William Douglas

Male

Scotland

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Which Douglas line are you researching? Dates and places help making connections.
All areas of Douglas history and genealogy are of interest to me.

I am keen to track back family lines that are considered 'brick walls', and hope to be able to do this through the networking opportunities that arise through media such as this.
Tags/keywords - used to help people find you
Scotland,worldwide,history,genealogy
dna haplotype
R1b1b2
Website address
http://www.douglashistory.co.uk

Comment Wall:

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  • stephen john anthony douglas

    My father was Anthony John Douglas of Oxford 08/12/28, I did`nt know my grandfather but his name was John Douglas, middle name if he had one is not known at present, my father was born in Oxford and had 2/3 brothers and 2/3 sisters and he was the youngest, my grandfathers birth date and place of birth I do not know.

    Steve

  • Deborah Ann Hill-Hampton

    Hi William.  Im a member of this site and when I joined you had sent a comment regarding the black Douglas line and the Drysdales.  More recently you had a discussion regarding Mary Drysdale and her line.  I am a direct descendant of Mary Drysdale of the Vale of Devon, who is in tern a direct descendant of Thomas Douglas of the three brothers Thomas William and James Douglas.  I haven't had any DNA testing however several of us descending from Edwin Haigh whose grandmother was Mary Drysdale, have been very interested in our heritage to include the Douglas/Drysdale.  Now I have seen updates of the same document but that went to different family members and my most recent was reprinted for my gr gr grandfather Edwin Haig, reprinted in Apr. 1911.  I have seen reprints more recent but not on our immediate family line.   This document is one which is used to prove our lineage although I know and want to do DNA testing.    

  • George Douglas

    thanks William will study  what you have sent the Douglas Archives has opened up a new world to me all info i had been given was from my cousin Ethel who has been working on both sides of the family tree pleasure to be in contact with other members hopefully we will be in contact again    

  • Leanda de Lisle

    Thanks William, I won't next time! 

  • Lesley Jane Abrahams

    Hi William, Thank you for your reply to my request. this helps us, and we will be able to adjust our inforamtion accordingly. Best wishs, Lesley (Dubbo NSW Australia)

  • Kenneth Edward Douglas

    Yes, but I am not sure if I am doing this correctly ?https://www.facebook.com/CadKenD

  • Russell Lynn Drysdale

     In re:

    who is this?  http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/?artist_id=drysda... 

    George Russell Drysdale , English born  Australian Artist , knighted in 1969 . You have posted about him in the Drysdale Sept group before William .

  • Pam Warner

    Thank you for the welcome William and yes I am Sue Elliott's aunt.  We have been working together on our genealogy but have been stuck for many years. Hope someone can get us going again!  Pam

  • Curtis H. Douglas

    Herman Douglas

    Born Aug 1889 West Charleston NH

    Died Oct 1981 Malone NY

    Father George Douglas??

    Herman is my grandfather

  • Connie Williams

    Thank you for the welcome.  I  have been aware of Sylvia Snipps' research for a little while but the size and complexity of your website has been quite daunting!  I am the great-great-granddaughter of Mary Ann Douglas, the daughter of Primrose Douglas.  I will write to Sylvia now.  Connie Williams

  • Sherri Hathaway

    Hi William!

    Great Migration of Puritans from England to New England (1620–1643)

  • Joseph Charles Blaylock

    I will be there, along with three others to enjoy some of the events!  Looking forward to it, and meeting you then.

  • Cyndia Christen Douglass

    Thank you for responding so quickly. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Douglas Clan Gathering although it would be the perfect special time to experience Scotland for the first time.

    Although I do not know the dates, you very likely may be referring to my grandfather, Howard Jasper Douglass, who was born in Patriot, Indiana, and I think died in an elderly care facility in Brandon, Florida, near where my Aunt Janet used to live. My grandmother's name was Clara Ina Wood Douglass.

    My father's name was Howard Wood Douglass, his sister was Janet Douglass Miles.  If I am correct, my father was born in Madison, Indiana, or at least lived there as a child.

    While my Aunt Janet took it upon herself to be the family historian, much of what she may have known about our ancestry was not passed along to her survivors. She may even have been in contact with you at some point but I do not know any details about her research.

    Please let me know if you have anymore information. I am currently attempting to acquire more information from my cousins in the meantime.


