Hi Beverly,

I would suggest searching the records James with the church records in Scotland's people. A basic search is free, birth, death and marriage certificates can be viewed and downloaded but you have to pay a fee for that.

Scotland's People link

Best regards,

John

Hi again Beverley,

There is a match on Scotland's People, James Douglas April 24th 1811, Stranraer parish, parents John Douglas and Jean Combline.

Hope that helps.

Hi Beverly,

I'm sorry that suggestion was not the your James, but good hunting.

BTW, i'm John not James....there are so many on the male side with same first names which makes it hard to trace the right ones.

John 

Can't see a connection with 'my' Douglases at the moment, Beverly, but will look into this further and return to you if I'm successful.

Keep warm as I see there's lots of snow in NY just now!

Bob.

No question of payment, Beverly.

Finding it extremely difficult with this one, Beverly, on two accounts. Firstly, many records for Kirkcowan were destroyed by fire long ago and secondly, as there were so many 'Douglii' about Wigtownshire I feel it is going to be nigh impossible to whittle them down to who you are looking for.  The only OPR entry I noticed - which in all likelihood you also noticed - was a marriage date of 5/10/1743 for a James Douglas and Janet McKie, at Kirkcowan. I realise this is before the date you were looking for but I thought the may somehow be relevant given the names but, so far, I haven't been able to tie them in.                              Do you have any more material which would assist searches or even a transcript of the memorial inscription, unless I've overlooked this somewhere?

Sorry, Beverly, no success on tracing your James. The irony is I had a Douglas relation in Whitehills, Sorby, but I'm now positive they were unconnected.  'My' Margaret died at Whitehills during 1799 and was married to the farmer there, Peter Broadfoot. A further coincidence; my Margaret's father was James Douglas in the farm of 'Kilsture', Sorbie, who married Mary Martin.  Their two sons, William and James, emigrated to Norfolk, Virginia. Naturally, I will continue to keep an eye open for your James and I wonder if you have any scraps of information on him?

Hi Bev.,

Also hit (with hope) on James and Isabella which gives a birth for their James as 04.12.1808, at Garlieston, but shelved it in the event something more 'concrete' may turn up.

Given James was married at Sorbie on 03.06.1834, and that his two sons, John born c1835, and William 15.06.1839, I have been searching for a death date for James on, or after, 1855.  Although there are many entries, they most unusually fail to provide the mothers name, suggesting the possibility that she may have died prior to James.  

Do you happen to know who her sister, Janet, married?

Will keep on this as time permits but please continue to send your findings/thoughts.

Bob.

Thanks for the additional information, Bev.  Will keep plugging away.

Bob.

Hi Bev.,

Do a 'fuzzy match' for James Douglas on SP and let me know what you think. 

A bit rushed and sorry for delay in replying to your last.

Bob.

Sorry Bev., I should have added '......of the coincidence'!  Perhaps this is another generation back?  Too much of a coincidence then, eh?

Bob. 

Bev.,  Always meant to ask if you did a newspaper search when you were over?

Bob. 

Bev.,  Have just looked through the B M Ds in the relevant local newspapers to no avail.  Will continue to keep an eye out.  Bob.

PS   Always meant to say ,I also have a William Douglas who married a Jean MKie 

 from Kirkcowan and never properly bottomed it out!

Hi Bev'., Possibly you already have some of the following?

Sorbie Parish:   Cruggleton & Kirkmaiden Kirkyards.

No4.  'Broken, only pieces fitted together on ground'. Erected by Isabella -missing - to the memory of her husband, James Douglas, who died June 4, 1816, aged 49 years. Also John Douglas, their son, who died in infancy.  

Sure to be Isabella Smith?

Memorials of Whithorn Parish - No 2   

94 South.   In loving memory of William Douglas, beloved husband of Mary Morrison, who died at Burgess Outon, 18 Dec., 1904, aged 64. Also James their youngest son, who died at Port Mackay, Queensland, 15 March, 1883, aged 21. Also the above Mary Morrison who died at 51 George Street, Whithorn, 16 May, 1928, aged 87.

Sorbie Parish Old Kirkyard

135  Erected by Margaret McKie in memory of husband James Douglas, who died 25 July, 1843, aged 37. Also their  daughter, Janet, who died 2 April, 1840, aged 2 years 9 months.  Also the above Margaret McKie who died 27 Sept., 1905, aged 96. 

136  Erected by the heirs of the late William Douglas who died 29 March, 1882, aged 79 years. Also John Douglas, died 4 Dec., 1921, aged 87.

Bob.