Descendants of
Hamilton Douglass (Sr)
and Mary A Gill
submitted by Shirley Webb
1. Hamilton1 Douglass (Sr), born 8 Jun 1803 in VA; died 18 Dec 1872 in Collin Co., TX; buried in Forbis Cem, Collin Co., TX. He married on 27 Dec 1827 in Halifax Co., VA, Mary A Gill, born 3 Jun 1806 in Halifax Co., VA; died 27 Oct 1888 in Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Peter Gill and Celia Organ.
Notes for Hamilton Douglass (Sr)
When Hamilton Douglass and his wife, Mary (Gill) Douglass, made the move to North Central Texas in 1859, it was to find land and acquire property of their own. For years they had farmed on land in Virginia and in Tennessee...just getting by, borrowing money for crops by mortgaging such things as household goods and horses or cattle. Now, they had a chance to own land, so they pulled up stakes once again to move west.
Hamilton Douglass was born in Virginia. No record of his parents can be found so we assume he had to fend for himself at an early age. While living in Halifax County, VA., he met and married Mary A. Gill, daughter of Peter Gill and Celia (Organ) Gill. Their marriage ceremony was performed by Reverend David Street with Mary's father, Peter, serving as bondsman.
Hamilton became the overseer for David Logan, a property owner in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Mary's uncles, Raleigh Organ, Cornelius Organ, Simpson Organ, Robert Organ and Ennis Organ, went to Wilson County, Tennessee, in 1810. Hamilton and Mary began saving to make a move to Tennessee, also, when they heard of the good land and opportunities there.
It was about 1834 when they were able to make that Tennessee journey. Hamilton worked as a brickmason as well as a farmer in Wilson County. But they still didn't have enough saved to buy land. Their children were growing and helped their father with his farming. Hamilton yearned for his own property. When he heard of friends and neighbors in Wilson County who were planning a move to Collin County, Texas, he wanted to go, too, so he began making his plans.
By 1859, Hamilton, his wife Mary, their four sons John, Elijah, Hamilton, Jr., and Raleigh, plus a granddaughter, Caledonia Forbis, were able to make the trip to Texas. This was just before the Civil War began. Not long after their arrival in Texas, John, Elijah & Hamilton, Jr., signed up to serve with the Texas Confederate Troops. Raleigh was too young so he stayed home to help his parents.
After the Civil War ended, times were pretty good for the Douglass family. The sons married local girls, many of whom were from families they had known back in Tennessee. John and Elijah bought property in Grayson County where they settled to raise their families. Hamilton, Sr. and Jr., farmed in Collin County until Ham, Jr., married and moved to Hamilton County, Texas.
Raleigh worked in Grayson County as a blacksmith and then lived in Collin County near the Grayson County line. He married Charles Emma Lewis in the spring of 1872. Later that same year, the family was saddened when Hamilton, their hard-working father, died and was buried at Forbis Cemetery. His small tombstone still stands today.
At the end of the Civil War, the Douglass name changed to being spelled with just one "s" instead of two as before. Several Douglas families in Collin County and surrounding areas dropped the double "s" at the same time. No knows why. Hamilton Douglass, Jr., kept the double "s" spelling longer than his brothers but his sons changed it to the single "s" spelling.
Descendants of this family live in Grayson County today and also throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
Sources: Forbis Cemetery Inscriptions, Collin Co, TX; Marriage Records for Halifax Co, Va; Deed Records for Pittsylvania Co, Va, and Wilson Co, TN; Census Records for 1830 Va, 1840 & 1850 TN; 1860 & 1870 TX.
Notes for Mary A Gill
Mary A. Gill was the firstborn in the large family of Peter Gill and Celia Organ. Her mother's brothers seem to have had the most influence on her life. She and her husband, Hamilton Douglass, eventually moved to Wilson County, Tennessee, where 5 of her mother's brothers had settled in 1810.
Mary bore 10 children but 3 of those died in infancy while the family was still in Virginia. She was proud of her sons who grew into responsible family men and who raised large families of their own. Her daughter, Sarah, died soon after giving birth to a daughter, Caledonia Forbis, and Mary and Hamilton raised this baby as their own.
