Edward Douglas
(ca. 1750 - ca. 1831)
Last Will and Testament of William Douglas, Sr.
Halifax County, North Carolina, 1764
Early records naming Edward Douglas remain rare, although the proximity of the Douglas family during the mid-1700s provides a clue to his likely birthplace. Based upon family wills and legal documents, Edward was likely born circa 1750 in Edgecombe County (Halifax County was later created out of Edgecombe County), North Carolina. Edward was the son of Robert Douglas, Sr. and Olive Reeves, daughter of William Reeves, Sr. (ca. 1680 - ca. 1751), and his second wife, Margaret Burgess (ca. 1678 - ca. 1755). Edward is first mentioned in the Last Will and Testament of of his great grandfather, William Douglas, Sr., of Halifax County, North Carolina, in the year 1764, as follows:
"...I give and bequeath to Edward Douglas, the son of Robert Douglas, fifty acres of land joining his father's plantation..."
Thus, it may be concluded that Edward was certainly born prior to 1764. Later census records reveal that Edward had at least one child (Elizabeth) by circa 1782--again confirming that he was born at least by the early 1760s. Finally, tradition holds that Edward served as a soldier during the American Revolution, which suggests that he would have been born at least as early as 1758.
For a host of reasons, investigators have surmised that Edward could have been born as early as 1748 and as late as 1758--a ten-year span. However, the appearance of Edward on the aforementioned will, in addition to comparing dates with his father, Robert Douglas, Sr., and brother, Robert Douglas, Jr., suggest a birth date very close to 1750. Consequently, contemporary Douglas family researchers have revised Edward's likely birthdate to circa 1750 in an effort to provide a greater degree of accuracy. While researchers remain uncertain regarding the details of Edward's early life, it appears that he was relatively well educated for the period. His great grandfather, William Douglas, Sr., made provisions in his will for the education of several Douglas children. As Edward was specifically mentioned in the will, it is reasonable to conclude that the family valued education,
and that Edward would have benefited from this interest. Later records suggest that he was both literate and articulate.
Edward distinguished himself early on as a civic leader and one interested in the efficient operation and development of state and local government. Intelligent and personable, Edward regularly ascended to leadership positions within the provinces, counties, and towns in which he resided throughout his lifetime.
With the outbreak of hostilities in 1775 leading to the American Revolution, both the nation and individual families were soon divided over loyalties to the formation of a new country (Whigs) and to standing in solidarity with the British Crown (Tories). North Carolina posted a sizeable Whig population at the outbreak of the war, possibly including Edward Douglas, who, according to family tradition, joined the Revolutionary cause. As there were several Edward Douglases from North Carolina who either served in the Continental Army or various state militia units, it has been difficult to conclusively identify Edward's specific unit during the conflict. At present, researchers continue to hold the position that Edward did serve the Revolutionary cause until further documentation can be identified.
The same would not be true for Edward's father (Robert Douglas, Sr.) and brother (Robert Douglas, Jr.) who had migrated to Georgia during the early 1770s in search of land grant opportunities. As was common during this era, a head of household would often venture to a new territory in search of a better life for his family. Quite often, a portion of the family would be left behind to prepare for relocation once a new home and lands could be secured. As other members of the Douglas family had already left North Carolina for Georgia, this scenario remains quite probable. Edward, now old enough to settle affairs in North Carolina, remained behind as his father and brother sought new opportunities in Georgia--a highly prosperous colony.
The situation in Georgia during this period was much different than that of North Carolina. Georgia had fared well under English rule, and welcomed the protection of British troops. As a result, many residents of
Richard Caswell of North Carolina
Governor During the Revolutionary War
the state signed loyalty oaths to the British Crown as revolutionary fervor began to gain momentum. Such was the case for Robert Douglas, Sr. and Robert Douglas, Jr., who both signed an oath of allegiance to the King of England. The document is undated, but reflects the strong Tory sentiments then evident in the Georgia colony. With the start of the American Revolution, the Douglas family would not be reunited for several years.
Map of North Carolina
circa 1780
At the close of the war, Edward made the lengthy journey to Georgia to begin the process of securing new land for establishing a cattle ranch. A number of Edward's relatives had already made the journey--settling in Burke County. It is not presently known whether Edward married while still in North Carolina, or upon his arrival in Burke County, Georgia. Additionally, The exact identity of Edward's wife has not been authenticated via historical records, although family tradition and naming patterns suggest that her name may have been Elizabeth. For example, Edward's oldest daughter was named Elizabeth, and Edward's son, John, named his oldest daughter Elizabeth. However, some evidence suggests that Edward's wife's name may have been Temperance (see entry for Temperance Douglas). While the couple possibly reared numerous children, present records only confirm three:
a) Elizabeth (ca. 1782 - 1846); married Amos Riner (ca. 1780 - ca. 1816)
b) William (1783-1855); married Susanna Bishop (b. ca. 1791)
c) John (ca. 1785-1832): married Phada Yates Jordan (1793-1872)
It is possible that Edward was the father of additional children other than those noted above, but as of this writing, no other offspring have been positively identified. Nonetheless, one individual has perpetually intrigued researchers as a possible daughter, sister, or spouse of Edward. Temperance Douglas, who appeared on the estate sale records of Edward's brother, Robert Douglas, Jr., was certainly closely connected to Edward in some way as demonstrated by naming patterns within the Douglas line, although investigators have not yet determined the exact familial relationship.
