Part IV. PART IV. CHAPTER II. JOHN HALKETT (1768-1852), AND SIR ALEXANDER HALKETT, K.C.H. (1776—1851), John Halkett [1768-1852], third son of Sir John Halkett of Pitfirrane, fourth Chap. II. baronet of Gosford, and his second wife, Mary Hamilton (see ante, p. 388) was born at Pitfirrane 27 Feb. 1768 and baptized at Dunfermline the next day (Dunf. Reg.). There is a letter from his father to Alexander Scrymgeour-Wedderburn about his education, dated 27 Oct. 1787 (S. W. 675), but I have not ascertained where he was educated. He was admitted advocate in Edinburgh 8 Aug. 1789, the entry describing him as third lawful son of Sir John Halkett of Pitfirrane (Adv. Adm. 7), and presumably he practised for a time. He was for some years, 1797-1801, secretary of presentations to his cousin, Lord Loughborough, then Lord Chancellor, and in 1801 (Dec. 5) was appointed Governor-in-Chief of the Bahama Islands (Gent. Mag. 1801, p. 1204) and later, 1803 (Oct. 27), was also Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of the Island of Tobago. Later on he was for many years chief commissioner for West India accounts, and was living in London in 1819, when he supplied some of the information as to this branch of the family for the Memoir which J.W. was then preparing for the press. He died at Brighton 12 Nov. 1852 (ante, p. 391, n. 5) and was buried at Petersham, Surrey (Inscr. there). A portrait of him by Sir Thomas Lawrence is in the possession of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Robertson (see below), and a miniature from it, as well as a drawing of his second wife, in that of Miss K. E. Halkett. 2 He was twice married :— i. About August 1794 (Scots' Mag. and Gent. Mag. p. 764) to Anna Todd, eldest daughter of William Todd of Millhill (whose younger sister married John Halkett's elder brother, Peter, ante, p. 390), but by her, who died at Bath 6 Feb. 1805 (Scots' Mag., p. 159), had no issue. ii. On 6 July 1815, at Sydenham, Kent, to Lady Katherine Douglas, daughter of Dunbar, fourth Earl of Selkirk (Gent. Mag., 1815, pt. ii., p. 82; Scots' Mag., p. 639; Annual Reg., vol. 57, p. 117). Her mother was Helen, daughter of Hon. John Hamilton, second son of Thomas, sixth Earl of Haddington, and sister, therefore, to John Halkett's mother, so that he and his wife were first cousins (see ante, p. 388). By her, who died at Richmond Hill, 31 March 1848, æt. 69, and was buried at Petersham, co. Surrey (Gent. Mag., vol. 29, p. 564, and inscr. at Petersham), John Halkett had issue five sons, 1. John Thomas Douglas Halkett [1816-54], who was born 14 April 1816 (Gent. Mag., vol. 86, p. 465; Scots' Mag., p. 477; Ann. Reg., vol. 58, p. 202) at the house of Lord Morton in New Norfolk Street, Park Lane. He entered the army (4th Light Dragoons) and attained his majority 15 March 1850 (Gent. Mag., p. 428), but fell at Balaclava 25 Oct. 1854 (Gent. Mag., p. 644). He married at Petersham, Richmond, co. Surrey, 10 July 1849 (Gent. Mag., p. 312) Charlotte Mary Beague, only daughter of the late Charles Heard Beague, R.E., of Hollam, Dulverton, co. Somerset, by his wife, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir James Pringle and Sholto Charlotte Halkett (see ante, p. 389)2 and by her (who married secondly, Aug. 1856, Arthur George St. John Mildmay, and is living, at Hollam, 1898) had issue two daughters, 1. Mary Katherine Halkett, born, 25 July 1850, at Island Bridge Barracks, The statements in this chapter, where not otherwise vouched for, are made on the authority of John Major Halkett was thus first cousin to his wife's mother, and Sir John Halkett (fourth Baronet) and his 2. Helen Douglas Halkett, born at Leamington 18 Jan. 1855 (Gent. Mag., Part IV. p. 300) but died when only three weeks old and was buried at Old Milverton Chap. II. Church. 2. Dunbar Stewart Halkett [1817-87], who was born in Seymour Place, London, 30 April 1817. