William Forsyth-Grant and Ecclesgreig Castle
/William Forsyth-Grant: From Montreal to a Scottish Castle
William Forsyth was born on 10 February 1804 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and baptized there on 11 March 1804. He was the son of John Forsyth and Margaret Grant.
Marriage and Family
William married his first cousin, Eweretta Jane Forsyth, daughter of Joseph Forsyth of Kingston, Upper Canada, likely before the birth of their first child in 1836. Together, they had six children:
Frederick Grant Forsyth (1836–1912)
Ann Gregory Forsyth-Grant Brigstocke (1839–1921)
John Joseph Forsyth (1840–1884)
William Forsyth-Grant (1843–1921)
Alice Ewertta Forsyth-Grant (1844–1924)
George James Forsyth-Grant (1847–1920)
A New Name and a Castle Inheritance
William later changed his name to Forsyth-Grant in order to inherit the estate of his maternal uncle, Frederick Grant. This estate, originally called Mount Cyrus, was located near St. Cyrus in Kincardineshire, Scotland. William renamed it Ecclesgreig Castle, a grand structure built from the remains of the old Mount Cyrus House in 1844.
In the 1841 census, William (age 35), listed as a merchant, was living at Mount Cyrus with his uncle. By 1851, he was head of household at Ecclesgreig Castle, listed as a “Landed Proprietor.”
Later Life and Death
In the 1861 census, William was living in Fritwell, Oxfordshire, England, still head of household. He passed away on 18 October 1863, and is memorialized at Ecclesgreig Burial Ground in St. Cyrus. Probate for his estate was granted on 11 May 1864 in England.
Legacy
Ecclesgreig Castle remains a notable landmark in Aberdeenshire, with local lore suggesting it may have inspired Bram Stoker’s depiction of Dracula’s castle. Through his inheritance and name change, William Forsyth-Grant cemented the Forsyth connection to this historic site.
Join Clan Forsyth Society USA Today
Sources
1) Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records
2) The Encyclopedia of Canada
3) Scotland Census 1841, 1851
4) England Census 1861