Historical Records
Letter dated July 17 1999 from Julie Goddard:
I visited the Hungerford Archives last week. There I found a large file of thirty pages concerning the Hungerford Lidderdales.
There is a photocopy of a long letter concerning researches by an enquiry agent about the origins of the Hungerford family written in 1986 by John Lidderdale of Cheltenham. He says that [William] Robertson Lidderdale of Castlemilk, Dumfriesshire had twin illegitimate sons by a lady thought to be an American named Mary Tapp, who was a house guest. She was given an annuity and handed over the children. John became a Second Lieutenant in the 15th Light Dragoons, while his brother William qualified as a doctor and was posted as the doctor of the same regiment, but was killed in France in 1812. John retired, on half pay probably, to Hungerford and became a Captain in the Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry. He took part in suppressing the Agricultural Riots in 1831.
He had married a local lady in 1800 and they had four sons and four daughers. One of the daughters married a Goddard and they had 13 children, the majority of them emigrating to America, Australia and Africa.
There appear to have been Lidderdales at Castlemilk for several centuries and the file has a copy of the signature of "Thomas Lidderdale of Isle Barroun of Sanct Marie Isle, Steward depute of Kircudbright, and Commissioner of Militia, of Excise and of Supply, Convener of the Commission of Miitia and Excise". No date. There is also a shield with crest and motto. And also "The signatures on the Tax Roll for the Priorie of St. Marie Ile for 1630 a) Thomas L... who attended the Convention of Estates in 1626" b) James Lidderdaill, Younger of Sanct Marie Ile, c) Mr. John Meikill, notary public in Kircudbright.
She goes on to say there was also a picture of St. Mary's Isle (Old House) the seat of the Earl of Selkirk, formerly the seat of the Lidderdales. There was also, intriguingly, a plan of Ward's Fork, Virginia, the property of John Lidderdale of Castlemilk dated 1744.
Source: Communication from Hazel Frith.
There is a pulpit and plaque in church yard of St. Lawrence, Hungerford: "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of their parents John and Anne Lidderdale and their brother Charles Henry. This pulpit was erected by Elizabeth Pearce Lidderdale and Elnora Lidderdale AD 1891", Anne was Pearce. Her people were from Standon--near Hungerford and Kintbury.
In the churchyard there was a rather imposing tombstone: "Sacred to the memory of Capt. John Llidderdale formerly of the 15h Hussars. Born at Castlemilk in Dumfriesshire 19th May, 1775 and died in this parish on 23rd of August, 1846 in the 72nd year of his age." This stone was demolished when there was a cemetery cleanup in 1965. I saw it, the pulpit, and the plaque in 1959.
From what I can assume, Robertson Lidderdale was the father of twins, John and Wiliam, born in 1775, before he married Julia. Robertson left a life time annuity to Mary Tapp (from Maryland) who was living in the Lidderdale home at Castlemilk. Document written 1780 before James Graham and James Nisbet, his solicitor. Is she the mother?
Both William and John were in the 15th Hussars. William was a doctor and was regimental surgeon who died in Spain shortly after his assignment as Deputy Inspector General of Army Hospitals. John was a Captain and retired in 1803, becoming a country gentleman who bred greyhounds.
Source: Communication from Mary Goddard, Colorado.
Anne Pearce Lidderdale's Last Will and Testament was written on April 23, 1849, and recorded on Novermber 1, 1853. The will names "daughters Elizabeth Pearce and Eleanora Lidderdale" as the beneficiaries.
Source: Public Record Office, The National Archives, United Kingdom (http://www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk)
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