The Douglas Archives

A collection of historical and genalogical records

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Comment by William Douglas on September 29, 2018 at 21:07

The earliest recorded reference to Riccarton or Richardstoun is from 1315 when King Robert the Bruce bestowed the land as a dowry on his daughter Marjory. In 1480 the Wardlaw family held the lands. Lawyer Sir Thomas Craig bought the estate in 1605 and throughout the 17th century added much of the surrounding lands including Hermiston. The tower house of Riccarton had been built in the 15th century and by 1508, when it was owned by the Wardlaw family but  leased to the Hepburn family, it formed “a substantial fortified tower”. In 1621 and 1827 it was extended to become a more luxurious house rather than a defensive castle.

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.

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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