Capt. John DOUGLAS, born in New London, Conn, April 8, 1724; married, May 11, 1746, Esther, daughter of Clement LEACH, of New London. They at first lived in the village, but in 1760 removed to the Douglas farm on the Colchester road, four miles west of the town plot. They are said to have been "pious and respectable people." Their children were remarkable for their tallness, nearly all of them being six feet or more in height. The following particulars are taken from a MS account of the family written in 1805 by one of Capt. John's children, Daniel DOUGLAS, then in his 38th year.
"John's father dying when he was a youth, he was apprenticed to Esquire LEE to learn blacksmithing in his native town. His boss dying, he was again bound to Samuel CHIPMAN, of Groton, who had been a fellow-apprentice, and went to Salsbury, a frontier town, but soon after removed to New London. He there married Esther, oldest daughter of Clement LEACH. She was born at New London in 1727. He sold the inherited property to his brother Robert, build a house and shop, and carried on blacksmithing on a large scale. He lived here till about 1758, when he sold, and bought a farm adjoining that of his brother Robert. He farmed and blacksmithed and kept a tavern many years. He commanded a company of militia. He was often employed to decide differences; was clerk in the church, and lined the hymns, as the custom was. He died here on the 13th of December, 1777. His widow moved with her son David, in 1803, to Whitestown, NY, where she died, Nov. 6, 1806, aged 76 years.
from: "A collection of family records: with biographical sketches, and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name DOUGLAS or allied families of that name."
page 76
By Charles Henry James Douglas © 1879
"John's father dying when he was a youth, he was apprenticed to Esquire LEE to learn blacksmithing in his native town. His boss dying, he was again bound to Samuel CHIPMAN, of Groton, who had been a fellow-apprentice, and went to Salsbury, a frontier town, but soon after removed to New London. He there married Esther, oldest daughter of Clement LEACH. She was born at New London in 1727. He sold the inherited property to his brother Robert, build a house and shop, and carried on blacksmithing on a large scale. He lived here till about 1758, when he sold, and bought a farm adjoining that of his brother Robert. He farmed and blacksmithed and kept a tavern many years. He commanded a company of militia. He was often employed to decide differences; was clerk in the church, and lined the hymns, as the custom was. He died here on the 13th of December, 1777. His widow moved with her son David, in 1803, to Whitestown, NY, where she died, Nov. 6, 1806, aged 76 years.
from: "A collection of family records: with biographical sketches, and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name DOUGLAS or allied families of that name."
page 76
By Charles Henry James Douglas © 1879
Capt. John DOUGLAS, born in New London, Conn, April 8, 1724; married, May 11, 1746, Esther, daughter of Clement LEACH, of New London. They at first lived in the village, but in 1760 removed to the Douglas farm on the Colchester road, four miles west of the town plot. They are said to have been "pious and respectable people." Their children were remarkable for their tallness, nearly all of them being six feet or more in height. The following particulars are taken from a MS account of the family written in 1805 by one of Capt. John's children, Daniel DOUGLAS, then in his 38th year.
"John's father dying when he was a youth, he was apprenticed to Esquire LEE to learn blacksmithing in his native town. His boss dying, he was again bound to Samuel CHIPMAN, of Groton, who had been a fellow-apprentice, and went to Salsbury, a frontier town, but soon after removed to New London. He there married Esther, oldest daughter of Clement LEACH. She was born at New London in 1727. He sold the inherited property to his brother Robert, build a house and shop, and carried on blacksmithing on a large scale. He lived here till about 1758, when he sold, and bought a farm adjoining that of his brother Robert. He farmed and blacksmithed and kept a tavern many years. He commanded a company of militia. He was often employed to decide differences; was clerk in the church, and lined the hymns, as the custom was. He died here on the 13th of December, 1777. His widow moved with her son David, in 1803, to Whitestown, NY, where she died, Nov. 6, 1806, aged 76 years.
from: "A collection of family records: with biographical sketches, and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name DOUGLAS or allied families of that name."
page 76
By Charles Henry James Douglas © 1879
"John's father dying when he was a youth, he was apprenticed to Esquire LEE to learn blacksmithing in his native town. His boss dying, he was again bound to Samuel CHIPMAN, of Groton, who had been a fellow-apprentice, and went to Salsbury, a frontier town, but soon after removed to New London. He there married Esther, oldest daughter of Clement LEACH. She was born at New London in 1727. He sold the inherited property to his brother Robert, build a house and shop, and carried on blacksmithing on a large scale. He lived here till about 1758, when he sold, and bought a farm adjoining that of his brother Robert. He farmed and blacksmithed and kept a tavern many years. He commanded a company of militia. He was often employed to decide differences; was clerk in the church, and lined the hymns, as the custom was. He died here on the 13th of December, 1777. His widow moved with her son David, in 1803, to Whitestown, NY, where she died, Nov. 6, 1806, aged 76 years.
from: "A collection of family records: with biographical sketches, and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name DOUGLAS or allied families of that name."
page 76
By Charles Henry James Douglas © 1879
Family Members
Siblings
