PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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During the latter part of the 19th century a Mr James McBryde was well known for arranging steamer and other excursions around the Plymouth area. But who exactly was he? Mr James McBryde (or McBride, as it originally was spelt) was the second son of Mr John McBryde, a master draper, and his wife Rosanna. Both were born in Scotland, she being some fifteen years younger than he. In 1851 they had a drapery business at number 8 Compton Street, Plymouth, in which his younger brother, James, also from Scotland, was a partner. In fact, the entire staff of two Parker brothers and two McMaster brothers were of Scottish origin. Quite how the Cornish house servant, Miss Sarah Pomeroy, coped with that can only be wondered at. As already stated, James had an older brother, John McBryde, who was born in Plymouth in 1849. Next came Mary McBryde in 1851 and James followed in 1852. The last child, Henry Allen McBryde, was born in 1857. Their father died on May 16th 1857 at the age of just 49, and by the time of the 1861 census the business was apparently closed and Rosanna and her children were living at 10 York Street, with a 19-years-old servant, Miss Elizabeth Arscott. Mrs Rosanna McBryde died on November 20th 1861, at the age of 39 years, and was buried at Ford Park Cemetery on November 25th. By 1871 James, by now 18-years-old, was working as a drapery assistant for Messrs Popham, Radford & Company, and living on the promises in Bedford Street. Mary and Henry were living at 14 Union Street, Stonehouse, with their uncle and aunt, Mr & Mrs Richard and Mary Wilson. Both James and Henry went on to become tailors and outfitters and after James had married Miss Anna Louisa Matthews, of Knackersknowle (Crownhill), at St Andrew's Church on November 15th 1883, they set up in business as Messrs McBryde Brothers at 22 Bedford Street. Certainly by 1891 he was arranging his famous paddle-steamer excursions on the River Tamar and around Plymouth Sound. Quite what happened to make him and Henry pack their bags, leave Plymouth, and change their occupations is not known. Both had become hoteliers by 1901, James Swansea, Glamorganshire, and Henry at Teignmouth.
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