R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 1

Robert Douglas, son of Moses & Catherine Douglas

By Jennifer Douglas

Robert Douglas was born in 1788 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. He was baptized 6 April 1788 at

Shankill Parish Church. His baptism entry is as follows:

6/4/88 Robert Douglas son of Moses Douglas of Dougher

He married Mary Wilkinson on July 27, 1810, in Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland at Shankill Parish

Church. Robert and Mary had 10 children that we know of. However, it is possible that there are others

that we have not yet found as there are gaps between the births of siblings. He died on February 18,

1867, in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, having lived a long life of 79 years.

In 1791, Moses Douglas names Robert as one of his ‘lives’ in his lease with Lord Brownlow (the late

Robert Marsden was his father-law, Catherine’s father):

Said Moses Douglas for the lives of Thomas aged 10 yrs and Robert aged 6 years. Rent 5 Pounds. Moses Douglas -

part of the late Robert Marsdens farm in Kinnigo now in his possession containing by a late survey 5 acres, English

measure the same more or less, Townland of Kinnigo, Manor of Brownlow, Derry Armagh. Nov 1st 1791. Record at

proni D1928/L/51/14

NOTE: When a lease referred to “for the lives of …” , it meant that the lease would continue for as long as

those individuals named were still alive. For this reason, the one signing the lease would often name his

younger children since that would likely mean that the lease could stay in the family longer.

In 1816 and 1826, Robert Douglas and his brothers are named in the Freeholders list for Seagoe. You can

see the entries for these at PRONI:

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/freeholders_records.htm

In 1834, Robert and his brothers are named in the Seagoe Tithe Applotments:

Douglass, Henry Kinnago

Douglass, Hillary Kinnago

Douglass, James Drumnakelly

Douglass, M. Kinnago

Douglass, Moses Kinnago

Douglass, Robert Kinnago

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 2

he home that is indicated as where Robert Douglas lived in the 1864 Griffiths Valuation, still exists.

However it is in ruins, but from where the property remains you can see the Main home that now

stands. It is built on the foundations of an older home, likely the original Marsden home that became

Moses & Hillary Douglas’s home.

Robert and Mary had the following children:

1. John Douglas 1812 – 1878

2. Nathaniel Douglas 1814 – 1872

3. Moses Douglas 1820 – 1864

4. Male Douglas 1822 – 1823

5. James Douglas 1824 –

6. Jane Douglas 1825 – 1911

7. Robert Douglas 1828 –

8. Sarah Douglas 1831 – 1841

9. Mary Douglas 1834 – 1919

10. Catherine Douglas dates unknown

Robert Douglas and some of his family are buried in the

Old Shankill Cemtery, in Lurgan, Armagh, N Ireland.

They rest in front of his parents and brother Moses &

family.

Sacred to the memory of Sarah Douglas daughter of Robert Douglas, Kinnego, who departed this life 2sd [sic] December 1850 aged 10 years Also Robert Douglas who departed this life 18th February 1867 aged 78 years Also his wife Mary, who departed this life 19th April 1868, aged 77 years Also Nathaniel Douglas, who died 16th Sept 1872 aged 57 years In the midst of life we are in dead Also John Douglas, who died 26th Nov 1878 aged 66 years .

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 3

Belfast Newsletter – 23 March 1874

The children:

John Douglas: born in 1812 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. He died on November 26, 1878, in

Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland, at the age of 66 apparently unmarried. We don’t know any more

about John at this time.

Nathaniel Douglas: born about 1814, in Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland. He died on September 15,

1872, in Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland, at the

age of 58, unmarried.

He was a member of the Methodist Church,

being named as a Prayer Leader in the 1841

May – October Lord’s Day Plan.

Nathaniel was a

Tea Dealer, and

the 1870 Lurgan

Directory shows him living at 44 High Street.

We don’t have a copy of Nathaniel’s will, but newspaper

articles from the time (found at Findmypast.com), indicate

that his brother-in-law Moses Cordner disputed some

details about that will.

Belfast Newsletter – 13 December 1872

Nathaniel and Henry Douglas's signatures: Not certain which Henry this is. Signatures are from the marriage entry of Jane Douglas, Nathaniel’s sister.

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 4

Name unknown Male Douglas: Born in December 1822 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. He died

in June 1823 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland, within a year of his birth. His transcribed entry in

the Shankill Church records reads:

?,son of Robert & Mary Douglafs, Kinnigo. 6 months old 22/06/1823

Moses Douglas: Born about 1820, in Kinnnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. He married Catherine Brown

on October 23, 1844, in Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland, at the Shankill parish Church. They had one

child during their marriage. He died in 1864 at the age of 44. He is described as being 5 ft 6 ½ inches tall,

with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion on his civil war record. His occupation is also recorded

as ‘weaver’.

Their son Robert Douglas was baptized 3 September 1845 at Shankill Parish Church.

The family moved to New York in the United States and are listed in the 1850 & 1855 censuses.

