William Douglas's Blog (628)

It is not just people carrying the name Fleming that have Flemish origins in Scotland. There are a number of other families that are believed to have such origins. In this posting, James B. Sutherland and J. Mark Sutherland-Fisher examine an important set of families thought to have Flemish roots, specifically the Douglas, Sutherland, Murray, Innes, and Brodie families. The text below examines the relationship among these key families as well as to other families that have taken the name…

In 1677, one Janet Douglas, an apparently mute (the legends use the word "dumb") young serving girl arrived at the Pollok estate of Sir George Maxwell of Auldhouse (see painting), who had suddenly become seriously ill. She "miraculously" regained the power of speech, pointed the finger at five people, as well as a 14-year-old girl, accusing them of witchcraft, and therefore of being responsible for the Laird's sickness.

Read more: …

I have just come across an excellent collection of photographs of the village of Douglas, including this one. Is it the castle chapel?

Much of the Douglas Archives are built on the contributions of visitors to the website, whether they are providing new information or correcting existing entries.  I welcome these, ever mindful of the advice I was given 35 years ago: GIGO, garbage in, garbage out.

So, if I don't understand something I will query it to ensure what finally goes onto the page is correct.…

Hobart Town Courier Saturday 25 September 1830

Black Line Dispossession of Indigenous Tribes 

GOVERNMENT ORDER. No. 10.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Sept., 1830. 

Extract:

4. Major Douglas will, on the seventh of October cause the following chain of posts to be occupied ; viz :—From the Coast near St. Patrick's Head, to the source of the St. Paul's River, and by that River and the South Esk, to Epping Forest, and Campbell Town. This line being…

I was researching Camp Douglas, in Chicago, when I came across this story.

"Old Douglas" Cedar Hill Cemetery, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

During the Siege of Vicksburg, Federal snipers targeted and killed the camel for sport. The grief stricken men of the "Camel Regiment" used their own sniper teams to kill the offending Federal…

Julie has contributed this: "Genealogical abstracts from the American Weekly Mercury, 1719-1746" compiled by Kenneth Scott (c) 1974 1720 Pg 02 DOUGLASS, Archabald, Scotch servant, age c. 25 – runaway from James Pemberton, of Queen Ann Co., Maryland; if runaway is captured, notice to be given to Israel Pemberton of Phila. (7/21) 

Description: Reward Offered For Three Runaway Servant Men Named James GRIGG, Archabald DOUGLASS and William WILLSON.

Date: July 21…

The Rutherfurds, like their cousins the Douglases, trace their ancestry back to West Flanders and to the powerful Erembald family. Other families in Britain who share these roots are the Ypres [Douglas], Furnes, Harnes, Lucy, Hacket and Winter families. The political events of the 11th and 12th centuries within Flanders were to change the lives of these families and push them down a migratory path which began in today's Belgium and ended up in Scotland, Ireland, America, Canada, New Zealand…

William B. Douglass, (front row, 2nd from right) was Examiner of Surveys under the General Land Office when in 1909 he was in the expedition that 'discovered' Rainbow Bridge' in San Juan County on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

William B. Douglass is a popular name, so I am having trouble identifying him.

Can anyone…

Colin Douglas, one of the owners of the ‘Glenbervie’ drowned off quayhead at Demerara in February 1827 (Greenock Advertiser 10.4.1827)

David Douglas, 2nd engineer, SS Cortes, youngest son of the late James Douglas, carpenter, drowned at sea on 16th December 1874 (Greenock Telegraph 14.1.1875)

Donald Douglas, seaman, 1 Ardgowan Street, Greenock drowned at Quebec, Canada in June 1882 age 22 (Greenock Telegraph 24.7.1882)

Donald Douglas, AB, 10 Terrace Road, Greenock, lost when tug…

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…

Teenager Rachel Douglas was among 1,800 millworkers from Ferguslie Thread Mills, which was owned by JP Coats, travelled from Paisley to Portpatrick, Wigtonshire, on July 3, 1909 to enjoy a Sma' Shot Day trip. The workers went on 3 trains from Paisley Canal railway station to get to Dunskey Estate in the village for picnics and sports but Rachel, who had travelled with her…

I am attempting to identify William Douglass.  He is described as a Scotchman, and the nephew of Francis Jerdone, He married Mary, daughter of William Christian and Susan Browne.

Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser (Nicolson),

Richmond, January 11, 1787.

Ten Guineas Reward. RUNAWAY from Providence Forge in New Kent county JIM or JAMES, a light coloured mulatto, a blacksmith by trade, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, bow legged, a likely well made fellow, has lost…