Gilbert Laughton 1771

Gilbert 1771

This Page Last Updated on Friday February 20, 2009

GILBERT LAUGHTON ( circa 1771 or 1775)

In his history of the Laughton clan, Paul MacDonell Laughton wrote of the founding father Gilbert Laughton:

"My own branch was started by one Gilbert Laughton (also spelled Lachtan) who jumped ship from an English pirateer (yes, he was presumably a pirate!) at Orkney in 1674. In 1972, we met only two people on two of the Orkney Islands who were not obviously related. Unfortunately I cannot trace back to that Gilbert in an unbroken line because the church in Ham (spelled "Holm") burned down about 1805 with all the parish records. I descend from a Gilbert Laughton born in that parish between 1770 & 1775 - there are four such born in that period (!), three of whom had mothers with names common in my line."

Offspring of Gilbert Laughton:

	John Laughton, born April 30, 1801 and the next in line
	James Laughton, 1803 (no other records)
	Margaret Laughton, 1806 (no other records)

There is some question as to the origins of Gilbert Laughton, as Paul MacDonell has noted the destruction of the Parish records in about 1805. The "Orkney Genealogy" provides the LDS FAmily Search Registry which provides listings for nineteen (19) Gilberts or which five (5) are in the correct era of 1771 to 1775. If we are able to identify which is the correct Gilbert then we will also have the correct parents and will be able to extend the genealogy chart back one or more generations. To undertake this task I believe we have two options:

compile all of the parents records for the options of the 1771 to 1775 Gilbert's and look for the "best match" of similarities in the name structures, ages and heritage.
Contact the LDS family registrars at a nearby location to see if they can be of assistance, as it is my understanding that there were specific rules in the 1700's era as to the naming of children based on the parents and perhaps even grandparents names.

A combination of the two approaches may enable us to come to the most logical conclusion as to Gilbert Laughton's parents.

These listings under "births & baptisms" (page 19) show the following options for Gilbert Laughton from Holm & Paplay:

	November 25, 1971: Gilbert Laughton and Margaret Laughton
	December 4, 1771: Gilbert Laughton and Margaret Laughton (different line)
	July 11, 1771: James Laughton and Barbara Maxwell
	June 6, 1774: William Laughton and Mary Mowat
	March 14, 1775: John Laughton and Janet Laughton

In all of the cases noted above the name is actually spelled "Laughtan" and the only "Laughton" listings for Gilbert occurred between 1668 and 1725. That is unrealistic, as that would put Gilbert at 50 not 25 for the birth of John Laughton. We will need to do some sleuthing to figure out all the combinations and permutations of these various Gilberts as parents and/or grandparents to our Gilbert Laughton.

Gilbert Laughton and Margaret Miller gave birth to at least three children, namely John Laughton (April 30, 1801); James Laughton (October 23, 1803) and Margaret Laughton (April 9, 1806). You will find the next in line at the page of John Laughton 1801.

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