Scottish Connections

[SAConnection]

Dear All,
The good folk at Brit Gen referred me to your website because of the nature of my search, so here goes:

My great-great-grandfather, John Loch, was born in Scotland. I'm trying to establish a few facts about him, but I don't have a clue where to start.

Firstly, according to a document written by my great-aunt, he was born on the family Estate, Rachan, Peebleshire. I can't even begin to hazard a guess when, but probably the latter half of the 1700's. I know Loch is a common name, but accordin to said document, the Earl of Elphinstone was related to him somewhere. Also, he - ggreat-grandfather - was a Captain in the 25th Regiment of Foot of the King's Own Borderers. He was the paymaster. Don't know if that's any help.

Secondly, his first wife, name unknown, died either in childbirth or shortly afterwards in 1817. They had a son, Frederick John Loch, born 1817. I would very much like to know who she was, and any other bits and pieces of info anyone can dig up.

He had moved to Ireland with that wife, as the son was born in Youghall. However, the notice of her death was published in the Edinburgh Magazine on about the 9th Oct 1817, a month after she died on the 6th Sept 1817. The child was Frederick John Loch. Ggfather remarried, to one Bridget O'Connor, and they had four children, my great-grandfather who was the youngest, being born in 1825. I know there's a problem with Irish records so if, by some miracle, information comes to light about Bridget such as where and when she was born, I'd really appreciate it. I don't know if there's any record in any Scottish journal of the second marriage, even though it took place in Dublin, Ireland.

A last thought. My great-grandfather, George Henry Loch, was a 4th cousin to Lord Henry Loch, who was Governer at the Cape in the 19th Century. Sir Robert Stanford was also related to the Loch family. My great-grandfather came to South Africa in 1845 to visit Sir Robert for three years - met his future wife, and the rest, as they say, is history. As far as we know he never returned to Ireland. Hope that doesn't confuse the issue but it might possibly narrow down the possibilities. According to the info in my possession - a handwritten piece which is extremely difficult to read - "the 7 brothers each had a castle", presumably in Scotland.

If anyone is able to assist me with any information, I'd really appreciate it.

Many thanks
Jane

[johnniegarve]

SA, there was a James Loch who achieved some notoriety, to put it mildly, during the Sutherland estate "clearances". Loch was manager of the Sutherland estates, Patrick Sellar was factor and responsible for some of the worst incidents, burning the roofs over the heads of tenants reluctant to move etc'. Sellar appeared in court but got off I think. The Loch's had a house in Edinburgh, Drylaw. He was responsible for some of the most shameful episodes in Highland history. Succeeded by his son George as estate manager/commissioner. Hopefully these are no connection!

[Currie]

Hello Jane, and Welcome to TalkingScot.

Here’s an assortment of stuff. You’ve probably seen most of it before.

The Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday, March 15, 1809
DIED. At Rachan, Mrs Loch of Rachan.

Edinburgh Annual Register, 1812.
At her lodgings, in George's-street, the Lady of Captain Loch, 25th regiment, a daughter.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=lzZ ... 22&f=false

Trewman's Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser, Thursday, September 16, 1813
On Friday morning a messenger arrived from Berlin, and Captain Lock, of the 25th Regiment, from Stralsund. By this conveyance have been received two Swedish Bulletins, the fourth and fifth, which are as follows ……..

(According to regiments.org the 2nd Battalion, 25th (the King's Own Borderers) Regiment of Foot, went to Ireland in 1815 and on 24 February, 1816, were disbanded at Cork (personnel absorbed by 1st Battalion). According to the same site the 1st battalion went to Ireland in 1817?and before that were in the West Indies for nearly ten years. The 2nd Battalion was in Sweden in 1813.)

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), Thursday, October 9, 1817
At Younghall, in Ireland, on the 6th ult. Mrs Loch, wife of Captain John Loch, late of the 25th Regiment of Foot.

Glasgow Herald, Friday, November 17, 1820
MARRIED. At Rachan, on the 14th current, the Rev. Alex. Brown, Minister of Muirkirk, to Miss Loch, daughter of John Loch, Esq., of Rachan.

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, p60, see Alexander Brown, he married again on 14 November, 1820, to Margaret, daughter of John Loch of Rachan. She died 20 August, 1837. http://www.archive.org/stream/fastieccl ... 9/mode/1up

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), Saturday, November 23, 1822
DIED. At Rachan House, in the 86th year of his age, John Loch, Esq., of Rachan.

(He’s possibly the father of the Captain, could be the John Loch on the IGI, christened 1845, Father John Loch, Mother Grizel Boa, also a stack of siblings.)

Connaught Journal, Thursday, April 30, 1840
MARRIED.
At Tuam on the 29th instant, Richard M. SAVAGE, Esq., Sovereign of Tuam, to Catherine Teresa, second daughter of the late Captain John LOCK, of Youghal, in the county Cork, and formerly of the 25th Regiment of Foot. http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1840/APR.html

Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin), Tuesday, September 8, 1840
On the 31st ult., in Galway, Robert Devere Hunt, Esq., surgeon, to Margaret Anne Bridget, third daughter of the late Captain Loch, of Youghal.

Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin), Monday, April 26, 1841
MARRIAGES. At Beckley, George D. Bishopp Esq., of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, to Eleanora Marie, daughter of the late Captain John Loch, of the 25th regiment.

There’s a bit of a family tree near page 161 of this book. I haven’t tried to figure it out.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Nvw ... 22&f=false

Perhaps this is a daughter of the earlier John Loch?
“daughter of Alexander Gairdner of Ladykirk, co. Ayr, by Anne, daughter of John Loch of Rachan, co. Peebles”
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.pl ... uarter.htm

FindMyPast has early Army births and marriages etc. maybe there’s something there with the wife’s name. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/MilitaryCho ... chType.jsp

If you search the NAS catalogue for rachan loch you’ll find about ten items including a reference to a Margaret Loch, illegitimate daughter of [blank] Loch, died November 1848. http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

There are two items in the Wills and Testaments at ScotlandsPeople. There’s one in 1848 for William Loch and one in 1826 for John loch, both Esquires of Rachan.

Hope there’s something new there,
Alan