Douglas of Mains
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The Douglases of Mains are a branch of the
Clan Douglas Clan Douglas is an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands. Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden. ...
, related to the Lords of Douglas through
Archibald I, Lord of Douglas Archibald of Douglas (before 1198 – died c. 1238) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of William of Douglas. Life The earliest attestation of his existence is in a charter of confirmation dated prior to 1198. This charter of Jocelin ...
. The first Laird obtained land through marriage into the Galbraith family, which had been granted land in
New Kilpatrick New Kilpatrick, (also known as East Kilpatrick or Easter Kilpatrick) is an ecclesiastical Parish and former Civil Parish in Dunbartonshire. It was formed in 1649 from the eastern half of the parish of Kilpatrick (also known as Kirkpatrick), the w ...
by Maldowen,
Earl of Lennox The Earl or Mormaer of Lennox was the ruler of the region of the Lennox in western Scotland. It was first created in the 12th century for David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon and later held by the Stewart dynasty. Ancient earls The first ear ...
. The family produced minor nobles in the Scottish court, perhaps the most notable of which was Malcolm Douglas, the 8th Laird, executed for treason in Edinburgh for conspiracy in the
Raid of Ruthven The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. The nobles intende ...
. His second son, Robert Douglas, was made
Viscount of Belhaven A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...
and is buried in Holyrood Abbey. The family intermarried in the
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
area, having links with the Campbells of Blythswood, with landed families across Scotland (including the
Duke of Douglas The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the Duke's eldest son. Hist ...
) and more latterly the United Kingdom. The title became extinct in the 20th century; the last of the estate (including the house) was sold to
Dunbartonshire Dunbartonshire ( gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann) or the County of Dumbarton is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Dunbartonshire borders Pe ...
county and was subsequently used for the erection of the secondary school,
Douglas Academy Douglas Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive secondary school in the town of Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, serving the Milngavie, Craigton and Baldernock areas. Douglas Academy is one of Scotland's top performing st ...
, in Milngavie prior to the death of the last heir (Lt-Col Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas) in 1977.


Title & Lineage

The Douglases of Mains are related to the Lords of Douglas through
Archibald I, Lord of Douglas Archibald of Douglas (before 1198 – died c. 1238) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of William of Douglas. Life The earliest attestation of his existence is in a charter of confirmation dated prior to 1198. This charter of Jocelin ...
(born before 1198 – died ca. 1238), whose first son was William Longleg, Lord of Douglas and whose second son was
Andrew Douglas of Hermiston Sir Andrew Douglas of Hermiston (d. bef. 1277) was a medieval Scottish nobleman. Life Although it cannot be proven except circumstantially, Douglas appears to be the son of Archibald, Lord of Douglas (c.1198-1238) by his wife Margaret Crawford ...
. The title Laird of Mains was created in 1373, when Nicholas Douglas, son of the fourth Lord of Hermiston married Janet Galbraith, from whom he obtained the lands of Mains. However it was not until 1672 that the 11th Laird registered the coat of arms with the
Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
. Tracing the ownership of the title becomes increasingly difficult from the beginning of the 18th century, as the title became junior to the Campbells of Blythswood, with both titles being held by the same family, but never by the same individual. The title become extinct (in 1928) when the last heir (Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas) was granted a disposition to break the hereditary ownership of the estate (and therefore enabling him to sell it). Archibald VC Douglas was subsequently father to two daughters. He died at his home, ''Laraich'', 2 miles (3.2 km) west of
Aberfoyle Aberfoyle may refer to: *Aberfoyle, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland *Aberfoyle, Stirling, Scotland * Aberfoyle, Ontario, Canada *Aberfoyle, Texas Aberfoyle is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Hunt County, Texas, Hunt Count ...
on 28 October 1977.


