An American Family History

Elizabeth Douglas Brandt Howard Thompson

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves,
and, under a just God cannot retain it."
― Abraham Lincoln

Alternate spellings of Douglas: Dougals, Doughlass, Douglace, Douglass, Dougless, Douglasse, Dowglas, Dowglass, Duglas, Duglass

Marylandwas established with religious freedom for Catholics. The colonial economy was based on tobacco cultivated by Africans who had been enslaved.

Many young healthy people died in colonial Maryland due to outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever.

Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans.

In 1688, during the Glorious Revolution, the Protestant king and queen,William and Mary, took the English throne from Catholic King James II. The bloodless revolution profoundly impacted the American colonies.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Douglas Brandt Howard Thompson was born on April 26 1673, in William and Mary Parish, Charles County, Maryland. Her parents were Colonel John Douglas and Sarah Bonner.

In 1688, Peter Carr, left Elizabeth and her siblings some of his personal property to pay, in part, a debt he owned their mother.

She married Charles Brandt (Brant) about 1710 in Charles County. Charles was born about 1669 in Charles County. His parents were Captain Randolph Brandt and Mary Ford. In 1698 Charles inherited half of Asher plantation, which included 450 acres on the east side Piccowaxen Creek and half of Greenwigh plantation. His father directed that he be brought up as a Catholic.

Elizabeth and Charles' children probably included:
Charles Brandt,
Jacob Brandt (about 1711),
Elizabeth Brandt (about 1712), and
Sarah Brandt (about 1714).

Charles died on March 1, 1713/14 when he was about 44 year old..

He left an estate of 35,028£ of which Elizabeth was the executrix. Charles named her brothers, Benjamin Douglas and Joseph Douglas as his nearest kin. The land Charles had inherited from his father, by law of entail went to his son, Charles Brand. Jacob inherited a gold seal ring, a saddle, holsters, pistols, sword, belt and young horse. Elizabeth inherited two silver spoons and Sarah received leather chairs and pewter, etc.

Elizabeth married Thomas Howard about 1714. Thomas was born on September 5, 1690 in Pocomoke, Somerset County, Maryland. His parents were Edmund Howard and Margaret Dent.

Elizabeth and Thomas' children included:
Margaret Howard (about 1714),
Thomas Howard, Jr. (before 1716), and
Edmund Howard (about 1715).

In 1716 Thomas Howard, Sr.'s sister, Elizabeth died and left the residue of her estate of Thomas, Jr.

In 1718, Elizabeth inherited personal property from her grandmother, Sarah Bonner Douglas.

Thomas died on March 23, 1725/26 in Charles County when he was only about 34 years old. Elizabeth was the administratrix of his estate. Thomas's brothers, William and John Howard, were listed as his nearest relatives.

Elizabeth married Thomas Thompson on October 17, 1728.

Elizabeth died in 1749. Her estate disposed of her personal belongings and the people she had enslaved.

Thomas died on January 1, 1749/1750. His estate included bequests to his children and grandchildren. His next of kin were Henry and Thomas Thompson. His children from his prior marriage to Ann Tant.

Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.

Children of Colonel John Douglas and Sarah Bonner:

John Douglas

Robert Douglas

Sarah Douglas Gifford Barnes

Elizabeth Douglas Brandt Howard Thompson

Joseph Douglas

Charles Douglas

Pewter is an alloy composed mainly of tin, but can include lead. It was used for dishes and utensils. Some colonists suffered lead poisoning from using it. It dents easily and lasted about ten years. It was expensive and wooden dishes were used most often.

As of 1692, Charles County, Maryland was divided into 4 parishes (7 hundreds): the lower and upper part of William & Mary Parish hundreds, the east and west side of Port Tobacco hundreds, lower and upper part of Nanjemy (later Durham) Parish hundreds, and the upper part of King & Queen Parish hundred.

It was common for bequests to include wearing apparel.

Slavery is an immoral system of forced labor where people are treated as property to be bought and sold. It was legal in the American Colonies and the United States until the Civil War.

Piccowaxen Creek is just south of Morgantown, Maryland. It has been spelled as Pickawaxon, Pickiawaxen, Pickwixon, Pyckywaxen and Pykawaxon in Douglas family documents.

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©Roberta Tuller 2025
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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