Douglas coat of arms      

 

titleResearching our family history can be a lonely task - but it needn't be.  Others are probably researching similar areas, and by exchanging information, we can build up our knowledge more quickly, test ideas and even ask someone better placed to visit cemeteries, public record offices or libraries to track down that elusive ancestor.

The Douglas Archives Community Network is a place where you, our visitor, can interact with others researching their Douglas history and genealogy.  You can set up your own profile and page, add a blog, set up a discussion or post photographs.  You can even decide how your page will look!

Take a look at the Community Network and if you like wh and if you like what you see, then please join us.
Gathering 2014

Clan Douglas Gathering 2014

 

A proposal has been made to have a gathering of the clan in Scotland in 2014, the anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Scottish Government has already nominated 2014 as the year of the Homecoming, and this seems like an opportunity for Douglas family members from around the world to meet and develop their links with Scotland and each other.

If you would like to contribute to the discussion, go to: http://douglashistory.ning.com/group/clan-douglas-gathering-2014

Biography finder

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Index of first names

Current 'Hot Links'

Community Network - the place to make friends with others researching their Douglas roots and work collabritively.

Miscellaneous lists of names

Was Lady Janet a witch? Read her story here..or read about Douglas ghosts

 

The clan system - a new section guiding us through the clan structure

 

The Queensberry curse? - The sad death of Lord Milo places the focus back on the families sad history

 

American settlers and Scottish emigrants

 

Did Jane Douglas have twins?  Or were they 'acquired' in Paris?

History of the Douglas family

Version 1: Sholto Douglas
was the mythical Progenitor of the House of Douglas, a powerful and warlike family in Medieval Scotland. A Mythical battle took place: "in 767, between King Solvathius rightful king of Scotland and a pretender Donald Bane. The victory was so nearly Donald's when a certain noble man, disdaining to see so bad a cause have good successe, struck in for the king and turned the fortunes of the day. When the king inquired about the knight who had done such valuable service, somebody exclaimed "Sholto du glasse!"..."Behold the black gray man!".." (Ane Historie of the House and Race of Douglas and Angus, David Hume of Godscroft, Edinburgh 1646).

2. There is the following tradition in regard to the origin of the name. In the year 770 Solvathius king of Scotland, obtained a victory over Donald Bain of the Western Isles, by the assistance of a man who was unknown to him. After the battle, being desirous to see one who had done him so signal a service, he was pointed out to him with these words: " Sholto Dhuglass," behold that swarthy man. One of this family, Sir William Douglas, entered into the service of Charlemagne and was the founder of the family of Douglassi in Tuscany. Sir James de Douglas took the heart of Robert Bruce to the Holy Land, to commemorate which his descendants have ever since horn a crowned heart in their arms. Before the death of Bruce in 1329 the arms of the family were azure, three mullets argent.

3 The first Douglas to stride across the stage of Scottish history was Sir William Douglas who fought and died for William Wallace. His son, Sir James Douglas was a supporter and lifelong friend of Robert the Bruce. "Good Sir James" died taking Bruce's heart on a crusade to the Holy Land. The 2nd Earl of Douglas died at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 as his army defeated an English force led by Prince Henry "Hotspur". In 1402 the 4th Earl was defeated by the same Henry Hotspur at the Battle of Homildon Hill.

Recently revised pages


William T. Douglass, 1857-1913 05/01/2012
Mayor John Douglas, Living 200404/15/2012
Benjamin Douglas, 1816-189404/11/2012
Fun (peculiar) emails 04/11/2012
Major General John Primrose Douglas 1908-197504/09/2012
Sir George Douglas, d182104/06/2012
Peter M. Douglas, Living 201104/04/2012
Seals used by the Douglases04/03/2012
Morton castle04/02/2012
Stirling Castle04/02/2012
William Douglas, 2nd earl of Angus, c1398-149704/02/2012
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus, 1380–140304/02/2012
George Douglas, Master of Angus, k1513 04/02/2012
George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus, c1417-146304/02/2012
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus (1449 – 1513)04/02/2012
General Sir Kenneth Mackenzie-Douglas, 1754-183304/01/2012
Norman Vazey Douglas, 1910-198503/19/2012
George Norman Douglas, 1868-195203/18/2012
Sir Roger Owen Douglas, b193703/18/2012
Andrew Douglas, d172503/17/2012
Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton, 1776 - 185203/17/2012
William Douglas, 1745-181003/12/2012
Oley Douglas, 1684-171903/07/2012
Bothwell Castle03/04/2012
Ian Douglas, b195202/10/2012
Rogues and vagabonds02/08/2012
Edinburgh Castle02/08/2012
Archibald, 1st Baron Douglas, 1748-1827 02/04/2012
Douglas with West Indies connections01/06/2012
Douglas of Torthorwald01/06/2012
Douglas of Parkhead01/06/2012
Sir James Douglas, d179501/05/2012
Colonel John Douglas, 1636-167812/09/2011
George Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney c1666 - 173712/01/2011
Thomas Douglas of Grantham, 1732 - 178711/30/2011
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray ( -1455)11/29/2011
Duffus Castle11/16/2011
Freskin the Fleming11/16/2011
Robert Douglas, Provost of Lincluden, d 160911/16/2011
Charles Douglas, Earl of Drumlanrig (1726 - 1756)11/11/2011
The Scottish Marches11/08/2011
Robert Douglas, 12th Earl of Morton11/05/2011
Sir Alexander Douglas, d1718 11/05/2011
George Douglas, 13th Earl of Morton, 1662 - 173811/05/2011
Archibald Douglas, 13th of Cavers, d174111/05/2011
Douglas of Glenfinart11/01/2011

