William Douglas's Blog (638)

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?…

Trove Scotland is a digital gateway to Scotland’s historic environment, bringing together a rich tapestry of archives, images, and records from across the country. It’s part of Historic Environment Scotland’s initiative to make cultural heritage more accessible and engaging.

🔍 What You’ll Find on Trove.Scot

• Over 1.2 million images from national archives
• More than 335,000 records of places…

This pencil drawing is one of at least two known versions of Michael Ayrton’s portrait of the sitter, Norman Douglas (1868–1952). Douglas, Ayrton's sitter was best known for his 1917 novel South Wind and various other travel books. The 1948 version of his portrait by Michael Ayrton titled 'Norman on Capri' is from the estate of…

I have today added several documents to the Douglas Archives.  In themselves, these are not significant enough to qualify as being listed in  'Whats new?' or 'Recently revised' but will be useful to those who stumble upon them as part of their family research.

I note that there is deep research being done on the Northamptonshire Douglases, probably in connection with our mystery man, William Douglas born 1610.  He popped up in research into my mother-in-law's family with a totally…

Knockdolian Castle is a ruined small 16th century pele-tower once occupied by the Grahams, the McCubbins and the MacConnels.

It has come to my attention through research by another (Maybe he will name himself here?) as we dig deeper into my mother-in-law's family history.

Elspet Brok married Adame Dowglase in 'Inveresk with Musselburgh,…

The Douglas Archives has thousands (yes, really!) of visits daily, but almost all of those visitors are unable to access some of the benefits available to registered users.

By registering, you can:

• view information for living individuals,

• download GEDCOMs,

• download PDFs,

• view LDS information when available, and

• edit user profile and change your password.

You'll also receive our e-newsletter with updates about the…

Regrettably, it has become necessary to apply rules of behaviour. This does not reflect on existing members (11 June 2025), but might help keep out the riff raff.

Those of you who have been spammed will understand.

https://douglashistory.ning.com/page/forum-rules

On 11th April 2025, HM the King, as Royal Patron of the Regimental Association of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, planted a tree in the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Prayers of dedication, led by The Rev Col G A Douglas OBE, Regimental Chaplain, were offered along with thanksgiving for all that the late Queen did for the Regiment as Colonel in Chief,…

Luigi Scotti Douglas: A Life of Honour and Service

Born in Naples on June 23, 1796, Luigi Scotti Douglas dedicated his life to the military. In 1816, he joined the Royal Guard, embarking on a path of discipline and duty that would define his legacy. Over the years, he built a life alongside his wife, Maria Giuseppina Carlier, and saw his…

Continuing my research into the arrival of the Douglas families into southern and mid American states.

Among the waves of settlers shaping the interior of South Carolina, the Douglas families stood as part of a larger Scots-Irish migration. Driven by the promise of affordable land and a fresh start, they journeyed southward from Virginia and…

The wind whispers through the heathered hills, carrying echoes of battles fought and loyalties sworn. Here, in the very soil of Scotland, lie the bones of our bone, the flesh of our flesh. To trace the lineage of the Douglas Clan is not merely an academic exercise; it is a visceral connection to the very essence of who we are. It ignites a profound pride in…

Gilbert Douglas, a West India merchant from Glasgow, left a legacy that intertwines the complexities of colonial enterprise, familial bonds, and acts of liberation. Born on May 28, 1749, Douglas played a prominent role in the transatlantic economy as the owner of multiple plantations, including the Mount Pleasant sugar plantation in St. Vincent and the Fairfield cotton plantation in Demerara. Though remembered for his wealth and social standing, a significant chapter of his life unfolded in…

In a newsletter in July 2022 (See link below), we exlored the possibility that the Douglases were decended from ancient Egypt. This was not the first time that the story had surfaced, but as I was then researching the Douglases in Italy, and the story also surfaced there, it seemed appropriate to investigate.

Of course, this is many centuries ago, and although the Egyptians have records going back that far in time, the Europeans do not, so the story has passed verbally from generation…

Around three centuries ago, a significant endeavor was undertaken in parts of Ulster by a remarkable gentleman named [Thomas] Raven. His task was nothing short of extraordinary—a meticulous and comprehensive survey of the lands granted by King James [I] to his loyal subject and planter, James Hamilton.

According to Mr. John Stevenson, Hamilton "lives on in the portrait preserved at Castle Ward, and, fortunately, Raven's surveys of his extensive estates from 1625, as the land became…

My father claimed Ghengis Khan as an ancestor.  After a long conversation with Jackie Stoddard today, I decided to investigate.

Human history weaves a rich tapestry of interconnected lineages and shared legacies, from the ancient migrations of Haplogroup R-M269 to the towering influence of Genghis Khan and the proud heritage of Clan Douglas. When we know that members of Clan…