Revolutionary War veteran. William served as a private in the Captain James Douglas Co. of the Cumberland County Militia. His wife is likely the Mary Douglass, age 41, that appears with William and his children in a 1789 membership list of Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville. In 1796 they joined the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in Carlisle where William was made an elder in 1812. Mary Douglass (maiden name unknown) apparently died before 1830 as she isn't mentioned in William's will which he made that year. This will names six of his children: Jane, John, Margaret, Nancy, George, and Anne. Another of his daughters, Mary, is named in the will of William's sister, Agnes (Douglass) Gordon, in 1806. Because she isn't mentioned in her father's will, Mary likely died before 1830, leaving no children of her own. Also not mentioned was son, William Jr., who died in 1814, leaving no children of his own.
Willard Douglass, a Kansas City lawyer, (and descendant of William's brother, George) researched this family extensively, writing his conclusions in 1904. From county and church records he was able to identify William's siblings and children. He concluded from estate and land records that William's mother is likely to be the Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) Douglass who died in 1754 in Cumberland County. She is named earlier as "the widow Duglas" in the 1751 tax list for Middleton Township. The identity of William's father has not been determined.
In a deposition given on 28 Aug 1823, William states that he was born in Chester County, and that he came to Cumberland County about 1750 when he was about 10 years old. The tax lists of Chester County might offer some additional clues, although no definite conclusions can be drawn. A "Widow Douglis" appears in the tax list of Londonderry Township for the tax year 1749/1750 but isn't seen in any other year. Also, in the same township, a William Douglass/Douglas/Dougles appears in the tax lists from 1737 until 1748. More evidence is needed to determine if this William was the widow's husband or if this widow is the same person that appears in the 1751 Cumberland County tax list.
From family traditions told to Willard Douglass by several cousins he concluded that William's parents were born in Scotland. They came to America after living for a time in County Down in Northern Ireland. Exactly when this couple arrived in America isn't known but it is certain that they were living in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1739. Their children may have been born in Scotland, County Down, or Pennsylvania.
The following marriages were found in Cumberland County for the children of William Douglas (1739-1831):
Jane Douglass m. Alexander Logan, 6 Nov 1787
John Douglass m. Nancy McDowell, 1 Mar 1798
Margaret Douglass m. James Geddes, 1 Mar 1796
George Douglass m. Grizzelda McKeehan, 12 Feb 1811
Anne Douglass m. John Dunbar, 13 Apr 1824
William Douglass, Jr. m. Eleanor Brown 20 Apr 1812
Buried next to William is Agnes Douglas, d. 14 Apr 1848, aged 70 years. This is his daughter, Nancy, which was a common nickname for Agnes among the Ulster Scots. She apparently never married. In the will of Nancy Douglass, of Carlisle, probated on 5 May 1848, she names Mrs. Margaret Geddes, of Ohio, and Mrs. Ann Dunbar, of Carlisle, as her sisters.
From the book, MEMORIES OF CARLISLE'S OLD GRAVEYARD, by Sarah Woods Parkinson (1930), based on an 1898 reading of this cemetery, we have the transcription:
DOUGLASS, William, d Dec 10-1832, 92y
William made his will on 9 Jun 1830. Probate began 24 Dec 1831 and was finished on 14 Jan 1832. Therefore, the correct date of death is likely to be 10 Dec 1831.
*Thank you to Douglas researcher, Julie H., for helping me to make the connection to this ancestor.
Willard Douglass, a Kansas City lawyer, (and descendant of William's brother, George) researched this family extensively, writing his conclusions in 1904. From county and church records he was able to identify William's siblings and children. He concluded from estate and land records that William's mother is likely to be the Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) Douglass who died in 1754 in Cumberland County. She is named earlier as "the widow Duglas" in the 1751 tax list for Middleton Township. The identity of William's father has not been determined.
