Notes:

John Douglas and his wife Mary were first cousins.

John married Mary Elizabeth Douglas on 13 Oct 1839 in Botetourt Co., Virginia. Mary (daughter of John B. Douglas, Sr. and Catherine Sence (Cents)) was born on 16 Feb 1819 in Pattonsburg, Botetourt Co., Virginia; died on 29 Jan 1911 in Riverside, Warren Co., Kentucky; was buried on 30 Jan 1911 in Warren Co., Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth and her husband, John H. Douglas were first cousins. John H. was a son of Capt James Douglas of Anson county, North Carolina, the older brother of John B. Douglas Elizabeth was well off financially due to her interstice from her father and she legally had the right to control it. They had three sons, Benjamin and Walter lived in Warren county all their lives and never married. Jilson apparently died in Warren county. No records are available on his life or death.

Notes:

It is apparent that Capt. Douglas took the "Old Philadelphia Wagon Road" from western Virginia to Anson County North Carolina.

James Douglas was titled "Esq." on many legal documents in Anson County. This designation was almost always used for attorney at law.

In the 1790's Capt. Douglas purchased many hundreds of acres of land in Anson county. Having died instate it is not known what happened to this land.

Birth:
An obituary on 20 October 1820 in the Western Carolinianin Raligh, gave his age as 58. This would make his birth year as 1762.

James married Sarah Howard Leake about 1785. Sarah was born about 1768; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There was a name change in this generation from Leake to Leak sometimes Leek.

Notes:

John Douglas was a large land owner and held many rental properties in the town of Pattonsberg (Buchanon today)

The following deposition will give some insight into the thinking and actions of John Douglas. It also sheds light into the death of John Douglas Junior and the relationship to the major. John Bollar family.

"This deposition of Miss Sally Hensby to be read as evidence in a suit now depending in
the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Botetourt County in which Thomas
Karnes and Sabastian Hanberger administrators of Benjamin Douglas deceased. and Rubin
Walker and Elizabeth his wife are plaintiffs and John Moore Sheriff, administrator of
John Douglas deceased. Alphonso Finney and Catherine Douglas guardian for the infant
children of John Douglas Deceased. are defendants. Taken conformably to notice at the house of E. Sweetland in the town of Pattonsberg on the 29th day of August 1835 and under authority of the act of assembly in that case. Made and provided before William A.
Watson one of the Commonwealth Justices of the Peace for the county aforesaid. This
deponent being first duly sworn doith and sayth.

Question by defendants. Do you know of young John Douglass going to Kentucky on
John Douglass Senr. Business.
Answer Yes

Question by same. Did you hear any conversation with either John B Douglass and his
father and what was the propose of that conversation.
Answer. I did and it was reported that he was going to be married in Kentucky and I was
laughing at him. The memory that he started about going so far to take this wife (it being
a very bad memory) and his answer to me was that I was surely mistaken that he was
going on his fathers business now that his father had engaged him to go that he borne his
expenses and paid him something extra to go or he should not have gone at all.

Question by same. Did you ever have any conversation with Mrs. Walker the wife Rubin
Walker and if so please state what that conversation was.
Answer. I did converse with Mrs Walker as to that subject and she told me that John B.
Douglass her brother was going to Kentucky to collect money for her father, this
conversation took place the morning of his departure to Kentucky.

Question by same. Do you know whether this was the last trip that John B. Douglass
made to Kentucky or not and that it was the same trip on which he died
Answer. It was

Question by same. In a conversation with John Douglass previous to John B. Douglass
going to Kentucky, did he say any thing about this money and if so please state what it
was.
Answer. He observed to me that he had a certain sum of money due him in the West and
that if he could get it he would be able to pay all his debts or nearly so . He further saw
that he was not able to go himself and would have to have some person to go and he
thought his son John B. Douglass would be the most fitting person he could find.

Adjourned, by consent until Monday 31st at the usual hour.

William A. Watson

Monday morning the 31st Augt. met pursuant to adjournment from Saturday and Miss
Sally Hensby's deposition continued..........

