PETRE, WILLIAM [SSNE 6598]
- Surname
- PETRE, PETRIE
- First name
- WILLIAM, WELAM, WILLEM [2]
- Title/rank
- FACTORY OWNER
- Nationality
- SCOT
- Region
- MONTROSE, ANGUS
Text source
William Petrie was the grandson of George Petrie, provost of Montrose who died in 1627. George had had three sons: William [SSNE 6708], Robert [SSNE 6787], and George [SSNE].
There are contesting claims to who William Petrie's father was. One suggestion is that he was the son of William Petrie senior, who allegedly brought his son to Sweden with him. However, the information we have is that William Petrie senior married Eufrosyna Logan in Sigtuna, and there is no mention of an earlier wife. This would indicate that William Petrie junior was born in Sweden.
Other sources claim that William was in fact the son of Robert Petrie, who came to Sweden aged 14 and married there. This would make William Petrie senior and George uncles of William Petrie junior.
William Petrie junior thereafter became a foundry owner in Arboga in the second half of the 17th century.
Robert Petrie was active at Ockelbo steel works and then Hofors iron foundry, both initially in collaboration with Sven Bröms. William Petrie junior took over the running of Hofors following the death of Robert Petrie.
G. Andersson states that Robert Petrie was in some kind of partnership with Sven Bröms at his steelworks in Ockelbo and that Bröms initially purchased Hofors nr.3 in 1676. A dispute arose between the two men and Petrie bought out Bröms, becoming sole owner of Hofors nr. 3 in 1680 and giving up his role at Ockelbo. According to Andersson, Robert Petrie died in 1690 and was succeeded at Hofors by his son William, who subsequently expanded the works. In 1695 William Petrie junior, along with Isaac Mackay junior [SSNE 4935], owned one of the three most important mining complexes in Västernorrland.
William Petrie junior not only became a member of Arboga council but also donated a pair of candelabra to Arboga church in 1704.
William Petrie junior died in 1706.
Sources: Petrus Norberg, 'Gästriklands hyttor och hamrar' in Blad för bergshanteringens vänner (1959); G. Haggren, Hammarsmeder, masugnsfolk och kolare (Pieksamaki, 2001), p.40; D. Fraser, Montrose before 1700 (Montrose, 1967), p.146; G. Andersson, Gästrikland och järnet från järnåldersugnar till global verkstadsindustri, (AB Sandvikens Tryckeri, 2000), pp.70-1; Steve Murdoch, Network North: Scottish Kin, Commercial and Covert Associations in Northern Europe, 1603-1746 (Brill, Leiden, 2006), p.187. Thanks to Georg Haggren for updating this entry.
Service record
- SWEDEN, VASTERNORRLAND, HOFORS BRUK
- Arrived 1690-01-01
- Departed 1706-12-31
- Capacity FACTORY OWNER, purpose TRADE, COMMERCE
- SWEDEN, ARBOGA
- Arrived 1695-01-01
- Capacity BURGESS, COUNCILLOR, purpose CIVIC. MERCANTILE, TRADE