Colonel John Douglas was born in 1636 near Glasglow, Scotland. In 1661, he swore in court that he was 25. He became a wealthy tobacco planter in Charles County. His biography said he was
literate with no title upon arival in this country, he obtained wealth in his lifetime owning over 1600 acres of property at his death.
He beame an apprentice to John Hamilton (1634-1684) on June 20, 1649 in Edinburgh to learn the "Art and Science of Merchandising." It took him about five years to complete the apprenticeship.
He immigrated to Maryland before May, 1655 when he first appeared in a document.
In 1659 he, and others, petitioned the court for payment "for trouble & paynes wee tooke in taking Mr Hutts Vessell." He was paid 20 pounds of tobacco a day for five days work.
In 1661 he testified in Knages vs Bowles. He was about 25 years old.
He married Sarah Bonner on August 17, 1663 in Charles County. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on John and Sarah Douglas.
He entered the military between 1665 and 1678 in Charles County where he rose to the rank of colonel. He was paid 10,520 pounds of tobacco for his part in the expedition against the Susquehannah in 1675.
He was appointed as the Commissioner
of Peace from 1672 to 1678 in Charles County.
He was appointed as a "Gentleman of the Quorum" in 1675 in Charles County. He was elected as Burgesses, Lower House, from Charles County on May 30, 1676. Colonel Douglas was one of the seven members representing Charles County. He only attended the first two sessions before his death.
He signed his will on December 14, 1678 in Charles County. He left his wife, Sarah, their Piccowaxen house. He left
John part of Cold Spring Manor when he turned 21. Robert received Blythswood when he turned 21. Charles and Joseph each received part of Cold Spring Manor at 21 years.
He died about he time the will was written in Piccowaxen. He was only in his mid-forties. The estate was probated on January 3, 1679 in Charles County.
Piccowaxen Parish, Maryland was on Cobb Neck between the Wicomico and Potomac Rivers. It has been spelled as Pickawaxon, Pickiawaxen, Pickwaten, Pickwixon, Pykawaxen in Douglas family records. Christ Church Wayside was built there in 1692.The parish became William and Mary Parish.
Planter is an archaic term for a settler. Plantation was a method of colonization where settlers were "planted" abroad. A plantation is also the kind of large farm that was the economical basis of many American Colonies and owners of these farms were also called planters.
In Colonial Maryland, the governor appointed justices to the county courts. Some of these justices were "Justices (or Gentlemen) of the Quorum" which meant that court could not be held without at least one of them being present.
Fendall's Rebellion
In March, 1660 Josias Fendall attempted to overthrow the proprietary government of Maryland. It was a bloodless coup.
Blythswood Manor (Blithwood, Blythwood) was surveyed on May 10, 1667 for John Douglas (b. 1636). It was a 100 acre plantation on the north side of the Potomac River in the Piccowaxon area. Blythswood may have been the name of the family manor house in Scotland. Inherited by his son, Robert Douglas then by Benjamin Douglas (b. 1685) then his son, John Douglas (1709) who sold it in 1769.
Tobacco is a native American herb that is cultivated for its leaves which are prepared for smoking, chewing or snuff. In parts of colonial America, it was used as money. Tobacco plantations in the colonial south fueled the need for enslaving people.
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.