Question by same. was you or was you not at Mr Walkers when there was a settlement
took
place between Mr. Walker and wife and John Douglas deceased. relating to the estate of John
B. Douglass. If so state what was the preport of that settlement.
Answer. I was and John Douglas deceased. observed that he had taken of the estate of John B.
Douglas a child's part and the balance he had divided between Mrs. Walker and her
brother Benjamin, he then observed that what was coming from Boller's estate he wanted
none of it at all, what they might have it between them . He then asked Mrs Walker if
she was satisfied and she answered yes, he then observed that what he had was his own
and he intended it for his last wife and his last children and that he hoped that he had
then got the business fixed so that there would be no after clap after his death.

Question by same. Did you have any conversation after this with either Mr Walker or his
wife . If you had please state what the conversation was.
Answer. I had conversation with Mrs Walker and she said that her father had done a
great deal better by her than she expected for he had it in his own power to keep the
whole of it.

Question by same. Do you or do you not know the reason why John Douglas deceased. refused
to have anything to do with Boller's estate and if you do will you please to state that
reason.
Answer. I do he said it came by his first wife and he thought that the first children ought
to have it.

Same witness cross examined by plaintiffs.

Question by plaintiffs. When did the settlement you spoke of between Walker and wife
and John Douglas deceased. take place.
Answer. Up at the place you rented of Shawyer.

Question by same. Was there a written contract between us.
Answer. There was writings between you but I do not know they was.

Question by same Did John Douglass say what he thought his son's estate was worth that
he had divided between Benjamin Douglass and Mrs. Walker.
Answer I did not.

and further this despondent saith not. Her
Sarah Ann X Hensby
Mark



Thomas Martin another witness returned in behalf of the defendants and sworn deperith
and saith.

Question by defendants. Do you or do you not know of John B Douglass going to
Kentucky on business for John Douglass his father and if so please state what that
business was.
Answer At my house John Douglass deceased. told me that his son was here doing nothing
and he sent him to Kentucky on business of his own to see the Hadins who was Joint
Securities with him for John Smith deceased. High Sheriff of the county. That he furnished
him money to bear his expenses and pair him will for his trip. On John B. Douglass's
return he came to my house and while there he stated that his father furnished him with
money to go to Kentucky on Lonre come business of his and had paid him well for doing
so, and he had secured his fathers claim against the Hadins.

Questions by same Do you know if John B. Douglass had any business of his own in
Kentucky
Answer I do not.

Some witness cross examination by Plaintiffs

Question Do you or do you not know that John Douglass deceased. had any business in
Kentucky the last time John B. Douglass went there.
Answer I should suppose he had for John B. Douglass told me that he had secured his
fathers debt against the Hadins.

Question by same Do you or do you not know which John Douglas deceased. secured that
money from John Smith estate
Answer I believe he secured the whole sum from John Smiths estate and Major Masons
estate who was one of the Joint Securities for John Smith deceased. with the Hades among
others near thirteen hundred dollars collected from James Boyds Extor who was extor for
John Smith deceased.

Question by defendants Was this money from Mason and Boyds extor paid prior to John
B. Douglass doing to Kentucky or not.
Answer I cannot say but I should suppose it was since.

and further this deponent saith not

Thomas Martin


Simeon Robinson another witness introduced and sworn on behalf of the defendants.

Question Was you present when John Douglass and his son John B. Douglass was
making arraignments for his , John B. Douglas, going to Kentucky and if so please state
what conversation, if any, took place between them.
Answer I was there shortly after the agreement was made between them. John Douglass
deceased. told me in presence of his son , John B. Douglass that he John B. Douglas wished to see the Warren County and he, John Douglass had claims to a considerable amount on different persons in the state of Kentucky. he therefore had concluded to give his son Jno. a commission for collecting these claims and he further stated that it would enable him ,Jno.B. Douglass to see the Western Country and be making something for himself .

and for this deponent saith not

Simeon Robinson

The foregoing deposition was sworn and subscribed before me William A. Watson
a Justice of Peace this 31st of August 1835

William A. Watson J.P. (seal)




The following Depositions were found in loose records in the chancery section in the
Botetourt County Records. The cover page is as follows:

The Clerk of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Botetourt County



Also on the cover page is a decision by the Judge.

