William Douglas (1540 - 1595)

Born 1540 in Whittinghame, Berwickshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Maitland) Douglas — married before 1567 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1595 at about age 55 in Whittinghame, Berwickshire, Scotland

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Biography

William Douglas is a member of Clan Douglas.

Sir William Douglas was a member of the aristocracy in Scotland.

William Douglas is Notable.

Cited as the son of William Douglas of Whittinghame and his spouse Elizabeth Lauder in the birth brief confirmed November 1, 1648.^[1]

On 24th August 1557, Aquittances [were made] by Elizabeth Lauder, relict of William Douglas of Whittinghame, and Patrick, brother german to William, Executors to said William, and [this] William Douglas now of Whittinghame, to Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, knight.^[2]

On 19th March 1566 William Douglas of Whittinghame, brother to Master Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, is cited as one of the Riccio conspirators.^[3] On the 26th August 1582 in the same registers [p.507] William Douglas of Whittinghame is cited as one of the 'Ruthven Raiders'.

In a charter confirmed at Stirling on 8th January 1567, the King [sic] and Queen confirm to William Douglas of Whittinghame and Elizabeth Maitland, his spouse, 8 husbandlands (208 acres) and four 'terras' cottages in the town of Whittinghame, which William had resigned for a regrant to him and his wife.^[4] We might safely assume that their marriage had been not long before this. In another charter, number 1498, registered at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, on 21st March 1588, William and his wife, Elizabeth Maitland, are confirmed in the lands and parish of Whittinghame, Haddingtonshire. William is described as a Senator of the College of Justice. It is not clear why there is a second reconfirmation taking place.

There is a Precept for a Charter of confirmation on a charter by William Douglas of Whittinghame to Elizabeth Maitland his spouse, in liferent, of the West Mains of Whittinghame commonly called the New West Mains, with houses and buildings built and to be built thereon, with the 'kowmedo', in the territory and barony of Whittinghame, constabulary of Haddington, and sheriffdom of Edinburgh, dated at Dalkeith, 9th March 1577.^[5]

William Douglas of Whittinghame gave a discharge to his "trest freind", Mr.David Home of the Brokholls [Brockholes, near Grantshouse, Berwickshire], for £114 in payment of the price of the "cornis of the teind cornis of Eist and Westeris Brokhollis" of this crop, 1586.^[6]

In charter number 200, confirmed at Holyroodhouse on 27th December 1594, one of the witnesses was Archibald Douglas, apparent of Whittinghame, indicating that William was still alive at that time.^[7]

George Johnson writes:

"William Douglas of Whittinghame is mentioned in the Privy Council Register, 1573-81, and in the Great Seal Register, 1566-1603. He was a Senator of the College of Justice, but resigned in 1590, when his son succeeded him. His Will was recorded in Edinburgh, 4th December 1602. According to the Great Seal Register Elizabeth Maitland was his wife in 1588, and in 1610 she is styled " relict." He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington (Douglas' Peerage), and had issue."^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, number 1995.
2. ↑ The History of the Douglas family of Morton in Nithsdale & Fingland etc. by Percy W.L. Adams, F.S.A., Bedford, 1921, Appendix C, number 258, page 805.
3. ↑ Registers of the Privy Council of Scotland, p.436/7.
4. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.1756.
5. ↑ The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 1575-1580 vol. vii, edited by Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, HMSO, 1966, number 947, p.138.
6. ↑ The Historic Manuscripts Commission - Report on the MSS of Colonel David Milne Home of Wedderburn Castle, London, 1902, p.264, number 610.
7. ↑ The Register of Testaments in the Edinburgh Commissariot gives his date of death as 17th December 1595.
8. ↑ Johnston, George Harvey. "The Douglases of Morton." The Heraldry of the Douglases: With Notes on All the Males of the Family, Descriptions of the Arms, Plates and Pedigrees. Edinburgh: W. & A.K. Johnston, Limited, 1907. 68. Print.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Douglas_of_Whittingehame

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p34771.htm#i347706

• Biographical notes by Gregory Lauder-Frost