Thomas McLagan or MacLagan

Probably but not certainly the 'Thomas John Maclagan', shown as the father of Thomas John Maclagan junior (1838-1903). Biographical details from the Royal Society of Medicine show the older man as graduating at Glasgow aged 14 [sic] in 1786, and being active in Jamaica 1810-1820. It also shows him as returning to Scotland in 1820, marrying, working in Scone, Perthshire and dying in the 1840s with 'a fortune of £230,000.' The Jamaica Almanacs for 1802 and 1805 show Thomas MacLagan as a surgeon in the St Andrew militia.

1. The will of Thomas MacLagan surgeon of Pitcullen Perthshire proved 03/10/1848 appears to be of the same man as the Royal Society of Medicine article, giving his son's name as Thomas John, while his wife appears as Helen rather than Ellen: Pitcullen is close to Scone. However, while the RSM shows five sons, the will of Thomas MacLagan of Pitcullen shows Thomas John, Robert and two daughters. The will is silent on Jamaica property. It specifies his £2000 holding in the Liverpool Dock Co. and 'fifty falls' of land in Scotland.

2. Thomas MacLagan does not appear in W.D.Rubinstein's systematic investigation of individuals leaving personalty in excess of £100,000, and his reported wealth of £230,000 at death should be treated with scepticism. The probate of Thomas MacLagan in fact shows personalty of £3024 at death, and the will does not appear consistent with property to the value shown in the RSM.

Derek Doyle, 'The Perthshire MacLagans', 'Thomas John MacLagan (1838-1903)', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Mar. 2012 105(3): pp. 131–136. The details about a successful Jamaica medical career and retirement to Scone for the father of Thomas John MacLagan (1838-1903) appear also in the obituary of the latter in the British Medical Journal 1903; 1:766, which gives the father's name simply as Thomas MacLagan.

1. PROB 11/2082/421.

2. 1851 MacLagan, Thomas (Wills and testaments Reference SC49/31/52, Perth Sheriff Court), https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_wills_testaments/554087?image=19&session=100054&viewed_images=true" [subscription database online]