Hi again Pauline,

I seem to recognise the partial tree from Ancestry that you have posted - it corresponds with the Familysearch tree that existed about 1.5 years ago. Sorry to put a dampener on your genealogical journey but unfortunately, I think there is no real documentary evidence to underpin the relationships it shows:

Thomas Douglas (Drysdale) 1448 - the only source that indicates his existence is the 1503 document itself, the one that you posted previously, in any case according to that document, he was dead (1503) when the Douglas brothers changed their name so he couldn't be a Drysdale then anyway.
James Douglas (Drysdale) 1478-1546 - the only source that indicates this persons existence is the Will & Testament of James Drysdale dated 1546 - this will indicates that James' father was still alive in 1546 (& if this had been Thomas Douglas then he would have been 98 years old)
Sir A. Douglas (Drysdale) 1545-1600 - there are no sources that indicate this person existed, however there is one A. Drysdale of that era who may have been referred to as 'Sir', as clergy were during those times - 1560-1599 - Alexander Drysdaill, Maister, Vicar of Lany, servitor to the Maistre of Requeistis & husband of Isobel Menteith.
Lady C. Donaldson 1550-1580 - there are no sources that indicate this person existed, however there is one Margaret Donaldson, circa 1525-1580, who had a child with James Drysdale of Lochleven in 1565.
Achilles Drysdale 1570s-1600s - There was an Achilles Drysdale, born about 1560, who married Violet Horne circa 1595 but there are no records that show who his parents were.

Again, I apologise for putting a dampener on things, but I still think your mother was 100% correct - I myself am certain of the link between Douglas & Drysdale, I'm just not yet convinced that the '1503 story' lays down that link in a factual way.

Best Regards

Ron

Hi Pauline.

I have recently come across a publication that contains an article which may be of interest to you:

The Dollar Magazine March, 1909 (Vol. viii., No. 29).

This publication contains an article titled "The Drysdales of Dollar and their Dumfriesshire Origin" by R. Paul (1909)The%20Dollar%20Magazine%20March%201909%20Vol%20viii%20No.%2029%20%2...

I have enclosed the magazine as an attachment.

Best regards 

Ron

I wondered with the tone of that email. What an odd thing to use for a scam though.