List of Lairds of Mains

*Nicholas Douglas, 1st of Mains and of Dounteray 1372-92 (younger brother of the 1st Lord of Dalkeith) *James Douglas, 2nd of Mains and of Dounteray 1392-1420 *James Douglas, 3rd of Mains and of Dounteray 1420-90 *William Douglas, 4th of Mains 1490-91 *John Douglas, 5th of Mains 1491-1513 (killed at the
Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton, (Brainston Moor) was a battle fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, resulting in an English ...
) *Alexander Douglas, 6th of Mains 1513-?? *Matthew Douglas, 7th of Mains ??-1571 *Malcolm Douglas, 8th of Mains 1571-84 (executed for
treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
at Edinburgh, 9 Feb 1584) *Alexander Douglas, 9th of Mains 1584-1618 *Archibald Douglas, 10th of Mains (end of direct line; died before 1672) *John Douglas of Ferguston, 11th of Mains d. 1701 (descendant of William, 4th Laird, (by his son Robert of Ferguston, and then from son to son through Walter, Malcolm, and Walter of Kaigtown to his son John 11th of Mains, the last male heir) *James Douglas 12th of Mains 1701-1743 (second son of Mary Douglas and John Campbell, grandson of John Douglas, changed his name from Campbell to Douglas when he inherited Mains) *John Douglas, 13th of Mains (1743–56) *James Douglas 14th of Mains (1756–67) (Lord Blythswood from 1767) **Colin Douglas 15th of Mains (1767-1801) (brother of James) **Robert Douglas (1801–04) (brother of James) *Colin Douglas, 16th of Mains (1804–20) * Archibald Douglas 17th of Mains (1820–38), Lord Blythswood from 1838 and father of
Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood, (22 February 1835 – 8 July 1908) was a Scottish soldier, Tory politician, scientist and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Life Born Archibald Campbell Douglas (he dropp ...
**Colin Douglas, 18th of Mains (1838–47) (brother of Archibald) *John Campbell Douglas, 19th of Mains (1847–57), the son of Campbell Douglas (fifth son of John Douglas (13th) of Mains)Google books
accessed 30 April 2012.

accessed 4 August 2010.
Acquired Balvie estate and renamed the house "Mains", demolishing the original. *Archibald Campbell Douglas (1857-1925)archive.org
accessed 6 September 2010.
(he appears in the records of Ellangowan Masonic Lodge in October 1885 and in March 1905 as executor of the estate of his wife, Elizabeth). *Brig-Gen Douglas Campbell Douglas, 20th of Mains (1925-1927) *Lt-Col Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas, 21st of Mains (1927–28; died at Laraich, Aberfoyle, Stirling, 28 October 1977) (The numbering in source texts is inconsistent; some apparent titleholders appear to have been numerically skipped.)


Arms

The arms of Douglas of Mains were registered with the
Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
in 1672 and are as follows: *
argent In heraldry, argent () is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it. In engravings and line drawings, regions to ...
(silver background) *a
fess In heraldry, a fess or fesse (from Middle English ''fesse'', from Old French ''faisse'', from Latin ''fascia'', "band") is a charge on a coat of arms (or flag) that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shiel ...
chequy In heraldry, variations of the field are any of a number of ways that a field (or a charge) may be covered with a pattern, rather than a flat tincture or a simple division of the field. Blazoning of French adjectives Variations of the field pre ...
gules (a middle horizontal band of red check) *three mullets in chief azure (three blue stars across the top third of the shield) - this is different from other Douglas arms, which have a chief azure with three mullets of the field (background colour). *a man's heart in base proper (a heart at the bottom, natural colour (red)) The arms have a crest of an oak tree, and the motto of the family is ''Quae Serrata Secura'' The arms are based on those of the
Earl of Douglas This page is concerned with the holders of the forfeit title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, so ...
, which at the time the Mains branch was established, had three stars, but an uncrowned heart. The addition of a fess chequy represented the Lennox land (inherited through the Galbraiths) that formed the estate. The fess of the Stewart Earls of Lennox arms was a silver and blue check, but the Mains family changed the check colour to red (an old Lennox colour).