As Edward's daughter, Elizabeth, was born by 1782, researchers know that Edward was established in Georgia at least as early as this date. He would now reconnect with his father and brother who had already been in the state since the early 1770s -- Robert Douglas, Sr. and Robert Douglas, Jr., respectively. As Edward would not receive Georgia land grants until 1786, it is surmised that he was residing with his father or brother until he could establish residency and thereupon apply for property.
Records indicate that Edward received Burke County land grants on 1/2/1786 for 100 acres on D. Harts/Duharts Creek (now Duhart Creek, located in present-day Jefferson County near the city of Louisville) and 150 acres on Harveys Mill Creek, in 1788 (150 acres) and 1790 (100 acres). It is noteworthy that the 100 acre tract Edward received on D. Harts/Duharts Creek would later pass to his brother, Thomas Douglas (1), in 1796 following Edward's migration out of the Burke County area. It is not surprising that Edward would migrate into this area as the city of Louisville, by an act of the General Assembly, was designated the capital of the state on January 26, 1786. Thus many settlers were moving in and out of this area during the 1780s.
Burke County suffered immensely as a result of the Revolution and other factors, and numerous early settlers began to move westward in search of better opportunities. Edward was among those who left Burke County and moved west into what was then Washington County, Georgia. He received a land grant of 265 acres in Washington County in 1789, part of which was later cut into Montgomery County, and finally, Emanuel County.
Edward was listed as a taxpayer in Montgomery County for the tax year 1797/1798. Other individuals of note listed on the 1797/1798 Tax Digest of Montgomery County were Edward's father, Robert Douglas, Sr., Edward's brother, Robert Douglas, Jr., in addition to other settlers including Isaac Daniel and Benjamin Daniel.
Edward distinguished himself as one of the county's leading citizens, and with his father, Robert Douglas, Sr., and a number of other civic leaders including W. Gray, Mark Mayo, Peter Yates, Canneth Swain, Charles Mayo, Gideon Mayo, and Sherod Swain, signed a petition to Georgia Governor Jerrid Arwen in 1797, as follows:
Bridge Over Rocky Comfort Creek
Entering Louisville, Georgia
To his Excellency Jerrid Arwen, Esqr...We your humble petitions send praying that whereas the afforesaid County of Montgomery is destitute of a Receiver of Tax Returns for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, your petitioners pray that Shered Swain be appointed to fill and perform the said office of Receiver of Tax Returns for the said County of Montgomery for the said year one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven, and your petitioners as in Duty bound will every pray.
Edward's role as civic leader was first noted on March 23, 1798, when he was appointed as an arbitrator in Montgomery County to hear the case of Thomas Farless versus Icabod Finche. Edward served in this role with his close friend, Stephen Swain, under the direction of the Honorable William Few. The official court record reads as follows:
The Rev. Cader Price
circa 1850
Friday, March 23, 1798...The parties came into Court and agreed to leave all matters and things in dispute between them touching the aforesaid case to the final arbitration and determination of C. Price, Edward Douglas, and Stephen Swain, who are to convene at the house of Mark Mayo on the first Saturday in April in the present year...they are to hear both sides, then their award to be final...
C. Price was Cader Price, relative of the Reverend Cader Price (1800-1872) who would eventually migrate to Rankin County, Mississippi. Here, he attained notable success as a well regarded Baptist minister.
Edward would later serve on the Grand Jury of Montgomery County on August 5, 1799, along with Isaac Daniel, Mark Mayo, Stephen Swain, Charles Mayo, and Kee Tapley. In 1804, Edward served the court as a regular juror.
Edward purchased land adjacent to the Little Ohoopee River from his brother, Robert Douglas, Jr. in Montgomery County in April of 1805. Researchers have theorized that Robert Douglas, Jr. sold the land at the death of his father, Robert Douglas, Sr., whereupon Robert Douglas, Jr. migrated into Laurens County. This parcel was later sold to Edward's son-in-law, Amos Riner (who was married to Edward's daughter, Elizabeth).
Amos, in turn, sold the parcel to Richard Sumner in April of 1810.
