Searching for Archibald Douglas 1866

[Jetsy]

Hi can anyone help I have been searching for Archibald Douglas and his family for some time. I am his great grandaughter. I have found out the following but cant go back to his family in Scotland any further:
He was born circa 1866 was a Private in the Seaforth Highlanders (served 16 years overseas including South Africa). Married 10 october 1897 had two children Albert 1898 and Violet 1900. He died Sept 1937 but had another family after mine and spent most of his life in North london around Marleybone.

I cant trace his family in scotland at all I believe his father was also called Archibald and know he had an uncle John McDonald who lived in Dumfries.

I would be grateful for any help! Sam Isaac

[SarahND]

Hi Sam and

I assume that, since you put the post in the England forum, Archibald's children were born in England? Where did he marry and what was his wife's name?

Also, you don't mention it, but Archibald was presumably born in Scotland? Where is he in the 1901 census?

Sorry for so many questions, but it will help us search if we know every possible detail.

All the best,
Sarah

[Jetsy]

Hello Sarah

Yes his first two children were indeed born on England Woolwich London but I have been unable to find out where Archibald himself was born we were always told Scotland and my Dad thought Edinburgh but I had no luck on the census. He was married to Eliza Keeley in the parish of Woolwich but I believe he left his first wife Eliza when the children were very small and had another life and family in north london.

On the marriage certificate his father is listed as another Archibald Douglas and his profession is an advocate?
Any info or tips you may have would be fantastic! Many thanks for your interest.
Regards
Sam

[SarahND]

Hello Sam,

So… were Archibald and James the same person, or is he someone else, perhaps Archibald's brother? He is listed as single, yet Eliza is married

1901
6 Fernhill Rd, Woolwich, London
Charles E Brown, Head, M(arried), 33, Mechanical engineer, born Essex, Silverton
Elizabeth J Brown Wife, 31, M(arried), born London, Bow
Charles Brown, Son, 11, born Essex, Silverton
Henry brown, Son, 9, born London, Woolwich
George W Brown, Son, 6, born Essex, Silverton
Susan M Brown, Daur, 5, born Essex, Silverton
Elsie Brown, Daur, 1, born London, Woolwich
James Douglas, Boarder, S(ingle), 23, Mechanical Engineer, born Scotland
Eliza Douglas, Wife, M(arried), 25, born Essex, Canning Town
Albert P Douglas, Son, 3, born Essex, Silverton
Violet, daur, 1, born London, Woolwich

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi again,
I don't know about the "advocate" story, but this family looks interesting:

1871
89 Rosemount Buildings, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian
Archibald Douglas, 42, Head, born Glasgow, Lanark, Railway Guard
Jane Douglas, 42, Wife, born Edinburgh, Guard Wife
Simon Douglas, 21, Son, born Edinburgh, Railway clerk
Jane Douglas, 14, daughter, born Edinburgh, At House School
Robina Douglas, 12, Daughter, born Niddey, Linlithgow, Scholar
Richard Douglas (someone on Ancestry has corrected this to Archibald, having seen the original image), 7, Son, born Edinburgh
Rachel Douglas, 3, Daughter, born Edinburgh

This fits with:

1881
Kentish Town, St Pancras, London
A Douglas, Head, 49, Ry Conductor, born Glasgow
Jane Douglas, Wife, 50, born Edinburgh
Margaret Douglas, 27, Servant, born Edinburgh
Janet Douglas, daur, 25, Dressmaker, born Edinburgh
Rosina Douglas, Daur, 21, Dressmaker, born East Lothian
Archibald Douglas, Son, 18, Ry Clerk, born Edinboro
Rachael Douglas, Daur, 14, Scholar, born Edinboro
A P Begg, Boarder, 22, Student, born Scotland

1891
Kentish Town, St Pancras, London
Jane Douglas, Wife, M(arried), 62, born Scotland
Archibald Douglas, Son, S(ingle), 26, Contraction Clerk, born Scotland
Annie Welkins, Serv, S(ingle), 18, General Serv, born Scotland
James Wright, Boarder, M(arried), 32, Ry Sleeping Saloon Attendant, born Scotland

According to the IGI:

Archibald Douglas
Birth: 9 Apr 1864 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Father: Archibald Douglas
Mother: Jane Young

All the best,
Sarah

P.S. There is an Archibald H Douglas, 38, Married, born Scotland, who is living in a Lodging House in Tunbridge Wells in 1901. It's hard to read his occupation, but the second word is "Machines," Could he be your Archibald? What was his occupation given on the marriage certificate?

[AndrewP]

Hi Sam,

The online IGI gives the following children as born to Archibald Douglas and Jane Young:

LDS submissions:

• THOMAS DOUGLAS - Birth: 29 DEC 1850 Saint Cuthberts, Midlothian
  MARGARET DOUGLAS - Birth: 12 JUL 1852 Saint Cuthberts, Midlothian
  JANET DOUGLAS - Birth: 17 SEP 1854 Saint Cuthberts, Midlothian

Extracted from the records:

• JANE DOUGLAS - Birth: 13 JAN 1857 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  ROBINA DOUGLAS - Birth: 17 JUN 1859 Liberton, Midlothian
  ANN DOUGLAS - Birth: 12 OCT 1862 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS - Birth: 09 APR 1864 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  RACHEL DOUGLAS - Birth: 29 DEC 1866 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian

All the best,

AndrewP

[Jetsy]

Hello Sarah You have definitely found him! I cant believe it I think my fundamental error was looking in Scotland for Archibalds dad when he had moved to England with the entire family! And I also have a feeling that the Archibald you found in Tunbridge Wells is one and the same as I believe he left his wife and probably stayed there before moving to North London. His profession is only listed as a labourer but he could have been a mechanic as I have a feeling he may have worked at the Royal Arsenal. I do think the James though isnt him as he is too young? Relative or brother perhaps.
I am over the moon that you found him so quickly. I finally have the missing piece to my family tree thank you so so much!

I have emailed my brothers and they are thrilled!

Many many thanks!

Sam

[SarahND]

Hi Sam,
So glad it worked out! It is often useful to have someone else look, especially if you have been looking for a long time with no result. We all tend to get stuck in our viewpoints and an outside observer with no preconceived ideas can sometimes break through the brick wall. Another time it will be your turn to help someone else.



Sarah