Isabella McCreath married Thomas Steele.
In the 1901 Census, Thomas (75) is resident at 11 Alloway Place, Ayr with his daughter Jessie H Steele (34). He is described as a Merchant and Shipowner.
This was also the situation a decade earlier in the 1891 Census. Isabella Steele (ms McCreath) had passed away on 22 September 1882,aged 51).
The 1881 Census lists the family as:
Thomas Steele (54) General Merchant/ Provost of Ayr
Isabella Steele (50) Wife
Jane S Steele (25) Daughter
John A Steele (23) Son, Mercantile Clerk
Jessie H Steele (13) Daughter
Mary McCreath (52) Sister-in-Law
Thomas died on 24 April 1915, aged 89. He is buried at Ayr Cemetery. The inscription reads:
Erected by Thomas Steele, Merchant, Ayr and Isabella McCreath his wife
In memory of their daughter Eliza, Born 20 Feb 1859, Died 3rd Feb 1863
also of their son George Thomas Born 22 Dec 1864, Died 15 Feb 1865
The above Isabella McCreath Died at Ayr 22nd Sep 1882.
Their son Frederick Born 4th Sep 1860, Died 18th Nov 1885
Also the above Thomas Steele Born 22nd August 1825, Died 24th April 1915.
In the light of the above the family comprised;
Jane S Steele born c.1856
John A Steele born c. 1858. Married Barbara Amelia Baird.
Eliza Steele born 20 Feb 1859, died 3 Feb 1863.
Frederick Steele born 4 Sep 1860, died18 Nov 1885
George Thomas Steele born 22 Dec 1864, died 15 Feb 1865
Jessie Steele born c.1868
Thomas Steele’s death certificate lists him as a Grain Merchant and Shipowner. He was the Provost of Ayr from 1876-1882).
The site ‘Clydeships’ (http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=20739) lists two vessels in which Thomas Steele had an interest; first, the Robert Burns built by Thomas B Seath, Rutherglen and launched in 1857 by the Ayr and Glasgow Steam Packet Co.
Second, the Vale of Clwyd, a single-masted iron paddle steamer also built by Thomas B Seath, for the Liverpool- Rhyl service. Launched in 1865, it was bought in partnership with its builder and Thomas Steele from its first owner for use on the Glasgow-Ayr service.
