Loudoun Kirk

Copyright Friends of Loudoun Kirk © 2015

JOHN DOUGLAS


John Douglas 1759 Jedburgh, Roxburghshire became a Master Clock and Watch maker and founded a dynasty of Clock and Watch makers, Jewellers, Jewellery makers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths.


Eighteen Clock and Watch makers named Douglas that are part of the family have been identified, plus a Walter Lamont - making a total of nineteen. Besides clockmaking there is a strong descent of Artists - Snuff Box painter, Portrait painters, Genre painters and Picture restorers; plus Photographers - including portrait and carte-de-viste and Innkeepers and Vintners, all in Scotland.


Some of these careers and talents show up in later generations eg with Walter Douglas 1786 Jedburgh a son of John's with his first wife Mary Newton/Nuton c1762 - there were two more generations of Clock and Watch makers after Walter.


The Guildhall in London found in their apprentice records that John Douglas Master Clockmaker in Jedburgh had two apprentice Clockmakers - Joseph Ellcot - 30 Jan 1793 - 4 years apprenticeship and Thomas Hill - 31 Oct 1794 - 3 years 6 months apprenticeship


John and Mary (Newton/Nuton) Douglas had five and possibly six children in Jedburgh -

1. Gabriel Douglas 7/7/1784 Clockmaker, Portland Arms Inn Keeper/Owner, Vintner - married (1) Elizabeth Paterson and (2) Margaret Anderson Inn Keeper/Owner and Vintner

2. Jean Douglas c Feb 1786?

3. Walter Douglas 26/2/1786 Master Clock and Watch maker - married Isabella Anderson

4. Jean Douglas 15/1/1788 - married John Lamont Weaver

5. Christian Douglas 7/12/1789 - married John Aitken

6. John Douglas 10/9/1794 Master Clock and Watch maker - married Mary McLiver


John and Mary Douglas moved from Jedburgh to Galston, Ayrshire between 1798 and 1803. Mary (Newton/Nuton) Douglas died in Jan 1803 and is buried in Loudoun Kirk churchyard - near Galston and a memorial tablet remains - erected by her spouse John Douglas Clockmaker. Also buried with Mary is a James D Douglas.


On 23/10/1808 John married Agnes Allan at Galston and they had in Galston -

1. Mary Douglas 16/1/1810 - married John Moffat

2. Isabella Douglas 1/6/1812 - married John Lees

3. George Douglas 3/4/1814 Clockmaker - married Christian McLintock

4. James Douglas 20/9/1816 - possibly buried with Mary (Newton/Nuton) Douglas

5 and 6. Margaret Mason Douglas 11/6/1819 - married George Lawrie Fletcher

and her twin Maria Mason 11/6/1819


John Douglas 1759 died c1833 is buried in the Galston Parish Churchyard and a memorial tablet to John remains (though flattened)!


Artists in this Douglas family include James Douglas 24/7/1810 Kilmarnock, Ayrshire - a son of Gabriel Douglas 1784 Jedburgh. James was a Portrait painter and Picture restorer and painted a portrait of his grand-father John Douglas 1759 in about 1816 in Galston (this painting was restored in the late 1980’s). James also painted a self - portrait at about that same time.


James later painted a portrait of his son Edwin James Douglas 14/7/1848 Edinburgh. Edwin James in turn became a Portrait, genre and animal painter of some repute.


Both James and Edwin James Douglas exhibited their art at the Royal Scottish Academy. James painted Lord Melville and the painting hung in Archer's Hall of the Royal Scottish Academy, and also painted several pictures of the Duke of Buccleuch, Earl of Strathmore and Earl of Moray.


James’s equestrian portrait - after Vandyck - hung in the Great Hall of Darnaway Castle. On this, the Stewart Society stated "…Lord Moray confirms that there is still a large equestrian portrait of Charles I, attended by the Duke of Hamilton in the entrance hall at Darnaway Castle - after Vandyck. It is thought to have been commissioned in the 17th Century…"


While for Edwin James Douglas 1848, his paintings, drawings and etchings on the web include - dogs, horses, Highland sheep and Jersey Island cattle. Other subjects of paintings by Edwin include - coach postcards; horse and jinkers, hunting with hounds, a lone rose, tranquil roses in a vase, a sailing ship and baroque images. Plus nature, abstract, ancient/old world and Oriental images were painted by him.


In addition, Edwin painted members of his immediate family ie portraits of Christiana Maria (Martin) Douglas his wife (The Worthing Museum in Sussex owns a painting by Edwin of Christiana); and Margot (Marguerete Laura) Douglas one of his daughters.


Alex Buck of the Royal Collection has stated regarding art by Edwin Douglas “…the Royal Collection holds an oil painting by Edwin James Douglas of the racehorse 'Persimmon', dated 1897…According to our records this painting was presented to the Prince of Wales by Sir James Blyth (late 1st Baron Blyth), summer 1897…”


Moreover, there are paintings by other family members on the web -

· Paintings/drawings by Geundolen Douglas - Edwin’s daughter

· Drawings by Christiana Maria (Martin) Douglas - Edwin's wife

· Art by Margot Douglas - Marguerite Lora Douglas a painter in France - Edwin's daughter

· Art by Georgina Douglas Painter, Helensburgh, 1885 - Edwin’s sister

· Paintings by James Douglas 1810 Kilmarnock, Ayrshire - Edwin’s father


Besides John Douglas 1813 Dollar, Clackmannan a son of Walter Douglas 1786 Jedburgh - who was a first cousin of Edwin James Douglas 1848 - was a portrait painter, photographer and snuff box painter in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire. Later on, John was a photographer (portrait and carte-de-visite) and artist in Glasgow, with his own business with some of his six sons coming into the business - one of whom, Walter Douglas 1835 Old Cumnock, was also an artist as well as being a photographer. John Douglas 1813 also had a photography business in Seafield Place, West Bay, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire.


More sleuthing is required; but I feel fairly certain that parents of John Douglas 1759 were George Douglas/s or Dowglas 1720 to 1801, a Gardener who was a tenant of Howden, Jedburgh and Agness/Agnus (Annie) Oliver 1723 Jedburgh (of Dykeraw - daughter of George Oliver/Olipher c1685).


A direct ancestor of George Douglas 1720 was James Douglas c1669 to 1750 Jedburgh - James was a Gardener and Burgess of Jedburgh and is buried in the Jedburgh Abbey graveyard as is George Douglas 1720.


Edwin James Douglas claimed his Douglas ancestry to “the Good” Sir James Douglas, friend of Robert the Bruce and so chose a heart for his signature, as a proud symbol of his illustrious ancestor.


So in conclusion, John Douglas 1759 the subject of this brief expose it has been noted has been referred to on the web as a "dour old Scot" but that is flippant, for his place in Douglas history shows that he undoubtedly comes from an historic and renowned family


Signed Jedart

John Douglas’s wife, Mary Nuton (Newton) is buried in Loudoun Kirkyard, John is buried in Galston churchyard