Robert Douglas b.~1844

[scottchpl]

Here's an interesting one for you all. I have a Gr.Gr.Grandfather who died in 1884 in Glasgow at the age of 40. Parents listed are John Douglas and Mary Davidson (both alive). Robert was married to Martha Bell Marr. Robert and Martha were married in Airdrie in 1869. Parents listed for Robert are John Douglas and Mary Cumne(?) definitly not Davidson.
I cannot find a birth record for Robert or a marriage cert. for either John Douglas and Mary Davidson or John Douglas and Mary Cumne/Cumner??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Scott
Update: Robert's first son is named George Garret Douglas. George Garret is a witness at Robert and Martha's wedding. It looks like George moved to Liverpool England which could explain Robert having a child or two born there. I did find a John Douglas born in 1812 in Dumfries who was a Mariner and married a gal named Mary and lived in Cardiff, Wales. Mary was a few years older than John and died around 1862. John then remarried. His new wife was also named Mary but she was about half his age. He went on to have 8 more kids with the young wife and died in 1895 (probably from exhaustion).ha ha This could explain two different Mary's with John on Robert's Marriage and death certificates and the fact it never lists the parents as deceased. Only issue is that John is a ship broker and not a cattle dealer, unless the ships he brokered were cattle ships.

[SarahND]

Hello Scott,
A warm welcome to Talking Scot!

I'm also a bit confused by your Robert. In 1871 and 1881 he says he was born in Dumfries, yet there is no Robert born in Dumfries in 1851 and 1861*. There are, however, Roberts of the right age born in England and Ireland as well as possible Roberts in England who were born in Scotland. I note that two of his children were born in England, so maybe there is an English connection?
I love his profession in 1881 as a "Temperance Lecturer (unemployed)" What was his profession on his marriage and death certificates? And who reported the death? Generally speaking, I would trust the information he gave himself on his marriage cert, rather than that given by someone else on his death cert-- unless, of course, his parents were the informants.

All the best,
Sarah

*No, I take that back. In 1861 there is a Robert Douglas, 16, Boarder, born Dumfries, Dumfries, Blast Furnace Labourer in the house of the Lamberts in Old Monkland. Is this your Robert?

[scottchpl]

Thank you for your reply. His wife was present at his death and both parents were listed as alive. His wife remarried and with the new name of Shirkie went on to have 3 more kids for a total of 7 children. She went on to live to be 82 years old. Their son George Garrett Douglas was my Great Grandfather. George's brother William was born in England but the other 3 kids were all born in Glasgow. At the time of Robert's marriage he was listed as a newspaper reporter and on George's birth certificate it lists Robert as a Temperance Agent. At his death it was listed as an account collector. His father John Douglas was listed as a Cattle Dealer.

[scottchpl]

Update: Robert's first son is named George Garret Douglas. George Garret is a witness at Robert and Martha's wedding. It looks like George moved to Liverpool England which could explain Robert having a child or two born there. I did find a John Douglas born in 1812 in Dumfries who was a Mariner and married a gal named Mary and lived in Cardiff, Wales. Mary was a few years older than John and died around 1862. John then remarried. His new wife was also named Mary but she was about half his age. He went on to have 8 more kids with the young wife and died in 1895 (probably from exhaustion).ha ha This could explain two different Mary's with John on Robert's Marriage and death certificates and the fact it never lists the parents as deceased. Only issue is that John is a ship broker and not a cattle dealer, unless the ships he brokered were cattle ships.