I'm still working on my Breckenridge line, but my earliest known ancestor is John Breckenridge b. 1639 in Breadalbane, Scotland.
It's my understanding (and I'm very new to Scottish/Scotch Irish genealogy) from reading the "Septs of Clan Douglas" (Clan Douglas Society of North America) that this family is considered one of the Douglas Septs. It is my hope to further my research and find the exact connection to the clan.
In answer to your question, my family still live in Scotland but I moved to France some 12 years ago and work here as a Translator (legal, technical documents, etc.).
My geneological research efforts are a bit sporadic but if anyone has any information about my great-grandfather (John Douglas), who left Rothesay about 1874 and reappeared ((age 41) in 1900, it would be welcome. I know he was in the USA (possibly Boston) and worked as an "engine fitter", but did he have a family there before starting our own back in Scotland?
The rest of my reasearches regarding his parents, siblings, etc., have all been reasonably straightforward with all the commonly used Scottish Douglas male forenames (William, James, John, Walter, Archibald) regularly cropping up, but the "lost" 26 years intrigue me.
I am stuck at James Douglass born about 1730-1733 based on apprenticeship in 1747.
I have checked more records in England and Scotland, but there is nothing to tie any baptism to my James.
Assuming that the family myth is correct that we originate in Scotland then the best bet might be to trawl wills in the hope of establishing a connection. Ideas gratefully received. Bob
Yes..of Scotland. My sister found our connection through Hopkins and Beggs. I'm still fresh in all this but she stumbled upon our connection in her research. It's very interesting to read all the stories.
Hi William. Yes my email was sent prior to completion; as I was waiting for approval to join, I could not enter additional info.
I was specifically commenting on Colin Douglas and William O. Douglas, the US Supreme Court Justice. I believe there may have been some debate as to William O. Being a direct descendant of Colin Douglas who landed in Pictou County, Nova Scotia on the Ship Hector in 1773 .
I too am a direct descendant and want to confirm William O.'s lineage. Colin Douglas and Catherine McLean lost two children on the voyage, their daughter
Margaret did marry Peter Fraser. However there was another son born in Alma, Pictou County -- John. Also known as Deacon John. Deacon John had 11 children , I trace my lineage through his first born John. William O. Douglas traced his lineage through his father
Who was also born in Alma, NS.
Colin, Deacon John and many others of the family are buried in the Alma cemetery in Pictou County, NS.
I would be thrilled to hear from any other family members.
Hi William, I should add that Hillary in my Douglas line is a name given to males of the family. (Only know of one female Hillary and that is in another Douglas line descended from John Douglas of 1789, Lurgan ... a likely cousin of our William of 1771. We believe that his father was our Moses's brother, yet to be identified).
Moses Douglas born 1740's (exact date not yet known), probably in the Lurgan, Armagh area. Married Catherie Marsden of Kinnegoe (Kinnigo), daughter of Robert Marsden of Kinngo, 24 April 1768. Date of death for both unknown.
Their children are as follows:
William Douglas (my ancestor): 1771 - 1860 , Kinnigoe, nr. Lurgan
John Douglas: 1773 - 1779
Mary Douglas: 1775 - ?
Henry Douglas: 1777 - 1852
John Douglas: 1779 - ?
Thomas Douglas: 1781 - ?
Margaret Douglas: 1785 - ? : May have married Thomas Corner 23 August 1813,
Robert Douglas: 1788 - 1867
Moses Douglas: 1791 - 1873
Hillary Douglas: 1793 - 1849
THE FAMILIES OF THESE SIBLINGS:
Henry Douglas of 1777 married Mary McCabe and lived in Lurgan
Jane Douglas: 1807 - 1827
Catherine Douglas: 1810 - 1857
Sarah Douglas: 1813 - 1878
Mary Douglas: 1815 - 1877
Moses Douglas: 1817 - 1878
William Douglas: 1817 - 1842
Edward Douglas: 1818- 1845
Henry Douglas: 1821 - 1859
John Douglas: 1824 - ?
