Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 1 Jane Douglas, daughter of Rev. William Douglas & Mary Douglas (née Atkin) By Jennifer Douglas Jane Douglas was born in 1816 in Ireland. She had two sons and six daughters with Robert Nesbitt between 1841 and 1866. She died on September 3, 1896, in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland aged 80 years. She and Robert Nesbitt were married 6 December 1839 in Lowtherstown (Irvinestown), Fermanagh, Ireland. Picture of Jane Douglas in the care of John Douglas. Picture of Robert Nesbitt in the case of John Douglas Robert Nesbitt was a School Inspector, and was born abt 1812 in Ireland and died 29 June 1877 in Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland. He and his family were members of the Methodist Church. We believe, but must still find a baptism entry to prove this, that he was the son of Rev. John Nesbitt as Wesleyan Methodist Minister. Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 2 Rev. John Nesbitt was born abt. 1776 in Donaghmore, Donegal, Ireland and was married to Margaret (last name unknown). We know that they had a son named Rev. Thomas Nesbitt (Methodist Minister) who was born abt. 1809 and died 13 June 1832 in Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland. They also had a son William Nesbitt who was born abt. 1824 in Enniskillen, Fermanagh and died 26 November 1881. William was a well-known professor of Latin at Queens College, Ireland. From what little we know, we see that Robert will have been born between Thomas and William, so John and Margaret being his parents is possible. Robert and William shared similar professions, which is another clue of a family relationship. Our researcher friend in Ireland, who has helped us a lot in our research, does think that we can tentatively connect the Robert to this family, but would like to find more siblings. Jane and Robert’s marriage entry in church records in Irvinestown. 1851 - From REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONERS of national education From the baptism records of Jane and Robert’s children, as well as his work references, we know that they lived in Londonderry for a number of years. They then settled in Belfast. Jane died at an asylum in Scotland, and we have not been able to find out why she was there. She is buried with her family in Belfast. 1856 – From 23rd Report of Commissioners Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 3 Copy of Jane and Robert’s marriage certificate. Original in the care of John Douglas Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 4 From: The Northern Whig, Belfast. 26 May 1867 Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 5 Jane and Robert are buried in City Cemetery, Belfast and rest next to her sister & brother-in-law Eliza and John Hazelton. The resting place of Rev John Hazelton, Eliza and their son William Douglas Hazelton and family. The grave to their right is the resting place of Jane Douglas and Robert Nesbitt. According to Maud Hamill, who took this picture for us, the headstone is so worn she was not able to make out any writing. You can see the name ‘Nesbitt’ at the base of the Belfast Newsletter 2 July 1877 stone. From “Wills & Administrations 1877” Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 6 Alice and Arthur’s notes for Jane and her family tell us the following: Our research has found the following children for Jane and Robert: 1. Elizabeth Mary Nesbitt: Born 7 August 1841 in Irvinestown, Fermanagh, N Ireland. She died aged 75, unmarried, 9 November 1916 at Bangor, Down, N Ireland. 2. William Douglas Nesbitt: Born 13 December 1842 in Irvinestown, Fermanagh, N. Ireland. He died in Irvinestown at ‘ the residence of his grandfather’, the Rev. William Douglas, in Irvinestown on 9 July 1852. William Douglas Nesbitt is buried with his family in the Douglas grave in Irvinestown. 3. Agnes Maxwell Nesbitt: Born 21 November 1844 in Irvinestown, Fermanagh, N. Ireland. She died 15 October 1935 in Dublin, Ireland. She was married to Joshua William Keohler (Keller). 4. Margaret Douglas Nesbitt: Born 24 June 1847 in Londonderry, N Ireland. She died 22 January 1909 in Hampshire, Surrey, UK. She married Robert David Fowler. 5. Catherine (Kate) Georgina Nesbitt: Born 1 November 1850 in N Ireland ( location unknown). She died 21 December 1884 at 31 Brookhill Terrace, Cliftonville, Belfast, N Ireland. Kate married William Douglas Hazelton, her cousin. You can read about her family in our chapter about our Hazelton family. 