    Best regards,

    Cyndia

  • Nicholas P. Wright

    I have 4 Edward Douglass in my line, one died (the most recent) in Tennessee. The other three are my 8th, 9th, and 10th great grandfathers. With 3rd(1644-1698), 2nd(1590-1657), and 1st(Bef 1590-Bef1644). All should be buried in Northhampton County, VA. But some sites (Geni.com) says they were born in Norwich, England; while ancestry.com says Scotland.

  • Mary Frances Keyes

    Thank you so much. Was Douglas and Morton the same family at one time???

  • Robert Bain

    Hi William
    no problems
    Robert

  • ANDREW CHRISTIAN DOUGLAS

  • Ian Douglass

    Hi, William.

    It's actually this group right here:

    http://douglashistory.ning.com/forum/topics/samuel-douglas-s-b-scot...

  • Catrine Drisdelle

    Hello William.

    Thank you so much for accepting me into your group. The spelling variation in my name came about between 1820-70 I believe. My three times great-grandfather Jean or John was a Drysdale and his sons became Drisdèle/Drisdell/Drisdelle onward. The province of New Brunswick is bilingual and the Drysdale's eventually all settled in French speaking regions which is why the spelling changed.

  • John Douglas

    Sounds like a different Douglas although he shares the same name as my grandfather. My Grandfather was James Hill Douglas and lived in Belfast. Worked as a mechanic although not trained professionally, in Belfast. Worked for a steelworks company called Sirrocco. Sadly he died a good few years ago after a stroke. Tragic loss to the family as he was the greatest man I have ever met. 

    But thank you for the info. I only found this site a few hours ago after seaching for a little bit of history. 

  • Fiona Primrose Douglas

    Thanks for your welcome  to my joining, William.

    It is going to take a while for me to give any detailed responses, and much of what I know comes from my sister-in-law who is the real person who has researched all this, but:

    I believe General Sir John Primrose Douglas was the cousin of my father Charles Primrose Douglas (1921-2005).  I know my parents used to see him occasionally when they lived in the UK.  I have a feeling that, given the propensity of our branch to call fathers and sons the same names and seeing the date of birth of this JPD, there may be father and  son John Primrose Douglases, father and son, while we have just one listed.  I'll ask my mother a bit more. 

    My sister-in-law told me our Primrose name came from an Ann Primrose from Aberdeen, who married one of our ancestors.  Looking at his detailed posting  on 18th & 19th century Douglases in February 2014, I suspect that I am therefore distantly related to John Clark of New Zealand who may be the ?grandson of my great-uncle, a male Douglas we have listed as having died in an earthquake in Napier, New Zealand (we have no more information).

    I will get back to you when I know more - or may enlist my sister-in-law!

  • Fiona Primrose Douglas

    Follow-up:  I don't think the Sir should have crept in to the below posting about General John Primrose Douglas  Sorry!

  • Thomas Douglas

    Hi William,

    That was my grandfather. He lived in Bonne Terre, MO. My father's name was Ernest Vetal Douglas. I wish I could track our line back to Scotland, but haven't been able to do that. I did live in Dunoon, Scotland for a couple of years and saw a portrait of Sir James Douglas hanging in Inverary Castle that looked almost exactly like one of my uncles. I remain fascinated with the history of the Douglas lines from medieval times on.

  • Michael Robert Sholto Douglas

    Thank you William.

    My younger brother (technically half brother) Jeremy Alexander Sholto Douglas recently introduced me to The Douglas Archives.  Your web site is fascinating.  Thank you for putting in the time and effort it must take to maintain it.

    Robert Jennings Douglas was our grandfather. He was born on January 27th, 1895 in Green Hill (possibly spelled Greenhill), Sherborne (Dorset county), England.  His parents were James Douglas (a solicitor) and Eleanora Douglas, formerly Lawson.  My understanding is that James and Eleanora had 2 sons. Sholto was the first, and my grandfather, Robert was the second.  Apparently Sholto and Robert were both sent offshore as young men to make their own way in life. My grandfather went to South Africa.  Apparently his parents divorced, and his father James married again, and had one child, namely Hamish, who became a solicitor in Bournemouth.

