James Hamilton Lindsay and a duel at Belfast?

[warbler]

I have come across a copy of a 1913 'recital' of a family legend which starts off " A duel was supposed to have taken place at Belfast. Charles Stuart and James Hamilton Lindsay were seconds. After the duel, these two had to flee the country. They landed at Newby Bridge......."

Newby Bridge is in Cumbria, and James Hamilton Lindsay did indeed settle there, married and had five children, and died there in 1820, age unknown.

His children were born from 1779 onwards. I haven't been able to find a record of the marriage but would guess it was in the 1770s, and that probably his arrival in Cumbria (Lancashire then) was around then too, and that he was born maybe around 1750.

Would there be any such thing as records or reports of duels, and why would he have had to flee, and who from?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Neale1961]

His children were born from 1779 onwards.

Where and when were the baptisms? What is the name of the mother on the baptism record?

[mckha489]

Looking in the newspapers there was this duel about that time

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/6e57d3f3-93d9-48fe-9602-9f9f5f8a37b4

This man https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Coote,_1st_Earl_of_Bellomont

[warbler]

Thanks for those replies and suggestions.

As far as the baptisms and wife are concerned, I know that the wife's name was Hannah, but I haven't been able to find any record of the marriage or any baptisms for the children. All my information so far has come from a removal order of 9 March 1794 for Hannah and the five children, named with ages, from Lower Holker in Lancashire to Langdale in Westmorland. James Hamilton is referred to as an Irishman but that may be because he came from Ireland, maybe?
There is a possible marriage at St Bees on 24 Sept 1770 of Hamilton Lindsay to Hannah Gregg, but Hamilton Lindsay is shown as a taylor of Whitehaven, which doesn't quite fit, I think.
James Hamilton and Hannah were both buried at Tottle bank Chapel, which is a Baptist chapel, and I'm told the chapel would have only been doing adult immersion baptisms at that time. There's nothing for the children in the parish registers of nearby Colton.

The duel lead looks promising, and fits the dates, and maybe the circumstances. I'll follow that up in the BNA and see what I can find.

Thanks again for your help

[warbler]

Thanks for the link about the duel.

I found a further report on that duel between Lord Townsend and the Earl of Bellamont which stated that, although the original insult occurred in Belfast, the actual duel took place in Mary le Bone fields in London on 2 February 1773. The seconds were named as Hon. Mr Dillon and Lord Ligonier.

Not my man's duel, apparently, but thanks for the suggestion. I think the duel I am looking for was probably somewhat lower profile, and therefore maybe unlikely to be reported. I'll have to try another tack!

Thanks again.