Robert Douglass Jr. (abt. 1764 - abt. 1843)

Born about 1764 in Topsham, Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1843 at about age 79 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rosa Lane [send private message]

Biography

Robert Douglass, Jr. was born about 1764 in Topsham, Lincoln, Massachusetts Bay, now State of Maine. He was the son of Robert and Barbara (Alexander) Douglas, Sr. Robert Sr. and Barbara removed to Damariscotta, Lincoln County, Province of Maine then moved to North Haven, which was part of Vinalhaven at this time. In the 1800 Federal Census, Robert Douglass Jr. reported that he had emigrated to North Haven from Damariscotta.

Robert Jr. married Sarah "Sally" Cooper in North Haven in 1786. Per the 1790 Census, Robert Jr. and Sarah continued to reside in Vinalhaven (North Haven) but later in 1800 or just after 1800, Robert Douglass, Jr. and family removed to Isle au Haut, then part of Deer Isle. Robert and Sarah had seven children including Eleanor b. 1787, Alexander b. 1793, Hannah b. 1797, Robert III b. 1801, Christopher b. 1802, Jenny b. 1803, and Hugh b. 1809.

The 1790 Census enumerates 3 household members including head of family--Robert, Jr. (1 male over 16) and 2 females assumed to be wife Sarah and daughter Eleanor. Also of note, are the neighboring households sequentially listed in the 1790 Census report including households of James Cooper Sr. (father of wife Sarah), James Cooper, Jr. (son of James Sr., Sarah's brother), Thomas Cooper (poss. son of James Cooper Sr.), Robert Douglass Jr., and Robert Douglass Sr. (father of Robert Jr.)

The 1800 Census for Vinalhaven for household of Robert Douglass Jr. enumerates 2 males under 10 years (Alexander and poss. Robert III), 1 male 26-44 (Robert, Jr.), 1 female under 10 years (Hannah), 1 female 10-15 (Eleanor) and 1 female 26-44 (wife Sarah).

As above noted, shortly after the 1800 Census, the Douglass family removed to Isle au Haut, Deer Isle. Robert Jr. owned land there at this time and sold a lot to John Rich in 1803, who would meet and marry his daughter, Eleanor, in 1805. In the 1810 Census for Deer Isle (within which Isle au Haut remained included), 8 household members are reported including 3 males under 10 (Robert, Hugh, ?), 1 male 10-15 (Alexander), 1 male 26-44 (Robert, HOH), 1 female 10-15 (poss. Jenny), 1 female 16-25 (poss. Hannah), and 1 female 26-44 (wife Sarah).

The 1820, 1830, and 1840 Censuses continue to report Robert Douglass's residence to be Isle au Haut, Deer Isle, Hancock County, Maine. Any enumerations of older females that would be commensurate with Sarah's age no longer appear in these Censuses.

After Sarah's reported death (1814), Robert Jr. married 2nd, Lydia Lane, daughter of Hezekiah Lane and sister of Oliver Lane, on September 18, 1818 with whom he had one son named Abner b. 1821. In Hosmer's An Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine, p. 205, it states: "His [Mr. Douglass's] last wife was accidentally killed, about the year 1832, by being struck on the head with a piece of stone, which her husband was blasting."

Robert passed away about 1843 from starvation in route to Nauvoo, Illinois and Salt Lake City in pursuit of Mormonism. Robert was a Corporal in the Revolutionary War per the Rev. War Pension ledger. Pending legibility of the ledger, it appears a pension was paid quarterly at $16.28 starting 1st quarter 1845.

Sources

• U.S., Find A Grave Index, Memorial ID# 150341717, Cites Robert Jr. and Sally (Cooper) Douglass as parents of their daughter Eleanor, Maintained by Darryl (contributor 48175404): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150341717/eleanor-rich

• Hosmer, George L. An Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine, With Notices of Its Settlers And Early Inhabitants, Boston: Press of Stanley and Usher, 1886, p. 131 & pp. 204-205.

• 1790 United States Federal Census for Robert Douglass and Household, Maine, Hancock, Vinalhaven. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #1 of 3). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (residence and household details)

• 1800 United States Federal Census for Robert Douglass and Household, Maine, Hancock, Vinalhaven. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #8 of 8). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll). (residence and household details)

• 1810 United States Federal Census for Robert Douglass and Household, Maine, Hancock, Deer Isle. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #4 of 13). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (residence and household details)

• 1820 United States Federal Census for Maine, Hancock, Deer Isle, Enumerated August 7, 1820. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #2 of 6). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (residence and household details)

• 1830 United States Federal Census for Robert Douglass and Household, Maine, Hancock, Deer Isle. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #7 of 28). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (residence and household details)

• 1840 United States Federal Census for Robert Douglass and Household, Maine, Hancock, Deer Isle. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #11 of 40). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (residence and household details)

• U.S., Find A Grave Index for mother Barbara (Alexander) Douglass, Extensive Bio, Memorial ID #162391253, Maintained by Barbara Beverage R (contributor 48220899): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162391253#source

• U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners (orig. hand-completed ledger form), 1801-1815, 1818-1872 for Robert Douglass, T718: 1818-1872, 08: Revolutionary War 1831-1848. [Repository: Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 (database on-line, Frame #20 of 447). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury, 1818-1872. NARA microform publication T718. 23 rolls. Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775-1978, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Pension Payment Roll of Veterans of the Revolutionary War and the Regular Army and Navy, 3/1801 - 9/1815. NARA microform publication M1786. 1 Roll. NAI: 2600769. Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773–2007, Record Group 15. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.] (Rev. War pension ledger)