John Douglass: So Far Away (52 Ancestors #6)

John Douglass seems so distant. He was born and married far from me. He and his young family traveled far from their home. And he died far from where his wife and children ended up.

John Douglass, my 4th-great-grandfather, married Susannah Howey on 4 June 1790 in Kirknewton parish, Northumberland Co, England.1)Parish registers for Kirknewton, 1784-1960, Register of Marriages 1790-1806, FamilySearch microfilm 252590. In 1818, John, Susannah, and six of their children came to the United States.2)Minnie Kendall Lowther, History of Ritchie County, (Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Litho, 1911), p. 175. According to History of Ritchie County, John caught a fever and died in Philadelphia a week after arriving.3)Lowther, History of Ritchie County, p. 176.

Susannah and the children eventually ended up in Ritchie County, (West) Virginia.4)Ibid.

From England to Pennsylvania, but couldn’t follow the family to the wilds of western Virginia. John Douglass was so far away.

There is a lot yet to discover about this family. I just found this record yesterday at the Family History Library before the start of the FGS 2015 and RootsTech conferences. (I even had to go far away to get this record!)

John Douglass and Susannah Howey marriage record, Kirknewton parish records, Northumberland, England.

John Douglass and Susannah Howey marriage record, Kirknewton parish records, Northumberland, England.

References   [ + ]

1. Parish registers for Kirknewton, 1784-1960, Register of Marriages 1790-1806, FamilySearch microfilm 252590.
2. Minnie Kendall Lowther, History of Ritchie County, (Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Litho, 1911), p. 175.
3. Lowther, History of Ritchie County, p. 176.
4. Ibid.

3 thoughts on “John Douglass: So Far Away (52 Ancestors #6)

  1. Patti Di Loreto

    I’m guessing with a name like “Douglass” in the Anglo-Scottish Borders region, you’re going to find some Border Reiver roots at some point as Douglas is a Reiver name! The Reivers are one of my favorite groups of people to research and study. I know people are enamored with the Scottish Highlands and the image of those wild and strong Highlanders in their kilts – and I’m proud to be descended from them, it’s my ancestors on the Borders that grab me the most. Those wild bad boy Reivers on horseback making a living by raid & plunder and giving no loyalty to king or country, only to their kinsmen – and their stories; the good, the bad and the ugly – they just fascinate me! Anyway, enough of my rambling!

    Have a great day!

    P.S. Even though I’m only doing it via Pinterest pins and it’s a bit hard to write a “story” that way since I have character limits and it’s not in the form of a blog post, I’m really enjoying the whole 52 Ancestors challenge!

    Reply
  2. Laura Douglass

    There’s a very good chance I am a relative of John Douglass, my 2nd great grandfather is Adam Douglass and family is resided in Northumberland to this day. Im going to look into dads old records.

    Reply

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