), from both houses, together with certain furnishings, grain, farm animals, and farm implements, in and about Crossbasket, were sold for the benefit of his three surviving daughters, Isobel, Jean, and Margaret. His eldest son, Lieutenant-General Thomas Peter of Crossbasket and Craigmaddie, is not mentioned in his father’s testament dative, although all of his father’s heritable property would undoubtedly have passed to him in 1774.

On the day of Thomas Peter (youngers) death, his share of the Capital Stock of his trading company was worth one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six pounds and nine shillings Sterling. He also had a one tenth share in the Glasgow Tan Work Company, whose manufacturing business: “was carried on under the firm and Title of Ballantine Marshall and Company“. His one tenth share of the Capital Stock and heritable possessions of that company was worth one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one pounds two shillings and three pence three farthings Sterling.

As well as the tower and mansion house, the Crossbasket lands and estate, General Thomas Peter, at a young age was about to inherit vast reserves of family money, paving the way for an adventurous, lavish personal life and exciting military lifestyle, with more than a hint of drama, construction and action thrown in!

Also on the day of his death, Thomas Peter, (younger) was owed certain sums of money for rent by two of his tenants on the Crossbasket estate: “Item the sum of twenty five pounds sterling by John Smith in Basket as the money rent of his possession for crops and year one thousand seven hundred and seventy three. Item nine pounds sterling by Matthew Young in Basket as the one half of the money rent of his possession for crops and year of one thousand seven hundred and seventy three”. Additionally, he was owed certain sums of money for his lands in Auchentibber: “forty pounds Sterling by James Hogg in Auchentibber as the money rent of his possession for the crop and year 1773, and twelve pounds Sterling as the rent of a house owing by Alexander Nimmo.” Other debts to him included, being owed “sixteen pounds thirteen shillings and four pence Sterling by Sir William Maxwell of Calderwood, as few duty of lands held by him under the defunct for crop and year one thousand seven hundred & seventy three”

Words from “The History of Crossbasket Castle” by Paul D Veverka (c) 2015
Sources referenced in the book.

Pictured by my distant relative David Ritchie is Crossbasket Castle in 1905, courtesy of Alex Bowie.