William Soper (Soper) Dempster (bef. 1763 - 1830)

Born before 8 Dec 1763 in Ashburton, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 26 Mar 1830 after age 66 in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland

Biography

On 8 December 1763 William Soper, son of John and Agnes Soper was baptised in Ashburton, Devon.^[1]

Change of name: (Two references)

1. William Soper became William Soper Dempster, in 1801 by Royal Licence on marriage to heiress Harriet Dempster of Skibo, Sutherland (c1786-1810), (dau of John Hamilton Demster of Skibo & 2nd wife Miss Thompson), a member of The Honorable East India Company, Civil Establishment, at Bombay & Surat in the East Indies [a Dempster used to be a director, see 'Honest John' below, (an uncle?)] : source.. He died 26 Mar 1830?, Testaments (Scottish Wills) Pt 2 Testaments confirmed Midlothian, Scotland source : His will was dated 24 Dec 1830.

2. 1803 'The King has been gratiously pleased to grant unto William Soper of Ashburton, in the County of Devon, and of Pulrossie, in the Shire of Sutherland, Esq., late Commissioner of the Honorable Company's Customs at the Port of Surat, in the East Indies, and to Harriet his wife, his Royal Licence and Authority that they, and the issue of their marriage, may assume, use and bear the surname of Dempster, in addition to their present surname of Soper, pursuant to a clause in a deed of entail of John Hamilton Dempster, of Pulrossie aforesaid, late Captain of the ship Earl Talbot, in the service of the Honorable East India Company, deceased, bearing date 15th October 1799; and also that the said William Soper, and Harriet his wife, may bear the arms of Dempster quarterly with those of Soper; such arms being first duly exemplified according to the Laws of Arms, and recorded in the Heralds' Office.' ^[2]

Wife's memorial: 'In the north transcept is a vault (on the eastern side), containing the remains of "Harriet Soper Dempster, of Skibo Castle, Sutherlandshire, North Britain, ob 16 October 1810, aged 25".'^[3]

Details from The Peerage ^[4] William Soper Dempster married Harriet Dempster, daughter of Captain John Hamilton Dempster.

He lived at Skibo Castle, Sutherland, Scotland.

Children of William Soper Dempster and Harriet Dempster

1. Ellen Dempster d. 12 May 1868
2. Hariot Dempster b. 6 Jan 1806 Chr. 6 Jan 1807 at Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland ^[5]
3. Charlotte Dempster b. 1 Jul 1808, m. 1830 James Whitshed Hawkins, d. 1842
4. Rose Dempster b. 1809, d. 2 Apr 1845

Death Notice (attached) In Charlotte-square, Edinburgh, on the 26th March, William Soper Dempster, Esq. of Skibo, aged 67 years. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J36N-P4Q : 18 September 2020), William Soper, 1763.

   Name William Soper

   Sex Male

   Christening Date 8 Dec 1763

   Christening Place Ashburton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

   Christening Place (Original) Ashburton, Devon, England

   Father's Name John Soper

   Father's Sex Male

   Mother's Name Agnes

   Mother's Sex Female

2. ↑ The London Gazette, issue 15605, p924 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15605/page/924 - Accessed 21-02-2017
3. ↑ Ashburton and Its Neighbourhood, Charles Worthy, Ashburton 1875, p27
4. ↑ The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom
5. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYJM-T8P : 16 September 2021), Hariot Dempster, 1807.
6. ↑ Morning Post 05 April 1830

• Familysearch Baptism record