DOUGLASES IN GEORGIA
 
 
ROBERT DOUGLAS SR.
(ca. 1732-1805)

   Robert Douglas Sr. was born circa 1732 in Brunswick County, VA. He is the son of Robert Douglas and Mary (last name unknown). He migrated along with his grandfather, William Douglas Sr., and other family members into the Halifax County, NC area. Robert Douglas Sr. married Olive Reeves, daughter of William Reeves and Margaret Burgess. They had these issues.
 
1. Edward Douglas b. circa 1750 d. circa 1832
2. Thomas Douglas b. circa 1753 d. circa 1812
3. Robert Douglas Jr. b. circa 1755 d. 1808
4. Angelina "Laney" Douglas b. circa 1758 d. circa 1828
5. Rachel Douglas b. circa 1760 d. circa 1837

   June 24, 1765 Robert Douglas Jr. and his wife Olive were selling their land to Benajah Saxon. This land was located in the Jacket Swamp area in Halifax County, NC. The reason for selling their land is that land grants were opening up in the Colony of Georgia.  Robert Douglas Sr.  arrived in Georgia around 1765 because there is a land record in St. Andrew Parish, GA, along the Altamaha River, where he signed with Henry Calwell on April 13, 1765. This shows that Robert Douglas was checking out land prospects ahead of time before his land sold in North Carolina. Also his brother James Douglas applied for land in 1768 in St. George Parish, GA and that record said James Douglas was here about 3 years prior. That did not work out so land came open in 1770 in St. Andrews Parish, along the Altamaha River, where Robert Douglas signed the land deed with Henry Calwell in 1765.  His son, Edward Douglas, stayed for a while in North Carolina because he shows up on a roster during the Revolutionary War. After the war Edward Douglas migrated into Georgia to be near his family. Robert Doughlas Sr. placed an application for a land grant of 100 acres in 1770 in St. George Parish, GA (later known as Burke County). The property was granted to him on October 6, 1772.
   The Revolutionary War broke out and there was a lot of unrest in Georgia about the Colonies breaking away from England. Robert Douglas Sr., along with his son Robert Douglas Jr., signed a Tory Petition on August 10, 1774. Also on that petition was Charles Golightly which was mention in William Douglas Sr.'s Will in 1764 in Halifax County, NC.  This petition was showing that they were in favor of not breaking away from England. But soon after that, most of the ones that signed the Tory Petition change their mind and fought against England in the Revolutionary War. It has been said that Robert Douglas Jr. was a Revolutionary War soldier but proof has not been found yet. There is a big possibility he was because Charles Golightly was a Leiutenant  in Captain John Robert's Company (also John Roberts signed the same petition but changed his mind and John Robert's land was right by Robert Douglas Sr's land in St. George Parish, GA  which was later called Burke County, GA).
   Robert Douglas Sr. would eventually receive a land grant in Washington County, GA (later to become Montgomery County, GA). Robert Douglas Sr. would live out the rest of his life in that area which is now in Johnson County, GA. He would die around 1805 and he buried in the Old Riner Cemetery, which is in Johnson County,  just outside of Meeks, GA.  This cemetery is located on what at one time was called the Douglas land. This land was possibly owned by Robert Douglas Sr.

ROBERT DOUGLAS JR.
(ca. 1755-1808)

   Robert Douglas Jr. was born circa 1755 in Halifax County, NC. He is the son of Robert Douglas Sr. and Olive Reeves. He came into Georgia along with his father, Robert Douglas Sr and family. He signed to Tory Petition along with his father Robert Douglas Sr. on August 10, 1774 in St. George Parish, GA (later became Burke County, GA). It has been told Robert Douglas Jr. was a Revolutionary War Soldier, but proof has not been found yet.  He received a Headright Grant, not a Bounty Grant, in 1784 after the Revolutionary War. This land was 200 acres in Washington County, GA (which later became Montgomery County, GA). 
  After the Revolutionary War there is a record of him being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Ohoope Company of the Montgomery County Miltia. The date that the Governor gave him this commission was 1799 and 1803. At this time he was recognized with the status of "Gentleman". He would later move into Wilkinson County, GA (later became Laurens County, GA).
  Robert Douglas Jr. married Margaret (last name unknown) and they had these issues: 

1. Robert Duncan Douglas b. circa 1790 d. circa 1867
2. Seaborn Douglas b. circa 1800 d. circa 1843

   Robert Douglas Jr. died in 1808 in Laurens County, GA. His estate was being settled in Laurens County, GA in 1808. His brother, Edward Douglas, would make several trips into Laurens County, GA trying to settle Robert Douglas Jr.'s estate. Edward Douglas was granted guardianship of Robert Douglas's two young orphans, Robert Duncan Douglas and Seaborn Douglas.

