My Gt-Gt-Grandfather was Hugh Douglas.  He was born in Glasserton, Wigton in 1814.  The family story goes that he was a piper at Culzean Castle.  This is probably correct as the person who told me (now deceased) gave me his name and the person he married but was unaware where he fitted into the picture as far as ancesters go.

I managed to trace the marriage entry from Register House, Edinburgh  Hugh Douglas and his wife, Helen Gray were married at Tarbolton, Ayrshire by the Minister of Stair Church in 1836.

I have been unable to trace his or his wife's death or where they died. 

Some time ago while visiting Culzean Castle, I mentioned to the guide and she said that he must have been related to the Kennedys, because the piper would not have been an outsider to the family.  I found this interesting and started to look for a connection.

Two families I have looked at are the descendants of Sir William Douglas of Castle Douglas but he died unmarried.  Most of his siblings and their families seem to have gone abroad or down South and not to have stayed in Scotland.  The other family I have recently looked into was William Douglas died 1753 and his wife Sarah McHarg who are buried at Penningham Church. 

The interesting thing is that Sir William was born in Glasserton too and his family stated that they were Black Douglases descended from Gilbert Douglas, the Covenanter, and further back descended from a relative of Archibald the Grim.  My mother's family Douglas maintained also that they were Black Douglases and I was always under the impression that the family were descended directly from 'the Good' Sir James.

Can anyone help with my research or have any clues on any of the above information?  I would be very grateful for any assistance.

Helena