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and took his degree of B.A. 1839 and M.A. 1842. He took Holy Orders as deacon in 1841, and as priest 1842, and in 1848 became Rector of Little Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey, where he remained until his death there, 25 Jan. 1887. He is buried there. He married at Ryde, Isle of Wight, 13 April 1847, Julia Elizabeth Ross, 1. Katherine Euphemia Halkett, who was born at New Church, Isle of 2. Jane Halkett, who was born and died a few days before her mother's death, 3. Charles Halkett [1818], born at Brighton, 9 June 1818 (Gent. Mag., pt. i., 4. Henry Halkett [1819-49], born at Mortlake (or in London), 6 June 1819 (Scots' Mag., p. 93). He was bred to the Bar, but, his health being weak, made a voyage to Canada to benefit it, and later went with his father and younger brother, Peter, to Malta, where he died and was buried, in 1849. He was unmarried. 5. Peter Alexander Halkett (1820-55], born at Cheltenham 16 Oct. 1820 (Scots' Mag. p. 477; Blackwood, p. 239). He entered the navy and obtained the China medal, but seems to have retired early as his name was gazetted, 29 Sept. 1864, among the the retired lieutenants to be retired commanders. He had a taste for invention, and was the inventor of the Halkett boat-cloak in 1848. and also of some agricultural implements. He died at Horwood, Vansittart Road, Torquay, co. Devon, 23 March 1885, and was buried there. He never married. His will (registered at Somerset House) was proved 9 Sept. 1885 by his only surviving brother and sole executor, the Rev. D. S. Halkett, the probate describing him as formerly of Christ Church, Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, but late of Horwood, Torquay. Inscription on the Halkett monument in the Churchyard of Petersham, co. Surrey. "Here are deposited in the hope of a joyful resurrection the mortal remains of the Lady Katharine Halkett, youngest daughter of Dunbar Douglas, 4th Earl of Selkirk, wife of John Halkett Esquire, died at Richmond Hill, 31st March 1848 aged 69. Also in the like hope of a blessed resurrection was here interred her husband, third son of Sir John Wedderburn Halkett of Pitfirrane, Bart. He died Nov 12th 1852 in the 85th year of his age" (west side of tomb). Here also rests in the hope and earnest expectation of the redemption of the body from corruption, Julia Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Dunbar Stewart Halkett, rector of Little Bookham in this county, 2nd son of John Halkett Esqr. and the lady Katharine Halkett. She departed this life 23rd April 1849 in her 32nd year, and her shortlived infant Jane, who died a few days before her mother, now rests here with her (south side of tomb). Inside of the church is the following: "Sacred to the memory of the Lady Katharine Halkett whose mortal remains were deposited in the cemetery belonging to this church, April 1848." Sect. II.--Descent of Sir Alexander Halkett, K.C.H. (b. 1773, d. 1851), now extinct in the male line.2 Sir Alexander Halkett, K.C.H. [1776-1851], fifth son of Sir John Wedderburn Halkett, fourth Baronet of Gosford, was born in 1776.3 He entered the army, and rose to rank of general, having served in the capture of the French West Indian Islands in 1794, 1 The entry describes him as of "George Street, Westminster." He was son to William Sutherland Ross of Tain, co. Ross, N.B. 2 This account has been submitted to Miss Georgiana Leith, only grandchild of Sir Alexander Halkett, and to her mother, Mrs. Leith. While unable to go into much detail, they are clear that Charles Halkett was the only one of Sir Alexander's sons who married, and that he had no children. Miss K. E. Halkett is also clear as to this state of things. I have not found his baptismal entry, so do not know the place. The year is inferred from his age at his death as given on his tomb. Part IV. at San Domingo in 1796 and again in 1804, as aide-de-camp to Sir Ralph Abercromby at Chap. II. the Cape of Good Hope. On 8 March 1837 he was made a knight