The Forgotten Brother: John Carlyle

Thank you for giving me a chuckle after a long hard day...i.e. the map of Mr. Scott, who wrote the book, "John Carlyle, the Long Lost Brother" I have never seen a map (ref. Brant County, ONT), with the compass rose on the bottom of a map, pointing NORTH. I am a former ocean sailor. I also have a John Carlyle, 1813-1872, born in Terregles, KKD, Scotland and settled and died in Courtland Twp, Kent Co., Michigan. He is my GGGrandfather. In a self made bio, published by Polk and Associates, he stated HE WAS the brother of The Thomas Carlyle. Obviously, this has led to many Carlyle researchers to make this mistake. No I have not made the connection to The Thomas Carlyle, but surely there is a connection.... Thank you, John B. Ten Eyck

Dear John Eyck,

Thank you for sharing your comments! We are fairly sure that the supposed "compass rose" on this map is not actually part of the original map, but that some "helpful" reader added the notation to the document during their read! You never know what people think might "enhance" a historical document!

Regards, Christine MacArthur Digital Initiatives Librarian

Cheers, I have forgotten to ask if the book, "John Carlyle, The Forgotten Brother" by Mr. Scott is available to purchase? Please and thanks, John

Hi John,

This book was contributed to us for digitization by the Heritage Mount Pleasant group. As far as I know, this book is out of print and there are no copies available for sale through Heritage Mount Pleasant. You might try searching Used Book stores online sometimes you can get lucky and find a copy. The book here is reproduced for research purposes only.

Regards, Christine MacArthur Digital Initiatives Librarian

Cheers Christine,

There has been some confusion between the two John Carlyles....John and Marg Benn of Cockermouth and John, 1813-1874, and his wife Lillias Howat of Terregles and Troqueer, the later being my Great Great Grandfather/GGGrandmother, who settled in Kent County, Michigan.

I have been re-organizing my Michigan Carlyles that settled in Courtland Township, Kent County, Michigan (north of Grand Rapids), for the last 16 years and should have the final papers by this Easter...hopefully. One of the "key" pieces of the puzzle of the two John's is John of "Cockermouth's" land grant in Shiawassea [sp] County, Michigan which has eluded my searches. I want to find the exact Township and the acreage.

The results of my research will be given to Mary Hollern, Excutive Director of the Ecclefrechen Society and the Rockford Area Historical Museum of Kent Co, Michigan.

Thank you and keep up the great work,

John B. Ten Eyck