SEABORN DOUGLAS
(ca 1800-1843)

   Seaborn Douglas was born circa 1800 in Montgomery County, GA. He was the son of Robert Douglas Jr. and Margaret (last name unknown). After his father's death, Seaborn would stay close with his legal guardian, Edward Douglas. On the 1820 Emanuel County, GA census he was next door to Edward Douglas. He would moved into Appling County, GA, where his brother, Robert Duncan Douglas was living and his mother Margaret Douglas was too. He first appears in Appling County, GA on a record dated 1822 along with Burrell Yates. Burrell Yates was near Seaborn in Emanuel County, GA on the 1820 census. There is some connection between Seaborn Douglas and Burrel Yates  Seaborn's first son was named Burrell Douglas. Seaborn Douglas married ? Yates, daughter of Burrell Yates and Sarah Cothern. I have come to this conclusion that Seaborn married Burrell Yates' daughter because he is next door to Burrell Yates on the 1820 Emanuel County, GA census. Seaborn Douglas and Buurell Yates is on a 1822 tax insolvent record in Appling County, GA. Burrell Yates also witnessed a land transaction between Seaborn Douglas aand Cornelius English on 11-28-1826 in Appling County, GA. There lands were joined together at that time in Appling County, GA. Also they were on the same 1830 Hamilton County, FL census record about 9 households from each other. And Seaborn was next door to Burrell Yates' son, William Yates. And the last reason is Seaborn named his first son Burrell Douglas after Burrell Yates.  Seaborn Douglas was married circa 1820 to ? Yates, daughter of Burrell Yates and Sarah Cothern. They both had these issues:

1. Daughter (name unknown) b. circa 1821 d. unknown
2. Burrell Douglas b. circa 1825 d. September 8, 1884
3. William Riley Douglas b. circa 1828 d. circa 1880
4. Robert Douglas b. 1831 d. 1864
5. Albert B. Douglas b. circa 1833 d. unknown
6. Rosean (Rose) Douglas b. circa 1839 d. February 4, 1905
7. Daughter (name unknown) b. circa 1840 d. unknown

   While in Hamilton County, FL he joined the Florida Mounted Miltia and fought in the Florida Seminole Indian War. He ended up mustering out in January of 1840 with the Georgia Miltia in Captain Johnson's Company. This Georgia company also was fighting in the Florida Seminole Indian War. Shortly after Seaborn Douglas mustered out he shows up on a tax defaulter list of Lowndes County, GA (later became Echols County, GA) in 1838. He was so busy fighting in the Florida Seminole Indian War, his taxes got behind and he defaulted.  Seaborn Douglas last shows up on the 1840 Lowndes County, GA Tax List in Captain Johnson's District and the 1840 Lowndes County, GA census. Seaborn Douglas died at an early age, possibly in Lowndes County, GA. Because after 1840 Seaborn Douglas does not appear on any other records.

BURRELL DOUGLAS SR.
(ca. 1825-1884)

