All Blog Posts (945)

Seaforth House, Simonstown.

“Captain Thomas Talbot Harrington, of the East India Company, was born in Wiltshire in 1780, and moved to the Cape in 1814 and built a house which he named after his wife's (Jemima Douglas 1784-1820) uncle, the Earl of Seaforth. The house was subsequently dismantled after his…

https://blog.historicenvironment.scot/2017/05/silenced-voices/?fbclid=IwAR0r34IayJRpRkDcRCzNRCY1Tna9OTkcYV_j-ynJX9V-DXGFUeLLPbTdl64 ;

Acknowledgement: Thank you to Dr Amy Blakeway, lecturer at the University of Kent and author of Regency in Sixteenth-Century Scotland, and Historic…

This Little Tyke is in search of the ancestors of his Great Grandmother Rachel Douglas.

We believe Douglas to be her maiden name.

Rachel (Douglas) Braitling appears in 1880 Census at her Mother-in-Law's home with husband and sons in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA.

Of note, George, the eldest, was born in Philadelphia or NYC while…

A remarkable artist’s sketch book has come to light in, I think, a house clearance. 

I have been researching who the subjects might be and find that they were all in or serving with the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) in Mesopotamia in 1916. 

With a couple of exceptions, those whose portraits I have seen were either killed on wounded.

A. Douglas.

Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915.

Disembarked, Basrah,…

Not many followers will have passed along Lower Gilmore Place in Edinburgh recently, so won't have spotted a powerful new addition to the urban landscape: a striking mural of African American freedom fighter Frederick Douglass.

The Battle of Old Byland was part of First War of Scottish Independence, fought on 14th October 1322 on Scawton Moor, Yorkshire, England.

The Battle of Old Byland (also known as the Battle of Byland Moor and Battle of Byland Abbey) was a significant encounter between Scots and English troops in Yorkshire in October 1322, forming part of the Wars of Scottish Independence. It was a victory for the Scots, the most significant since Bannockburn, though on a far smaller scale.

I am…

I am attempting to identify which officer this item refers to.

Can you help?

From the history of the 37th Regiment

In mid-April (1858) a column from the recently relieved Lucknow under Brigadier Lugard attacked the rebels in the rear at the Jaunpore bridge. Kunwar Singh fled southwards towards the Ganges, pursued by two columns of British troops, including one comprised of 37th soldiers under Brigadier Douglas. This came up with the enemy…

In the early 16th century Charles II D'Amboise commissioned Bernardino de' Conti to do a portrait painting for him in 1505 AD. Although a friend and patron of Leonardo Da Vinci, D'Amboise picked de' Conti for his traditional style of oil painting.

Prominently inscribed on the top left the painting reads, "The Earl of Douglas surnamed Black Dudley"…

Not the Front Stairs!

Martin Antony Joseph Crowly

You

→

Mrs Margret Helen Marie Crowly

your mother

→

Arthur Francis Braun

her father

→

Arthur Frederick Nicholas Braun

his father

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Francis Caesar Braun

his father

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Catharine Caroline (Lina) Blessig

his sister

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Sophia Julia St George/Heyder

her daughter

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Theodora Harrison

her daughter

→

Charles Anthony Harrison

her…

On November 15, 2015 I gave the birth of Edward Douglas with an age of 40 in 1640 which was recorded in Northampton County, Virginia in "Orders, Wills, and Deeds"#1 page 218, 1612-1640, "age 40 in 1640". At the time I thought this was a reference to Edward Douglas, husband of Isabella Dale. I, now, realize this is a reference to the father of Edward Douglas, husband of Isabella. This Edward Douglas was married to Elizabeth Bowman, and, undoubtedly son of Edward Douglas, born 1560, husband of…

I have examined the Dunfermline of Fife, Scotland and come up with the following-

Edward Douglas, born 1560 married Jonet Sanders 23 August 1584. Their were two children- Margaret and Thomas. Thomas Douglas was born 8 Oct 1589. I suggest that there was another son, Edward Douglas, born 1590, who married Elizabeth Bowman. Why this Edward is not shown in the record I cannot say. I realize I am speculating but it seems we have two valid possibilities.

Looking back at the will of Edward Douglas of Northampton County, Virginia, we see a reference to Cousin Edmund Boman/Bowman of Accomack County, Virginia. I, now, realize that Edward Douglas' mother had to have the surname Boman and be a 1st cousin. This, also, meant there had to be an additional generation which makes Lt. Colonel Edward Douglas a Junior. This resolves our problems. Based on John Martyn's observation in 1669 Edward Douglas, Junior's wife was Elizabeth Bowman. The pieces now…

Edward Douglas journeyed to Holland, probably. in the period 1610-1615. He did not join the Scottish Brigade as I have explored that possibility which revealed no connection. In 1610 it was estimated that there were 10,000 Scots living in Rotterdam alone. It was certainly a hub for global commerce and Edward Douglas was there caught up in commercial activity. He returned to Scotland around 1630. We, next take sight of Edward now married to Isabella Gaynor, daughter of Thomas Gaynor,…

I was presenting a possible line of relationship with the Pettus family. I shall stand my ground and find this not to be the case. It was enticing to think such a relationship would be true since the founding father was the founder of the East India Company and his son Sir John had a daughter named Isabella who died young and was buried in Saint Jude's Church. I thought that it was possible that Sir Thomas, son of the founder had 20 children and named one in memory of the Isabella who died…

I am now able to provide the maternal side of this family.

Isabella, the wife of Lt Col Edward Douglas was a daughter of Sir Thomas Pettus and Cicele King. Isabella married Edward Douglas in Jamestown, Virginia, about 1630. This was her only marriage. I suggest that Edward Douglas married twice. First he was married to a Bowman and there were no children. He followed with his marriage to Isabella Pettus. Sir Thomas Pettus was a member of the 3rd Charter of the Virginia Company. He was…

The first reference to Lt Col Edward Douglas is in 1638 or 1639. By 1650 he had risen to fourth in importance in both Northampton and Accomack Counties of Virginia. See Deeds, Wills, etc. iv, 1651-1654 "On March 1651 "We whose names are subscribed whereby promise to be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England, as it is , now established, without King or House of Lords- Nathaniel Littleton, Obedience Robins, Edmund Scarburgh, Edward Douglas, " and it continues with 50 or more…

Remember William Burdette was granted a patent for 1050 acres  four years before Lt. Edward Douglas was granted his patent for the same land. In March 1641 Samuel Chandler attorney for the executors of Dame Elizabeth Dale's estate "did this day petition the Board (Virginia Council) for divers land granted by the old Treasurer and Company to Sir Thomas Dale, Knight, long since deceased". We may conclude that Shrimpton through Chandler, had received a favorable response on this seaside patent…

Congratulation go to the following on their appointments in Her Majesty's Birthday Honours:

• Commander of the Order of the British Empire: Susan Frances DOUGLAS, Chief Executive Officer, Eden Academy Trust, and Senior Adviser, Schools, British Council. For services to Education; High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

• Member of the Order of the British Empire:  Clive Anthony DOUGLAS, Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Boleyn Trust. For services to Education; London

• Member of…