Josiah Doulton, born in Lambeth about 1833 (family tradition also records 14 September 1832), was the fifth of six sons of John Doulton, the founder of the Doulton Potteries, and Jane Duneau. Doulton historian Desmond Eyles (1965) suggests that he may have gone to Australia to start an agency for the firm. He moved to Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, where, at the age of 25, he met and married Emmeline Ritchie, who had come to Australia from London with her family. His wife's Memorial picks up the story:
… For nine years they made their home in Australia, living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable, and Mr. Doulton opened a real estate and insurance office in Santa Barbara and served as reporter of the Superior Court for a few years. In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself, and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Josiah Doulton died in April 1903 at the age of 73 and his wife, December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
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"Miramar" was managed by Josiah's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See:
Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911); and
The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007).
… For nine years they made their home in Australia, living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable, and Mr. Doulton opened a real estate and insurance office in Santa Barbara and served as reporter of the Superior Court for a few years. In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself, and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Josiah Doulton died in April 1903 at the age of 73 and his wife, December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Josiah's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See:
Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911); and
The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007).
Josiah Doulton, born in Lambeth about 1833 (family tradition also records 14 September 1832), was the fifth of six sons of John Doulton, the founder of the Doulton Potteries, and Jane Duneau. Doulton historian Desmond Eyles (1965) suggests that he may have gone to Australia to start an agency for the firm. He moved to Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, where, at the age of 25, he met and married Emmeline Ritchie, who had come to Australia from London with her family. His wife's Memorial picks up the story:
… For nine years they made their home in Australia, living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable, and Mr. Doulton opened a real estate and insurance office in Santa Barbara and served as reporter of the Superior Court for a few years. In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself, and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Josiah Doulton died in April 1903 at the age of 73 and his wife, December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Josiah's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See:
Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911); and
The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007).
… For nine years they made their home in Australia, living in Adelaide and Melbourne. Two sons [Harold and George] and a daughter were born there.
The Australian life brought business activities, delightful society, many musical friends, and some exciting experiences in one of which on a ride through the bush they were shot at by bush-rangers. Twice the family made visits to England by sailing-vessels around the Horn. On one of these, the little girl aged eighteen months died and was buried at sea.
After leaving Australia and living in London for seven years where two sons [James Leslie and Cyril] were born, the family migrated again in search of health and better business prospects; and this time to a plantation at New Garden, Gilford County, six miles from Greensborough in North Carolina. Here a daughter, [Ethel] the youngest child, was born.
The climate was a great disappointment and Mr. Doulton's health not being benefited, the charm of Santa Barbara, its climate and its hot springs, attracted them to this coast. With the five children the long journey was made direct to Santa Barbara where they lived for two years. In 1875 came the final move to Montecito and the spot where Miramar was to develop.
[... For] about ten years the family lived in the small house by themselves. But the farming and fruit growing was not profitable, and Mr. Doulton opened a real estate and insurance office in Santa Barbara and served as reporter of the Superior Court for a few years. In 1887, a friend in San Francisco begged to spend a summer holiday with them and with Mrs. Doulton's reluctant consent begins the reception of guests and the development of "Miramar." Some of us remember vividly the old red house, all by itself, and as always the lawns, the trees, the flowers, the sense of loveliness and of an interesting and wise and self-sacrificing personality in command.
In 1889 came the first graceful little separate cottage, of shakes and cloth. Now there are twenty-five buildings and the whole neighborhood round about is built up with charming cottages and houses inspired to good taste and beauty by the Miramar example and the Miramar neighborliness and worth.
We of the old days shall not forget the comfortable gatherings in the old drawing room, the pleasant meetings with pleasant people, the music, the games with children old and young, Mr, Doulton's delightful voice in reading or story-telling and the friendly but not intrusive association of all the guests. With large numbers this has largely changed but the charm persists.
Josiah Doulton died in April 1903 at the age of 73 and his wife, December 27th, 1910, aged 69, leaving two sons and a daughter, all married, and seven grandsons.
-----------
"Miramar" was managed by Josiah's eldest son Harold until his death in 1928, and for a decade longer by Harold's widow Elizabeth and his son Harold S. until the Depression forced the sale of the resort in 1938.
See:
Emmeline Doulton of Miramar: In Memoriam (c.1911); and
The Way it Was: The Miramar No One Remembers by Hattie Beresford (Montecito Journal, 2007).
