COLLECTORS

Explanatory Timelines Names Index First Owners

DOUGLAS FAMILY REVISIONS IN PROGRESS

The family of Rev. James Douglas of Rochester are of interest as the first owners of 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' and the source of the Rochester canvas. They are one of the possible first owners of 'Old Gate of Canterbury'.
Specifically, the adopted daughter, Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas, was probably the first owner and it was she who was involved with the purchase of the canvas. She married Mortimer Tucker in 1811 and gave 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' to a nephew (or neice) (on the Tucker side) and it is in the nephew's letter of 1857 that her involvement with JMW Turner is recorded.

Rev. James Douglas (1753-1819) and his wife Margaret Oldershaw (1760-1820); married 1780, St. Marylebone, London [FreeReg Marriage Record]

This document shows seven children but only four are documented into later life and it appears that of those only three into adulthood as No. 4, James Bruce appears to have died at one year old.

Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas (1782-????) adopted daughter married Mortimer Tucker .

A nephew (or niece) of Mortimer Tucker
The nephew sold 'Rochester Castle and the Adjacent Grounds' to Dr Hering before JMW Turner died. (possibly around 1845). However, he remains a possible owner of 'Old Gate of Canterbury'.

DOUGLAS FAMILY OLDERSHAW SIDE

Margaret Douglas (the wife of the Rev. James Douglas) was born around 1760 as Margaret Oldershaw. Her parents were

James (aka John) Oldershaw, a surgeon from Leicester

Elizabeth Oldershaw (neé Wightman), from Wellingborough
They were married in Northampton on 18th November 1745; [marriage registration]

The spelling of Wightman is as given in the marriage register but elsewhere 'Wrightman' and 'Whiteman' are also seen. Later the adopted daughter's father is referred to as 'Whiteman'.

Elizabeth Oldershaw (neé Wightman or Wrightman or Whiteman) Siblings and their Parents
The purpose of which is an attempt to find Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas's birth parents and thus her date of birth.
The Wightmans

Elizabeth Wightman and her Siblings:
• Elizabeth Wightman (who married to become 'Oldershaw')
• At least one son who became the father of Margaret Martha Wightman (later Whiteman)

Elizabeth Wightman's Parents:
• The Father; probably Wrightman or Wightman: Robert Wrightman married 3rd August 1724
• The Mother; Elizabeth Middleton

James (aka John, surgeon) and Elizabeth Oldershaw must have moved to Rochester sometime after their marriage. James (aka John, surgeon) died in Rochester and was buried 15th April 1782 in the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. [burial registration]. At Rochester it seems likely that their neice (or nephew's daughter) Margaret Martha Wightman was living with them. Their daughter, Margaret, was also living with them and after marrying James Douglas in 1780 he lived there also (not necessarily in the same house but certainly in Rochester. [Margaret & James marriage registration]. By June 1782 it is possible that Elizabeth Oldershaw (Margaret's mother) had also died and thus James Douglas, Margaret Douglas and Margaret Martha Wightman were living together as a family. Margaret Martha Wightman was apparently a minor but unlikely to have been an infant; the Douglas's (her aunt and uncle-by-marriage) adopted her and baptised her as Margaret Martha Whiteman Douglas [baptism registration] by which name she was known until her marriage to Mortimer Tucker in 1811 [marriage register] [marriage registration].

James Douglas was ordained in 1783. He and his wife, Margaret are both named on his son's birth and baptism registration of 1785; [James Bruce Douglas registration] where James (senior) occupation is shown 'Revd'. James Bruce was baptised in St. Alfege, Greenwich so questions arise as to residence in Rochester where ten years later JMW Turner visited and the canvas was purchased.