In 1805 and 1812, Edward received land grants of 200 acres of land in Montgomery County, and in 1815 and 1819, grants totaling 300 acres of land in Emanuel County. In February of 1809, Edward purchased 200 acres of land in Montgomery County from Francis Thigpen. This transaction was witnessed by his son-in-law, Amos Riner. The July, 18, 1815 Emanuel County grant states that Edward resided on Mulepen Creek, and was witnessed by his son, John Douglas, and friend, Gray Tanner (brother of Wilson Tanner). The Douglas family would remain in the Mulepen Creek area for generations to follow.
Edward's leadership acumen did not go unnoticed in early Montgomery County as he was soon named Justice of the Peace--even conducting legal services in his home until a courthouse could be constructed during the early 1800s. Edward would also serve as one of the first Justices of the Peace for Emanuel County with its formation by legislative action in 1812. In 1812, Emanuel County's population has been estimated at around
Edward Douglas Official Land Plat
300 Acres on Mulepen Creek, 1815
2,000 inhabitants. The county itself was just under 1,900 square miles. One of Edward's key duties was to establish legal protocols to be followed by the local citizenry and future Justices of the Peace.
Justices of the Peace served particular militia districts within a county. Typical duties included holding lower court sessions, witnessing wills, issuing warrants, performing weddings, authorizing deeds, and other legal duties. Edward's activities as a citizen and Justice of the Peace were numerous, but not completely documented. Fortunately, a number of Edward's interactions have been preserved in the historical record.
Edward appeared on a 5/18/1807 Montgomery County Court record with Nancy Taylor, each vouching for the veracity of the "intended" will of Henry Taylor, who had recently passed away. It appears that Henry likely died intestate (i.e., without a will on file with the court), but did have a will at his residence (referred to as "an instrument of writing" in the 1807 document), which was attested to by Edward and Nancy Taylor. The will was not contested, and Edward would soon thereafter administer Henry's estate with his friend, Stephen Swain, and Gideon Thomas, a close neighbor.
Henry Taylor was a close friend and probable relative of Edward's. Some researchers contend that Henry's wife was named Mary (MNU), and that the couple gave birth to a daughter named Nancy. If this is indeed accurate, and if this Nancy is the same individual that appeared with Edward on the document noted above, then it is quite possible that Edward and Mary Taylor were brother and sister. Mary would have certainly been of the same generation as Edward as her husband, Henry, was a Revolutionary War veteran--placing him around the same age as Edward.
Still, researchers cannot verify with certainly that Henry's wife was Mary. It is equally possible that his wife was Nancy (based on the scant available documentation), thereby opening the possibility that she and Edward were brother and sister. This is a reasonable conclusion as brothers often assisted widowed siblings in settling legal matters during this period. Moreover, the Taylors remained close (both in friendship and proximity) to the Douglases for many years, thereby supporting the possibility of a familial relationship. Additional research is needed to shed much-needed light on this relationship.
On October 19, 1799, acting as Justice of the Peace in Montgomery County, Edward witnessed a tax deed for 26,000 acres surveyed for Thomas Dawson. Again, in his duties as Justice of the Peace, Edward witnessed a deed exchange between William McCarle and Abner Davis on October 19, 1799. Edward would witness many such documents including a deed exchange between Archibald Finche and Mary Finche (1801), and W. Stansill to Jesse Miles (1803).
Edward, along with his son-in-law, Amos Riner, witnessed an indenture of 200 acres between W. Yates and S. Hartley Yates in the amount of $69, and himself purchased several tracts including acreage obtained from John Bruner (1802) and Travis Hill Thigpen (1809).
Edward appeared in the 1805 Montgomery County Tax Digest along with his son, William Douglas, and other notable citizens including William Yates, Frederick Douglas, Samuel Jordan, William Jordan, Nancy Flanders (widow), and Henry, John, and William Taylor.
Seaborn, Robert, Jr.'s younger son, remained with Edward for a number of years. He would later migrate into Lowndes County, Georgia. Robert Duncan Douglas, already in his teens at the time of his father's death, migrated into Appling County with his mother, Margaret.
Emanuel County was created by the Georgia General Assembly on December 10, 1812. Named for David Emanuel, a former governor of Georgia, Emanuel County was carved out of land formerly comprising Montgomery and Bulloch Counties.
With the death of Robert Douglas, Jr., Edward traveled to Laurens County, Georgia, to oversee all applicable legal matters pertaining to his brother's estate. Edward was named guardian of Robert's children (Robert Duncan & Seaborn Douglas) in 1808. He would make several more trips to Laurens County in order to satisfy the court's desire that the estate be properly administered. Edward, and his close friend Mark Mayo, posted $1500.00 bond as security on Robert's estate. By 1809, Edward completed court appraisal and administration procedures. On June 15, 1809, Edward submitted the following statement to the court of Laurens County:
I therefore...Edward Douglas, do in such cases, if required, render and deliver up the said letters of administration...