 

What's new?

Jane (Mother) Douglas, c1700-176105/16/2012
John Douglas of South Africa05/15/2012
John Raymond Douglas, b195105/15/2012
Douglases who were at Waterlooo, 181505/11/2012
Clan Douglas Gathering, 200905/03/2012
Marriages from the Ryton Registers (1750-1779)05/03/2012
Douglas of Blaydon05/03/2012
Douglass Brothers Ltd, of Blaydon05/02/2012
William A Douglas, 1939-05/01/2012
William Douglass, 1831-192305/01/2012
Judge Robert A. Douglas, bc194005/01/2012
Castle of Mains04/30/2012
Australian War Deaths04/21/2012
Jack Douglas, c1933-201204/20/2012
Douglas Gathering Events04/13/2012
William Douglas, 1812-187404/11/2012
Joseph W. Douglas, b183804/11/2012
Papers of James Douglas Esq of Cavers04/04/2012
Gavler's Castle04/02/2012
Peacock in Douglas heraldry04/02/2012
Monumental Inscriptions in Hythe Churchyard.04/02/2012
Edward Douglas-Miller04/02/2012
Douglas Pharmaceuticals03/29/2012
Sir Graeme Douglas,bc192903/29/2012
DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORPORATION03/23/2012
Francis Vernon Douglas, 1910-194303/19/2012
David Douglas, living 201203/18/2012
New Zealand University Graduates 1870-193803/17/2012
Dr Charles Douglas, living 201203/07/2012
Calder House03/07/2012
Jenny Dawn Douglas, b195702/12/2012
Lee Douglas, bc1955-201202/09/2012
Slave trade letters01/31/2012
Maj-Gen Sir William Douglas, 1858-192001/25/2012
Dunglass Castle01/22/2012
Graeme Douglas, living 201201/20/2012
William Campbell Douglass II01/17/2012
William Campbell Douglass III01/17/2012
James Charles Douglas-Whyte, 1819-188501/13/2012
Walmoor Hill01/09/2012
Betto Douglas - the case of01/06/2012
Dr James Douglas, b195612/14/2011
Autopsy on Sir George Douglas, d163612/13/2011
Gorbals Mansion House12/12/2011
Douglas Ghosts12/12/2011
John Douglas of Broughton, d173212/12/2011
Cockpen, Douglas births in 12/12/2011

 
Recent research has revealed considerable Douglas involvement in the development of world trade in the sugar industry. but it is an area about which we wish to learn more.  can you contribute? >>>. Douglases on TV
In 1452 James invited William, 8th Earl of Douglas, to Stirling Castle. James demanded that Douglas end an alliance with the MacDonalds. In the argument that followed Douglas was stabbed to death. See the BBC video here>>> and look for 1452 AD
Want to say thank you?
Have you benefitted from the Douglas Archives? If you would like to say 'Thank you', then now you can make a small donation to make the website an even better resource for future researchers.

Slaves and slavers The Douglas Heart The Douglas Store
Slaves and tales of daring-do, as the Douglases hunt down the slave traders>>
A heart features on many Douglas family coats of arms, crests etc, including the one at the top of this page. Find out why... >> Frederick Douglas: Slave, Writer, Abolitionist (Signature Lives Civil War Era) Our store is now open for business! Books, videos and much more. Visit the Douglas Heritage store... >>
Are you a Douglas descendant of any of the Earls of Angus, and descendants of the Earls of Morton prior to the 1700s? The Douglas DNA project needs samples of men who are known to be descended from these two lines, in order to verify the DNA types involved. We want to do this in order to allow modern Douglas families to focus their geneaological research into the correct branches of the Douglas tree to find their ancestors. If you are known to descend from these lines the Douglas DNA project may be able to pay for your DNA test.      Lineage testing by DNA  >> We are hoping to make contact with members of the Douglas family who have been in Europe for centuries. Douglases have been in Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, and possibly other countries, for many generations. We would like to find male representatives of these families to assist our Douglas DNA project. The Douglas DNA project may be able to pay for DNA tests for suitable candidates from these families.