The move to Texas brought property of their own to Mary and Hamilton. It also brought Caledonia, the granddaughter, to adulthood when she could marry and have her own family. After Hamilton died, Mary lived with her devoted granddaughter, and made sure she was mentioned in her Will.
In her Will, Mary left her sons the property she and Hamilton had acquired She left her granddaughter, "Donia", a cow and a calf plus several personal items. Donia's husband, James Hanna, was the Administrator of Mary's estate. How proud she and Hamilton were that they could leave something of value to their sons.
Mary Gill Douglass was buried in the Douglas Family Cemetery, called "Hackberry Cemetery" which was located off a small dirt road in a field of large trees. Her small tombstone stands today among those of her son, Elijah, and his family. A life that began in Virginia and made the trip across the country to start anew in Texas, was completed among those she loved, her sons and her granddaughter.
Sources: Marriage Records of Halifax Co, VA; Census Records 1850 TN, 1860, 1870 & 1880 TX; Will of Mary Douglass, probated in Grayson Co, TX; Cemetery Inscriptions, Hackberry Cemetery, Grayson Co, TX.
Children of Hamilton1 Douglass (Sr) and Mary A Gill were as follows:
+ 3 ii Sarah J2 Douglas, born 1836 in Wilson Co., TN. She married Thomas Calhoun Forbis (Sr).
4 iii Mary2 Douglas, born 1839 in Wilson Co., TN.
+ 5 iv Elijah Houston2 Douglas, born 8 Apr 1840 in Wilson Co., TN. He married Amanda Ann Wilson.
+ 6 v Hamilton2 Douglas (Jr), born 11 Apr 1843 in Wilson Co., TN. He married Nancy A. Stewart.
7 vi Josephine2 Douglas, born 1845 in Wilson Co., TN.
+ 8 vii Raleigh White2 Douglas, born 22 Mar 1847 in Wilson Co., TN. He married Charles Emma Lewis.
Generation 2
2. John Gill2 Douglas (Hamilton1), born 18 Apr 1832 in Pittsylvania Co., VA; died 14 Jul 1897 in Grayson Co., TX; buried in Van Alstyne, Grayson Co., TX. He married on 22 Mar 1865 in Collin Co., TX, Ann Elizabeth Horn, born 23 Apr 1840 in Wilson Co., TN; died 26 Jul 1918 in Collin Co., TX, daughter of William Henderson Horne and Martha Elizabeth Carruth.
Notes for John Gill Douglas
Sources: Census Records: 1850 TN; 1860, 1870, 1880 TX; Texas Confederate Civil War records; Grayson Co, TX, marriage records; Will of Mary A. Douglas. "The Annals of Elder Horn" by Robert Cannon Horn.
John Gill Douglas was born in Pittsylvania County, VA, and came to Wilson County, TN, as a boy when his family moved there. He helped his father with farming and served the family well as the oldest son. When the move to Texas was made, John soon joined Martin's Regiment of Texas Cavalry for his Civil War service and was promoted to Corporal. After the war, he married a girl he knew from Wilson County, TN, Anna Eliza Horn, sister of Robert Cannon Horn, a well-known church minister.
John Gill Douglas stayed in Grayson County, Texas, and farmed his land. They raised a large family including twin sons who were born 2 days apart. Their descendants live in Grayson County today and retain some of the land in the family holdings.
Children of John Gill2 Douglas and Ann Elizabeth Horn were as follows:
10 ii Robert Hamilton3 Douglas, born 12 Feb 1866 in Grayson Co., TX; died 19 Apr 1939.
11 iii Leonadas G3 Douglas, born 1868 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1937.
12 iv Mary E. Mollie3 Douglas, born 6 Feb 1870 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1921.
13 v Sarah Ellen3 Douglas, born 11 Apr 1871 in Grayson Co., TX; died 30 Nov 1960; buried in Cannon Cemetery, Grayson Co, TX. Source: Family records; Grayson Co Cemetery Inscriptions for dates of birth and death.
14 vi John McGarvin3 Douglas, born 20 May 1874 in Grayson Co., TX; died 28 Jan 1957 in TX.
