ANN DOUGLASS

 

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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.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

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    1. Who were her parents?
    2. Was she connected to Archibald Douglass of St. Georges?
    3. When did she die?

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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