John Lacharne (abt. 1587 - 1645)

Born about 1587 in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Jenet Sioned (Owen) Laugharne — married 1620 in Orielton, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1645 at about age 58 in Colby Moor, Wiston, Pembrokeshire, Wales

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Biography

This profile is part of the Lawhon Name Study.

BIRTH

John Lacharne was born about 1587 to Rowland Lacharn & Lettica Perrot in St. Brides, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

MARRIAGE

John Lacharne married Janet Owen (aka Jenet Sioned Owen), daughter of Sir Hugh Owen & Elizabeth Wirriot.

"John Laugharne (1584–1644), from St Brides in Pembrokeshire, and Janet Owen (1588–after 1635)."

ISSUE

1) Rowland: born circa 1607 - married Ann Button (1622-1681) before 1639. Issue: Rowland II (ca 1640–1691), who avoided politics, but appears to have had Tory sympathies, since he refused to swear allegiance to William III after the 1688 Glorious Revolution. (Rowland II's son, John (1666-1715) was a Tory MP for Haverfordwest from 1702 to 1715.)

2) Dorothy: born circa 1608 - married Sir Hugh Owen (1607–1670), Member of Parliament for Pembroke Boroughs.

3) Francis: born circa 1610 - married Leticia Vychan (1615-?) Issue: Capt. John Laugharne (1640-1687) who emigrated to Virginia in 1673 and became a prominent member of the colonial establishment.

LIFE

He owned St Brides Castle, a converted abbey, now a listed building.

He became a Parliamentary General in the English Civil War.

DEATH

He was accidentally killed by his own side in 1645.

"This person, General John LAUGHARNE, father of Major-General Rowland LAUGHARNE, commanded a body of troops on Colby Moor [ near Wiston] , and one night [ 1st August 1645], suspecting either the fidelity or care of one of his Centinels, was determined to be resolved in these particulars, and accordingly he visited this Centinel's post in person to make the tryal. The General attempted to pass his guard silently, the soldier asked: Who goes there? The General refusing to give the watchword of the night, the soldier said again: Who goes there, speak? The General still persisting in not giving the proper answer, the soldier said the third time: Who goes there? Speak, or else I'll shoot you. The General, now unhappily obstinate, refused to give any answer, the consequence was that the soldier, true to his duty, shot him dead on the spot. The Centinel went to the next person in command, who happened to be the son of the deceased, and gave him the watch and money which he had taken out of his pocket, upon sight of which Major LAUGHARNE said to him: Thou villain, thou hast killed my father! The poor man modestly answered: Sir I hope your honor will not condemn me for doing my duty? No, says the Major, I cannot, but it IS my father! ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ 1905 ALLEN family of Cresselly, Pembs History (1905)

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry for "Rowland Laugharne" (by Stephen K. Roberts). doi: 10.1093/ref:odnb/16122
• Colonial Families of the Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families who Settled in the Colonies Prior to the Revolution
• https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rowland_Laugharne