commander of the Hanoverian order, and retired on a distinguished service pension. He died at Edinburgh 24 Aug. 1851, æt. 78 (Ann. Reg. 1851, and Times 30 Aug. 1851), and was buried in the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.' He married, about 1814, Georgiana Sproule, daughter of George Sproule, captain in the 16th Regt. and, later, Surveyor-General of the Province of New Brunswick,2 and by her, who survived him and died at Morningside, Edinburgh, 17 Feb. 1874, aged 80, and was buried with her husband, had issue four sons and one daughter. Of the sons, 1. George Alexander Halkett was born in 1815, and died at Caen in France 10 Feb. 1825, æt. 10 (Scots' Mag., p. 384). 2. Charles Halkett was born in 1817, and was a captain in the army. He married a French lady (whose name his niece cannot recall), but by her, who died soon after him, had no issue. He died in Paris 9 Feb. 1887, æt. 70 (Times, 19 Feb. 1887).3 3. Henry Halkett (twin with Charles) was also a captain in the army. He died unmarried at Faversham, Kent, 13 Oct. 1891, and is there buried (Times, 13 Oct. 1891). 4. John Peter Halkett was born about 1819-20. He entered the service of the East India Company, and died unmarried in India, at Coconada, Madras Presidency, 24 May 1852. The daughter, Mary Anna Halkett was born 26 Oct. 1818. She married at Edinburgh in 1843 Alexander Leith of Freefield and Glenkindie, co. Aberdeen, and by him (who died 16 July 1886 at Freefield, and was buried at Folla Rule, co. Aberdeen) had issue one daughter, Georgiana, now of Freefield. Pedigrees showing descents from John Halkett and Sir Alexander Halkett, younger sons of The following is the inscription on the mural tablet over his grave:-Sacred | to the memory of | General Sir Alexander Halkett K.C.H. | fifth son of | Sir John Wedderburn Halkett | of Pitfirrane, Bart. | who died 24 August 1851 aged 78 years. Also to the memory of his youngest son | John Peter Halkett who died at Coconada Madras Presidency | 24 May 1852. |— Also to Georgiana Sproule | widow of the late | General Sir Alexander Halkett K.C. H. | who died 17 Feb. 1874 aged 80 years. 2 So I am told by his great grandson, Mr. H. R. Mansel Jones, of 1, Paper Buildings Temple, who adds that the family was settled in co. Meath, Ireland. 3 I have not found where he was buried, but the keeper of the "Cimetiere de l'est" writes me that there is no record of his burial there. PART IV. CHAPTER III. ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN, YOUNGEST SURVIVING SON OF SIR PETER, LORD GOSFORD, AND HIS DESCENDANTS. Extinct in male line on the death, in 1805, of his grandson Alexander Wedderburn, Lord Chancellor Loughborough, and Earl of Rosslyn. (See pedigree at p. 400). Alexander Wedderburn1 [1660-1730], third and youngest surviving son of Sir Peter Wedderburn, Lord Gosford, and Agnes Dickson, was born about 1660, and was possibly educated at S. Andrew's University, although the person of his name who matriculated there in 1674 (S.A.R. 32), is more probably the son of his uncle, Sir Alexander (ante, p. 216, n. 3). If at S. Andrew's, he went later to the University of Leyden, as he and his brother Peter are, no doubt, to be identified with the persons of their name entered there 20 March 1680 (See ante. p. 374, n. 4). He is often named in the different charters, etc., relating to the properties acquired by his father, and settled by him on himself and his three sons in 1670-72 (Bl. 81; G.S.R. 123-24-25, 127; A.P.S. 49; G.R.S. 37; F.S. 58; R.D. 194 g), and was admitted a burgess of Dundee with his father and his brother Peter, 20 July 1675 (D.L.B. 59). He is also named as a witness, 30 Nov. 1678, to the baptism at Dundee of Alexander, son of his cousin, Peter Wedderburn and Catharine Mann (D.L.B. 30; ante, p. 226), and to the marriage contract at Edinburgh, 20 Feb. 1679, of another cousin, Helen Wedderburn (ante, p. 214) with Miln of Muirtoun (Bl. 16 a). A facsimile of his signature