Biography of James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas 1646-1700

In 1628 [his father] Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus (age 19) and [his mother] Anne Stewart (age 14) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and [his grandmother] Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox (age 36). He the son of [his grandfather] William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 39) and [his grandmother] Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1646 James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas was born to Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus (age 37) and Anne Stewart (age 32).

On 16th August 1646 [his mother] Anne Stewart (age 32) died.

On 15th January 1655 [his father] Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus (age 46) died. He was buried at Douglas Vault St Bride's Church.

On 19th February 1660 [his grandfather] William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 71) died at Douglas Castle, Douglas. His grandson James (age 14) succeeded 2nd Marquess Douglas.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 15th November 1666. Presently after the King (age 36) was come in, he took the Queene (age 56), and about fourteen more couple there was, and began the Bransles. As many of the men as I can remember presently, were, the King, Duke of York (age 33), Prince Rupert (age 46), Duke of Monmouth (age 17), Duke of Buckingham (age 38), Lord Douglas (age 20), Mr. [George] Hamilton (age 59), Colonell Russell (age 46), Mr. Griffith, Lord Ossory (age 32), Lord Rochester (age 19); and of the ladies, the Queene, Duchess of York (age 29), Mrs. Stewart (age 19), Duchess of Monmouth (age 15), Lady Essex Howard, Mrs. Temples (age 17), Swedes Embassadress, Lady Arlington (age 32); Lord George Barkeley's daughter (age 16) [Note. Assumed Elizabeth], and many others I remember not; but all most excellently dressed in rich petticoats and gowns, and dyamonds, and pearls.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th June 1667. Thence back to the docke, and in my way saw how they are fain to take the deals of the rope-house to supply other occasions, and how sillily the country troopers look, that stand upon the passes there; and, methinks, as if they were more willing to run away than to fight, and it is said that the country soldiers did first run at Sheerenesse [Map], but that then my Lord Douglas's (age 21) men did run also; but it is excused that there was no defence for them towards the sea, that so the very beach did fly in their faces as the bullets come, and annoyed them, they having, after all this preparation of the officers of the ordnance, only done something towards the land, and nothing at all towards the sea. The people here everywhere do speak very badly of Sir Edward Spragge (age 47), as not behaving himself as he should have done in that business, going away with the first, and that old Captain Pyne, who, I am here told, and no sooner, is Master-Gunner of England, was the last that staid there.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th June 1667. At the foot of Rochester, Kent [Map] bridge, at the landing-place, I met my Lord Bruncker (age 47) and my Lord Douglas (age 21), and all the officers of the soldiers in the town, waiting there for the Duke of York (age 33), whom they heard was coming thither this day; by and by comes my Lord Middleton (age 59), the first time I remember to have seen him, well mounted, who had been to meet him, but come back without him; he seems a fine soldier, and so every body says he is; and a man, like my Lord Teviott, and indeed most of the Scotch gentry, as I observe, of few words. After staying here by the water-side and seeing the boats come up from Chatham, Kent [Map], with them that rowed with bandeleeres about their shoulders, and muskets in their boats, they being the workmen of the Yard, who have promised to redeem their credit, lost by their deserting the service when the Dutch were there, my Lord Bruncker went with Lord Middleton to his inne, the Crowne, to dinner, which I took unkindly, but he was slightly invited.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th June 1667. So to the chaine, and there saw it fast at the end on Upnor [Map] side of the River; very fast, and borne up upon the several stages across the River; and where it is broke nobody can tell me. I went on shore on Upnor [Map] side to look upon the end of the chaine; and caused the link to be measured, and it was six inches and one-fourth in circumference. They have burned the Crane House that was to hawl it taught. It seems very remarkable to me, and of great honour to the Dutch, that those of them that did go on shore to Gillingham, Kent [Map], though they went in fear of their lives, and were some of them killed; and, notwithstanding their provocation at Schelling, yet killed none of our people nor plundered their houses, but did take some things of easy carriage, and left the rest, and not a house burned; and, which is to our eternal disgrace, that what my Lord Douglas's (age 21) men, who come after them, found there, they plundered and took all away; and the watermen that carried us did further tell us, that our own soldiers are far more terrible to those people of the country-towns than the Dutch themselves. We were told at the batteries, upon my seeing of the field-guns that were there, that, had they come a day sooner, they had been able to have saved all; but they had no orders, and lay lingering upon the way, and did not come forward for want of direction. Commissioner Pett's (age 56) house was all unfurnished, he having carried away all his goods. I met with no satisfaction whereabouts the chaine was broke, but do confess I met with nobody that I could well expect to have satisfaction [from], it being Sunday; and the officers of the Yard most of them abroad, or at the Hill house, at the pay of the Chest, which they did make use of to day to do part in.

On 7th September 1670 James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas (age 24) and Barbara Erskine Marchioness Douglas were married. She by marriage Marchioness Douglas. She the daughter of John Erskine 21st Earl of Mar. He the son of Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus and Anne Stewart. They were sixth cousins.

On 13th December 1692 James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas (age 46) and Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas (age 18) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Douglas. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of Robert Kerr 1st Marquess Lothian (age 56) and Jean Campbell. He the son of Archibald Douglas 1st Earl Ormonde 12th Earl Angus and Anne Stewart. They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 15th October 1694 [his son] Archibald Douglas 1st Duke of Douglas was born to James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas (age 48) and [his wife] Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas (age 20).

On 17th March 1698 [his daughter] Jane Douglas was born to James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas (age 52) and [his wife] Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas (age 24).

On 25th February 1700 James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas (age 54) died. His son [his son] Archibald (age 5) succeeded 2nd Marquess Douglas.

On 22nd January 1736 [his former wife] Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas (age 62) died.