15 vii Frank Leslie3 Douglas, born 22 May 1877 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1944 in Grayson Co., TX.
16 viii F L Bertie3 Douglas, born 20 Sep 1879 in Grayson Co., TX.
17 ix Charlie3 Douglas, born 1881 in TX; died 20 Mar 1939.
3. Sarah J2 Douglas (Hamilton1), born 1836 in Wilson Co., TN; died bef. 1860. She married on 27 Jul 1855 in Wilson Co., TN, Thomas Calhoun Forbis (Sr), born 1827 in Wilson Co., TN; died Nov 1891 in Weston, Collin Co., TX, son of Arthur Forbis and Rachel Carruth.
Notes for Sarah J Douglas
Sources: IGI 1988 showing marriage to Thomas Forbis; Deed Records of Collin County, TX; 1850 Census for Wilson Co, TN;
Notes for Thomas Calhoun Forbis (Sr)
Sources:1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 & 1900 census for TN & TX; Marriage records for Wilson County TN & Grayson Co and Collin Co TX; Deed dated 1905, Collin Co, TX, stating relation of Donia & T.C. Forbis; Cemetery Inscriptions, Collin County, Tx; "From Whence Ye Came" by Lela Grant Carruth, pub 1982; Will Records for Wilson County, Tenn.
In 1862 Thomas C. Forbis enlisted in the Texas Cavalry 15th Brigade and served one year under Captain W. A. Brown.
Children of Sarah J2 Douglas and Thomas Calhoun Forbis (Sr) were as follows:
5. Elijah Houston2 Douglas (Hamilton1), born 8 Apr 1840 in Wilson Co., TN; died 19 May 1888 in Grayson Co., TX; buried May 1888 in Hackberry, Grayson Co., TX. He married on 13 Jan 1864 in Collin Co., TX, Amanda Ann Wilson, born 7 Jan 1848 in TX; died 9 Jul 1922 in TX, daughter of David Carroll Wilson and Mary A Poteet.
Notes for Elijah Houston Douglas
Sources: Grayson & Collin Counties, TX, marriage records & cemetery records; Will of Mary A. Douglas; Census records: 1850 TN & 1860, 1870, 1880 TX.
Elijah Houston Douglas was born in Wilson County, TN. He made the move to Texas when many of the Douglas friends came west, and he joined Martin's Regiment of the Texas Cavalry for his Civil War service. After the war was over, he married another Wilson County, TN, girl who had moved to Texas with her family, Amanda Ann Wilson. Amanda was a descendant of David Carroll Wilson for whom Wilson County, TN, is said to be named.
Elijah and Amanda raised a large family of 10 children where they lived in southern Grayson County, Texas. Some of their descendants live in Van Alstyne, Texas, today. Elijah and Amanda and other relatives are buried in Hackberry Cemetery, a small cemetery hidden back in some trees about 1/2 mile from the road and on a private farm. The large gray granite stone can be seen from afar and shows Elijah's grave plus that of his wife and children. Family members have built a fence to enclose this little cemetery to preserve the nice stones erected so many years ago.
Notes for Amanda Ann Wilson
James & Shirley Webb and John Stambaugh visited her grave at the Hackberry Cemetery in 1995; Sources: Family records; Marriage & Cemetery records of Grayson County, TX; "History of Grayson County" Vols I & II published by Grayson County Historical Society; 1992 IGI; Tennessee marriage records;
Children of Elijah Houston2 Douglas and Amanda Ann Wilson were as follows:
20 ii Josephine3 Douglas, born 3 Aug 1866 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1 May 1894.
21 iii David Frank3 Douglas, born Jul 1868 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1951 in Grayson Co., TX.
22 iv William H3 Douglas, born 3 Jun 1871 in Grayson Co., TX; died 14 Oct 1890.
23 v Wayne M3 Douglas, born 1874 in Grayson Co., TX; died 30 Nov 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.
24 vi Clarence Pearl3 Douglas, born 13 Feb 1876 in Grayson Co., TX; died 1929 in Grayson Co., TX.
25 vii George Oren3 Douglas, born 22 Jul 1878 in Grayson Co., TX; died 2 Nov 1952 in Grayson Co., TX.
