21st Generation

142. William DOUGLAS¹²⁰ was born about 1709 in Charles Co. Maryland.^120,121 Received a Deed of Gift]¹²² This Deed of Gift identified him as his "Eldest son",(see Capt. Joseph Douglas) Received a Deed of Gift]¹²³ He died after 23 Feb 1765 in Fauquier Co., Virginia.¹²¹ No further information, after this date, has been found. There are indications that he died in 1766, he would have 57 years old. William Douglas was apparently the first member of the family to move from Maryland to Virginia. According to Wilson Cary, William Douglas was still living in Charles County, Maryland in 1761. This would mean that only the last five or six years of his life were spent in Virginia. Wilson Cary also states that William and Sarah only had two children, Benjamin T. and Joseph.

It is unfortunate that many of the records of Westmorland, Stafford and Prince William Counties have been lost in two wars. To date his will has not been found.

Very little is known about William Douglas. It is obvious, however, that he was a man of means as his father and grandfather were.

William DOUGLAS and Sarah BERRYMAN were married about 1731 in Westmorland\Stratford Co., Virginia. The bride came from a very prominent family in Westmorland county. Her father, Maj. Benjamin Berryman, was the high Sheriff of the county and owned thousands of acres of land, therefore it is very probable the marriage took place on her family plantation in Westmorland county. The records from this county have suffered heavy losses during the Revolutionary and Civil wars. To date no marriage record has been found. Sarah BERRYMAN (daughter of Maj. Benjamin BERRYMAN Gentleman and Elizabeth NEWTON) was born about 1713 in Westmorland Co., Virginia. She Named in will¹²⁴ She died after 1763 in Fauquier Co., Virginia. This line is directly traceable to Capt. Robert Behethland who came to America in 1607 with Captain. John Smith and founded Jamestown. The name "Behethlon, Behethlan, Behethie, etc. show up in almost all early generations as female names. Benjamin T. Douglas Sr. had a daughter named Behethlon. This variance is probably due to the differences in pronunciations.

William DOUGLAS and Sarah BERRYMAN had the following children:

+167	i.	Benjamin Thomas DOUGLAS Sr..
+168	ii.	Joseph DOUGLAS.
+169	iii.	Latitia DOUGLAS.