The Irish Bomfords
Achmuty family
(34) James Smith Auchmuty, third son of Robert Auchmuty of Roxbury, Boston, Judge of the Admiralty
Notes from Clare Eagle (emails Apr 2009)
James Smith Auchmuty third son and youngest of five children of Robert Auchmuty of Roxbury, Boston, Judge of the Admiralty and his second wife Julianne Teilhard.
born about 1726; died before 1800
James married Ann Ardesoif
Dublin pedigree: “youngest son vide will of Isabella Auchmuty”
The Auchmuty Family of Scotland and America by Annette Townsend 1932: “James Smith Auchmuty, fifth child of Robert and Maria Julianna Auchmuty, was left a fortune by his god-father Mr. James Smith of Boston. He was at the Boston Latin School in 1741. He was held a prisoner of war in 1776; on July 5, of that year, General Scott wrote to the Provincial Congress: “I send you James Auchmuty …. brother of Dr. Auchmuty, with his wife and child. He himself wrote Mr. Jay, in October of the same year, that, while others held as prisoners of war were paid the regular allowance, not a shilling had been given him. Soon after, he gave his parole to depart to Danbury, Connecticut, and to remain neutral until exchanged or discharged. At the peace he removed to Nova Scotia, where he became eminent as a lawyer, and was appointed judge. He had a son [Robert, a very gallant officer] in the British Army, who was killed when young, in battle in the West Indies.” Quoted from Sabine, Loyalists (1864), Vol. I, p. 197.
Helena Forbes Auchmuty wrote: “James, second son of Robert-who-went-to-America and brother to the Clergyman was an officer, he married an Athlone Lady who went to America, her name was Anne Ardesoy, they had many children, one only Robert lived to manhood and went into the Army. After his father’s death the Regt he [Robert] was in being ordered to Ireland, his mother [Ann] came with him after an absence of thirty years, their descendants were however glad to see her, she lived with a niece till her death in March 1810. She was a genteel lively agreeable little woman and had been handsome. She had the affliction to outlive her only child Robert. Robert who was shortly after his mother settled in Athlone ordered abroad was killed amongst some others in a mistake by his own Regt. His mother notwithstanding was cheerful and resigned to her great misfortunes.”
Ann Ardesoif
Ann’s will is dated 20 Jan 1807 with a codicil dated 21 May 1808. It was proved in London on 17 Feb 1816 by the oath of Ann’s executrix and niece Marrianne Sproule the wife of Thomas Sproule. The will is at TNA Kew London Ref: PROB 11/1577.
Ann returned to Athlone after her husband died. Perhaps she was connected to the following: -
The Captain John Sproule, who came to Athlone with a Highland regiment, about 1660 is my ancestor. In 1669, he married Diana Wilson, the sister of Andrew Wilson of Shinglas Castle near Ballymore. Capt. John Sproule first lived near Tuberit, near Castle Daly, County Westmeath. In 1675, he purchased Gurtnacassa Castle or Longfield form Mr. Dodwell who married the daughter and heiress of Edward Coyle. Edward Coyle erected the castle in 1646. The castle is located on a hill about 12 miles, northwest of Athlone and 12 miles from the battle of Anghrim. When we visited the castle in 1968, it was in ruins. The roof was completely gone but some of the walls were standing. Captain John Sproule was born in 1626 and died 1730, aged 104 years. He is interred in the Church of Tisrara graveyard. This graveyard is located a short distance from what was the front of the castle. The gravestone is carved with the Sproule coat of Arms.
From the SPROWL family on the web.
James and Ann had one son:
1. Robert Ardesoif Auchmuty
James Smith Auchmuty m(1) Charlotte Billers, licence (transcript at p.5) dated 22 Jun 1756