James Somerville, 12th Lord Somerville

Biographical Summary

"James, twelfth Lord Somerville, restorer of the fortunes of his family, baptized 25 January 1698...

...Lord Somerville died at Drum 14 December 1765."

SOURCE: The Scots peerage, Vol. VIII, page 33-37

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James, the 13th Lord Somerville of Scotland first came to England in 1721 at the age of 23 for the purpose of prosecuting his claim to the Barony of Somerville which he established in 1723. His family had been settled in Scotland for six centuries and during his time in Wiltshire, he became acquainted with the widow, Anne Rolt.

http://www.bayntun-history.com/AnneBayntun1689.htm

On the 18th September 1724 he married Anne, at Bath Abbey, Somerset (pictured right). The couple had received a special licence from the Bishop to marry at the Abbey. The microfiche of the parish registers for Bath Abbey give no further details of this marriage, nor who was present that day.

After their marriage Ann and Lord Somerville resided at Spye Park House with the six children from Anne's previous marriage. One daughter – Anna Marie – had died a year earlier. A daughter was born on the 1st September 1725, which they named Anne and in 1726 the couple left Bromham to live in Scotland, determined to proceed in his plan of restoring his long depressed family.