Ellen Douglas: 1827 - 1828
John Douglas: unknown if married etc
Thomas Douglas: unknown if married etc
Robert Douglas of Kinnego (per headstone in Old Shankill cemetry, Lurgan:
married Mary (last name unknown) she died 1868
Mary Douglas (dates unknown)
John Douglas (1812 - 1878)
Nathaniel Douglas ( 1815 - 1872)
Jane Douglas (1825 - ? )
Sarah Douglas ( 1831 - 1841)
Moses Douglas of Kinnegoe (Per headstone, Old Shankill Cemetry, Lurgan)
Married Elizabeth (Eliza) dates and last name unknown
James Douglas (dates unknown, married Hannah Graham who died young)
Eleanor Jane Douglas (1824 - ?)
Catherine Douglas (1826 - 1847)
John Douglas ( 1826 - ? )
Thomas Douglas ( 1829 - 1903) Married Jane Eleanor Cotter, had 7 known children, one of whom was Moses Douglas who married Jeannie Allen also of Lurgan.
Mary DOuglas ( 1831 - ? )
Hillary Douglas of Kinnegoe (per headstone some place)
Married Mary ( last name unknown: 1797 - 1880)
Unknown Douglas
Catherine Douglas
Harriett Douglas
Susannah Douglas
Unknown female Douglas
Isabella Douglas ( 1821 - 1897)
Margaret Douglas (1822- 1880)
Harriet Douglas (2nd one: 1831 - 1905), married Macoun of Kinnego
Hillary Douglas ( 1831 - 1915) The inheritor of the Douglas lands in Kinnego, died unmarried and left the farms to his grand nephew Henry Anderson
Moses Douglas (Rev., 1834 - 1913)
Henry Douglas ( 1835 - 1921)
Haven't included the family of William 1771, as we are his line and have what we need. However, if you need that info can share.
Most of the early recoreds we found in the Shankill Parish records, so believe more clues to our family are in there. I do have more details on the families listed above, but would take a lot to type that out. All these families, for the most part stayed in Lurgan area (Armagh) and then the lines begin to dissapear, partly because male lines die out here and there and also because I have not been able to trace where other lines went to as the generations passed.
Let me know what more you could use. Wuld love to connect with anyone who has Douglas roots to Lurgan and who may relate to us :o) (We are not the Grace Hall Douglas family).
My maiden name was Morton and my father's family had already traced their family back to coming over with William the Conqueror.All the history was kept in a lovely leather bound book.In the early 70s all I remember from the book was that we were related to James Douglas 4th Earl of Morton and that he'd been beheaded. Armed with that bit of information my now husband and myself travelled up to Edinburgh and went in search of anything to do with James.We went to see the Maiden, went round the castle and Holyrood,we also visited Drochil Castle and took photos. In 1979 my parents divorced and I haven't seen my father or any of his family since. I got married in 1977 and became a Luff, since then all my researching has been on my mothers' family history.I now think that I would like to learn a bit more about my fathers ancestors although I've now got nothing to go on.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply - I have become frustrated with my search on ancestry.com so was pleased to find this site by google search! The information that I posted in my profile was gained from a publication which follows the history of James Crawford Douglas and his descendants in Australia and also his brother John "Douglas A Family History 1843-1981" published in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia in 1981. The reference to the Douglas Homestead is a description of a photo in that book ... but I agree homestead is very much an Australian maybe even American description.
According to my research James Douglas and Elizabeth Douglas nee Crawford had children Mary Ann b1834, Margaret b1838, John b 1840, James b1842, Jane 1845 and Alexander 1851. Ancestory.com has a record Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864 Record for James Douglas listing him with 65and 66
I had stumbled across the same census that you had and can offer the following explanation Alexander is James' Son and is listed as head of house - his wife Essie is listed as the last listing and their Children are in between - the Johnston's live next door and have obviously been long term neighbours as they were also listed in the Griffith's valuation record I mentioned earlier - it would appear that James, wife Elizabeth Crawford's family also lived nearby.
There is a distinct possibility that James was not born in Ballyhay - I am relying on other family trees on ancestory.com and have not been able to track down a birth certificate as yet ... so the search for his ancestors is a bit tricky ... I am hoping that someone see's this post and can assist.
Forgot to mention that Hugh and Katherine lived in Ayrshire, Scotland. Their son William named his estates in Fairfax County, now Loudoun County, Virginia, Garrallan and Montressor (or variations thereof). These lands are located near the town of Leesburg, Virginia.
I am a bit fuzzy on the dates for Hugh Douglas and Katherine Hume. Hugh was born about 1700 and I assume Katherine a bit later. I am related through their daughter Elizabeth, who married Robert Neilson.
