Patrick Moir Crane
od He was born to James Moir and Janet (nee Byres) in Aberdeen in 1813. He emigrated to Canada and married Maria in 1838 in Quebec.
He returned to the UK, and the 1841 census shows Patrick and two children living with George Crane of Ynyscedwyn Ironworks, having adopted the name Patrick Moir Crane.
1846 Patrick Moir Crane inherited the Ynyscedwyn works on the death of his father, and retained control for a few years. His inexperience and lack of interest soon created financial difficulties and, by 1853, control had returned to the bankers, Marryett and Pryce.
The 1851 census shows him and his family living at 70 Canonsbury Villas, Islington.
He susbsequently went into business in Co. Kildare, before settling down as a successful oil merchant and later oil manufacturer in Manchester, being head of the firm P. Moir Crane and Co.
1888 'Golden Wedding - An event of some interest took place at Mersey Bank, Didsbury, near Manchester, Monday last. Mr Patrick Moir Crane, son of the late James Moir, who was one the leading physicians of his day in Aberdeen, and who is heir to Mr George Moir Byres of Tonley, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his marriage to Maria, daughter of the late John White, of Quebec. We are glad to say that both Mr and Mrs. Moir Crane are in good health. It will be remembered that they visited Aberdeen a few years ago. They have seven sons and three daughters living. All except tbe youngest an married. All left the parental roof some years ago ; eight of the ten are settled within a short distance of Manchester. There are 38 grandchildren living, and as the sons have all stuck to the family name of Moir it is not likely to die out at present. On the occasion we refer to five sons, three daughters, and eighteen grandchildren managed be present.' [1]
1889 'Death of an Aberdeenshire Proprietor, —By the death of Mr George Moir Byres of Tonley, Aberdeenshire, that estate passes into hands of another branch this old family, the property being entailed in the male line. Mr G. M. Byres, who died in Edinburgh last week, was typographer in that city, from which business he had retired when he succeeded to the estate some five years ago on the death his brother, Mr James Moir Byres. Neither that gentleman nor his brother just dead had any sons, though both had daughters, and, in consequence of the deed of entail, the lands of Tonley, which are on Donside, pass, as has been said, to another branch of the family, that of Mr Patrick Moir Crane, an oil merchant Manchester, who has several sons. This gentleman was a son of the late Dr Moir, who, in the early years of this century, was a famous physician in Aberdeen.'[2]
1889 'Mr Patrick Moir-Crane, the new laird of Tonley, is a wealthy oil merchant in Manchester. He is the second son of the late Dr Moir, who was one the leading physicians in his day in Aberdeen. The estate is entailed to the male line of the Byres, and as Mr Moir-Crane—the last surname was assumed good many years ago—has seven sons the property is not likely soon, at any rate, to depart from the branch of the family into which it has now entered. There are, however, two widows, the relicts of the last two proprietors, jointured on the property, which yields a rental of a £2000 a year. The new laird, who is in his 77th year, married in 1838 Maria, eldest daughter of Mr John White, merchant, of Quebec. I have culled particulars from the history of the 'Houses of Moir and Byres' published by Mr A. J. Mitchell Gill of Savock in 1885.' [3]
1890: Changed his name by deep poll to Patrick Moir Byres [4]
He died on 15th January 1891 [5]