ANN DOUGLASS
Ann Douglass was born about 1725. Her parents are
unknown but it is suggested that she was born in Scotland.
The book "Delaware Biographies" states that Annie
Douglass of St. Georges Hundred married Robert Morrison of White
Clay Hundred about 1747. The "Hundreds" are areas of
New Castle County, Delaware. We get another version
from The History of the Morison, Morrison Family by
Leonard Allison Morrison, chapter XIX, an online
book. In that history, the story goes that in
1747 Robert Morrison had hauled wood to sell from his
father's farm in an ox-cart to New Castle. There he met
Annie Douglass, about to return to her native
Scotland. He proposed, she accepted and they were
married immediately. "..the bride and groom returned
to Whiteclay Creek farm in all the pomp and grandeur which
a coach in the shape of a cart drawn by oxen would
allow." Soon there after Robert removed to
New Castle where he became a merchant. Another
source stated he was a blacksmith. I would
think a Blacksmith could be considered a merchant.
This implies that she was in the colony without
family. It is not known what connection she had to
St. Georges. However, there was a Douglass family in St.
Georges at that time. Lord Archibald
Douglass, born in Edinbrugh 1665, died Delaware
1727. There is a will,
Lib G, Folio 7-8, noted in Calendar of Kent county Del,
By Leon de Valinzer Jr. I have not read the
will, but an online source stated it mentioned
children: Margaret, Archibald, James, Thomas,
Andrew, Mary, Ann and Jane. It is possible
this was her father.
Then a news piece in the Pennsylvania Gazette, April
26, 1759 stated that "There was an Archibald
Douglass who on sun, april 18, the fulling mill of his
near St. Georges was broken open and robbed of two pieces
of cloth. a reward was offered"
So it is possible that Ann was an infant when her father
died. By 1747 she may have been living with or near
her brother, Archibald in
St. Georges. It fits, but it is only
guessing at this time. When Archibald Jr. died, no
Ann was mentioned in his will but 8 children were named.
The "Delaware Biographies" list the children of
Ann Douglass and Robert Morrison and the History
agrees mostly and adds birthdates. The differences in
names are in ( ) for those listed in the History. They are
1. Isaac Morrison born 1748, became
a doctor he died in 1791
2. Daniel (or David) Morrison, born 1753,
he was a soldier in the war of 1776. He died
in 1829.
3. Martha (or Ann) Morrison, born 1756. she died in
1823.
4. Susan (or Susannah)Morrison born 1759, died in
1799.
5. Robert Morrison, born about 1763(or 1760) and
died Sept 30, 1848.
6. Douglass Morrison
born 1765 and may have been the only one to marry. He
married Elizabeth Wilson.
Ann and Robert Morrison sold 170 acres in 1780
according to the New Castle Recorder of Deeds, Book
D2, page 473. It was on the south side of White
Clay Creek in both White clay and Mill Creek Hundreds.
I believe this could be off Harmony Rd near
Ogletown. They also had own four acres "being in the
great marsh or meadow at the northwest end of the town of
New Castle."
She died sometime after 1780.
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Doc; gddou010.html
Date created: 10/22/1997
Date edited 12/8/2013
Date edited 5/17/2015
Date edited 12/12/2020
Date edited 9/10/2022