All Blog Posts (931)

Built on the former Douglas estate of Bonjedward, the 'new' house is back on the market.  A chance for a Douglas family to bring it back into clan hands, maybe?

Bonjedward House is a magnificent listed Georgian house dating from the latter stages of the 18th century. Built for Archibald Jerdon of Bonjedward and later the seat of the Dowager Marchioness…

Whether or not I agree with the President of the United States sentiments, the fact is that tearing down the statue of Frederick Douglass is yet another act of vandalism that is shaming the world.

The statue of the renowned Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass was torn from its base in a park in Rochester, N.Y., and then dumped some 50 feet…

If you are looking for a low ost way to manage your family tree, this Excel version might meet your needs:  …

James Gavin was a prominent Covenanter in contrast to the Douglas family who were prominent Episcopalian. In fact the church of Scotland sent several sharp reminders to the Douglases that they were to cease their adherence to Episcopalianism. However James 2nd Marquis of Douglas got round this problem by promoting tolerance both to Episcopalians and Presbyterians in the 1660's. This happy accommodation did not last.

James Gavin fled the Dragoons and hid in a small cave to the West of…

"Clan maps only show a certain point in time - but this one is different! https://youtu.be/Z19OF8cgRQk"

This picture from Pont shows how Douglas Castle may have looked in 1596 when the map for Lanarkshire was created. The late Professor McClean from Dundee thought that Pont Map had an element of accuracy about them. What is to be seen is a couple of towers with wall between them with gateway. The larger of the towers possibly had a Renaissance style Cupola. The other Castle is Parkhead which also belonged to the Douglas family. There was a castle here at Parkhead from the…

Thomas Gainsborough  (1727 – 1788) was an English portrait and landscape painter, draughtsman, and printmaker. One of his sitters was Frances Browne, Mrs John Douglas, who appears to be born in 1741 and died in 1811.

The portrait hangs in Waddesdon Hall, the property of the Rothschild Family.

Also in…

James Douglas was the 14^th Earl of Morton, a Scottish peer dedicated to science with a keen interest in astronomy.  He was a founding member and President of the Society for Improving Arts and Sciences in Edinburgh, and elected as President of the Royal Society in London in 1763. 

On the eve of…

Something to consider and could use input on. The Douglas of Glendinnig, could originally be Glendowin. Since Glendinning was in the area to the west, and became predominately know, the Doulgas of Glendowin, became the Douglas of Glendinning.

In 2013, I was informed by a young woman of details of her family.

I included these in the Douglas Archives, in good faith.

Last night she sent me an email informing me that her family circumstances were not as she had provided them, and asked me to remove them.

It transpires that she had made a marriage 'contract' on the basis of her connection to a prominent Scottish family, and this had proved to be false.

Was I duped, and used to promote a false identity? Or…

Blaeu map 1654 Morton Castle and Kirk with ThorhillMorton Castle with Thorhill on Google…

Congratulations to:

James Arthur DOUGLASS, Police Staff, Metropolitan Police Service. For services to Policing and to National Security, who was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Years Hounours

Along with the Birthday honours, the New Year’s Honours list is the most significant announcement of civilian and military gallantry awards.

Rob Douglas, of Western Australia, has published a collection of notes and photographs about his grandfather, Henry, and grandmother, Mina. Rob uncovered a wealth of anecdotes and recollections of their lives.

If your family history merges with theirs at any point, then I am sure you will find this publication as fascinating as…

named.publicprofiler.org/

Hello everyone,

I'm pleased to announce that after years of procrastination, research and even more procrastination, I have finally embarked upon a book project focussing on a critical time in Clan Douglas history. A time of the rise and tragic fall of the Black Douglas…