Moses and Robert both seem to have fought in the American Civil War. Moses was mustered in

on 22 February 1864. He died in action on 18 May 1864 at Spotsylvania, VA (per records found at

ancestry.com). In November of 1864, Catherine Douglas, now a widow, is filing for Civil War Widows

pension. There is a Robert Douglas who mustered in on the 24 September 1862, in New York. He

survived the war and mustered out 6 June 1865 at Washington D.C. He is described as being born in

Ireland, 5ft 5 ¾ inches tall with blue eyes, light colored hair and complexion. His occupation is

shoemaker. I am not certain if this Robert is Moses’s son.

1850 Census

HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE

Moses Douglass Moses Douglass M 35 Ireland

Catharine Douglass Catharine Douglass F 39 Ireland

Robert Douglass M 5 Ireland CITING THIS RECORD

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCB4-TK4 :

accessed 14 November 2015), Robert Douglass in household of Moses Douglass, New York City, ward 10, New York, New York,

United States; citing family 1978, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration,

n.d.).

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 5

James Douglas: Born in October 1824 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. We have no further

information on him at this time. He is not named on the family headstone so perhaps this is an

indication that he married.

Jane Douglas: Born in 1825 in Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. She married Moses Corner (Cordner)

on 27 August , 1852, in Seagoe Parish Church, Armagh, Northern Ireland. They had six children and she

died in 1911 in Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her husband, Moses Corner was the son of Moses

Corner of Toberhewny, Lurgan, per their marriage entry. He died 3 July 1891.

When his brother-in-law Nathaniel Douglas died, there was some sort of dispute over the will

and seems to have also involved his own father’s estate. Perhaps more information will come to light

about this at a later stage.

In 1901 Jane is found living with her son Robert Cordner, his family and her daughter Sarah.

They are at 40 Downing Street, Belfast and are listed as Methodist.

Jane and Moses Cordner’s family as I know it are:

Sarah Cordner 1853 - ?

Catherine Cardner 1855 - ?

Name: Moses Douglas

Event Type: Census

Event Date: 1855

Event Place: E.D. 2, Ward 13, Brooklyn City, Kings, New York, United States

Gender: Male

Age: 36

Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Birth Year (Estimated): 1819

Family Number: 156

Line Number: 5

Page:

GS Film number: 1930199

Digital Folder Number: 005207203

Image Number: 00478

Citing this Record:

"New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6W3-2RT : accessed 14

November 2015), Moses Douglas, E.D. 2, Ward 13, Brooklyn City, Kings, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm

1,930,199.

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Moses Douglas Head M 36

Catharine Douglas Wife F 39

Robert Douglas Child M 10

1855 Census

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 6

Thomas Cordner 1857 – before 1860

Thomas Cordner 1860 – 1914 (Thomas settled in Toronto Canada)

Robert Cordner 1863 –

William Cordner 1867 –

On the 16 September 1897 Robert Cordner places a “News Wanted” in the Daily Mail & Empire,

seeking information about his brother Thomas Cordner. It seems that they must have lost

contact with each other, but Thomas does continue to live and dies in Toronto.

Robert Douglas: Born about June 1828, in Kinnego,

Armagh, Northern Ireland. We have no further

information on him at this time. He is not named on

the family headstone so perhaps this is an

indication that he married.

Sarah Douglas: Born in 1831 in Kinnego, Armagh,

Northern Ireland. She died as a child in 1841 in

Kinnego, Armagh, Northern Ireland. She is buried in

the family grave in Old Shankill Cemetery.

Mary Douglas: Born about 1834, in Kinnego,

Armagh, Northern Ireland. She married William

Cordner Corner on October 1, 1862, in Seagoe

Parish Church, Armagh, Northern Ireland. They had

seven children. She died on June 27, 1919, in

Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland, at the age of 85.

William Cordner (or Corner) was born about 1826, in Lurgan, Armagh, Northern Ireland. His father,

according to their marriage entry, was also William Cordner. He died on November 25, 1902, in Lurgan,

Armagh, Northern Ireland, having lived a long life of 76 years.

In the 1901 census, the family are living at 17 High Street, Lurgan. William and Mary have their

daughters Maggie, Mary Jane and Lizzie living with them. In 1911, Mary and her three daughters are

living at 20 Queens Street, Lurgan. The family is buried together in Old Shankill Cemetery.

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 7

They had 7 children:

Catherine Cordner 1864 – 1895

Margaret Cordner 1865 – 1939

Thomas Cordner 1866 – 1897

Mary Jane Cordner 1869 – 1941

Elizabeth Cordner 1872 –

Robert Alexander Cordner 1874 –

Alexander Cordner 1876 – 1886

Catherine Douglas: She is a likely daughter of Robert Douglas. Shankill Parish Church has record of her

marriage, but not her birth. She married James Hazelton on January 6, 1837, in Lurgan, Armagh,

Northern Ireland.

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 8

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 9

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 10

R o b e r t D o u g l a s , s o n o f M o s e s & C a t h e r i n e P a g e | 11