In a deposition given on 28 Aug 1823, William states that he was born in Chester County, and that he came to Cumberland County about 1750 when he was about 10 years old. The tax lists of Chester County might offer some additional clues, although no definite conclusions can be drawn. A "Widow Douglis" appears in the tax list of Londonderry Township for the tax year 1749/1750 but isn't seen in any other year. Also, in the same township, a William Douglass/Douglas/Dougles appears in the tax lists from 1737 until 1748. More evidence is needed to determine if this William was the widow's husband or if this widow is the same person that appears in the 1751 Cumberland County tax list.
From family traditions told to Willard Douglass by several cousins he concluded that William's parents were born in Scotland. They came to America after living for a time in County Down in Northern Ireland. Exactly when this couple arrived in America isn't known but it is certain that they were living in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1739. Their children may have been born in Scotland, County Down, or Pennsylvania.
The following marriages were found in Cumberland County for the children of William Douglas (1739-1831):
Jane Douglass m. Alexander Logan, 6 Nov 1787
John Douglass m. Nancy McDowell, 1 Mar 1798
Margaret Douglass m. James Geddes, 1 Mar 1796
George Douglass m. Grizzelda McKeehan, 12 Feb 1811
Anne Douglass m. John Dunbar, 13 Apr 1824
William Douglass, Jr. m. Eleanor Brown 20 Apr 1812
Buried next to William is Agnes Douglas, d. 14 Apr 1848, aged 70 years. This is his daughter, Nancy, which was a common nickname for Agnes among the Ulster Scots. She apparently never married. In the will of Nancy Douglass, of Carlisle, probated on 5 May 1848, she names Mrs. Margaret Geddes, of Ohio, and Mrs. Ann Dunbar, of Carlisle, as her sisters.
From the book, MEMORIES OF CARLISLE'S OLD GRAVEYARD, by Sarah Woods Parkinson (1930), based on an 1898 reading of this cemetery, we have the transcription:
DOUGLASS, William, d Dec 10-1832, 92y
William made his will on 9 Jun 1830. Probate began 24 Dec 1831 and was finished on 14 Jan 1832. Therefore, the correct date of death is likely to be 10 Dec 1831.
*Thank you to Douglas researcher, Julie H., for helping me to make the connection to this ancestor.
Revolutionary War veteran. William served as a private in the Captain James Douglas Co. of the Cumberland County Militia. His wife is likely the Mary Douglass, age 41, that appears with William and his children in a 1789 membership list of Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville. In 1796 they joined the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in Carlisle where William was made an elder in 1812. Mary Douglass (maiden name unknown) apparently died before 1830 as she isn't mentioned in William's will which he made that year. This will names six of his children: Jane, John, Margaret, Nancy, George, and Anne. Another of his daughters, Mary, is named in the will of William's sister, Agnes (Douglass) Gordon, in 1806. Because she isn't mentioned in her father's will, Mary likely died before 1830, leaving no children of her own. Also not mentioned was son, William Jr., who died in 1814, leaving no children of his own.
Willard Douglass, a Kansas City lawyer, (and descendant of William's brother, George) researched this family extensively, writing his conclusions in 1904. From county and church records he was able to identify William's siblings and children. He concluded from estate and land records that William's mother is likely to be the Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) Douglass who died in 1754 in Cumberland County. She is named earlier as "the widow Duglas" in the 1751 tax list for Middleton Township. The identity of William's father has not been determined.
In a deposition given on 28 Aug 1823, William states that he was born in Chester County, and that he came to Cumberland County about 1750 when he was about 10 years old. The tax lists of Chester County might offer some additional clues, although no definite conclusions can be drawn. A "Widow Douglis" appears in the tax list of Londonderry Township for the tax year 1749/1750 but isn't seen in any other year. Also, in the same township, a William Douglass/Douglas/Dougles appears in the tax lists from 1737 until 1748. More evidence is needed to determine if this William was the widow's husband or if this widow is the same person that appears in the 1751 Cumberland County tax list.
From family traditions told to Willard Douglass by several cousins he concluded that William's parents were born in Scotland. They came to America after living for a time in County Down in Northern Ireland. Exactly when this couple arrived in America isn't known but it is certain that they were living in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1739. Their children may have been born in Scotland, County Down, or Pennsylvania.
