William Francis Bentinck Loftus (abt. 1784 - 1852)

Born about Sep 1784 in Richmond, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Harriet (Langrishe) Loftus — married 7 Oct 1819 in Newcastle, County Dublin, Ireland

Descendants

Died 13 Sep 1852 at about age 68 in Chacombe Priory, Chacombe, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William was the son of William Loftus and Margaret King, he was baptised at Richmond on 12th September 1784.^[1]

He joined the 15th Light Dragoons as a Cornet on 30th August 1799, he claimed to be 16. He progressed to Lieutenant in 1800 and Captain in 1804 before being promoted to Major in the 38th Foot in 1807. In 1813 he was appointed a Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, and was transferred to half pay the following year.^[2]

His war record reads "Major-General Loftus served with the 2nd battalion of the 38th during the time it was employed in the Peninsula, and was present at the battle of Busaco, retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras, advance in pursuit of Massena, storming of Badajoz —commanded the detachment of the 5th division which took possession of the Tete-de-Pont, St. Christoval, and the other Forts on the right bank of the Guadiana, and to which General Phillipon surrendered; —battle of Salamanca, capture of Madrid,—commanded the light troops of the 5th division upon the advance to Burgos, retreat from thence, action at Villa Muriel, and other minor affairs. He has received the War Medal with four Clasps for Busaco, Fuentes d’Onor, Badajoz, and Salamanca.".^[3]

William married Margaret Harriet Langrishe, daughter of Very Rev. James Langrishe and Mary Harriet Mitchell, at Newcastle in county Dublin on 7 October 1819.^[2] They had:^[2]

1. Mary Harriet Anne, born 19th October 1820
2. William James, born 7th January 1822
3. Henry, born 12th March 1823
4. Elizabeth, born 8th December 1824.

The last two would have been born at Naas.

He died aged 68 at Chacombe Priory, Northamptonshire on 13th September 1852.^[4][5] His will dated 1st July 1852 was proved on 13th November 1852.^[6] People named in his will were:

• wife Margaret Harriet Loftus
• son William James Loftus
• late father General William Loftus
• sister Harriet, wife of Thomas Bourke Ricketts
• daughter Mary Harriet Anne, wife of George Augustus Cranley Onslow
• daughter Elizabeth Loftus
• son Henry Loftus,

Research Notes

Cracroft, Lodge and other nineteenth century peerages recorded his name incorrectly as William Fraser Bentinck Loftus

He is said to be of Kilbride, County Wicklow, Ireland. This property is mentioned in his will but it's not clear when he lived there.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J742-2ZK : 19 September 2020), William Bentink Francis Loftus, 1784.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Services or officers on Full and Half Pay. Returns to the circular letter 27 Oct., 1828. WO 25/765/283
3. ↑ Hart, H. G. The New Annual Army List Page 19. (London : John Murray, 1851)
4. ↑ Morning Herald, 18 September 1852
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #213286550
6. ↑ Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers PROB 11/2161/189

http://www.thepeerage.com/p50172.htm#i501719 The Peerage.com] (M, #501719)