Lineage testing by DNA >>
Almost all people of native European descent, wherever they may live throughout the world, can trace their ancestry back to one of seven women, hence, the Seven Daughters of Eve.  >>
We have now made available a selection of books on the Douglas family, Scottish history and genealogy all available direct from Amazon. >>
Google news headlines from around the world on stories involving 'Douglas'. >>

A recent painting of the Black Douglas has been unveiled. >>

chess piece 

Video image 

James Douglas chess piece
This pewter model is part of Nigel Tranter's Bannockburn Limited Edition Chess Set. This specially devised and commissioned by Morag and John Morgan exclusively for Cornerstone
 
A slideshow from a visit to Douglas, Lanarkshire, is now available, depicting The Good Sir James, Douglas Castle and St Bride's Church.
James Douglas is a legendary figure in British Columbia, from his fur trade days at Fort St. James to his dual governorship of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. >>

     
How The Douglas Archives work: What else is new??

We have collected information from a variety of sources, some of it contradictory!

Where the errors are obvious, we have corrected them; where there is doubt, we have shown both options.

Scripts from old documents may not have scanned in well, and these will be amended as time goes by.

The early history of the Douglases is far from certain.  Early chroniclers often got it wrong.  The editor of The Douglas Archives claims to be no better!

Researchers are, as always, advised to verify information before taking it as gospel.

There are two search options - one for the history section and one for the genealogy section.  Try both to find your missing ancestor. oh yes!  The community network also has its own search facility.

If you find something wrong - let us know. If you find something missing - tell us what it is.  This Archive is built from everyone's contributions.  Thank you.

Major changes to the site will be notified through our Community Network.  Additions and significant revisions to the History section are listed above.

Details of the last 12 individuals added to the database in the past 30 days are automatically recorded. With over 100,000 names, this growing resouce will prove invaluable to researchers. >>
A TV programme charting the lively lifestyle of Princess Margaret has thrown up some interesting Douglas connections.  >>
The royal marriage between Prince William and Catherine Middleton brings more Douglas connections.  >>

Further royal connections can be discovered here... >>

Cartoon - Earl of Douglas and brother

Edinburgh Castle was the site of the infamous "Black Bull's Dinner" where 16 year old sixth Earl of Douglas and his 14 year old brother David were murdered in front of their 10 year old King (James II). >>
Concerns are being expressed about the future of the Mausoleum in Castle Douglas  >>
The Scots won the battle and captured the English leader Henry (Hotspur) Percy. When he offered to capitulate, he was directed to surrender to the bush under which Douglas was lying and so the battle became famous because it was won by a dead man.>>
     
Not all Douglases have been goody goodies - read about horse thieves, and others.  >>

Other stories of interest can be found in our Articles section.
Our place in history
"In the margin, about one-third into The Book of Clan Douglas, Volume III, are written the words: `This is about the time when the Earth began'." (Mary Murray, nee Mary Douglas, of Earltown: 1991)
I have still a lot of work to do on this section, and all contributions will be welcomed.

Click to enlarge this picture of Lance Corporal of Horse Chris 'Dougie' Douglass, serving in Afghanistan with Prince Harry. 

The father of Lance Corporal of Horse Chris 'Dougie' Douglass, 27, had wondered why his son had stayed so tight-lipped about his desert operations.

Gary Douglass, 55, from Sunderland said: "Usually he sends us emails and rings to let us know he's OK. But this time he did not tell us much about what he was doing. Now we know why. His mother has been very worried about him."

Chris, who lives in Army accommodation in London with his wife and two children, Jake, 11, and Reece, five, said: "Harry's always got a smile on his face. Nobody cares about his background."

 
   
How many ancestors do I have?
I have been wondering how many ancestors I might have...

Two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents... If I continue this series back at 3 generations per century, I find I have over a billion Viking-era ancestors. And 10^18 in the Roman era. And so on. This is plainly wrong. Where is the flaw in the logic?

 

 
 

The content of this website is a collection of materials gathered from a variety of sources, some of it unedited.

The webmaster does not intend to claim authorship, but gives credit to the originators for their work.

As work progresses, some of the content may be re-written and presented in a unique format, to which we would then be able to claim ownership.

Discussion and contributions from those more knowledgeable is welcome.

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Last modified: Saturday, 17 December 2011