Edward would make several reports to the court over the next few years in order to verify that the needs of Robert's children were being properly addressed. He also administered all outstanding debts associated with Robert's estate including overseeing a sizeable estate sale. Accompanied by Stephen Swain, Edward oversaw the sale and verified that all funds were used in the settlement of Robert's outstanding debts. According to the estate sale record, Stephen Swain purchased one lot of pewter (flatware) valued at $6.56.
Official Estate Papers
Robert Douglas, Jr.
A fascinating mystery has arisen resulting from Robert Douglas, Jr.'s estate sale, and has yet to be solved by researchers. Among the attendees of the event was a woman by the name of Temperance Douglas, who purchased a Dutch oven and trunk. While researchers remain uncertain as to the exact identity of Temperance, it is possible
that she may have been another daughter or sister of Edward, although no additional evidence exists to confirm or deny these speculations. Temperance was, however, very close to Edward and Robert Douglas, Jr. as her name reappears among the children of Robert Duncan Douglas, son of Robert Douglas, Jr.
Typical Dutch Oven
19th Century
Through legislative action put forth by now state Senator Stephen Swain (who incidentally, performed the marriage ceremony for Edward's son, John, several years earlier), Edward was appointed one of the first trustees of the Emanuel County Inferior Court in 1813. Reuben Neal and Milliner Holliday shared this honor with Edward.
Until a permanent courthouse could be erected, legal proceedings were conducted at the home of Stephen Rich. The first official courthouse in Emanuel County (built circa 1814) was reportedly constructed of pine logs in what would become Swainsboro, Georgia. This courthouse would burn in 1841, a terrible omen of things to come as Emanuel County would suffer no less than seven courthouse fires throughout its history. This series of tragedies resulted in the loss of countless historical and genealogical records.
Russell Wilson Tanner
circa 1850
Edward, now a civic leader in Emanuel County, applied for a land grant with his sons, John and William in 1815--each acting as witnesses for the others. The last official record in existence specifically naming Edward is the 1820 census, which places Edward next door to John Douglas, his son, and Seaborn Douglas, his nephew. Other close neighbors of note were Burrell Yates (father of Edward's daughter-in-law, Phada), Russell Wilson Tanner (brother of Gray Tanner and son of John E. Tanner and Mary Douglas), James Taylor (husband of Elizabeth Yates, daughter of Burrell Yates), Isaiah Taylor (son of Henry Taylor, RS), John Taylor (husband of Matilda Gray), Henry Taylor, Jr. (son of Henry Taylor, RS, and husband of Sarah, MNU), Gideon Thomas (father of Benjamin Thomas and Clayborn Thomas, and husband of Hannah Clay), and Richard Sumner (brother of Joseph Chestnutt Sumner, Sr.).
By 1830, both Edward and his wife had grown old, and likely feeble. Edward would have been approximately 80 years old at this time. In the household of Edward's son, William, an elderly man and woman are recorded in the 1830 Emanuel County census. Here, a census-taker error may be noted as the elderly man, Edward, was recorded as over 100 years old. This was certainly an accidental "tick" in the wrong age category box. Edward's wife was accurately recorded in the 70-80 age category. Thus, we know that Edward and his wife lived at least until 1830. It is surmised that Edward died sometime around 1831.
No information presently survives regarding where, when, or how Edward died, but researchers generally agree that Edward passed away circa 1831 in the home of his son, William, in Emanuel County. As he was elderly, death by natural causes may be readily assumed. As Edward was well acquainted with legal matters, and often assisted others in settling their legal affairs, researchers remain certain that Edward drafted a will. The fact that he was himself Justice of the Peace for Emanuel County virtually assures this probability. However, due to the many courthouse fires occurring in Emanuel County following Edward's death, his will did not survive.
Edward's wife would have also passed away in the home of William Douglas prior to 1840 as she does not appear on the 1840 census. Tradition holds that Edward was buried in what was then known as the "The Old Douglas Cemetery," but is now generally referred to as "The Old Riner Cemetery" in Meeks, Johnson County, Georgia. His grave was likely located near his grandson's (Amos Douglas) final resting place--which, incidentally, is the oldest headstone in the cemetery. Edward's grave marker is long lost to history, but his legacy to the Douglas family forever remains.
Edward's lasting influence and legacy may be noted in the many individuals named after him. These individuals include Edward Riner, son of Edward's daughter, Elizabeth Douglas (1), Ed (Edward) Douglas of Johnson County, Edward Dallas Douglas, grandson of Seaborn Douglas, Edward Douglas, great grandson of Robert Duncan Douglas, and Edward Truett, grandson of Clint Douglas.