Harry Lightfoot Douglass (abt. 1793 - 1854)

Born about 1793 in Sumner, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Priscilla (Shelby) Douglass — married about 1811 in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Zuritha (Alcorn) Douglass — married 19 Aug 1817 in Wilson, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Jane Ann (Barrow) Douglass — married 15 Dec 1829 in Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Died 13 Sep 1854 at about age 61 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Harry Lightfoot Douglass was born about 1793 ^[1] near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee to Lt Col Edward Douglass Jr and Elizabeth (Howard) Douglass. ^{[2] [3]}

Col Douglass was a Veteran of the War of 1812, ^[4] friend and confidant of Gen. Andrew Jackson.

Business interests brought him to Shreveport, LA, where he maintained a residence for more than a decade, dividing his time between Shreveport and Vicksburg, though the U.S. Census of 1850 gives his primary residence as Shreveport. Nevertheless, Col. Douglass is usually identified historically as a Mississippian. ^[4]

Harry L Douglass was involved in the cotton business in Mississippi and north Louisiana. Douglass, a cotton merchant, owned the 1st cotton compress in the south. ^[5] Col. Robert Nathaniel Wood, Crabb, and Douglass were business associates and sometime business partners, which is what had first brought Douglass to Shreveport in the early 1840s. Douglass died at his Shreveport residence and was buried at Oakland Cemetery in what was intended to be a temporary grave. However, his remains were never removed for reburial at Vicksburg and his body remains at Oakland yet, though the exact location of the grave is now uncertain. ^[5]

Shreveport's Douglass Street (frequently misspelled with only a single final s), located a block east of Oakland Cemetery, is named for him and is his only permanent memorial in the city.

Col Douglass was a 33 degree Mason, and in 1833 Most Worshipful Grand Master of Lebanon Lodge #66 ^[5]

Marriage

First marriage He married 1st, Priscilla Shelby Douglass, daughter of David and Sarah Bledsoe Shelby of Sumner County, Tenn. The couple were married in 1811 in Lebanon, Tenn., of which Col. Douglass was once mayor (1829). ^{[6] [7]}

Second marriage After Priscilla Douglass death Col. Douglass married 2nd Zuritha Alcorn (dau. of John & Prudence (Hall) Alcorn) on 19 Aug 1817 in Wilson Co., TN. Zuritha died 11 Feb 1820. ^[8]

Third marriage

Col. Douglass married 3rd Jane Ann Barrow, widow of Henry Crabb, 15 Dec 1829 in Davidson Co., TN., and relocated to Vicksburg. Jane was the mother of California senator Col. Henry Crabb, the filibusterer who attempted to bring the Mexican state of Sonora into the U.S. in 1857. ^[8]

Children

1. Priscilla Douglass, b. 1813/14 d. 1877, married Dr. Robert Campbell K. Martin (descendant of Anothony Bledsoe), she was the dau of Priscilla Shelby Douglass. ^[9]
2. William R. Douglass b 1818 d aft 1852^{[10] [11]}
3. Elizabeth H, Douglass b 1835^{[11] [12]}

Notable Southern Families

From: Notable Southern Families, Volume 2, Lookout Publishing Company, 1922, Page 321

Priscilla Shelby, daughter of David and Sarah (Bledsoe) Shelby was born in Sumner County. Married Harry L. Douglass, a native of Sumner County. He was a merchant of Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he died in 1854. Their daughter was: Priscilla Douglass. After the death of his wife, Priscilla Shelby, Harry L. Douglass married Miss Alcorn, sister of Governor Alcorn, of Mississippi. After her death he married Mrs. Jane Crabb. mother of Henry Cobb of Sonora California fame. Colonel Douglass was one of the largest merchants in Vicksburg and was owner of the first cotton compress in Mississippi.

Priscilla Douglass, daughter of Harry L. and Priscilla (Shelby) Douglass, married Dr. Robert C. K. Martin,who was born in Nashville, Aug. 9, 1808. After receiving a classical education he graduated from Franklin Medical College, Philadelphia, with distinguished honors, then sucessfully practiced medicine for approximately forty years, winning eminence in his profession, and was noted for his philanthropy. He died in Nashville, Feb. 9, 1872.

Priscillla and Robert Martin had children : Bettie Martin. Mary Shelby Martin. Never married. Alice Martin. Henry Douglass Martin. Player Martin. Never married. Robert C. K. Martin, junior. Maria Martin. Shelby Martin. Never married.

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 US Census, Louisiana
2. ↑ Historic Sumner County, Tennessee, Guy Jay Cisco, 1909, Nashville, Tennessee, Chapter 11
3. ↑ The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1829, Andrew Jackson, Harold D. Moser, Daniel Feller, Laura-Eve Moss, Univ. of Tennessee Press, Dec 1, 2007
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} The 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Harry L Douglass, 1833 Most Worshipful Grand Master
6. ↑ Harry Lightfoot Douglass Find A Grave: Memorial #59882482
7. ↑ The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1829, Andrew Jackson, Harold D. Moser, Daniel Feller, Laura-Eve Moss, Univ. of Tennessee Press, Dec 1, 2007, Page 455
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Historic Sumner County, Tennessee: With Genealogies of the Bledsoe, Cage and Douglass Families and Genealogical Notes of Other Sumner County Families. Jay Guy Cisco, Nashville, 1909
9. ↑ Notable Southern Families, Volume 2, Lookout Publishing Company, 1922, Page 321
10. ↑ Historic Sumner County, Tennessee, Jay Guy Cisco
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} William R Douglass: Political Graveyard
12. ↑ 1850 US Census, Louisiana

See Also:

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJQ-94C : accessed 4 January 2016), H L Douglass, Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana, United States; citing family 229, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Historic Sumner County, Tennessee, Guy Jay Cisco, 1909, Nashville, Tennessee, Chapter 11, page 51

• "Cumberland Pioneer Settlers, 1779 - 1804", Volume III, Jack Masters & Bill Puryear

• Harry L Douglass, 1833 Most Worshipful Grand Master