   Burrell Douglas Sr. was born circa 1825 in Appling County, GA. His parents were Seaborn Douglas and ? Yates, daughter of Burrell Yates and Sarah Cothern. The first record that Burrell Douglas shows up on is an application that Captain Allen G. Johnson is requesting that Burrell Douglas and other men would receive pay for their military service. Burrell Douglas enlisted in Captain Allen G. Johnson's Company on September 6, 1839 at the age of 14 years old. This is the same unit that his father, Seaborn Douglas (Also Burrell Yates was in the same unit too). 
  Burrell Douglas Sr. then appears on the 1850 Hamilton County, FL census. His two brothers, Robert Douglas and William Riley Douglas are there too. William Riley Douglas is living next to William Yates (Burrell Yates' son), and in William Riley Douglas's household is a female named Winny Cothern, age 80. The Cothern family and Yates family were connected. ( Burrell Yates's wife was Sarah Cothern). There was a female in the household of Seaborn Douglas on the 1840 Lowndes County, GA census and her age was between 70-80 years old (This could be Winny Cothern, which could connect Seaborn Douglas to Burrell Yates). 
  Robert Douglas, William Riley Douglas and  who were Burrell Douglas's brothers moved to Hillsborough County, FL. Burrell Douglas Sr. married Mary Ann Strickland (daughter of James A. Strickland Sr. and Lavina Harper) circa 1843, and moved his family to Wayne County, GA around 1853. Burrell Douglas Sr. and Mary Ann Strickland had these issues:

1. James R. Douglas b. circa 1844 d. circa 1909
2. Nancy Isabella Douglas b. circa 1846 d. 1923
3. William Douglas b. circa 1851 d. 1874
4. Henry Douglas b. circa 1852 d. 1936
5. Martha Jane Douglas b. circa 1856 d. 1909
6. Seaborn Douglas b. circa 1859 d. circa 1918
7. Mary Ann Douglas b. circa 1863 d. 1924
8. Burrell Douglas Jr. b. circa 1865 d. 1923

   The Civil War broke out and Burrell Douglas Sr. enlisted in Waynesville, GA at Camp Fort. He enlisted on September 22, 1862 under Captain T. S. Hopkins. The Company was called the 24th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry, Company. This unit was merge with 2 other companies to form the 7th Georgia Cavalry and he was in Company G. This Cavalry Unit began to move around to defend the Georgia Coast against the Union Army. On May 30, 1863 Burrell Douglas Sr. deserted from Camp Lee in Bryan County, GA. Several others had deserted from this company expressing dessent over Major Edward C. Anderson. Burrell Douglas Sr. returned to his family in Wayne County, GA (Doctortown District) and by now his wife, Mary, had given birth to a baby girl named Mary Ann, born January 1863. This may have well played in with his desertion too. He joined up with Captain Mann Company called the "Satilla Rifles" in Appling County, GA in 1864. As soon as his name shows up at the War Department in Richmond, VA  he was placed under arrest and locked up in Olglethorpe Barracks in Savannah, GA.  A Court Martial trial takes place in a room over the Claghorn and Cunningham Store in Savannah on April 11, 1864 (This room and building is located today above the Wet Willy's Bar on River Street in Savannah, GA). Burrell Douglas Sr. is found guilty of desertion and sentence to be shot by musketry. On May 30, 1864 the sentence was suspended but Burrell remain under arrest in Oglethorpe Barracks. And right before General William Sherman marched into Savannah, GA Burrell Douglas Sr. and 23 other men were pardon and restored back to duty on November 19, 1864. Burrell Douglas Sr. fought throughout the rest of the Civil War as an irregular.
   After the Civil War, Burrell Douglas Sr. moved his family to Ware County, GA. Evidently before the Civil War broke out Burrell had made plans to move to Ware County, GA. While living in Wayne County, GA, he owned land in Ware County, GA because he was on the 1862 Ware County, GA Tax List. It does not say in 1862 where the land was but later tax records says the land was Land Lot #443 in the 8th District of Ware County, GA. This land was in the southern part of Ware County, GA in the Okefenokee Swamp and was 490 acres. He would raise his family and live out his life in Ware County, GA.
   Burrell Douglas Sr.'s wife, Mary died in July of 1869. He would soon marry again and his second wife was Nancy Carter. On September 8, 1884 Burrell Douglas Sr. died. His estate record speaks of that date and his two sons, James R. Douglas and Henry Douglas were administrators of Burrell's estate. His second wife, Nancy, would try to get a war pension as the widow of Burrell Douglas. The application had two sworn affidavits that said Burrell Douglas died as a result from injuries sustain due to the war. One of the sworn affidavits was done by David Cason, who also serve in the 7th Georgia Cavalry and when it was the 24th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry also. It does not say what those injuries were, we will just have to speculate. While being at home during his desertion from Camp Lee he fathered another son. That son, Burrell  Douglas Jr. was born January 1865. He married Nancy Carter, who was about 20 years old, and she had a son name William Carter. But after the birth of Burrell Douglas Jr. it looks like Burrell Douglas Sr. never father any more children with Mary, his first wife or Nancy, his second wife. So the injuries he got during the war must to have been pretty bad.
   While in Ware County, GA he made a living being a turpetine farmer. His estate records had a long list of his possessions, such as Braman Bulls, Honey Bees, Horses, and also 390 acres of land in Ware County, GA which was Land lot #399 in the 8th District and 490 acres of land in Appling County, GA in the 2nd District. His total estate was valued at $1800.00, which after his debts were paid the money was divided up among his family. Burrell Douglas Sr. is buried in Mt. Plesent Cemetery in Ware County, GA.

