William Douglas's Blog – May 2015 Archive (8)

14 October 2014 - "The Grandfather Clock Connection"

 Our talk on 14 October was given by Mrs Irene Hopkins and had the intriguing title of “The Grandfather Clock Connection".   Like many of us on retirement, she became immersed in family history, particularly that of her husband, Alec, who has a long family association with Darvel where they still live.

 Some…

Clan Douglas Society of North America at Scottish Fest Orange County CA. Costa Mesa California, on May 23 and May 24, 2015

A recurring theme here in the Douglas Archives is the tale of Isabella Douglas, who married Benjamin Fortner.

Who she was remains a mystery, though there are several theories

Did she run away from a stern father? Did her lover fail to join her on the voyage to America? Was the ship boarded by pirates? Was she sold to the highest bidder?

Are you a descendant of one of her 12 children?

Can anyone throw light on…

For many American museums, the Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas (1898-1979) is an almost Vermeer-like figure, whose shadowy, graphically powerful depictions of African-American themes appear so rarely on the market that when canvases surface, curators pounce. And that is exactly what the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art in Washington did…

Identifying all the Douglas clock and watchmaker members of the family is still proving a difficult task. Details of results to date can be found here: http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Businesses/clock_and_watch_makers.htm

There are also some blogs in this community forum.

Most recently, we have been working to identify a William Douglas who was making clocks in the early 19th…

Rob Douglas of Vineyard Haven defended his 2014 Sosh Cup title and won the 2015 trophy at the Mondial du Vent, a speed-sailing competition held in Leucate, France, between April 18 and 23. Currently the fastest sailor in American history, Mr. Douglas scored three firsts and one second at the Sosh Cup, held on the Mediterranean Sea, with winds averaging between 18 and 28…

I have received an interesting inquiry:

I am descended from a man named Henry Downs, of England, whose wife was named Jane Douglas. They were born in the late 1600s. Jane was said to be from Castle Douglas, Scotland. Family lore states that Jane may have been banished from the family for marrying Downs. I am looking for information about this couple, and would…