Hi Irene, you wrote: <<Transcribers almost always have trouble with the surname Thurot or Thorat, which is in my ancestral line.   There are only three references in the DGFHS MIs database to the Thurot family name and its derivations. Two are fairly bland and you might want to ignore them as possibles among your ancestors. But there is one with a more 'heroic' pedigree ! You might want to claim descent from a French pirate who terrorised English merchant shipping and coastal towns in the 1700s.  He was finally defeated and killed in sea battle off the Solway Coast. He is buried in Glasserton Parish, Wigtownshire.   St Mary's Graveyard Dumfries In Affectionate Remembrance of William CARRICK, who died 5th April 1881 aged 70 years "For ever with the Lord" Also Margaret THORIT, relict of the above, died March 16th 1890 aged 85 years And Janet BLACKLOCK his mother, who died 1853 aged 60 years   Closeburn Graveyard Dumfriesshire In Memory of George THURRAT, who died at Park, Closeburn, 10th June 1878 aged 69 years Also his wife, Sarah SMITH, who died at Kelhead, Cummertrees, 21st Jan 1904 aged 95 years Also Henrietta LOVE, wife of George THURRAT, and daughter-in-law of the above, who died at Cummertrees 9th May 1933 aged 80 years Also the above George THURRAT, who died at Cummertrees 6th March 1935 aged 80 years Erected by their son, George   Old Kirkmaiden graveyard near Port William (Glasserton Parish) Brass Plaque on ruined church wall In Memory of Francois THUROT A gallant French Naval Officer killed in action off the Isle of Man February 28 1760 His body was washed ashore and was buried in this churchyard He introduced the Ancient Order of Coldin to Sweden [this refers to a secret Masonic Order] [Historical Note - not recorded on plaque] Captain Thurot was killed in battle when he led a small squadron of French ships against a much larger group of British warships. The battle began in Belfast Lough and ended off the Isle of Man with the sinking of his ship. His bravery in attacking a much larger force was much admired, and Maxwell of Monreith buried him inside his family chancel in the old graveyard above monreith Bay See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Thurotfor a very detailed account.

Hi, Sandy: Nice to hear from you again, after all these years! The M.I. you sent for William Carrick was new to me, although I do have death certificates for him and his wife. My research on this line has been ongoing for some 15 years, and another Thorrat researcher did a lot of research in the 1970's. A few of my fellow researchers during those years have tried to claim descent from Francois Thurot, but in fact there is not one shred of evidence, or at least none that I have seen! In the year 2000, a Thorrat researcher in Scotland sent me a copy of the book written about the life of Captain Francois Thurot (ISBN 0-907715-23-0), and for several years I corresponded with Daniele Calder in France, who wrote to me and others on behalf of the known descendant of Francois Thurot, who doesn't speak English (his direct ancestor was Thurot's daughter who was given a pension by the French government). Our Thurot ancestors may well have originated in France, but my own thinking is that they were in England for a few hundred years before making their way to Scotland. One M.I. which you missed is the one in Kirkbean Cemetery, where my great-great-grandparents are buried: It reads, "In memory of John Thorat who died at Gateside 12th Jany. 1833 aged 77 years; also Agnes Lock his spouse who died 29th May 1833 aged 74 years." Thanks very much for your interest, Sandy. Irene Mitchell (Canada) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandy Pittendreigh" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:09 AM Subject: Re: [DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY] Thorat, Lindsay Hi Irene, you wrote: <<Transcribers almost always have trouble with the surname Thurot or Thorat, which is in my ancestral line. You might want to claim descent from a French pirate who terrorised English merchant shipping and coastal towns in the 1700s. He was finally defeated and killed in sea battle off the Solway Coast. He is buried in Glasserton Parish, Wigtownshire.

> Hi, Irene and Sandy and List members, I read with interest all information on John Thurot / Agnes Locke. I have been pieceing together all relevant info on the above and their daughter Jane Thurot married Adam Lockerbie(Lockerby) . They are my husbands 5X grandparents and 4X grandparents. Irene sent me some information last year which was wonderful but still hoping for more. Can you also tell what a M.I. is?? Kind regards Christine > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message