George (1749-1834) and Jean (Ballingall) (1744-1823) Peirson

by Michael T. Tracy

Jean Ballingall was born and raised in Rameldry, Kettle Parish, Fife and was the third daughter of George Ballingall (1714-1793), the longtime tenant farmer. She would meet and later marry a young entrepreneur named George Peirson who began a linen yarn bleach works at Balbirnie Bridge in Markinch Parish in about 1772. They had four children who were all born at Balbirnie Bleachfield. By the 1760s, linen manufacture became a major industry in Scotland and bleachfields or crofts sprang up in all parts in and around mill towns. George Peirson decided to establish himself as a bleacher and soon his business grew. Considered to be one of the earliest bleaching firms in the area, the Balbirnie-Bridge Bleachfield firm was advertising as early as 1775. It was located along the banks of the River Leven, in the area known as Pearson's (Peirson's) Bank which is suggestive of a bleachfield and also near to the Balbirnie Mills. The family were also tenant farmers of a small farm known as Balbirnie Bleachfield as evidenced from the Farm Horse Tax Roll of 1797. It was not uncommon to have a small farm to supplement another line of business. Peirson likewise was a proprietor of a residence located on South Street in the Village of Markinch where in his later years, he resided there. This then is the narrative of the life and times of George and Jean (Ballingall) Peirson.