Nineteenth Generation

100. Col John DOUGLAS Gentleman^50,51 was born in 1636 in Gorbals, Glasglow, Scotland.^52,53,54 the year of birth was set by his own deposition Was Appreniced]^43,55 His apprenticeship was to learn the "Art and Science of Merchandising" which he finished in about five years. He immigrated before May 1655 to New Port ,Charles County, Maryland.² The first recorded document in America. It is obvious he was here for probably a year before this date. About 1659 he was a Planter in Charles Co. , Maryland.⁵⁶ The growing of tobacco was the main industry in Charles County in the sixteen hundreds. There is some indication that Col. Douglas was exporting his crops to Europe. Tobacco was also legal tender at that time.

His biography describes him as" literate with no title upon arrival in this country, he obtained wealth in his lifetime owning over 2000 acres of property at his death." He served in the military between 1665 and 1678 in Charles Co. , Maryland.^57,58 He rose to the rank of Col. before his death. He was paid 10,520 pounds of tobacco for his part in the expedition against the Susquehannah Indians in 1675. He owned "Beach Neck" on 22 Sep 1665 in Charles Co. , Maryland.⁵⁹ "Beach Neck" Manor of Zachiah, as a plantation of some 1000 acres in Charles County. He owned "Douglas Adventure" on 26 Mar 1667 in Charles Co. , Maryland.^60,61 Douglas Adventure was a plantation of some 100 acres. It was purchased in 1667. He owned "Blythswood Manor" on 10 May 1667 in Charles Co. , Maryland.⁶² Blythswood was a plantation of some 100 acres on the north side of the Potomac River in the Pickawaxon area. Blythswood was the name of the family manor house in Scotland. He owned "Douglas's Delight" in 1667 in Charles Co. , Maryland.^63,64,65 Douglas Delight was a small plantation of four acres. Although the property was bought in 1667 it was not recorded until 22 April 1680. A Commissoiner of Peace Appt⁵⁸ He owned "St. Edmonds" on 16 Sep 1672 in Charles Co. , Maryland.⁶⁶ Bought for 11,000 pounds of tobacco from Edumond Lyndsey who patented it on 10 Mar 1670. A Gentleman of the Quorum Appt⁶⁷ He was elected as Burgesses, Lower House, from Charles Co. about 30 May 1676 in Charles Co. , Maryland.^68,69 The Proprietary Assembly of 1676-1682

Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore, proprietor
Cecilius Calvert, Govenor

Col Douglas was one of the seven members representing Charles County. The first session: May 15-June 15, 1676, second session October 20-November 14, 1678, third session August 16-September 17, 1681, fourth session April 25-May 13 1682. It can be seen that he only attended the first two sessions before his death.

This was the Lower House of the General Assembly of Maryland. A Justice of the Peace Appt⁷⁰ He owned "Cool Spring Manor" Plantation on 10 May 1677 in Calvert Co., Maryland.⁷¹ Purchased from Jonias Fendall, with all rights of "Lord of the Manor", for 22,000 pounds of tobacco. This plantation consisted of a home on 1050 acres on the Potomac River.

Fendall had several land holdings. One of these land ownings was named "Cool Spring Manor </w/index.php?title=Cool_Spring_Manor&action=edit&redlink=1>" or "Cold Springs Manor </w/index.php?title=Cold_Springs_Manor&action=edit&redlink=1>". This estate was located on the west side of the Patuxent River </wiki/Patuxent_River> in Mt. Calvert Hundred, Calvert Co., Maryland, which is now part of Patuxent Hundred, Prince George's Co., Maryland, near the present day University of Maryland, College Park </wiki/University_of_Maryland,_College_Park> campus. It included 1050 acres (4.2 km²). Josias obtained this property on July 2 </wiki/July_2>, 1649 </wiki/1649> for "good faithful services", and it was laid out May 27 </wiki/May_27>, 1657 </wiki/1657>, and granted September 25 </wiki/September_25>, 1658 </wiki/1658>.
This Manor came with all the rights and privileges of the "Lord of a Manor" in England. The Maryland Manor </w/index.php?title=Maryland_Manor&action=edit&redlink=1> was based upon the English system of land tenure, with the Lord of the Manor and a tenancy of planters and farmers dependent on him. In addition to the land that the Lord owned, it also provided the owner with rights of government which the Lord possessed over his tenants, and they over one another. His wealth as a large landholder gave him considerable prestige, but his judicial dignity and authorities added other invisible qualities to his position in the Province. The baronial court decided all disputes between the Lord and his tenants concerning such matters as rents or trespass or escheats. The Lords of the Manor like all subjects of the Province subscribed to an oath of allegiance to the Lord Proprietary, and in turn the residents swore fealty to the Lord of the Manor </wiki/Lord_of_the_Manor>. Therefore, oaths of fidelity of the Manor Lords to Baltimore were sufficient evidence of loyalty to England.
Fendall sold “Cool Spring Manor </w/index.php?title=Cool_Spring_Manor&action=edit&redlink=1>” on May 10 </wiki/May_10>, 1677 </wiki/1677> to Maj. John Douglas, Sr. </w/index.php?title=John_Douglas,_Sr.&action=edit&redlink=1> (1636–1677) of Charles Co., Maryland for 22,000 pounds of tobacco. He died on 14 Dec 1678 in Picawaxon, Charles Co., Maryland.⁷² He signed a will on 14 Dec 1678 in Charles Co. Maryland.⁷³ Will of Col. John Douglas

