All Blog Posts (900)

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…

William , 

  I feel I must address this  point once more ... 

  On  this site , at the following link exists an error .

  http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Septs/drysdale.html ;

  …

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…

Political historian Dr Amy Blakeway explores the dangers and challenges facing those who acted as regent during the minority of a king or queen in sixteenth-century Scotland.

When we think of the sixteenth century, most of us immediately remember the famous monarchs who ruled throughout Europe: in Scotland, the Stewarts, and, further afield, their English cousins the Tudors and French relations the Valois.

The reality was somewhat different. For fifty years of the sixteenth…

Congratulation to Elijah Douglas, who took firsts in the long jump (22 feet, 2.75 inches), 110-meter hurdles (14.61 seconds) and 300 hurdles (39.07), where he edged Lockport's Jake Porter (39.12) in Chicago at the weekend.

The Douglas Archives now exceed 8,000 files. The genealogy database exceeds 170,000 entries.  Moving to a more modern format has become even more difficult!

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150405/08451330553/ancestrycom-employees-caught-throwing-away-thousands-records-they-were-supposed-to-be-archiving-us-government.shtml#comments

Attempting to trace Douglases who lived in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, I came across the following:

In Oct 1977, The Glasgow Herald reported that Mr James Charleson Douglas, 20 Back Road. Dailly, an 83-year old Ayrshire man, who was married on March 2, 1928 was granted a divorce from Mrs Janet Douglas, address unknown. At the time of the marriage, Mr Douglas was serving with the palestine police. They lived together for a year.

For sale on eBay April 2015:

Pair of Medals with…

My great grandfather Daniel John Douglas (b. 1849) boarded the "Duke of Westminister" in Nov 1885 and arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on the 11 Jan 1886 wife his wife Harriet ?.  His father was Daniel Douglas (occupation - shepherd) born 1820 in Byfield, Northamptonshire, England and mother Elizabeth Woodfield of Tysoe, Warwickshire. I believe his father was Daniel Wells Douglas born in Chipping Warden 1784 and died in Byfield in 1863, and mother Elizabeth ?. He had two…

Cora E. Douglas, age 101, of LaFollette passed away Monday, March 23, 2015. Oldest member of East LaFollette Baptist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Rev. H. R Douglas; parents, Horace M. & Martha Manervia Marsee Moyers; children, Mary Ruth Summers, Lora June England, Joyce Ann Douglas; several brothers and sisters.

Survivors:

Daughters: Georgia…