I've left a comment for Julie Bryce as I see she was interested in the Cockpen bunch. What I've found is several generations associated with Dalhousie, with baptisms recorded variously in Cockpen, Newbattle and Carrington.
It's unfortunate that the Cockpen register only starts from 1690 for births, considerably later for marriages, but that's life. I see that a suggestion was made on the parentage of William Duglass (who married Janet Witherspoon) but don't know that source that comes from. I'll post some details of what I have - where? On my own comment wall maybe?
Hello all, thanks so much for this website. I was born in Canada - as I track my roots - my father and grandfather and I guess their ancestors were born in Jamaica. I've been told that my family is from Douglas Castle in Jamaica. William 'Captain' Douglas went to Jamaica and i'm a Douglas from that branch. I would love to trace my relation to Captain and I would love to know about where Captain came from and/or about his family. I would love to know more about my Scottish roots.
no sir the only thing that i know are the stories my grandfather told me
about james douglas and the douglas,s be heading the englishmen that had taken thier home while he was away . i was also told stories that our ancestors would kill the english men and thier horses no questions asked and that people were affraid to fight us . it was our job to protect scotland from the invading english while william the bruce fought in the northern part of the country , again this is just what i have been told over the years from my grandparents they also said we had two castles about 1 mile apart in scotland, i am inclined to believe that i might be one of the last black douglas,s
Seems to be lots of folks with that name as you know. lol My William was born about 1834 in Eldrid Township, Jefferson County, Pa. I have lots of info on him and his family after 1870, they were living in Erie City, Pa at the time. They moved to Iowa, then to Kansas where he died in 1924. He married Ada Wright and they had 3 children Edith, Earl & Elward. I have no idea who his parents were, I think his father had the same name as I have found census records from Jefferson County. They show the family as Free Persons of Color with 6-10 persons living in the household depending on the year. I have also found bits of info on him in several books that have been printed regarding black, colored, negro etc. inventors, but nothing about his parents or siblings. His early life is my brick wall.
Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
The more information you can give about the people you mention, the more chance there is of someone else connecting with your family.
Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages all help to place families.
Professions also help.
'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.
Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?
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Thank you for the welcome, William!
I'm still working on my Breckenridge line, but my earliest known ancestor is John Breckenridge b. 1639 in Breadalbane, Scotland.
It's my understanding (and I'm very new to Scottish/Scotch Irish genealogy) from reading the "Septs of Clan Douglas" (Clan Douglas Society of North America) that this family is considered one of the Douglas Septs. It is my hope to further my research and find the exact connection to the clan.
Thank you William!
I can see this is a very interesting site :) Looking forward to read here.
best regards Kåre
Hi William
Thanks for your welcome.
In answer to your question, my family still live in Scotland but I moved to France some 12 years ago and work here as a Translator (legal, technical documents, etc.).
My geneological research efforts are a bit sporadic but if anyone has any information about my great-grandfather (John Douglas), who left Rothesay about 1874 and reappeared ((age 41) in 1900, it would be welcome. I know he was in the USA (possibly Boston) and worked as an "engine fitter", but did he have a family there before starting our own back in Scotland?
The rest of my reasearches regarding his parents, siblings, etc., have all been reasonably straightforward with all the commonly used Scottish Douglas male forenames (William, James, John, Walter, Archibald) regularly cropping up, but the "lost" 26 years intrigue me.
Regards John Douglas
Hi
I have tried to go back further
I am stuck at James Douglass born about 1730-1733 based on apprenticeship in 1747.
I have checked more records in England and Scotland, but there is nothing to tie any baptism to my James.
Assuming that the family myth is correct that we originate in Scotland then the best bet might be to trawl wills in the hope of establishing a connection. Ideas gratefully received. Bob
Yes..of Scotland. My sister found our connection through Hopkins and Beggs. I'm still fresh in all this but she stumbled upon our connection in her research. It's very interesting to read all the stories.
Thank you for the kind welcome. I am looking over the site and I have some comments to make for sure.
Actually, this is how far I can go back on my genealogy:
I was specifically commenting on Colin Douglas and William O. Douglas, the US Supreme Court Justice. I believe there may have been some debate as to William O. Being a direct descendant of Colin Douglas who landed in Pictou County, Nova Scotia on the Ship Hector in 1773 .