"To much of the witness depositions as relate to the conversations and declarations of
Mrs. Walker and of John Douglass deceased are accepted to as evidence the declarations
are not admissible evidence."


A. Eskindge

A summons was also attached:


John Douglas was so wealthy that his estate was not settled until June of 1882, over fifty years after his death due to various law suits brought about mostly by his daughters to obtain as much of his estate as possible. The last of his estate was liquidated by the the public sale of the last 125 acres of land with a suit by his two daughters Evaline and Catherine."






Birth:
He was most probably born at the plantation in Leeds Manor which his father leased from Lord Fairfax.. His birth year was set from the newspaper announcement of his death as being "71 years old" at the time of his death. This calculates to his birth year as being 1760.

Died:
An announcement of the death of John Douglas was made in the Sourthen Religious Telegraph, in Richmond, Virginia, on August 14 1830. This was a one line announcement stating " died near Pattonsburg 31 July 1830 John Douglas aged 71 years" His birth year has been adjusted to account for the increased age. There is no doubt this is the announcment of this John Douglas, there was no other John Douglas close to Pattonsberg area at that time and July 31 was just a few days from the estimated death date taken from legal documents.

The family cemetery , on the plantation, was discovered in 1998. The tombstones were used for the foundation of a nearby house which is no longer standing. An attempt will be made in the future to recover at least some of them for identification.

John married Catherine Sence (Cents) on 8 Dec 1822 in Bedford Co., Virginia. Catherine was born in 1797 in State Of Virginia, Probably Bedford Co.; died in 1856 in Botetourt Co., Virginia?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This spelling for her maiden name was taken from the 1850 Botetourt County census. The spelling on the marriage bond was Centz. I believe this is is a pronunciation difference.

Catherine Douglas was appointed as guardian of her three youngest children on 12 September 1831 following the death of her husband, John B. Douglas Sr. The three children were Mary E., Eveline B. and Catherine G. Douglas.

Birth:
Catherine Douglas was 53 on the 1850 Botetourt County census. This would have made her birth year 1797. There is little doubt she was much younger than John

Died:
Legal documents strongly indicate that Catherine Douglas died in 1856. This means that a Death Certificate should be able to be obtained, however she apparently died in another county other than Botetourt.

Notes:

Married:
.

Notes:

Benjamin T. Douglas leased a plantation in an area called Leed's Manor. This plantation was leased from Thomas,Lord Fairax. Leeds Manor was near the Blue Ridge Mountains in western Virginia, this area today is in the Shenandoah Valley. Leeds Manor was in Prince William Co., he later moved to Fauquier then Culpeper and finally (ca 1793) Botetourt Co.

At his death Benjamin owned over eight hundred acres of land in Bath and, what is today, Alleganey counties. He grew hemp which was in demand for the making of rope for sailing ships and was a major cash crop in that area of Virginia at that time. He was also involved in mining operations.

Benjamin married Charity Tennill about 1761 in Prince William Co., Virginia. Charity was born in Jun 1742 in Prince William Co., Virginia; died in Jul 1832 in Montgomery Co. Virginia; was buried in Jul 1832 in Craig Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Tennell family descends from French Hugenauts from Picardy, France. These people migrated to America in the early 1700's. Many of this family migrated to southern Georiga were there is a county named after them today.

Birth:
This date was calculated from tombstone information.

Died:
Charity Douglas was apparently living with her daughter, Mary Wade, when she died .

Buried:
Charity Douglas was buried in the Craig Cemetery in Christianburg, Montgomery County, Virginia.

Notes:

Married:
Prince William County was the residence of the bride, Charity Tennell when their marriage took place. Her father was a wealthy planter in the county, which probably insured a fine, old fashion, plantation wedding. This county is also a burned record county which accounts for the loss of the marriage record