to this document faces p. 97 of vol. ii. After his father's death, in Nov. 1679, he is occasionally mentioned as having a factory from his brother John, who was much away from home, to manage his affairs during his absence, e.g., 6 Jan., 15 Aug. 1683 (R.D. 204, 206), and in a bond by John and himself (R.D. 213), and he also acted as factor for his other brother Peter, when absent in England with his regiment in 1687 (ib. 219).3 He was admitted an advocate at the Scottish Bar 18 June 1687 (Adm Adv. 3), after which he is constantly so designed. He owned, and perhaps resided in, his father's " great mansion house called Aikman's or Gosford's close, on the south of the High Street, I do not know if Edinburgh," but disponed it to William Legat 3 June 1696 (R.D. 289). he had much practice, but at one time he must have decided to follow his profession, as on 1 Sept. 1698 there is an act by which Alexander Wedderburn is restored to his right to practice as an advocate on qualifying himself (A.P.S. 59). In the politics of the time he certainly took part, and was one of those who favoured the union between Scotland and England, in connection with which he went south, and was at one time much at Court, where he seems to have had some influence.5 Eight letters from him to George, first Earl of Cromartie, all dated from Windsor in June, July, and August 1704 are extant among the Cromartie Papers, in the edition of which they have been recently published, and another letter from him, 15 Oct. 1706, is catalogued in a List of MS. Historical Documents, No. 202 (p. 68). Anderson in his Scottish Nation (s. Wedderburn) states that it was in reward for his exertions in favour of the union that I have notes of his he was appointed one of the commissioners of excise in Scotland. acting as commissioner 9 Dec. 1714, 21 Oct. 1726, and 9 Nov. 1727 (H.C.R. I., ii. b), Synopsis of References :-Bl. 16a, 81; S.A.R. 32; Adv.Adm. 3, 4; D.L.B. 59; G.S.R. 123-25, 127; A.P.S. 49, 59; R.H. 35; G.R.S. 37, 54; F.S. 58, 73; R.D. 194 g, 204, 206, 213, 218-19, 224, 250, 286, 289, 292-93, 311 ab, 326, 327 a bc, 335, 337, 355 ab; Ed.T. 12; D.B. 30, 70; Ed. B. 28; Ed.M. 20, n. 1, 30, n. 3; Ab. P.R. 12-15. 2 I do not find any entry of his baptism either at Edinburgh or at Aberlady, but the date is approximately shown by the birth dates of his elder brother, Peter, and younger brother, James. 3 See also factory to him by his brother John, 14 Feb. 1688 (R.D. 218), and by his brother Peter, 28 Sept. 1688 (ib. 224). 4 Between May 3 1704, when he was still in Scotland, and there witnessed a discharge by his brother Peter to Pitcur (F.S. 73), and 27 June, when he was at Windsor. See next note. He was also at S. James 7 April 1705, and there subscribes a letter by Queen Anne to the Convention of Burghs (Edinburgh City Muniments MS., Bundle 222). See ante, p. 232, n. 1, as to his interest in obtaining the Blackness baronetage for his cousin Sir John. The letters in the Cromartie Papers (ed. Sir W. Fraser) are dated 27, 29 June; 3, 27, 31 July; and 1, 5, 8 Aug. 1704. Part IV. Chap. III. 66 one Part IV. but, though his appointment may have been subsequently confirmed or renewed, it is Chap. III. clear that he was a commissioner before the earliest of those dates. Thus in the register of the marriage at Edinburgh of one of his servants, 21 Oct. 1711, he is described as of Her Majesty's commissioners of excise in the S.E. parish" (Ed.M. 20, n. 1), and according to a document quoted in a work on the history of the union, he was one of those who were persuaded to vote for the union by being paid £75 for “arrears of salary" in 1706.1 After his advocacy of the union he returned to Scotland, where he resided, apparently in Edinburgh, until his death. He is named as a witness to the baptisms at Aberlady of his three nephews, Alexander, John, and Robert, and of his niece Mary, 1706-11 (Ab.P.R. 12-15), as well as in a factory by him to Alexander Laing, 31 July 