Estate

The lands of Mains were granted, along with a number of others, early in the thirteenth century, by
Maol Domhnaich, Earl of Lennox Mormaer Maol Domhnaich (sometimes anglicized as ''Maldoven'') was the son of Mormaer Ailín II, and ruled Lennox 1217–1250. Like his predecessor Ailín II, he showed absolutely no interest in extending an inviting hand to oncoming French or E ...
, to Maurice Galbraith. The Galbraiths were a great family in the shires of Stirling and Dumbarton, and in 1296 "Arthur de Galbrait" was one of the principal Barons of the nation who swore fealty to King Edward I. One of their chief residences was at the Castle of Craigmaddie, in this neighbourhood. The family line ended near the close of the fourteenth century in three heiresses, one of whom (Janet) married Nicolas Douglas, son of Sir John Douglas in September 1373, who became the first Laird of Mains. The estate remained largely unchanged until the annexation of neighbouring Balvie (also once a part of the Galbraith lands) in the 19th century. In 1884, the estate comprised , with an income estimated at £2226 per annum.archive.org
accessed 6 September 2010.


Blythswood

When John Campbell of Woodside (third son of Colin, first of Blythswood) married Mary Douglas (daughter of the 11th Laird) they had two sons, the second of which, James Campbell, succeeded to Mains on the death of his grandfather. James Campbell changed his name to Douglas (under the terms of his grandfather's entail executed in 1701), and his elder brother (Colin Campbell), became the second Laird of Blythswood. Colin Campbell's only child and heiress was Mary Campbell, who married Colin Campbell, her first cousin. This Colin Campbell made an entail (to protect the Blythswood title) this time stating that the estates of Blythswood and Mains should not be held by the same person. Any family member from Mains inheriting the title of Blythswood had to change their name to Campbell. The only son of Mary and Colin, James, died in 1767 without issue. The direct line of Blythswood therefore came to an end and a long-running sequence of changes of name and title between the two estates began.


Annexation of Balvie

The Logan family held the neighbouring estate of Balvie from the end of the 14th century for many generations, but by the beginning of the seventeenth century Balvie was acquired by Humphrey, second son of Sir Alexander Colquhoun of Luss. In 1700 Balvie was sold to Robert Campbell, Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and it afterwards formed part of the Dougalston estates, which were purchased in 1767 by
John Glassford John Glassford of Dougalston and Whitehill (1715 – 27 August 1783) was a Scottish Tobacco Lord, considered by his contemporaries to be the greatest of the era. He owned tobacco plantations in Virginia and Maryland, as a result, his name is sy ...
, one of the most successful and respected merchants of his time. John Glassford was succeeded by his son Henry, and after his death in 1819, Balvie was acquired by James Macnair, who sold it to John Campbell Douglas of Mains. Balvie and Mains were then united and the name of Balvie dropped. The lands of Balvie were originally of large extent, but they had been gradually subdivided by sales and otherwise, and at the time of their purchase by the Mains family they were considerably smaller. When John Campbell Douglas acquired Balvie, he made the house there the mansion-house of the family, changing its name to Mains, and extended it. He married Helen, daughter of Archibald Bogle of Calderbank, and had at least one son, Archibald Campbell Douglas.


Notable Family members


Matthew Douglas, 7th Laird of Mains

On the orders of the
Earl of Lennox The Earl or Mormaer of Lennox was the ruler of the region of the Lennox in western Scotland. It was first created in the 12th century for David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon and later held by the Stewart dynasty. Ancient earls The first ear ...
(then
regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
for his grandson
James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...
),
Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill Captain Thomas Crawford or Thomas Craufurd (1530–1603) of Jordanhill (an estate in the West End of Glasgow, part of which is now a college and hospital near Victoria Park) was a trusted confidant of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, ...
, Matthew Douglas of Mains and John Cunningham of Drumquhassle (proprietor of Killermont)archive.org
accessed on 6 September 2010.
retook
Dumbarton Castle Dumbarton Castle ( gd, Dùn Breatainn, ; ) has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton. History Dum ...
from John Fleming on 2 April 1571. An Act of Parliament was passed on 28 August 1571 in favour of "Johnne Cuningham of Drumquhassel, Matho Dowglas of Manys, Captain Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill, and others takeris of the Castell of Dumbartane," discharging them of any criminal or civil liabilities incurred in the recapture of the castle.