6. Jane (Jennie) Charlotte Nesbitt: Born about 1851 in Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland. She died 25 April 1936 at Mount Royal, Banbridge, Down, N Ireland. 7. Douglas Nesbitt: born about 1852 in Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland. Died 19 September 1881 in Muscotah, Kansas, USA Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 7 8. Henrietta Grace Nesbitt: born about 1866 in Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland. Died 6 March 1933 in Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland. More about the children of Jane and Robert: 1. Elizabeth Mary Nesbitt Elizabeth did not marry, but she does seem to have had a close friendship with Edward Samuel Wesley De Cobain, whose father was a Methodist Minister. Edward was a colorful character who was accused of inappropriate behavior in 1892 . In October 1895 we find that she was at his home the day he was accused of assaulting another lady. She is named in his will, dated March 1897, and referred to as his “devoted friend”. She is also listed as a ‘visitor’ in the 1901 census of E D W De’Cobain’s household. Edward died in 1908 and I have not been able to find where Elizabeth was during the 1911 census. While her name has not been added to Edward’s headstone, Elizabeth is buried with him at the Bangor New Cemetery, Down, N. Ireland. A google search for Edward will allow to find out more of his story. Extract with Elizabeth’s testimony from article in ‘The Freeman’s Journal’ – 2 October 1895 Extract from Edward’s will, dated 1897. Full will can be found at PRONI. Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 8 De’Cobain’s obituary. The Daily Express, 24 September 1908 The resting placeof Edward De’Cobain and Elizabeth M Nesbitt. Bangor New Cemetery, Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 9 Baptism Entry for Elizabeth Mary Nesbitt, found in the Irvinestown Church records. Title : Date of Death : 9 November 1916 Surname : Nesbitt Date of Grant : 8 January 1917 Forename : Elizabeth Mary Reseal Date : Registry : Belfast Effects : Effects £9 17s. No Image Full Abstract : Probate of the Will of Elizabeth Mary Nesbitt late of 27 Gray's Hill Bangor County Down Spinster who died 9 November 1916 granted at Belfast to Samuel McKee Grocer and Robert E. Darragh Evangelist The above will extract is from PRONI. The picture is of Gray’s Hill, Bangor. This was taken about 1912 when Elizabeth Mary Nesbitt was living there. The avenue runs right down to Bangor Bay. Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 10 2. William Douglas Nesbitt Born 13 December 1842 in Irvinestown, Fermanagh, N. Ireland. He died in Irvinestown at ‘ the residence of his grandfather’, the Rev. William Douglas, in Irvinestown on 9 July 1852. William Douglas Nesbitt is buried with his family in the Douglas grave in Irvinestown. From family archives, in the care of John Douglas. This note tells us that William Douglas Nesbitt is buried in the family vault in Irvinestown. Londonderry Sentinel – 16 July 1852 3. Agnes Maxwell Nesbitt: Born 21 November 1844 in Irvinestown, Fermanagh, N. Ireland. She died 15 October 1935 in Dublin, Ireland. She was married to Joshua William Keohler on 24 July 1867 . They were married by her Uncle Rev. John Hazelton at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Donegall Square in Belfast. In the 1901 census Joshua listed his occupation as ‘Cashier for Life Assurance Co.’ The family were Methodist. Agnes and Joshua are buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin: In Loving Memory | of | JOSHUA WILLIAM KEOHLER | who fell asleep June 7th 1915 | "There everlasting spring abides" | "And never-withering flowers" | "Death like a narrow sea divides" | "This heavenly land from ours" | Also in Loving Memory | of his wife Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 11 Belfast Weekly News – 27 July 1867 The church where Agnes and William Keohler married. The building is now a bank (Ulster Bank) Jane Douglas, 1816 – daughter of Rev. William Douglas and Mary Atkin P a g e | 12 The children of Agnes and Joshua (note, with the onset of WWI some of their children changed their surname to “Keller”): Martha Maud Keohler – born July 6, 1870, in Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland. She married Henry Herbert MacMahon in 1912 who was a Methodist minister. She died on August 22, 1955, at the age of 85. Martha is buried at Deansgrange Cemetery in Dublin and this is the Inscription on her headstone (from IGP archives): Left side: - In Loving Memory | of | Rev. H. H. MacMAHON | Methodist Minister who passed on | into the sunshine | of God's perfect day | 11th Jan.