Biography of John Coghlan 1753-1807

Around 1753 John Coghlan was born.

Gaine's Gazette and Weekly Mercury: "Last Monday Evening [24 Feb 1777] Lieut. John Coghlan (age 24), of the 7th, or English Fuziliers, was married by the Rev'd Dr. Auchmuty, to Miss [his future wife] Margaret Moncrieffe (age 14), only daughter to Thomas Moncrieffe, Esq."

Memoirs of Mrs Coghlan. [Before 28th February 1777] Mr. Coghlan (age 24), my [[his future wife] Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (age 14)] present husband, saw me at an assembly, when, without either consulting my heart, or deigning to ask my permission, he instantly demanded me in marriage, and won my father to his purpose.—In a savage mind, which only considered sensual enjoyments, affection was not an object, for I told him at the time he had not any affection, and conjured him in the most peruasive terms, to act as a man of honour and humanity: his reply was congenial with his character; he valued not any refusal on my part, so long as he had the Major's consent; and, with a dreadful oath, he swore, "that my obstinacy should not avail me." Indeed, my refusal signified nothing; he insinuated himself fo far in my father’s confidence, as to draw upon me the anger of a parent, to whose displeafure I had never been accustomed, and whose rebukes I had not resolution to resist: Confined to my own apartment, I was forbid his presence, unless prepared to receive the husband he had provided for me. Wretched in mind, smarting under the sad reverse, I who had only known the heart-cheering smiles of parental fondness, to become the object of parental anger! the idea overcame me, and besieged, at the same time, by the pathetic intreaties of a much-loved brother, I unhappily yielded, and here fate dashed me on a rock which has destroyed my peace of mind in this world, and may, perhaps, have paved my way to eternal torments in another.

Memoirs of Mrs Coghlan. In consequence of these fatal intreaties, I [[his wife] Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (age 14)] was married to Mr. John Coghlan (age 24), on the 28th of February, 1777, at New-York, by special licence, granted by Sir William Tryon, who was then Civil Governor of that province. At this period, I was only fourteen years and a few months old; so early did I fall a melancholy victim to the hasty decision of well-meaning, but alas! most mistaken relations. My union with Mr. Coghlan I never confidered in any other light, than an honourable prostitution, as I really hated the man whom they had compelled me to marry.

On 28th February 1777 John Coghlan (age 24) and Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (age 14) were married at Trinity Church, New York by the Reverend Samuel Auchmuty, Rector of Trinity Church, New York.

In February 1778 John Coghlan (age 25) and [his wife] Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (age 15) travelled to England.

Memoirs of Mrs Coghlan. Mr. Coghlan (age 25) took lodgings at New-York, where he introduced me [[his wife] Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (age 15)] to libertines, and to women of doubtful character. In this city we remained about a month, when a convoy being ready to fail for Cork, we embarked on the 8th of February, 1778, and had not been many days at sea before my husband, freed from all restraint, from the protection that I had enjoyed under my father’s roof, threw off the mask of deception, and appeared in his true native character, the brutish unfeeling tyrant! never omitting an opportunity to persecute and torment me. Innumerable cruelties did I endure from this man while on our passage; and so unrelenting was he in his barbarous treatment, that it at length became public in the ship, and obliged Captain Kidd, the commander, to take notice of it, threatening to confine him as a madman, if he persevered in his inhuman career.

After 19th February 1806 [his former wife] Margaret Maria Moncrieffe (deceased) died.

In 1807 John Coghlan (age 54) died at St Bartholomew's Hospital, aged fifty-four.