52 Ancestors 2026 Week 4 - A Theory in Progress

Alexander Duff Butchers born in Icklesham, near Rye in 1804. Alexander inherited that surname not from his father, but from his mother, Elizabeth Butchers (1785-1860). His mother was unmarried when she had him, his younger half-brother Joseph was also born out of wedlock – to a different father. Elizabeth had Alexander Duff Butchers when she was aged 19 while living at Icklesham.   At the same time  several other of the local girls also had children who were later in receipt of Parish benefits due to them being single mothers.

 It turns out that a regiment (88th regiment of Foot, ‘the Connaught Rangers’ who had returned from service in India and Egypt in 1802) were camped locally.  Which may have a bearing on the rise of baseborn children around the same time.  Absolute proof is not available but it looks as if Alexander's father was the commander of the regiment, Lt-Col Alexander Duff (1777-1851), later  to become General Sir Alexander Duff.  Baptism records of 1804 show Alexander's name recorded as Alexander Duff

 

The strange thing is that Alexanders father was never pursued for payment to the parish accounts, in contrast to the way a couple of years later when Elizabeth (again pregnant, with second son Joseph), and two of her sisters who also bore children out of wedlock were taken to court to swear who the fathers were . Joseph's father made payment to the parish accounts for many years – even after Elizabeth married, as she left Joseph in the care of her parents.  So why not pursue Alexander's father ? A strange conundrum, unless of course the parish did not want to upset "nobility"!

 So the working theory is that Alexander Duff was the father of Alexander. and therefore my 4th Great Grandfather, as already said there is no absolute proof of this, still looking for a DNA match to confirm this hypothesis, but as yet it is elusive