1711 (R. D. 286); a bond to him 25 April 1714 (ib. 293), and a discharge in his favour 12 July 1714 (ib.292). In all of these documents he is designed "advocate," though in view of his office as commissioner it is doubtful if he practised. I find no references to him in his later years. He died at Edinburgh 1 Jan. 1730 H.C.R. I., ii. b, 1, 4), and was buried in the Grey Friars Cemetery at Edinburgh, where a tablet, set in the wall above his grave, bore an inscription, already almost illegible in 1780 (ib. I., ii. a) and now altogether effaced. He had married in July 1692 Mary Daes, daughter of Mr. James Daes, advocate, of Coldingknowes, co. Berwick.2 I have not ascertained the exact date or the place of the marriage, but the marriage contract was dated 16-21 July 1692 (R. D. 311 a, 326, 327c) and she is spoken of as his wife on the first of these dates (ib. 311b). Her father charged Coldingknowes with an annual-rent of £550 or 14,000 merks capital in favour of her and her husband, who, on his side, settled 16,000 merks (ib.), sasine of the annualrent being obtained 22 Feb. 1693 (G.R.S. 54). She is also named in a factory by her husband to her to manage certain of his affairs, dated 18 June 1701 (R.D. 250), and, 30 Aug. 1716, when she witnesses at Dundee the baptism of Mary, daughter of Alexander Wedderburn, the clerk, and Katharine Scott (D.B. 70). By her, who survived him and was living 17 Jan. 1736, when she granted a discharge to her eldest son Peter for an annuity which he had settled on her in lieu of her life-rent under her marriage contract in 1732 (R. D. 327 ab), and also 22 Sept. 1740, when she and her daughter Agnes grant a factory to Thomas Boyes (R.D. 337), Alexander Wedderburn had issue three sons and four daughters. The sons were 1. Peter Wedderburn, afterwards a Lord of Session under the title of Lord Chesterhall. See post, p. 397. 2. Alexander Wedderburn [1694-95—1734], born about 1694-1695, but where or precisely when I have not ascertained. He was a collector of excise at Linlithgow and is so described in the confirmation of his will, which was given up at Edinburgh by Mr. Peter Wedderburn, advocate, his brother german, next-of-kin, and executor, 28 Nov. 1734 (Ed. T. 9). This document also gives the date of his death, 8 Feb. 1734. The division of his property among his brothers and sisters was the subject of a submission and decreet arbitral in which they are all named, 18, 20 Jan. 1735 (R.D. 326) and the share of one of them, Agnes, is also referred to on her marriage ten years later (ib. 355 a). 3. James Wedderburn [1713-1744 ?]. The place and date of his birth are also not ascertained, but as he is named after all his sisters in the submission of 1735 (R. D. 326), it seems clear that he was the youngest of the family and cannot have been born therefore before 1713. I have but one reference to him in his life-time, viz., 22 Sept. 1740, when he, "youngest son of the late Alexander Wedderburn, commissioner of excise," witnesses a factory by his mother and his sister Agnes (R.D. 337). He died unmarried between 3 Dec. 1743 and 11 Feb. 1745, on the latter of which dates his sister Agnes discharges her brother Peter of the legacy left her by her late brother James' will, dated 3 Dec. 1743 (R.D. 355 a). 1 See How Scotland lost her Parliament, by Charles Waddie (Edin. 1891), p. 28, where this “Black List of the Bribed" is given. I do not know what is meant by Wedderburn's voting for the union, as I have no record of his being member of the Scottish Parliament. 2 Her mother was Margaret Ker, sister to Sir Thomas Ker of Cavers and relict of Alexander Haliburton of Newmains (Bl. 81). Her father's name is wrongly given as John in one of the Heralds' College papers (H.C.R.I., ii. note). An action by one Hopekirk v. Alexander Wedderburn and Mary Daes, his wife, is referred to in Fountainhall's Diary, 4 Feb. 1698 (pp. 278-79). See R.D. 326, where all their seven children are exhaustively named. |