The Douglas Archives

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Drysdale - a Douglas sept

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Drysdale - a Douglas sept

Drysdale is considered a sept of the Douglas clan, but it is quite likely that this was a separate family which existed previous to when the three Douglas brothers adopted the Drysdale name. A sept is a family that can be related to a clan or larger family for various reasons. Usually this came about either through marriage or by a small family seeking protection from a larger and more powerful neighbour.

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Latest Activity: Feb 27

Story of the creation of the Drysdale family

The following is said to tell the story of the creation of the Drysdale family, it was actually part of the Black Douglas clan which remained in Scotland, following their failed attempt against the Scots crown in 1455. [Earlier references to Drysdale, or Dryfesdale can be found]

"On the Twentieth Day of May, One Thousand Five Hundred and Three Years

We, Thomas, William, and James Douglass, sons of the departed Thomas Douglass, of Brushwood Haugh, in the parish of Drysdale, and Shire of Dumfries, left our native place for the reason here assigned, viz:- Defending our just and lawful rights against our unjust neighbour, Johnston of Greenstonhill, who, being determined to bring water to his mill through our property, and having obtained leave of his friend, the King, began his operations on Monday, the 16th of May, We prevented him by force.
The next day he brought twenty of his vassels to carry on the work. We with two friends and three servants, (eight in all,) attacked Johnston with his twenty, and, in the contest, fourteen of his men were killed, along with their base leader. A report of these proceedings was carried to the King, and we were obliged to fly, (the tocsin being sounded).
We took shelter under the shadow of the Ochil Hills, in a lonely valley on the river Devon. After having lived there a full two years, we returned home in disguise, but found all our property in the possession of Johnston's friends, and a great reward offered for our lives. We, having purchased a small spot, called the Haugh of Dollar, and changed our names to the name of our Parish, are clearly in mind to spend the residue of our days under the ope of the Ochils, and wish the name of Drysdale to flourish in the lonely valley. The King passed through this with his Court on the 12th of June, 1506, going from Stirling to Falkland - dined on Halliday's green. (an eastern neighbour;) but we were not recognised."

The above story has been preserved among the desendants of Thomas, William, and James Douglass, now known by the name of Drysdale, and copied at several times by different individuals - first, by Simon Drysdale of the Haugh of Dollar, in the year 1620; by Robert Drysdale of Tillicoultry, in 1708; by John Drysdale, Dunfermline, in 1835; by James Drysdale, Dumfermline, in 1838; by John Montrose Drysdale, in 1841; by George Drysdale, Aberdeen, in 1845; by David Drysdale, Glasgow, in 1857; by John Harrower Drysdale, Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, in 1920; and now by Nicholas Edwin Kontzie (great-great-grandson of Jane Drysdale), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 2000.

Discussion Forum

Sonja Sauerbier

Started by Russell Lynn Drysdale Nov 21, 2023. 0 Replies

This unknown lady is Sonja Sauerbier. I did not arrive at this conclusion on my own, this is Wilma Hamilton van der Garde's Auntie Sonja Sauerbier. Mistery solved. Thank you Wilma !Comment by …Continue

Tags: Drysdale, C., Thomas, Sauerbier, Sonja

Runaway slaves in Jamaica in the 19th century.

Started by William Douglas. Last reply by William Douglas Jun 14, 2023. 7 Replies

County a Mundingo, to Mr Drysdale, a Carpenter, Kingston, marked PR both shoulders.George, a Chamba, to Mr Drysdale Port Royal Mountains formerly to PA and Richards marked HD, both breasts. Left…Continue

Tags: Drysdale, Slave, Jamaica

related royal family connection

Started by June carter. Last reply by Russell Lynn Drysdale Jul 11, 2015. 3 Replies

douglas , Drysdale, drummond , gardiner , clarkContinue

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Comment by Ronald Drysdale on April 26, 2023 at 17:58

Mary Queen of Scots first visited Lochleven Castle in 1561 as a guest of its owner, Sir William Douglas. Her last stay, in 1567–8, was as his prisoner.

A link between John Drysdale & Sir William Douglas of Lochleven, dated 1569, following Mary's imprisonment there, has been been copied from the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland vol 20 1568-1579 and is shown below:

Comment by William Douglas on April 22, 2023 at 8:49

The CDAA newsletters about the Drysdale family can be found here:

http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/CDAA&CDSA/CDAA_newslett... 

Comment by Ronald Drysdale on April 21, 2023 at 23:21

It is possible to find quite a few early Drysdales in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the period 1480-1513, this was first pointed out in the 1989 edition of the Clan Douglas Association of Australia Newsletter in a very good article by Neil M D Ewins.

The Exchequer rolls are available for download on the Internet Archive website and I've extracted the data I've found there:

The Exchequer rolls of Scotland  1480-1487 Vol 9

Drummy  (Drumme)  in  Tullicultre  let  to John  Drisdale  and  others,  569,  601 

Drysdale  (Drisdale,  Dryisdale),  Andrew, tenant  of  Hervyisdawac,  569,  602,  635.

