One point that may be worth considering - one of the 1900 census forms states '1865' under the heading "Year of Immigration to the US" (but the 1900 form also states he had been in the US for 45 years?). In 1865 William would be about 13 years old, so I would expect that he migrated with his family - at 13 he would have been too young to travel by himself.
The form also indicates that he was a naturalised citizen so there should be a record of that somewhere.
A couple more census forms for info:
William Douglas & family 1860 census Clinton New York
I've checked out the Familysearch website and picked up a few US census sources which may (or may not) be applicable to your William (note it's possible the middle 'M' may be an error as WM is short for William):
1880 Census - Atchison City William's Father & Mother born Canada?
1895 Census - Atchison City new wife named Mary E Douglas
1900 Census - Atchison City William - Born Jan 1852 - Father born Scotland, Mother born Ireland
1900 Census - Atchison City (2) William - born March 1852 - Father born Ireland Mother born Scotland - entry into US in 1865
1910 Census - Atchison City William's Father born Canadian English Mother born Ireland
To find out where William's parents originated from you really need a birth certificate for William & some earlier census data
I'll put a couple of 1870 Census forms in another post which may give a clue
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.
Professions also help.
'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.
Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?
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Suzanne Crowe's Comments
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Hi Suzanne
Glad to be of assistance.
One point that may be worth considering - one of the 1900 census forms states '1865' under the heading "Year of Immigration to the US" (but the 1900 form also states he had been in the US for 45 years?). In 1865 William would be about 13 years old, so I would expect that he migrated with his family - at 13 he would have been too young to travel by himself.
The form also indicates that he was a naturalised citizen so there should be a record of that somewhere.
A couple more census forms for info:
William Douglas & family 1860 census Clinton New York
Sanilac. Census 1870 william Douglas & family
Good luck!
.........a few 1870 US census forms.
Hope this helps
Hi Suzanne,
Welcome to Douglas History.
I've checked out the Familysearch website and picked up a few US census sources which may (or may not) be applicable to your William (note it's possible the middle 'M' may be an error as WM is short for William):
1880 Census - Atchison City William's Father & Mother born Canada?
1895 Census - Atchison City new wife named Mary E Douglas
1900 Census - Atchison City William - Born Jan 1852 - Father born Scotland, Mother born Ireland
1900 Census - Atchison City (2) William - born March 1852 - Father born Ireland Mother born Scotland - entry into US in 1865
1910 Census - Atchison City William's Father born Canadian English Mother born Ireland
To find out where William's parents originated from you really need a birth certificate for William & some earlier census data
I'll put a couple of 1870 Census forms in another post which may give a clue
Best regards
Welcome to our Douglas hsitory community, Suzanne.
I have not progressed very far - not far at all, in fact, researching William and Zarilda. I think William may have been Zarilda's second husband.
I think that, in addition to their children George and Bessie, they had Henrietta and possibly Zarilda.
As for William's parents - I know nothing.
I hope that someone here can contribute.
Yours aye,
William
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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.
Professions also help.
'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.
Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?
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