Michael T Tracy

Andrew Douglas (1752-1830) Michael T Tracy

Andrew Douglas, the son of a tenant farmer was born at Upper Senwick in Borgue Parish, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. The area where he grew up is rural and agricultural in nature. It is probable that Andrew is descended from James Douglas, the Fourth Earl of Morton who in 1581 was beheaded and his lands and titles were forfeited. Thus the succeeding generations of the family never again retained their titles and lands in Borgue and were forced to work as laborers on their former lands just to survive. The farm where Andrew Douglas grew up on was owned by the Earl of Selkirk and it was at Upper Senwick that Andrew Douglas learned about farming. Douglas would marry Sarah Thomson in Borgue Parish and they would have six children. Andrew Douglas worked as a farm laborer firstly at Overlaw in Rerrick Parish and lastly at Little Sypland in Kirkcudbright Parish. This then is the narrative of the life and times of Andrew Douglas.