SEABORN DOUGLAS
(ca. 1859-1918)
 
  Seaborn Douglas was born circa 1859 in Wayne County, GA in the Doctortown District. He is the son Burrell Douglas Sr. and Mary Ann Strickland. The only land that was recorded that Seaborn owned was 50 acres of land on land lot #211 in the 8th District of Ware County, GA. His two brothers, James R. Douglas and Henry Douglas, owned the same land, land lot #211.
   On January 5, 1882 Seaborn Douglas married Rebecca Lane (daughter of Thomas Lane and Hannah Thomas) in Ware County, GA. They had these issues:

1. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Douglas b. May 10, 1884 d. January 11, 1931
2. William Riley Douglas b. circa 1885 d. May 15, 1925
3. John A. Douglas b. circa January 1894 d. August 22, 1934

   Seaborn Douglas died circa 1918, possibly in Pierce County, GA and  he is buried in an unmarked grave in Mt. Plesent Cemetery in Ware County, GA.

JOHN A. DOUGLAS
(ca. 1894-1934)

   John A. Douglas was born circa January 1894 in Ware County, GA. He is the son of Seaborn Douglas and Rebecca Lane. In April 1911 John A. Douglas married Rosa Viola Conley (daughter of Charles Conley and Samantha Griffin) in Pierce County, GA. And they had these issues:

1. Silas Douglas b. April 12, 1912 d. September 5, 1994
2. Beryl Douglas b. 1914 d. 1978
3. Isaiah "Red" Douglas b. April 6, 1915 d. May 7, 1964
4. John Preston Douglas b. September 6, 1918 d. August 6, 1916
5. Earl Douglas b. January 6, 1921 d. November 20, 1985
6. Lonnie "Buddy" Douglas b. October 23, 1922 d. July 7, 1950
7. Herbert Verdel Douglas b. Febuary 14, 1925 d. April 1984

   John A. Douglas died on August 22, 1934 in Waycross, Ware County, GA. He is buried in the High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Brantley County, GA.

SILAS DOUGLAS
(ca. 1912-1994)

   Silas Douglas was born April 12, 1912 in Old Ritch, Wayne County, GA. He is the son of John A. Douglas and Rosa Viola Conley. Silas Douglas married his first wife Essie Mae Stinson on June 26, 1936 in Marion County, FL and they had these issues:

1. Elizabeth Joann Douglas b. Febuary 6, 1936 d. March 23, 1936
2. Shirley Ann Douglas (living)
3. Harvey Gene Douglas b. December 14, 1941 d. April 14, 2020
4. Joseph Henry Douglas b. March 17, 1943 d. March 18, 1998

   Silas Douglas and Essie Mae would divorce and Silas would marry Gladys Walker (daughter of Riley Walker and Minnie Vera Crews on October 1953 in Kingsland, Camden County, GA and they had these issues:

1. Gary Randal Douglas b. January 2, 1955 d. January 22, 2006
2. Silas David Douglas b. July 5, 1961 (Living)

   Silas Douglas is buried in the High Bluff Primative Baptist Church Cemetery in Brantley County, GA.  I am the last one on this list but the family tree is still growing through my children. It is a blessing to be able to preserve my family tree. To think where this family started from in Scotland to where it is at now is amazing. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." The Douglas name is a good name and the ones that went before us have left their mark on this world. Again I repeat what others have said about this Douglas family "Men have seen the stream, but what eye ever beheld the source?"