William Douglas's Blog (654)

A NOTE

FROM

YOUR EDITOR

We have a slightly smaller newsletter this quarter as our 16 pages were causing some concern in the Post Office. “Too fat”, we were told — not to be out‑done, our treasurer and band of willing helpers ironed all the newsletters flatter and they passed through the P.O. slot at the right price. We are hoping to come up with some ideas to solve this dilemma as I really have enough Douglas and Sept information to fill the 16…

The old family of the Inglises of Manner or Mannerhead traced their descent from Sir William Inglis, a knight of great courage in the reigns of Robert II. And Robert III., who, in 1395, distinguished himself at Ruel-haugh on the borders, when Sir Thomas Struthers, and English champion, had vauntingly defied any Scotsman to meet him in single combat. Sir William…

Many families along the Anglo‑Scottish Border carry stories of hidden ancestry — noble fathers, concealed births, and name changes made in times of danger. Among descendants of Richard Angus of Dilston, one particular tradition has endured: that he was born Richard Douglas, the secret son of Archibald…

In the turbulent Scottish Marches, where royal authority often faltered, power lay with the great Border families—none more formidable than the Douglases. Like their Highland counterparts, these lords offered protection in exchange for payment, a practice akin to the Highland “black mail.” In the Borders, this took the form of tribute, fealty, or quiet coin, paid by smaller lairds and tenant farmers to ensure their lands were spared from raids—not just from rival clans, but often…

Across much of Scotland, Robert the Bruce is remembered as the king who restored independence: the ruler crowned in crisis, the victor of Bannockburn, and the statesman who secured the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton. Yet when the story is viewed from the Anglo‑Scottish Marches—from Teviotdale, Liddesdale, and the Merse—a more complicated memory emerges.…

Summary based on the article contributed by L. Leon K. Bishop.



In September 1873, the Bolton Evening News reported a serious gas explosion at the Bradley Fold Colliery, owned by Thomas Fletcher of Little Lever. Two miners — Samuel Pilling and Thomas Martin — suffered severe burns when firedamp ignited unexpectedly, despite the pit having been declared…

For many families with deep eighteenth‑century roots, the Seven Years’ War—and especially the Battle of the Plains of Abraham—has become a magnet for tradition, memory, and sometimes myth. The Douglas family is no exception. Over the years, various accounts have linked one or more Douglases to Wolfe’s famous victory outside Quebec in 1759. Yet when we turn to the surviving records, the picture becomes far more complicated.

This article sets out what we can…

Henry Percival Douglass silver salver for sale

https://drouot.com/en/l/31898074-a-late-19th-century-cased-silver-salver-having-a-raised

https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/henry_percival_douglass.htm…

Grant by way of transfer of mortgage by King James I to John of St Michael (Johann de Sanctomichaele) scutifer of rights in lands of Mosshouses (Moshous, Moshouse, Mosehous) within the barony of Melville (Malewing) within sherrifdom of Edinburgh which had been surrendered to king by reason of mortgage by Henry Douglas of Lugton (Henry de douglas…

Wondering why so many visits to the site were being sent from a particular blog, I found this:



I’ve enjoyed following content by Anthropic AI researcher Sholto Douglas, but kept noticing his name in unusual places. Upon further investigation, it looks like in 767 AD, a particularly skilled Scottish warrior got the nickname “Sholto Douglas”, and for…

Mary Ames Mitchell has provided the Douglas Archives with an amazing family tree/chart of the Pittendreich family descendants.

Included are The Earls of Douglas and Angus; the Good Sir James; the Kilspindie and Glennbervie families; the Bishops of Moray; and many more.

This is much more than just a tree, as the chart records histories,…

THE PROVOST'S LAMP

A Provost was the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh or town. In the nineteenth century the responsibility for lighting the streets and maintaining public order lay with the local council and the Provost was held responsible for the safety and security of the burgh. He was a prominent and honourable figure…

On my visit to Piacenza I searched for this armorial unsuccessfuly.

I was told that I was in the centre of the Douglas Scotti area of the city and that there were lots of family palaces - but that did not help!

Buried deep in the Archives, I came across a history of this particular family, which I share:

A member of the Methven family recently shared their family crest.

I was not aware of a familial linkage so have done some research, which may or may not be accurate as the heart in this image is not 'flaming'.

Here's what I found:

The Methven coat of arms does not traditionally include a heart. While some Smith families (who are…

Rev JOHN DRYSDALE AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1681-1991 by D C L Drysdale, is

the story of Rev John Drysdale (1681-1726), Minister at Kirkcaldy from 1712-1726, and

his famous descendants, by his wife, Anne Ferguson, daughter of William Ferguson,

Provost of Kirkcaldy. His third son, Rev John Drysdale (1718-1788), minister in

Edinburgh, was twice elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of

Scotland. Another son, William Drysdale (1717-1757), was merchant and…

ADAM DRYSDALE (1806-1886) OF MONTREAL, His Ancestors, Descendants and

Related Families (1987) by Alpin Ogilvie Drysdale, can really be sub-titled The

Drysdales of Dunfermline, Montreal, and Newfoundland, for the families were all

connected. The families can be traced back to Dunfermline to the Thomas Drysdale

who married Janet Walker. They had 3 children: Adam (b 1738), who married Margaret

Thomson in Inverkeithing in 1762; William (b 1740), who married…

We began the month as we ended June, with silly numbers of site visitors - 10 million in 10 days.



The numbers have reduced, but fluctuate wildly.



However, we have a quarter of a million daily visitor aveage!  Why is the Douglas Archives website so busy?…