The following marriages were found in Cumberland County for the children of William Douglas (1739-1831):
Jane Douglass m. Alexander Logan, 6 Nov 1787
John Douglass m. Nancy McDowell, 1 Mar 1798
Margaret Douglass m. James Geddes, 1 Mar 1796
George Douglass m. Grizzelda McKeehan, 12 Feb 1811
Anne Douglass m. John Dunbar, 13 Apr 1824
William Douglass, Jr. m. Eleanor Brown 20 Apr 1812
Buried next to William is Agnes Douglas, d. 14 Apr 1848, aged 70 years. This is his daughter, Nancy, which was a common nickname for Agnes among the Ulster Scots. She apparently never married. In the will of Nancy Douglass, of Carlisle, probated on 5 May 1848, she names Mrs. Margaret Geddes, of Ohio, and Mrs. Ann Dunbar, of Carlisle, as her sisters.
From the book, MEMORIES OF CARLISLE'S OLD GRAVEYARD, by Sarah Woods Parkinson (1930), based on an 1898 reading of this cemetery, we have the transcription:
DOUGLASS, William, d Dec 10-1832, 92y
William made his will on 9 Jun 1830. Probate began 24 Dec 1831 and was finished on 14 Jan 1832. Therefore, the correct date of death is likely to be 10 Dec 1831.
*Thank you to Douglas researcher, Julie H., for helping me to make the connection to this ancestor.
Willard Douglass, a Kansas City lawyer, (and descendant of William's brother, George) researched this family extensively, writing his conclusions in 1904. From county and church records he was able to identify William's siblings and children. He concluded from estate and land records that William's mother is likely to be the Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) Douglass who died in 1754 in Cumberland County. She is named earlier as "the widow Duglas" in the 1751 tax list for Middleton Township. The identity of William's father has not been determined.
In a deposition given on 28 Aug 1823, William states that he was born in Chester County, and that he came to Cumberland County about 1750 when he was about 10 years old. The tax lists of Chester County might offer some additional clues, although no definite conclusions can be drawn. A "Widow Douglis" appears in the tax list of Londonderry Township for the tax year 1749/1750 but isn't seen in any other year. Also, in the same township, a William Douglass/Douglas/Dougles appears in the tax lists from 1737 until 1748. More evidence is needed to determine if this William was the widow's husband or if this widow is the same person that appears in the 1751 Cumberland County tax list.
From family traditions told to Willard Douglass by several cousins he concluded that William's parents were born in Scotland. They came to America after living for a time in County Down in Northern Ireland. Exactly when this couple arrived in America isn't known but it is certain that they were living in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1739. Their children may have been born in Scotland, County Down, or Pennsylvania.
The following marriages were found in Cumberland County for the children of William Douglas (1739-1831):
Jane Douglass m. Alexander Logan, 6 Nov 1787
John Douglass m. Nancy McDowell, 1 Mar 1798
Margaret Douglass m. James Geddes, 1 Mar 1796
George Douglass m. Grizzelda McKeehan, 12 Feb 1811
Anne Douglass m. John Dunbar, 13 Apr 1824
William Douglass, Jr. m. Eleanor Brown 20 Apr 1812
Buried next to William is Agnes Douglas, d. 14 Apr 1848, aged 70 years. This is his daughter, Nancy, which was a common nickname for Agnes among the Ulster Scots. She apparently never married. In the will of Nancy Douglass, of Carlisle, probated on 5 May 1848, she names Mrs. Margaret Geddes, of Ohio, and Mrs. Ann Dunbar, of Carlisle, as her sisters.
From the book, MEMORIES OF CARLISLE'S OLD GRAVEYARD, by Sarah Woods Parkinson (1930), based on an 1898 reading of this cemetery, we have the transcription:
DOUGLASS, William, d Dec 10-1832, 92y
William made his will on 9 Jun 1830. Probate began 24 Dec 1831 and was finished on 14 Jan 1832. Therefore, the correct date of death is likely to be 10 Dec 1831.
*Thank you to Douglas researcher, Julie H., for helping me to make the connection to this ancestor.
Gravesite Details
Date of death on gravestone is below ground and no longer visible.