Drysdale Janet,  tenant  of  Coschnachtan  and  Hervyisdawak,  569  ; of  Eliotisdawac, dead,  602.

Drysdale John,  son  of  Maurice,  tenant  of Drummy,  569,  601

Drysdale,  John,  junior,  tenant  of  Drummy, 569,  601.

Drysdale John,  tenant  of  Schanach,  635.

Drysdale Margaret,  tenant  of  Schanach,  635.

Drysdale Robert,  tenant  of  Eliotisdawac,  569,602,  635

The Exchequer rolls of Scotland 1488-1496 Vol 10

Drivisdale  (c/.  Drysdale),  mill  of,  let  to William  Bell  of  Aikin,  655.

Tillicoultry

Drysdale,  Andrew,  his  widow  tenant  of Hervisdawak,  668;  died,  733.

Drysdale David,  tenant  of  Coschnachtain,  668, 733.

Drysdale Isabel,  widow  of  John  Proudy, tenant  of  Hervisdawak,  733.

Drysdale John,  tenant  of  Drummy  and  Schan-nach,  668,  733,  758.

Drysdale John,  son  of  Andrew,  tenant  of Hervisdawak,  733.

Drysdale John,  son  of  Robert,  tenant  of Ellokisdawak  with  his  father,  668,  733, 758.

Drysdale Robert,  tenant  of  Ellokisdawak  with John  his  son,  668,  773,  758.

Drysdale Robert,  tenant  of  Drummy  and Schannach,  668,  733,  758.

The Exchequer rolls of Scotland 1497-1501 vol 11

Dryisdale,  Cuthbert,  tenant  of  Coischnach- tane,  411.

Drysdale John,  tenant  of  Drummy,  411;  of Hervyisdawak,  412.

Drysdale Robert,  tenant  of  Elokisdawak,  412.

Drysdale Thomas,  tenant  of  Drumniy,  411.

The Exchequer rolls of Scotland  1502-1507  Vol 12

Dryisdale  (Drisdale),  Cuthbert,  tenant  of Cosnauchtane,  639,  681.

Drysdale John,  son  of  Robert,  tenant  of Ellokkis  Dawok,  639;  do., 

in  place  of  his late  father,  681;  tenant  of  Herwisdawik and  Drummy,  639,  681.

Drysdale Robert,  tenant  of  Ellokkis  Dawok, dead,  639.

Drysdale Thomas,  tenant  of  Drummy,  639,681.

The Exchequer rolls of Scotland  1508-1513  Vol 13

Dryisdale,  Cuthbert,  tenant  of  Coschnauch- tane,  641.

Drysdale John,  tenant  of  Drummy,  641  ; of Ellokis  Dawok,  641;  of  Herwist  Dawok, 641.

Drysdale Thomas,  tenant  of  Drummy,  641.

   

Comment by William Douglas on July 6, 2021 at 10:00
Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale on December 24, 2020 at 14:50
Comment by William Douglas on December 22, 2020 at 20:03

The Admiralty yesterday [August 1950] issued the following statement:

"A small Royal Marine Commando Unit under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D.B. Drysdale, R.M., is being formed for very early dispatch by air to the Far East for service in Korea. This is in addition to the Royal Marine Commando Brigade in Malaya, which
will continue operations. For reasons of operational security, it is not desirable to publicise the size and composition, or the times of departure and arrival of this unit."

Lieutenant-Colonel Drysdale, M.B.E., R.M., who is 33, joined the
battle cruiser Renown at the outbreak of war and subsequently served
as a Captain with 101 R.M. Brigade. In 1943 he was appointed
Brigade Major to the Third Commando Brigade in Burma. Two years
later he was appointed to the command of 44 Commando. Promoted
Major in December, 1949, he became chief instructor at the R.M.
Officers' School at Plymouth last January.

© The Times, 22nd August 1950

Comment by William Douglas on December 22, 2020 at 18:42

Colonel Drysdale of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had his portrait painted by Hermann Schmiechen (1855–1895).
It hangs in Dumbarton Castle, not a million miles from where I live.
I will try to visit when that is allowed to find out more.

Comment by William Douglas on October 15, 2020 at 17:49

Grade A pipers with their trophies awarded by Norman Maclean in 2006
L-R: George Stewart, Norman MacLean, Nathan Drysdale, Glenn Ross.

Comment by William Douglas on October 7, 2020 at 14:38

Thank you, Robert.

I would be very happy if you were to take forward the proposed DNA project.

William

Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale on October 6, 2020 at 23:01

 Very interesting Robert Wang , However , When you run across someone  Douglas or Drysdale who can connect to that document with actual genealogy  please do let me and others know .

 

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Making conections

The more information you can give about the people you mention, the more chance there is of someone else connecting with your family.

Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages all help to place families.

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Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?


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