John B. Douglas, Sr.^[1]

1760 - 1830  (70 years)

• Name	John B. Douglas
  Suffix	Sr.
  Birth	1760	Fauquier Co., Virginia   [2]
  	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.
  Gender	Male
  Death	31 Jul 1830	Botetourt Co., Virginia   [3]
  	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.
  Person ID	I14315	First tree
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Thomas Douglas, Sr.,   b. Abt 1732, Charles Co. Maryland d. May 1816, Botetourt Co., Virginia (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Charity Tennill,   b. Jun 1742, Prince William Co., Virginia d. Jul 1832, Montgomery Co. Virginia (Age 90 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1761	Prince William Co., Virginia
  	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
  Family ID	F21896	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Ann Morris   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. See Notes
  Family ID	F21657	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2013

  
  

  Family 2	Nancy Bollar,   b. 9 Sep 1768, Agusta Co., Virginia d. Abt 1805, Botetourt Co. Virginia (Age 36 years)
  Marriage	1789	Bath Co., Virginia   [4, 5]
  	Bath County, Va Deed Book no. 5 p-422 names Nancy Bollar as wife of John Douglas
  Children	1. Elizabeth Douglas,   b. 30 Nov 1789, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. 23 Aug 1855, Harrison Co., Virginia (WV Today) (Age 65 years)   2. Benjamin M. Douglas,   b. 1791, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. bfe Feb 1831, Alleghaney Co., Virginia (Age 40 years)   3. John B. Douglas, Jr.,   b. Abt 1793, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. late 1822, The Wilderness Road To Route To Kentucky (Age 29 years)
  Family ID	F21843	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2013

  
  

  Family 3	Catherine Sence (Cents),   b. 1797, State Of Virginia, Probably Bedford Co. d. 1856, Botetourt Co., Virginia? (Age 59 years)
  Marriage	8 Dec 1822	Bedford Co., Virginia   [6]
  	.
  Children	1. William Buchanan Douglas,   b. 4 Jan 1815, Pattonsburg, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. 26 Oct 1887, Riverside, Warren Co., Kentucky At His Home (Age 72 years)   2. James J. Douglas,   b. 1817, Pattonsburg, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. Yes, date unknown   3. Mary Elizabeth Douglas,   b. 16 Feb 1819, Pattonsburg, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. 29 Jan 1911, Riverside, Warren Co., Kentucky (Age 91 years)   4. Evaline B. Douglas,   b. 2 May 1821, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. Aft 1882, Botetourt Co., Virginia (Age 61 years)   5. Catherine G. Douglas,   b. 22 Feb 1830, Botetourt Co., Virginia d. 8 Sep 1905, Champaign, IL (Age 75 years)
  Family ID	F21844	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2013

  
  

• 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."

  
  

• Sources

  [S148] BOTETOURT CO. COURT ORDERS, 1797-1800, May 1797 (Reliability: 3). [S573] AMERICAN GENEALOGIST,VOL 50, No. 1, p-55 (Reliability: 3). [S149] DEATH ANNOUCEMENT. [S499] REG. OF MARRIAGES- VIRGINA, p-30 (Reliability: 3). [S511] S.W. VA, GENEALOGICAL SOC. PUB., Aug 1980, p-58 (Reliability: 3). [S672] MARRIAGE RCD, JOHN B. DOUGLAS.