26 viii Ladonia3 Douglas, born Oct 1881 in Grayson Co., TX.
27 ix Elijah3 Douglas, born May 1884 in Grayson Co., TX.
28 x Olive3 Douglas, born 8 Jul 1887 in Grayson Co., TX; died 28 Apr 1913.
6. Hamilton2 Douglas (Jr) (Hamilton1), born 11 Apr 1843 in Wilson Co., TN; died 20 Oct 1907 in Hunt Co., TX; buried in East Mount Cem, Greenville, Hunt Co, TX. He married on 15 Oct 1868 in Collin Co., TX, Nancy A. Stewart, born 11 Jul 1849 in Platte Co., MO; died 13 Jun 1928 in Greenville, Hunt Co., TX, daughter of Joseph P. Stewart and Lydia A Wilson.
Notes for Hamilton Douglas (Jr)
Sources: Census: 1850 TN; 1860, 1870, 1880 & 1900 TX; Collin County Marriage Records; Confederate Pension File #2069653 for Mrs. Nanny Douglas; "Confederate Military History" Vol XV Texas; Hunt County, TX., Cemetery inscriptions; Will of Mary A. Douglas; "The Adamsons As We See Them" by John Stambaugh.
Hamilton Douglass, Jr., kept the "double s" spelling of the name longer than his brothers who dropped it about 1860. He was born in Wilson Co, TN, and moved to Texas in 1859 with the rest of the family. Hamilton joined Fitzhugh's Regiment and served in Company D of the 16th Texas Cavalry during the Civil War. He remained a member of the Confederate Veterans association and was said to enjoy reminiscing with his fellow veterans about their Civil War duty.
In 1868 he married Nancy A. Stewart who had come to Collin County, Texas, with her family from Missouri. They lived in Hamilton County, Texas, and then moved to Hunt County where they lived in Greenville. They had a family of 8 children many of whom lived nearby in the Greenville area. Hamilton was in the wholesale grocery business. Several of his relatives also found the grocery business to their liking and followed this occupation. Hamilton and his wife are buried in East Mount Cemetery in Greenville, Texas, as are several of their children.
Notes for Nancy A. Stewart
Source: Texas Death Certificate # 26581; Confederate Widow's Pension File #23369; Census for 1850 MO; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 & 1920 TX; "The Adamsons As We See Them" by John Stambaugh.
Children of Hamilton2 Douglas (Jr) and Nancy A. Stewart were as follows:
30 ii Cordelia Shaw3 Douglas, born 6 Feb 1871 in Van Alstyne, Collin Co., TX; died 19 Aug 1955; buried Aug 1955 in Dallas, Dallas Co., TX. Sources: Census records for 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 TX; Hunt Co Marriage Records; "The Adamsons As We See Them" By John Stambaugh;
31 iii Nola3 Douglas, born 17 Oct 1873 in Collin Co., TX; died 21 Oct 1916 in San Angelo, Tom Green Co., TX; buried in San Angelo, Tom Green Co., TX. Sources:Census records for 1880, 1900, 1910 TX; Cemetery Inscriptions, San Angelo's Fairmount Cemetery, Tom Green Co, TX; Greenville, Tx., City Directory
32 iv Oscar Rola3 Douglas, born 17 Oct 1873 in Collin Co., TX; died 1 Dec 1910 in San Angelo, Tom Green Co., TX; buried in San Angelo, Tom Green Co., TX. Sources: Census records for 1880, 1900 & 1910 TX; Cemetery Inscriptions, Fairmount Cemetery, San Angelo, Tom Green Co, TX; "The Adamsons As We See Them" by John Stambaugh.
33 v Stewart Gard3 Douglas, born Nov 1883 in TX. Sources: Census records for 1900, 1910, 1920 TX; "The Adamsons As We See Them" by John Stambaugh.
34 vi John G3 Douglas, born 24 Jan 1886 in TX; died 4 Jan 1957.