    Robert's first wife (my grandmother) was Marjorie May Wallis. They had 3 children. The first was my aunt Joan, who's full name and birth details I don't have, but could probably get from her offspring (my cousins). Joan died of cancer many years ago, but I am not sure how many. The second was a girl named Beryl, but she died at a very young age. The youngest child was my father, Sholto Henry Douglas, born on February 2nd, 1930 in Grahamstown, South Africa. My grandparents divorced when my father was a young lad. My grandfather was remarried to Thelma, who's details I know little of, but can get. They bore 3 children, Robert, Rodney and Sandra.  I will get additional details of them, but it is our uncle Robert that has done some research on family history, which I intend to delve into at my first opportunity. My father died in December 2003 just a few weeks before what would have been his 74th birthday. His premature death was due to COPD brought about due to being a heavy smoker for many years.

    My mother (first wife of Sholto Henry) was Josephine Anne Charlesworth, born November 4th, 1936 in Settle, Yorkshire.  I have 3 siblings: Charles Henry Sholto born November 1st, 1957 in Grahamstown, South Afica. Sally Anne born July 18th, 1959 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Lisa Jane born October 9th, 1962 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.  I too, was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. My father's second marriage was to Julie Anne Taylor.  This is Jeremy's mother (my step-mother).  I assume you already have his birth information. He was the second child of my father's second marriage. The first was my other brother Hamish John Sholto Douglas born August 1st, 1979.  My brother, Charles Henry Sholto died in August of this year.

    My wife (Wendy Jean Hodson, born November 2nd, 1965 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and I relocated from South Africa to the USA in June 1992. We have 2 children: Amy Jean born April 8th, 1997 in St. Louis, Missouri, and Alec Sholto born October 25th, 2000 in Kansas City, Missouri.  We currently live in the city of Overland Park in the state of Kansas, which is really a suburb of Kansas City.

    I hope this is helpful and not too detailed.

    Best wishes,

    Michael

  • Marguerite DOUGLAS

    Welcome to our community, Marguerite.

    Hello William,

    I don't speak a very good english but I would be glad if I can help.

    I only begin the search about my family and ancestors and I don't any many informations.

    Kind regards,

    Marg.

    I hAny help that you can give would be very welcome.

    Yours aye,

    William

  • Libby Bussinah

    Wouldn't THAT be lovely? I found another document that reiterates the one you sent, with some additions. I'll attach it along below. My cousin, who died a couple of years ago was a lifetime member of Clan Douglas of North America, but I didn't get his info before he passed. The family up in Virginia has it in a basement somewhere. I just wanted to trace the genealogy back to Scotland, not go on a treasure hunt.;) I've never heard of the castle We-Wym-Wye mentioned either. That - and having trouble finding James Douglass of Virginia with any documents to support. Thanks for the welcome to the community - I'm looking forward to the search!

    Libby

    Archibald%20Douglass.docx

  • Eddie Roberts

    Thanks William

    Rev Percy Douglas 1900 Hooton, Little Sutton, Chester. South Africa Conciliation Committee March 1900.
    Rev Percy Douglas 1900-1925 Vicar of Great Sutton from 1900 to 1925. (Same as above?) Son of Rev Robert Douglas
    Rev Percy Douglas 1903 St. Paul's Church, Hooton, Cbeshire - conducted marriage ceremony

    was indeed one of the people I was interested in learning about he was my great grandfather about to make a start on him this year after doing some research last year about my grandfather LT Percy Douglas R..F.C who is buried with him at Great Sutton Church

  • Wayne Michael Douglas

    Hi William

     

    It’s a great pleasure to become acquainted with you.

     

    I connect to Walter Michael Aubrey Douglas as follows:

     

    Great-great grandfather: Walter Michael Aubrey Douglas

    Great grandfather: Donald Avery Douglas

    Grandfather: Horace Avery Douglas

    Father: Edward Joseph Douglas

    Me: Wayne Michael Douglas

     

    I see the website only goes as far as my grandfather and I think it would be great if we can add further.

     

    I went to the Douglas homestead, that Donald Avery Douglas established in Morrinsville, New Zealand, and I saw the portrait of Walter Michael Aubrey Douglas hanging on the wall in the dining room. I was actually adopted out as a baby and met the Douglas family (my biological family) for the first time when I was in my early twenties and was quite taken when I saw the portrait.

     

    You may know that Donald Avery Douglas owned a cattle farm, and racehorses with 3 generations involved in the racing as follows:

     

    Donald Avery Douglas: Owner

    Roy Douglas: Trainer

    Edward Douglas: Jockey

     

    One of the main things that prompted me to join this site was because I have been invited to speak at the British House of Commons on March 2nd – only about 6 weeks away.

