Deacon William DOUGLAS

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Abt 1672, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

Name:
"A Collection of Family Records, with Biographical Sketches, and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name DOUGLAS": he was admitted to the church, July 24, 1698. The next year he removed with his wife and two children to "the new plantation on the Quinnebaug, which was afterwards named Plainfield." Here lands were set off to him "on the east side of the river." He also owned lands in Voluntown, which he purchased of his father, Aug. 18, 1715, for "thirteen pounds of good and current money."
He was one of the little company that covenanted together and formed a church in Plainfield, in 1705. The Rev.Joseph Coit was called to the charge of this little flock, and William Douglas was chosen the first deacon. In the old burial ground at Plainfield, an ancient gravestone bears this inscription:----

"in memory of Mr. William Douglas, Who was ye first Deacon of ye churh of Christ in Plainfield who departed this Life August ye 10th A.D. 1719 in ye 46th year of his Age."

Deacon Douglas died in the prime of life, and greatly lamented. All the church and town records, and all but a few files of the probate records, of Plainfield, were consumed at the burning of the town by Arnold, in 1781. Among the probate records saved, was the will of Dea. William Douglas. It was dated july 6, 1717, and proved Sept. 25, 1717. In it he provided for his wife, Sarah, and eleven children, all of the latter under twenty-ine years of age. His wife was Sarah Proctor, but no date of his marriage can be found in the New London records. His eldest two children were born in new London, all the others in Plainfield. His widow, Sarah, was living in 1729, but no record of her death has been found.

Family/Spouse: Sarah PROCTOR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Asa DOUGLAS was born on 11 Dec 1715 in Plainfield, Connecticut; died on 12 Nov 1792 in Stephentown, New York.

William married Abiah HOUGH on 18 Dec 1667 in Boston, Mass.. Abiah (daughter of William HOUGH and Sarah CALKINS) was born on 16 Sep 1648 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 21 Feb 1715 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]