1. The present descendants of this family used only one “s”, but originally the name was spelled with two “ss”, as is shown in many documents of record. John Douglas was kidnapped when a baby and brought to Virginia. The exact date of his birth is not known, but from circumstance it seems he was born about 1700 or earlier. He was born in Scotland and was in line for an Earldom. Who brought John Douglas to Virginia is not known, or where he first lived in Virginia. There was a Douglass family in New Kent Co., Virginia, in 1670 or 1689, and it may be John lived there. He became a citizen of Spottsylvania County and acquired land from a Mr. Curtis in 1731. Later this land was in Orange Co., (1734). When John died, his will was filed and probated in Orange County and from this will we have given the married names of his daughters. John’s sons lived in Albermarle County (just across the Orange Co. line) and from the “History of Albermarle County” by Rev. Edgar Woods, more information was gleaned. John’s will is found in Will Book 3, pp 307-309, Orange County, Virginia. He said Charles was his eldest son. [356]

2. The Douglas family was related to Stephen A. Douglas according to D.A.R. Nat’l No. 423 280 (Mrs. Janey A. Kingerly of Lincoln, Nebraska). [356]