     

    Do you know of any decedents from Walter Michael Aubrey Douglas living in England that I might be able to get in contact with?

     

    Thanks William,

     

     

    Wayne

     

  • Wayne Michael Douglas

    Thank you very much William, that is much appreciated!

    Wayne

  • Jackie Stoddard

    Does anyone understand the Donald    becoming Macdonald …frustrating as I have the

    John Donald 1640 x 2 generations

    John Donald + 1660

    then William Donald 1680 marring Isobel Robertson 1690

     

    then JOHN DOUGLAS 1709 marrying AGNES DONALD 1710

    his father James Douglas 1680 + siblings of son john are james, janet , William

    child of John & Agnes

    = Margaret Douglas 1739 (Aberdeenshire) + sister Isobel Ross Douglas

    So the grandmother (Agnes Donald’s mother was probably a Ross? , due to second sister and Scottish naming patterns?)

    all of the Glenbervie earls of Angus

    Aberdeenshire mostly

    can anyone explain this .... most places search seams to have the DONALD as MACDONALD ??? thanks Jackie S

  • Ian Shearer

    Many thanks for the kind welcome.

    Yes it would be great to take the story of John & Bridget Douglass of Yarm further back.  The story goes that John, a Catholic, was originally from Scotland but was 'exiled after Stuart defeats', but so far we've never got to the bottom of this and it may be one of those 'family legends'!  I'm currently looking at a possibility that John might have been a surgeon-apothecary in Durham, but it's a bit speculative.

    Happy to see if I can help contribute to your amazing site, and likewise to help any others who wish to contact me who might have an interest in this branch of the family.

    Definitely 'ss', by the way!  All have ever since emphatically adopted that particular spelling - my brother, son, and several cousins also use it as a middle name...!

    Ian

  • Ben Giffard

    William, I think(!) I've up loaded 4 photos of Julia.  Could you see if they are there and appropriately accessible?  Looking down this page I see that Wayne Michael Douglas mentions seeing a portrait of Walter Michael Aubrey Douglas.  I wonder if that is still around - I am sure that would be a real treasure.  From what you put in your message I gather that my previous one disappeared so I will resend in the info in a few days - when I have time.  All the best!  Ben

  • Ben Giffard

    Hi William, thanks for confirming you got them.  Is there anyway we can link them  to Juliana's page on your site?  And to link WMAD's photo to his page?  Just a thought!  Regards, Ben

  • Sheri Stewart

    Thank you !!!! and I can't wait to meet you too!!!!!

  • Judy Lumby

    Thank you William for the help

  • Carolyn Grey Douglas

    Thank you, William, for this information.  I would like to further add to my family tree details pertaining to my extended family.  Also, there are some misspelled names I'd like to correct for the record.  So glad to hear from you.

  • james evans

    A couple of research statistics on Eunice Rattleaf or Ratliffe. Bruce Douglass's study of Eunice said that there is "no record of Rattleaf or Ratliffe in Middleborugh, Freetown or Swansea" which are close areas near Plymouth, Mass.

    Where did she come from? They married in Middleborugh which is a city near Plymouth, Mass. Also from Bruce's study she is referred"perhaps an indian". We have all who researched John and Eunice Douglas heard about this undocumented info that she was referred as a princess of a famous indian chief called Massasoit, a chief of the Wampanoags Indian tribe.  I took a autosomal DNA test from Ancestry and I didn't have any native American ancestry. I am connected to Elisha Douglas like Bruce is connected. Elisha was one of the sons to John Douglass. This Eunice Rattleaf or Ratliffe is a big a mystery as who was the family of John Douglas.

  • Karen Morey

    Hi There
    I wonder if they are related.. now you have put the cat among the birds so to speak.. will give me something to do.. its awesome.
    Thank you.
    Karen
  • Karen Morey

    Hi again.

    Upon checking this is my family and I am delighted how do I contact the owner of the info.

    cheers Karen

  • Karen Morey

    Thanks heaps.. cheers Karen

  • John Paul Douglas

    I have the birth notice: Jan 28 1779.

    Ann Crighton, wife to John Douglas, was this day delivered of a son, baptised and named John.

    I too doubt that we 'imported' a John D from Pensylvania, but there is that mention of a Capt JD, pos a sea captain?

