William DOUGLAS Lowick Northumberland born ~ 1816 and family??

[rbell35]

Eagerly seeking information about my great-great-grandfather and family. William DOUGLAS was born ~ 1816 at Lowick, Northumberland but am not certain. I am relying on Australian certificates as he emigrated in 1848 on the 'Aurora'. I believe his father was a school master, possibly named Thomas but more likely another William. Anyone who can help please write soon as I feel I am running out of options. I also know that Willliam married another Douglas! An Isabella DOUGLAS to be specific on 22/5/1846 but that wedding was at Rean in Sutherlandshire, Scotland. That is about all I know. Does anyone have very old photos of this family? Much appreciated. Cheers, Rob, Victoria, Australia

[shirl100]

Hi there

Sorry no photos, but I checked the marriage for you and William Douglas & Isabella Douglas were married 22/5/1846 but in FARR Sutherland.

There is just 1 record on IGI which shows a William Douglas, bap 8 Sep 1816 at HOWICK, Northumberland parents John Douglas and Elizabeth, so that's not really promising as the father isn't Thomas or William! The Bishops Transcript on familysearch for this baptism I think says the husband lives at Acton and the wife and infant at Howick, John's occupation was a stonemason.

Checked the 1841 Scotland census in Farr, Sunderland and there is a Douglas family in Clibrig

Thomas age 65 b England, occupation shepherd
Oliver age 65 b Scotland
James age 35 b Scotland, occupation shepherd
Christiana age 35 b Sutherland Scotland
Alexr. age 10 b Sutherland
Margaret age 7 b Sutherland
Betsy age 2 b Sutherland
Oliver age 2m, b Sutherland
William age 20 b England occupation shepherd

No school teacher for an occupation though!

Will keep having a look round at other possibilities

All the best

Shirl

[rbell35]

Thanks Shirl the plot thickens!
Cheers, Rob

[Michael Dixon]

Rob,


Did Australian papers mention Lowick in Northumberland ?
From where did "Aurora" sail ?

For your interest, see web site
communities.northumberland.gov.uk

Enter the "LOWICK" section for it's A-Z. Within Lowick's "Printed Material" you can see Trade Directories-- one for 1820s.

Trivia Note.  It is a long way up from Northumberland, England to the extreme north coast of Scotland.


Michael Dixon

[WilliamD]

I am confused by this - easily done I know.

William and Isabella arrived in Australia on the Aurora...
But they appear to have left on the Ann Lockerby, with daughters Agnes and little Isabella....

From London, yesterday, whence she sailed the 19th August, the ship Ann Lockerby 365,tons, Captain Watson, with merchandise Passengers Mr. John William M'Curdy, Mr. William Kennedy, Mr. Cockburn, and Mr lohn Levey in the cabin, steerage-Joseph Brook, Mrs. Brook, Louisa Brook Ann Holt, Archibald Cameron, Mrs-Cameron William DouglasŤ, Mrs. Isabella Douglass, Agnes and Isabella Douglass, Louisa Scott, John King (shepherd), lohn Arnold, (ditto). Robert Hart. Mrs. Hart ,Thomas Stewart (tailor), Mrs. Stewart, and two children, William Pott, Charles Bray, and James Schofield

Argus 24th December 1836

William Douglas
www.douglashistory.co.uk

[rbell35]

Hi William but no that cannot be so! The Aurora arrived in 1848 (Port Melbourne) whilst the Ann Lockerby arrived 12 years before this.. cheers, Rob

[rbell35]

Thanks Michael Dixon,
Yes the Australian certificates do mention Lowick. Also I have an original marriage certificate at 'Rean' (spelt that way, but perhaps is Rhian) from 1846 showing the marriage of William DOUGLAS to ISABELLA DOUGLAS of Farr, Sutherlandshire, so it is certainly the same family. Maybe the two family groups were originally related through 2 brothers down south earlier say, the late 1700s? I just don't know.. However I agree with you that William went a long way north to work as a shepherd. I guess many did so at that time due to the clearances. Still it would be good to absolutely find Williams' birth because it remains an unsolved mystery as of now! Finally too I have always wondered whether William and Isabella were cousins?? Food for thought.
Cheers,
Rob.

[Ruskie]

Rob, if you got the information about William's father from his Australian death certificate it may not be accurate. I've found many cases of wrong parents on Australian d/c's.

Did any of William's siblings emigrate too? If so, this may be another way to check for parents.  Does his age when he arrived in Australia tally with the 1841 census found by Shirl?

Do immigration records give his place of birth or is that info from his d/c too?

I am just considering the likely accuracy of the Australian records ...

It's very possible that William and Isabella were cousins. You just need to dig up some records to prove it. 

[rbell35]

Thanks Ruskie, yes I suppose I am trying to do the hardest job now! Trying to go that extra distance with these forbears. Yes the age does match up but I just cannot work out who Willliam's father and mother were! Happy Hunting! Obviously they were from Northumberland but I wonder where the Roxburghshire and/or Sutherlandshire connection with Helen occurrs. POssibly William had existing cousins up north and simply fell in love as well! Cheers, Rob.