35 vii D Patrick "Perry"3 Douglas, born Mar 1889 in Hunt Co., TX; died 1943; buried in Greenville, Hunt Co., TX. Sources: Census records for 1900, 1910 TX; Cemetery Inscriptions, East Mount Cemetery, Greenville, Hunt Co, TX. "The Adamsons As We See Them" by John Stambaugh.
36 viii 3 Douglas
8. Raleigh White2 Douglas (Hamilton1), born 22 Mar 1847 in Wilson Co., TN; died 13 Nov 1920 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX; buried 15 Nov 1920 in Van Alstyne, Grayson Co., TX. He married on 12 Mar 1872 in Collin Co., TX, Charles Emma Lewis, born 17 May 1848 in Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO; died 30 Dec 1908 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Robert Newton Lewis and Mary Hancock.
Notes for Raleigh White Douglas
Sources: Census: 1850 TN; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 TX & 1910 OK; Will of Mary A. Douglas; Van Alstyne Cemetery Inscriptions, Grayson Co, TX; Marriage Records for Collin Co, TX; Family stories from his grandson, O.A."Doug" Douglas.
Raleigh White Douglas was born in Wilson County, TN, and was named for his Great-uncle, Raleigh Organ, who was the brother of his mother's mother. Raleigh was too young to serve in the Civil War when the family moved to Texas so he stayed home and helped his father with the farm. Later he furnished an affidavit for the widow of his brother, Hamilton Douglas, to vouch for the Civil War duty of that brother.
Raleigh was called "Roll" for his nickname. He married Charles Emma Lewis who was from Missouri. They lived in Collin County for a while but, later, moved to Oklahoma. After Charles Emma died, he continued working in the grocery business and farming. Some of their children stayed in Texas and he visited often. He and Charles Emma are buried at Van Alstyne Cemetery in Grayson County, Texas.
Children of Raleigh White2 Douglas and Charles Emma Lewis were as follows:
38 ii Eldon Gill3 Douglas, born 17 May 1875 in Collin Co., TX; died 21 Aug 1958 in Muskogee, Muskogee Co., OK; buried in Geary, Blaine Co., OK.
39 iii Robert Paschal3 Douglas, born 5 Oct 1877 in Collin Co., TX; died 2 Jun 1949 in Lawton, Comanche Co., OK; buried 4 Jun 1949 in Elmwood Cemetery, Woodward, OK. Sources:TX census records for 1880, 1900, OK census records 1910 & 1920; Marriage records for Texas & Oklahoma; TX & OK death and birth certificates; Family records and personal knowledge. Robert P. "Pat" Douglas grew up in the small community of Maple in Collin County, Texas. He married a local girl, Ardie May Franklin, and they lived with her mother on the family farm so Pat could help with the farming chores. Soon they set up housekeeping on their own. Pat followed in the footsteps of his father and brothers and went into the grocery business. He had a wholesale candy route and drove all around the area delivering candy and gum to stores. He and Ardie were loving grandparents and doted on the two grandchildren, Shirley and Dorothy, when Aubrey married Jane and they came to live in Woodward, Oklahoma, where the Douglas family had lived for several years. When Ardie died of cancer in 1940, Pat moved to Sayre county for a while and lived with his brother, Eldon. As he grew older he had to live with his daughter, Mayfair, and felt unwanted and depressed. He finally took his own life which was a very sad event for the family because he was such a loving person and they hated to know he was so unhappy.
40 iv Albert Houston3 Douglas, born 8 Mar 1880 in Howe, Collin Co., TX; died 31 Mar 1967 in Muleshoe, Bailey Co., TX; buried 1 Apr 1967 in Lubbock, Lubbock Co., TX. Sources: Family information provided by O. A. Douglas, Mary Douglas Durning and Emmajean Douglas Schwab. Census for 1910 OK.
41 v Mary Temperance3 Douglas, born 12 Mar 1885 in Collin Co., TX; died 12 May 1972 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX.
42 vi Lena Velma3 Douglas, born 22 Jun 1888 in Collin Co., TX; died 25 Oct 1943.
Index Paragraph #
Carruth
Douglas
Douglass
Forbis
Gill
Hancock
Horn
Horne
Lewis
Organ
Poteet
Stewart
Wilson
Copyright 1999, by Shirley Webb
All rights reserved.