  • Sherri Beardsley

    I am searching for the parents of my great grand parents.  I am hoping that someone has a connection. Below are their dates of birth and death for my great grand parents. I have copies of newspaper obits that I found in a trunk that got me this far.  lol  My husband is a Beardsley and is documented to 1638 and to England.  We believe we have mutual ties but then many of us do.  Thank you for any help.  Sherri

    Great Grandmother
    Elizabeth McKinney (Douglas)
    [B. 9/8/1852 Williamstown, Grant County, KY
    [D. 3/29/1942]

    Married William Douglas 12/14/1871

    Great Grandfather SERVED IN CIVIL WAR
    William Douglas
    [B. 10/23/1847 Williamstown, KY]
    [D. 2/14/1909 Greensburg, IN]
  • John Paul Douglas

    Yes I agree, unlikely, but about this era, all my male ancestors seem to be 'John' without the addition of another identifying name. Later on, it's so much easier. viz James Struthers and his siblings! Still.... nil desperandum. 

  • Philip Harold Douglass

    Thanks for the comment William. Yes, trouble makers indeed.

    You are probably aware that Benjamin Douglass has his name on a plaque set in the stone work of the front of Trades Hall in Melbourne.

    I have a fair bit of information on him and I believe he was the first of my line to arrive in Australia.

    Benjamin was a brother to my G/G Grandfather, George Douglass of Patterson Rd Plumstead Kent. I am remote from my records at the moment so birth and death records will have to follow. (different George to the one you sent info on I'd say)

    George married Annie Dowling and produced my G Grandfather, Henry Thomas. Henry married Margaret Katherine Fox and he settled in Ballarat where he was a baker. 

    My Grandfather was Harold Uison. Born Ballarat.

    Interestingly John Douglass of Greenwich married Jane Hewson or Hewison, and I have seen both spelling variations on two different records so whichever is correct, it would be safe to say that that would be where my Grandfathers unusual middle name came from.

    Anyone familiar with the dialect of the people of that part of England (or even watched an episode of "Eastenders" would know how they would pronounce "Hewson" or "Hewison". They don't pronounce the "H".

    I have plenty of info post John of Greenwich as there have been official civil records since 1837, so it is not so simple tracing ancestors pre that date. (unless one was fortunate to lock into a title)

    All my research was done pre the internet and has sat dormant since.

    I have never looked into church records and of course I have no idea when or how long the quaker element was around.

    The Hewson/Hewison link has been said to be worth looking at but my Grandfather evidently had an ability to embellish any story.

    Regards Phil

     

  • Barbara Tripp Hubschmitt

    Dear William,

    I am very new to searching my family's genealogy and had some luck finding information on the Sherwood name from my Mother's side on the Douglas Archives website. My maiden name is Tripp and I have found information that indicates our lineage can be traced to John Tripp b. 1610 from Lincolnshire Northumberland Co, England, who was the first of that family to immigrate to the US. I am trying to finding additional sources to document that connection. Thank you for your comment!

    Barbara (Tripp) Hubschmitt

  • Barbara Tripp Hubschmitt

    Hmmm...I had cut and paste that location information directly from a document I had found to make sure I referenced it properly. I guess it was a good idea to check additional sources for genealogy details that I am finding! Thank you for the clarification.

  • Sarah Mundy

    I am looking for Archibald Douglas (1665-1728). He had a son Andrew (1702-1742) who immigrated to the USA in 1706 (possibly). I'm a direct descendant and Archibald would have been my 8 times great grandfather. More specifically, I'm looking for Archibald's parents.
  • Sarah Mundy

    William,
    I have a direct line from Andrew to myself including birth and death years. Would that be of any help to anyone?
  • David Apirana Douglas Crawford

    Hi William

    Thank you for message.  I tie into the Glenbervie line through Sir Robert Andrews MacKenzie-Douglas 3rd Baronet of Glenbervie (1837-1884), who is my great-grandmother's grandfather.

  • Douglas Yozwiak

    Hello!
    I am interested in learning about the origins of my mother's grandfather, Andrew Douglass who lived in Youngstown, Ohio in the USA until he died some time in the 1950s, I believe. I am also interested to learn of the origin of the double "s" at the end of that particular spelling of Douglass.

    My mother's maiden name is Douglass. Hence my first name, but without the extra "s". All very confusing, I know!