I too am a direct descendant and want to confirm William O.'s lineage. Colin Douglas and Catherine McLean lost two children on the voyage, their daughter
Margaret did marry Peter Fraser. However there was another son born in Alma, Pictou County -- John. Also known as Deacon John. Deacon John had 11 children , I trace my lineage through his first born John. William O. Douglas traced his lineage through his father
Who was also born in Alma, NS.
Colin, Deacon John and many others of the family are buried in the Alma cemetery in Pictou County, NS.
I would be thrilled to hear from any other family members.
Best,
Elizabeth Douglas
my douglas ancestors the direct line.. sisters and siblings not directly in path please ask about and i will see what i can find..
william's parents and his birth place are in dispute hoping to resolve this thru dna any one have ideas:
William Douglas, I
born
August 9, 1610
Ringstead, Northamptonshire, UK
died
July 25, 1682 (71)
New London, New London, CT,
son
William Douglas, II
April 1, 1645
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Usa
died
March 19, 1724 (78)
New London, Connecticut, United States
son
RICHARD4 DOUGLAS
July 19, 1682 in New London, CT, and died February 26, 1733/34
son
William Douglas, Capt., Deacon (iii?)
New London, New London, CT
Death:
New London, New London, CT, USA
son william iv
New London, New London, CT
New London, New London, CT, USA
New London, CT, USA
Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont, United States
son samuel douglas sr
douglas landing (or lousivlle) ny
son samuel douglas jr
St Lawrence, NY, USA
son
Henry B Douglas
1870 st lawrence ny
1934 st lawrence ny
his daugther
Marion LaPoint (Douglas)
1896 st lawrence ny
1992 st lawrence ny
her son donald lapoint 1927 malone ny
2012 march 3 (RIP GRANDPA!) burlington vt
his daugther michelle ann lapoint
me..
Hi William, I should add that Hillary in my Douglas line is a name given to males of the family. (Only know of one female Hillary and that is in another Douglas line descended from John Douglas of 1789, Lurgan ... a likely cousin of our William of 1771. We believe that his father was our Moses's brother, yet to be identified).
Jenni
Hello William
Our Irish family:
Moses Douglas born 1740's (exact date not yet known), probably in the Lurgan, Armagh area. Married Catherie Marsden of Kinnegoe (Kinnigo), daughter of Robert Marsden of Kinngo, 24 April 1768. Date of death for both unknown.
Their children are as follows:
William Douglas (my ancestor): 1771 - 1860 , Kinnigoe, nr. Lurgan
John Douglas: 1773 - 1779
Mary Douglas: 1775 - ?
Henry Douglas: 1777 - 1852
John Douglas: 1779 - ?
Thomas Douglas: 1781 - ?
Margaret Douglas: 1785 - ? : May have married Thomas Corner 23 August 1813,
Robert Douglas: 1788 - 1867
Moses Douglas: 1791 - 1873
Hillary Douglas: 1793 - 1849
THE FAMILIES OF THESE SIBLINGS:
Henry Douglas of 1777 married Mary McCabe and lived in Lurgan
John Douglas: unknown if married etc
Thomas Douglas: unknown if married etc
Robert Douglas of Kinnego (per headstone in Old Shankill cemetry, Lurgan:
Moses Douglas of Kinnegoe (Per headstone, Old Shankill Cemetry, Lurgan)
Hillary Douglas of Kinnegoe (per headstone some place)
Haven't included the family of William 1771, as we are his line and have what we need. However, if you need that info can share.
Most of the early recoreds we found in the Shankill Parish records, so believe more clues to our family are in there. I do have more details on the families listed above, but would take a lot to type that out. All these families, for the most part stayed in Lurgan area (Armagh) and then the lines begin to dissapear, partly because male lines die out here and there and also because I have not been able to trace where other lines went to as the generations passed.
Let me know what more you could use. Wuld love to connect with anyone who has Douglas roots to Lurgan and who may relate to us :o) (We are not the Grace Hall Douglas family).
1921
Hello William,
My maiden name was Morton and my father's family had already traced their family back to coming over with William the Conqueror.All the history was kept in a lovely leather bound book.In the early 70s all I remember from the book was that we were related to James Douglas 4th Earl of Morton and that he'd been beheaded. Armed with that bit of information my now husband and myself travelled up to Edinburgh and went in search of anything to do with James.We went to see the Maiden, went round the castle and Holyrood,we also visited Drochil Castle and took photos. In 1979 my parents divorced and I haven't seen my father or any of his family since. I got married in 1977 and became a Luff, since then all my researching has been on my mothers' family history.I now think that I would like to learn a bit more about my fathers ancestors although I've now got nothing to go on.