"Douglas, John, Chas. Co.., 14th Deceased., 1678, 27 Jan., 1678


To wife Sarah, execx., and hrs., 450 A., dwelling place of testator at Pickiawaxen.
" son John and hrs., 550 A., part of "Cold Spring Manor" at 21 yrs. of age
" son Robert and hrs., "Blithwood" at 21 yrs., of age.
" sons Charles and Joseph and hrs., 500 A., residue of "Cool Spring Manor" at 21 yrs.,
of age
Testator provides that should sd. son John die without issue, son Robert afsd. is to
receive 1/2 of his portion, and sd. sons Charles and Joseph 1/2.
Test: Henry Bonner, Francis Pollard, Jno. Robynson. 9, 97." He had his estate probated on 3 Jan 1679 in Charles Co. , Maryland.^74,75 "Henry Bonner request permission to prove the will of John Douglas, husband to his sister Sarah" John Douglas arrived in Charles county in 1654 at the age of eighteen after an approximate three month voyage. When he left Scotland his father, Sir Robert Douglas, had lost all of his lands his home had been burned and looted and he was bankrupt due to his loyality to King Charles I. This was due to an edict from Oliver Cromwell, the "Protector". of Scotland and the default of the city of Glasgow on a considerable amount of money owed to him for the sale of the Gorbals barony to the city of Glasgow.

So John had lost his inheritance his birth right and his father was in disgrace so it is easy to see why he would look for a new start in life. There was no reason for him to stay in Scotland as he was educated and had been trained in a "Business" profession after a five year apprenticeship with Mr John Hamiltron in Edinburgh.

Col. Douglas was actively involved with the Charles county militia and with politics through his entire life in Maryland and was serving as a Burgess in the Maryland lower house at the time of his death

Due to Col. Douglas's service any female descendant is eligible for membership in the National Association of Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century, The Daughters of Colonial Wars, The National Society of the American Colonist, and many more.

Col John DOUGLAS Gentleman and Sarah BONNER BOWLS were married about 17 Aug 1663 in Charles Co. , Maryland.⁷⁶ Sarah Bonner was the relic of Henry Bowls (Bouls) Sarah BONNER BOWLS was born about 1636 in Charles Co. Maryland.⁷⁷ She owned Bowls Plantation about 6 Jun 1663 in Charles Co. , Maryland. Bowles, sometimes called "Bowlesley", was inherited from her first husband William Bowls.
It was a plantation of 200 acres on the Potomac River near Pickawaxon Creek. This plantation was patented by Edward Bowls and willed to his son William. She signed a will on 8 Jul 1718 in Charles Co. Maryland.⁷⁸ Sarah Bonner was married to William Herbart at the time of her death. He had preceded her , in death, by two months.


Will of Sarah Herbart


Herbart, Sarah, widow, Charles Co., 8th July 1718; .26th July 1718

To son Joseph Douglas and hrs., dwelling plantation and 200 A., "The Hills"
" grandsons Thomas, Benjamin, and Joseph Douglas and Douglas Giffard, personality.
" granddaus. Eliz. Howard and Mary Douglass, personality.
Son Joseph afsd., ex. and residuary legatee.
Test: Col. Walter Story, Tho.Harris, Sam. Hanson. 14, 662.



The "Dwelling Plantation was most likely "Bowl's". She died in Jul 1718 in Charles county, Maryland.⁷⁹ She had her estate probated on 26 Jul 1718 in Charles Co. Maryland.⁸⁰ Apr]⁸¹ The family name of Bonner is of Norman-French origin with the original Bonners arriving in Britain during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. There have been numerous spellings of the name: in France as Bonheur and Bonaire all of which have the key of "good". Other spellings of the surname include Bona, Bonar, Booner, Bonney, Bonher and Boner. Many of these latter spellings probably resulted from writing the name as it sounded. Today the name of Bonner is common in France, Germany, England and Northern Ireland.


The Bonners were a prominent family in England with Quentin de Riddell an ancestor of the noble house of Buchanan-Ridell. Quentin first bore the ensign of Bonner. Numerous documents, during the reign of Henry the VIII have references to Riddell and Bonner. The Ridell and Bonner families bear the same coat-of-arms, indicating that Bonner descended from Riddell


There were several Bonners appearing in America in the 1600's including Thomas ,Henry and Richard around 1638. Thomas, James and William Bonner migrated to the Carolina's and Georiga from the Chesapeake Bay area.

Carr, Peter, Charles Co., 21st Sept., 1680; 19th Apr., 1683. To Robert, Charles, Joseph, Eliza: and Sarah Douglass, sons and daus. of Col. John Douglass, late of Charles Co., personalty; part of same being a debt due testator by Sarah Douglass, now wife of Ralph Smith, and mother of sd. legatees. To Peter, son of George Mackmillion, at 16 yrs.; Jane, wife of John Smith; James, son of James Tyer, and child. of George Newman, personalty. Ex. Jas. Tyer. Test: Wm. Philmore, Jno. Gilby, Edm. Dinnis. 4. 12.
Will of William Gifford, Vol 1, p-110, Maryland Clandar of Wills
Col John DOUGLAS Gentleman and Sarah BONNER BOWLS had the following children:

+112	i.	John DOUGLAS Gentleman.
+113	ii.	Robert of "Blithwood" DOUGLAS Gentleman.
+114	iii.	Sarah DOUGLAS.
115	iv.	Charles DOUGLAS Gentleman was born in 1672 in Charles Co. Maryland.82 Hewas the Guardian]83 Charles was eighteen years old when he nominated Maj. Beale to be his Guardian He died on 1 May 1703 in Charles Co. , Maryland.84 Apr]85 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Dep]86 Charles Douglas Gent., apparently died without issue.
+116	v.	Elizabeth DOUGLAS.
+117	vi.	Capt. Joseph Hamilton DOUGLAS Gentleman.