Hello!

[James Scott Johnston]

I have had this perplexing problem for a while that I can't seem to figure out. My 4th great-grandfather James Elisha Douglass from Early County, Georgia area has no clear parents to be found. A lot of the roadblocks I find say the library was burned and paperwork destroyed, but I would think there would be something available. Also, he and his wife named one of their kids John Drayton Douglass and it has been mentioned many times that Caroline Drayton from South Carolina could be his mother. It makes sense, but I can't find anything concrete at all. Has anyone figured any of this out?

Thanks,

James

[William Douglas]

James,

Can you tell us the dates of birth and death for your ancestors?

There are several named James Elisha Douglass and John Drayton Douglass so sorting them is indeed confusing.

Presumably not this John Dryden Douglass?
When John Dryden Douglass was born on 28 October 1812, in Tattnall, Georgia, United States, his father, Frederick Douglass, was 22 and his mother, Bethany Hannah Anderson, was 21. He married Lydia Anderson on 20 September 1832, in Tattnall, Georgia, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Bradford, Florida, United States for about 10 years. He died on 9 April 1881, in Columbia, Columbia, Florida, United States, at the age of 68, and was buried in Lake Butler, Union, Florida, United States.

I show him here:
https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen/getperson.php?personID=I762...

William

[James Scott Johnston]

Sure.

First, the person, John Dryden Douglass might be kin, but he is not my direct kin. He is not the person we are talking about.

James Elisha Douglass b. 1 Jan 1809 d. 9 Jul 1881 

m. Mary Elizabeth Collier b. 19 Jun 1813 d. 4 May 1892

They had I think around 9 children, one of those John Drayton Douglass b. 25 Sep 1848 d. 10 Feb 1909

I have all of my ancestors from these people to the current, but I'm at a stalemate with Jame Elisha's parents.

Thank you,

JJ

[William Douglas]

I guessed that, but wanted to be certain.

Not only is James a deadend for me, but so too is Mary Collier.

I believe that there is a DNA trace of James.  Are you aware of that study?  I think he is a deadend there too!

Have you investigated the Douglases of Geogia website?

There I find this:
Elisha Douglas: Born 1/1/1809 near Laurens County, Georgia (present-day Dooley County). Full name, J. Elisha Douglas. Probable son of Hezekiah (Keziah) Douglas. Married Mary Elizabeth Collier (1813-1892). Father of Irwin Byrd (b. 1833), Nancy Louise (1835-1914), Amanda Melvina (1838-1919), Lucretia Ann (1841-1921), William Henry (1844-1912), John Drayton (1848-1909), James Elisha (1853-1942), and Mary Penelope (1858-1918). Drew in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. Appears on an 8/5/1833 estate sale record of George Bailey with Drury/Drewery Roberts wherein a rifle was purchased (Early County). Appears with Charles Roberts on a 3/16/1838 estate sale record of William Phillips wherein a mantle clock was purchased (Early County). These appearances with the Roberts family connects Elisha to the Douglas family of Halifax County, North Carolina, who migrated into Burke County, Georgia. Appears in 1840 Early County, Georgia, census (30-40 age category). Appears in 1850 Early County census (40 years old) next door to Thomas M. Murray and Elijah Philmon. Appeared in the 1860 Early County census (51 years old). Appeared in the 1870 Early County census (61 years old). Appeared in the 1880 Early County Census (71 years old). Passed away on 7/9/1881 in Early County. Mary Elizabeth passed away on 5/4/1892 in Early County. Elisha and Mary Elizabeth are buried in Crossroad Cemetery, Early County, Georgia. 

There may well be more in that excellent site.

W

[James Scott Johnston]

I have. I have been researching these people and this area during this time period for a long time. Genealogy sites, censuses, marriages, births/deaths, trying to connect families with the same names in the same areas. Alas, nothing. It makes sense that since one of their children has Drayton as a middle name that it would be a family name and the Draytons (ie: Drayton Hall) were prominent throughout South Carolina and Georgia during this time and it is suggested that the mother's name could be Carolyn, but there is not Caroline from that period of time. In addition, I have seen James or William Douglass as the father, but again, no proof.

JJ