I just joined this Listserve to try to locate my Broach ancestors. I descend from Abner Broach who was born about 1761 in Chesterfield County in the Virginia colony. Despite considerable effort, I have been unsuccessful in finding Abner’s parents. Abner had 5 Broach contemporaries in Virginia in the 1760s, most from King & Queen County: Benoni, Charles, George, James & Jones Broach. I am unable to establish the relationship among these 6 men. However DNA results of descendants of Abner & George suggest the 2 are cousins rather than brothers. Family lore indicates (without proof) we are from Dumfriesshire. DNA results also indicate one of George Broach’s ancestors has the surname Lancaster. This lineage can be traced to a John Lancaster born about 1763 in Cumberland, England - probably buried 10 Mar 1822 (according to the National Burial Index). John was christened 2 Jun 1763 (son of Thomas). He married Mary Heavyside (or Heaviside) 15 Dec 1785 in Cumwhitton parish. Mary was from Washington County Durham. Mary (father: John Heaviside) appears to have been buried in Lorton as 'wife of John' , aged 51, on 16.05.1814. The residence then is given as Gillbrow. A John Lancaster of Lorton married a year later to a Mary Denwood. It is possible that a Lancaster female had a child by a Broach male out of wedlock, by rape, etc. However, I am unable to locate either that Lancaster female or that male Broach. If you can assist me I would appreciate any information or leads. Carter Broach

Carter Broach [email protected] wrote: <<I descend from Abner Broach who was born about 1761 in Chesterfield County in the Virginia colony. Despite considerable effort, I have been unsuccessful in finding Abner’s parents. Abner had 5 Broach contemporaries in Virginia in the 1760s, most from King & Queen County: Benoni, Charles, George, James & Jones Broach. I am unable to establish the relationship among these 6 men.  However DNA results of descendants of Abner & George suggest the 2 are cousins rather than brothers. Family lore indicates (without proof) we are from Dumfriesshire.>> Mid 1700s is a bit early for most gravestones, some survive but very few. But I still looked at the DGFHs MIs databes to get an idea of the Parishes where the BROACH family name occurs. Found only the following two in Lochmaben with the same BROACH spelling, but also BROATCH spelling used on the same stones 1.  In Loving Memory of John BROATCH, who died 14th Jan 1855, age [-----] Also Janet TWEEDIE, his wife, who died 10th Jan 1855, age 76 years Erected by Andrew BROACH, Winnipeg, Canada 2.  In Memory of John BROTCH [sic], Portioner of Hightae, who departed this life 20th May 1810 aged 68 years Also Mary RICHARDSON, his spouse, who departed this life 20th January 1813 ageed 50 years Also Elizabeth and Margaret, the former 6th June 1810 aged 10 years, the latter 18th November 1806 aged 2 years Also John BROACH [sic], Farmer in Castlemains, who departed this life 21st April 1833 aged 44 years And of John BROACH, his son, who died 21st June 1827 aged 1 year Also Mary BROACH, his daughter, who departed this life 9th May 1836 aged 25 years Looking for BROATCH I found a further of 28 gravestones elsewhere, mainly in Dumfriessghire parishes. Didn't expect to find an Abner and I didn't. (that is an American name isn't it -- remember Li'l Abner from somewhere -- an American comic strip I think?) The only George BROATCH is a 20th century one and he is in Ruthwell Parish graveyard. George BROATCH, farmer, Thwaite, who died 20th January 1906 age 84 years Also Mary BELL, his wife, who died at Thwaite 17th March 1906 age 74 years hope that is of interest Sandy in Dumfries

Just a word about your deliberations about a Broach child being born out of wedlock by, perhaps, a rape. Before you think about rape then take a look at the illegitimate birth rate for the North of England at that time, especially for Cumberland it is one of the highest. I have researched ancestors around the North West and I am amazed at the number of births, in Parish Records, that were illegitimate around the 1700's & 1800's. It was not as uncommon as we would think in those days. However because the children were not to be a drain on Parish resources the Church tried to ascertain who the father was so he could pay towards the upkeep. In fact in Scotland they interrogated the woman and it was difficult for her not to say who the father was. But again this was to get him to pay towards the upkeep. This is one web site which shows a graph on the incidence of illegitimacy in the Counties of England in 1860/61, but there are others which talk about the high Illegitimate Birth rate in Cumberland. http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_soc_sciences/census/illegit.h tm Judy