Hi Ian,

I'm sorry for the info overload.,

James Mitchell Douglas' father was William Douglas and he was married to Catherine Mitchell who in turn was the sister of  the Shipowner John Mitchell.

John Mitchell was thus the brother in law of William Douglas.

John Mitchell was married to Janet Hamilton.

John Mitchell employed John Mitchell Douglas as a Ships Master on his ship called the John Mitchell.

Henry Hamilton Douglas was the son of James Mitchell Douglas who died shortly after Henry's birth in 1852.

I've tidied up the Familysearch tree to show these relationships

Best regards

Hi Ian, 

You're right I did make a mistake there, I said: 

 John Mitchell employed John Mitchell Douglas as a Ships Master on his ship called the John Mitchell.

When of course it should have been "James Mitchell Douglas" who was employed as master.

You also said "what is needed is the birth record of Henry and the mother of James .that will help tie it all together"

I think you meant wife of James as we already know James' mother was Catherine Mitchell.

That being said, you are quite right, the biggest remaining problem seems to be Henry's missing birth record and the name of his mother.

Available records indicate Henry was born in America but where and when? The best indicator we have I think is the 1871 Yorkshire census record in which he is listed as being 19 years old, works on the railway and was born in America, also his 1889 prison record says that his native place was Brooklyn, New York and that he had worked for the Railway Department as a shunter (a kind of engine driver).

So that is where we are at, but I do think that you have just about got your links to Scotland sorted out.

A merry Xmas and a happy new year to you and your family.

Best regards

Hi Ian,

Using William post for 'John's Cousin and other relatives' (which is helpful)

The Janet Hamilton (wife of John Mitchell) in your tree is the great Aunt of Henry Hamilton Douglas.

Also I think I may have located young Henry in America, no details for his mother unfortunately.

In the 1860 New York Census, he is listed as being in the New York Juvenile Asylum (for orphans etc).

The asylum records (of circa 1860) indicate that Henry was admitted to the Asylum on Jan 17 1856 and discharged 'west' on October 28th 1861.

To be discharged 'west' from the asylum means he probably was sent on one of the Orphan trains:

The Orphan Trains of the New York Juvenile Asylum
https://newyorkjuvenileasylum.com/#primary

......An estimated 6,000 children were sent West from the NYJA between September 1854 and circa 1923, placing it in the top four (for the number of children sent) of those institutions credited for taking part in America’s Orphan Train Movement..........

His orphan status in 1856 corresponds with the death of his father in December 1852 and possible abandonment by his mother (due death or poverty) in Jan 1856.

Where he went after that, I haven't been able to find out.

Best regards & seasons Greetings