Malcolm Douglas, 8th Laird of Mains

Malcolm Douglas of Mains was allegedly involved in an intrigue to recover debts owed to
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, 4th Lord of Ruthven (c. 1541May 1584) was a Scottish peer known for devising the Raid of Ruthven. Life and career William Ruthven was born in 1541 in Ruthven Castle, in Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Patr ...
by nobles in the king's court and to influence the Scottish monarchy. In August 1582 he along with the
Earl of Gowrie Earl of Gowrie is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ruthven family. It takes its name from Gowrie, a historical region and ancient p ...
, The Earl of Angus, and others, participated in the
Raid of Ruthven The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. The nobles intende ...
. They captured King James VI and held him prisoner in what is now known as
Huntingtower Castle Huntingtower Castle, once known as Ruthven Castle or the Place of Ruthven, is located near the village of Huntingtower beside the A85 and near the A9, about 5 km NW of the centre of Perth, Perth and Kinross, in central Scotland, on the main ...
, Perth and Kinross. The King escaped and the Ruthven Raiders were subsequently tried for kidnapping and treason. Douglas of Mains and others including John Cunningham of Drumquhassle (a member of his wife's familyProfile
, CracroftsPeerage.co.uk; accessed 30 April 2012.
were brought before an
assize The courts of assize, or assizes (), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes e ...
, on 9 February 1584, for conspiring in the Raid of Ruthven. Robert Hamilton of Inchmachane (or Ecclesmechan) appears to have come forward as a witness against them.ebooksread.com
accessed 20 July 2010.
Douglas and Cunningham were both found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered at the Market Cross, in
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
. They were publicly executed the same day.Google Books
accessed 20 July 2010.
The story has been romanticised over time by many authors, including
Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy' ...
, with Malcolm Douglas being described as a "gentleman of considerable property, and universally respected" and (by his enemies) "dreaded on account of his courage and independence of spirit". The key witness against him, Robert Hamilton, has been accused of being motivated by financial reward, while the evidence given by him was considered to be false. The second witness, James Edmonstone of Duntreath was allegedly put on a false charge to make him corroborate the evidence in exchange for a pardon.www.archive.org
accessed 20 July 2010.
archive.org
accessed 20 July 2010.


Archibald Douglas, 17th Laird of Mains

:''see
Archibald Campbell Archibald Campbell may refer to: Peerage * Archibald Campbell of Lochawe (died before 1394), Scottish peer * Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll (died 1513), Lord Chancellor of Scotland * Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll (c. 1507–1558) ...
'' (the name he assumed in later life)


Robert Douglas, 1st Viscount Belhaven

:''see
Robert Douglas, 1st Viscount of Belhaven Robert Douglas, 1st Viscount of Belhaven PC (1573 – 14 January 1639), was a Scottish courtier. Family background The second son of Malcolm Douglas of Mains (executed 1584), by Janet Cunningham, daughter of John Cunningham, of Drumquhassil. ...
''


Margaret, Duchess of Douglas

Margaret, Duchess of Douglas, was daughter of James Douglas of Mains (12th) and obtained her title by marriage to Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas (part of the Red Douglas family, and a distant relation). Margaret and Archibald married late in life, did not have children, and the title of Duke of Douglas became extinct on Archibald's death. The estates of Douglas became the subject of a legal battle (known as the Douglas Cause) between Archibald Steuart (the Duke of Douglas' nephew) and the Duke of Hamilton, who inherited the remaining titles of Douglas. Margaret supported Archibald, who was granted the estates after appeal to the
House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...
. In her will, she left money to purchase lands to be called Douglas-Support.


Captain Andrew Douglas

Captain Andrew Douglas of Mains (lineage uncertain) was involved in the slave trade of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His daughter Jean married into the Kennedy family of
Culzean Castle Culzean Castle ( , see yogh; sco, Cullain) is a castle overlooking the Firth of Clyde, near Maybole, Carrick, in South Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, but is ...
in 1705. A West African slave from Guinea, named Scipio, was apparently taken as a child into the ownership of Andrew Douglas for three years before being transferred to Jean after her marriage, possibly to work as a page. After being educated, Scipio managed to obtain his freedom in 1725, having been baptised as a Christian. Scipio continued to work in the service of Jean and was given a house and some land within the grounds of Culzean.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas of Mains Scottish families Executed Scottish people 16th-century executions by Scotland People executed by the Kingdom of Scotland by hanging Year of birth unknown