Douglas Castle, Jamaica

[William Douglas]

Seven brothers migrated to Jamaica and settled in the parish of St. Ann and St. Elizabeth. The Eldest Brother, William 'Captain' Douglas settled in River Wood on land which he purchased from Lord Sutton Brown . He renamed the place Douglas Castle.

As a part of its wealthy history, the story is told of how the Community of Douglas Castle was settled. In the 18th century, Captain William Douglas, a sailor from Scotland and his wife Jestina Downes with their six sons and two daughters, were searching for fertile land to settle on like many others living in the parish. It was a period of great migration as individuals moved across the wood lands in search of water. The family finally found a spring in an area known as Bud Hole. The area was owned by Benal Burgh, Captain Douglas and his family claimed the area which is now known as Douglas Castle, and settled there. The Douglas family was the first to settlein the area. Edward Douglas, the ninth of ten children was born to Captain William Douglas and Jestina Downes in June 1902, was the first to be born in the district.

Agriculture has been the economic mainstay of the community for decades and Douglas Castle district in particular has been called the "bread basket" for the parish, well known for its production and supply of food produce, especially vegetables across the island.

[Sharon Angela Sinclair]

Birth dates of William and Jesteen’s children: 

On 14 December 1885, only months after their marriage, Jesteen gave birth to twin sons, Samuel and David Douglas, their births registered in St. Ann, Alexandria.

The family continued to grow:

• Stephen Douglas — born 9 April 1888
• Martin Luther Douglas — born 22 July 1890
• Nancy Ann Douglas — born 23 November 1893
• Aida Matilda Douglas — born 30 April 1895
• Wilford Douglas — born 1 July 1897
• Edward Douglas — born 1 October 1901
• Eustace Douglas — born 19 February 1904

 

[Sharon Angela Sinclair]

The Story of the Douglas Family

Every family has its stories. Some are preserved in official records; others are lovingly passed from one generation to the next until they become part of a family’s identity. The story of the Douglas family is one of both—where documented history and treasured family tradition weave together to tell a remarkable journey from Scotland to Jamaica.

Our story begins with William Douglas, born on 1 April 1845 in Scotland to John Douglas and Jane Douglas (née Thornthwaite). William was one of nine children—seven sons and two daughters. Through years of dedicated genealogical research, the birth certificates of every one of these nine children have now been located and verified. This remarkable discovery transforms what was once thought to be family folklore into documented history. The existence of the seven Douglas brothers is no longer legend—it is fact. It also gives renewed credibility to the long-held tradition that the seven brothers left Scotland to begin new lives in Jamaica. While further evidence is still being sought to document the migration of each brother, the family story now rests upon a far stronger historical foundation.

William eventually settled in Jamaica, where on 13 March 1885 he married Jesteen Downes, a young Jamaican woman of dark brown complexion, aged just 23. Before meeting William, Jesteen had given birth to a son, Joseph E. Small, in Bethel Town, Westmoreland. William welcomed Joseph into his family, and together William and Jesteen built a home founded on love, resilience and hope.

Between 1885 and 1904, they welcomed nine children together: twins Samuel and David, followed by Stephen, Martin Luther, Nancy Ann, Aida Matilda, Wilford, Edward, and Eustace. Every birth certificate records William Douglas and Jesteen Douglas as their parents, creating an extraordinary documentary record spanning almost twenty years.

The Douglas family became firmly rooted in the district that would become known as Douglas Castle. Over generations they cultivated its fertile land, raised their families and helped establish a thriving agricultural community remembered as one of the “bread baskets” of St. Ann. Their story is not simply one of migration, but of perseverance, family and the building of a lasting legacy.

Today, that legacy continues. Birth, marriage and death certificates, land records, census returns, family photographs, DNA research and the treasured memories of descendants continue to reveal new chapters in the Douglas story. Every discovery reminds us that history is never truly finished. There are always more names to uncover, more photographs to identify and more stories waiting to be told.

This history belongs to every descendant of William Douglas and Jesteen Downes. We hope it encourages family members across the world to share their own records, photographs and memories, so that together we may preserve the story of those who came before us. We cannot wait to discover which new branches, treasured memories and remarkable family stories will be added to the Douglas family tree in the generations ahead.

[William Douglas]

In the 18th century, Captain William Douglas, a sailor from Scotland and his wife Jestina Downes with their six sons and two daughters...

Edward Douglas, the ninth of ten children was born to Captain William Douglas and Jestina Downes in June 1902

There is something wrong here.

When was Edward born?  1802?

[Dionne M. Douglas]

I just uncovered this re: above comment - I just got this info from the Douglas Facebook page:
Children of william and Justina Edward Douglas ( uncle eddie). Burris Douglas ( dogwood father). Sonny Douglas ( u

ncle son). Clifford Douglas ( mass Fud) David Douglas ( mass papa, bark wood father) John Douglas ( booty, mass webby father). Missy douglas ( mass cucho and miss minnet mother). Samuel Douglas ( uncle mike father). Matilda Douglas There were 9 children one set of twins.

[Dionne M. Douglas]

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for this - I appreciate it very much - You have no idea.
I was born in Canada but my family is from Douglas Castle in Jamaica. My grand-father's name is Stanley Douglas. I heard that his father's name is Finadatlar Douglas who married my great grandmother of German ancestry - her name maiden name is Mary Dietrich (aka mimi) but after time - she became Mary Braham.
I heard that she had 3 Douglas children Stanley Douglas, Solin Douglas and Wilford Douglas (aka healthy).

I've also heard of a George Douglas (91 Yrs) of Douglas Castle, St. Ann, Jamaica who is the Grand-son of William "Captain" Douglas - The William "Captain" douglas who was born in Scotland and migrated to Jamaica. I'm not sure how I fit in to that connection.
I would love to be able to trace how I am realated to William "Captain" Douglas of Scotland but I heard my great-grandfather died very early so nobody I know has any information.

Theres a Douglas Castle website  http://www.douglascastle.org/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/121694477954425/ (called Douglas Worldwide and Jamaica connections).
I hope I can get some answers from this site.