Sonia Luff
sorry William that should have read 65 and 66 Ballyhay
Hi William
Thank you so much for your prompt reply - I have become frustrated with my search on ancestry.com so was pleased to find this site by google search! The information that I posted in my profile was gained from a publication which follows the history of James Crawford Douglas and his descendants in Australia and also his brother John "Douglas A Family History 1843-1981" published in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia in 1981. The reference to the Douglas Homestead is a description of a photo in that book ... but I agree homestead is very much an Australian maybe even American description.
According to my research James Douglas and Elizabeth Douglas nee Crawford had children Mary Ann b1834, Margaret b1838, John b 1840, James b1842, Jane 1845 and Alexander 1851. Ancestory.com has a record Griffith’s Valuation, 1848-1864 Record for James Douglas listing him with 65and 66
I had stumbled across the same census that you had and can offer the following explanation Alexander is James' Son and is listed as head of house - his wife Essie is listed as the last listing and their Children are in between - the Johnston's live next door and have obviously been long term neighbours as they were also listed in the Griffith's valuation record I mentioned earlier - it would appear that James, wife Elizabeth Crawford's family also lived nearby.
There is a distinct possibility that James was not born in Ballyhay - I am relying on other family trees on ancestory.com and have not been able to track down a birth certificate as yet ... so the search for his ancestors is a bit tricky ... I am hoping that someone see's this post and can assist.
Thanks again
Cheers
Ann-Maree
William:
Forgot to mention that Hugh and Katherine lived in Ayrshire, Scotland. Their son William named his estates in Fairfax County, now Loudoun County, Virginia, Garrallan and Montressor (or variations thereof). These lands are located near the town of Leesburg, Virginia.
Carl
William:
I am a bit fuzzy on the dates for Hugh Douglas and Katherine Hume. Hugh was born about 1700 and I assume Katherine a bit later. I am related through their daughter Elizabeth, who married Robert Neilson.
Thanks for your help with the Douglas family.
Carl
Hi William,
I've left a comment for Julie Bryce as I see she was interested in the Cockpen bunch. What I've found is several generations associated with Dalhousie, with baptisms recorded variously in Cockpen, Newbattle and Carrington.
It's unfortunate that the Cockpen register only starts from 1690 for births, considerably later for marriages, but that's life. I see that a suggestion was made on the parentage of William Duglass (who married Janet Witherspoon) but don't know that source that comes from. I'll post some details of what I have - where? On my own comment wall maybe?
Thanks for the site!
Jenny
Hello all, thanks so much for this website. I was born in Canada - as I track my roots - my father and grandfather and I guess their ancestors were born in Jamaica. I've been told that my family is from Douglas Castle in Jamaica. William 'Captain' Douglas went to Jamaica and i'm a Douglas from that branch. I would love to trace my relation to Captain and I would love to know about where Captain came from and/or about his family. I would love to know more about my Scottish roots.
hi william,
no sir the only thing that i know are the stories my grandfather told me
about james douglas and the douglas,s be heading the englishmen that had taken thier home while he was away . i was also told stories that our ancestors would kill the english men and thier horses no questions asked and that people were affraid to fight us . it was our job to protect scotland from the invading english while william the bruce fought in the northern part of the country , again this is just what i have been told over the years from my grandparents they also said we had two castles about 1 mile apart in scotland, i am inclined to believe that i might be one of the last black douglas,s
Hello William,
Seems to be lots of folks with that name as you know. lol My William was born about 1834 in Eldrid Township, Jefferson County, Pa. I have lots of info on him and his family after 1870, they were living in Erie City, Pa at the time. They moved to Iowa, then to Kansas where he died in 1924. He married Ada Wright and they had 3 children Edith, Earl & Elward. I have no idea who his parents were, I think his father had the same name as I have found census records from Jefferson County. They show the family as Free Persons of Color with 6-10 persons living in the household depending on the year. I have also found bits of info on him in several books that have been printed regarding black, colored, negro etc. inventors, but nothing about his parents or siblings. His early life is my brick wall.
Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
Be Blessed
L.K.
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The more information you can give about the people you mention, the more chance there is of someone else connecting with your family.
Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages all help to place families.
Professions also help.
'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.
Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?
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