Andrew Douglas
A Scottish soldier in Flanders
Andrew Douglas born c1681, Jedburgh, Roxburgshire, Scotland
Andrew Douglas born c1681 Jedburgh, Roxburgshire was a Gardiner
(Gardener) in Jedburgh at least by 1707. It is likely that he had a
first marriage in October 1704 to Jennet Jordain and in September
1707 they had a son Robert Douglas. By about 1709 Andrew had married
an Unknown Couman/Cowman, likely either Agnes Couman c1679 Jedburgh
or Margaret Couman c1686 Jedburgh who were daughters of Thomas
Couman born c1650 Jedburgh, a Gardener. It is likely too that James
Douglas born c1669 Gardener (later a Burgess) was Andrew’s brother
and he had married an Isabel Couman born c1681 Jedburgh, a daughter
of the same Thomas Couman c1650 in February,1703 but by June 1710 he
had married Jonet Olipher born c1687 Jedburgh .
There was also a John Douglas born c1671-3 Jedburgh Gardener and
Jonnet Douglas born c1679 Jedburgh, who were both also likely part
of this family - at the sibling level.
James Douglas born c1669 Gardener was a witness at Baptisms of
children of both John Douglas and Andrew Douglas.
When Thomas Douglas was baptised in the mid to late 1710 his
father Andrew was ‘a soldier fighting in Flanders’. (James Douglas
c1669 was a witness at this Baptism).
It appears most probable that Andrew fought with the Scots Greys
(named as such because of their use of grey horses) in the period
from late 1709 to early 1711.
From the ‘Historical Record of the Royal regiment of Scots
dragoons...commonly called the Scots Greys...(British Army) London
1836’ -
* In 1707 they were designated the ‘Royal Regiment of
North British Dragoons’.
* After June 1709 “...They...formed part
of the covering army during the siege of the strong fortress of
Tournay, and after the capture of this place, marched...toward Mons.
Advancing through the fruitful valleys of Hainault, the allies came
in contact with the French army posted in a fortified camp near
Malplaquet, and a sanguinary conflict ensued. The Greys were formed
on this occasion in brigade with the royal Irish dragoons, and were
commanded by Brigadier General-Sybourg. They were posted near the
centre of the allied army to sustain the attacks of the infantry and
protect the artillery...(ultimately)...they were ordered to file
through a wood in their front, and charge.” Through the woods and
trees they went, and on coming out they were met by a line of French
cavalry which were ‘soon dispersed’ but there were further lines to
contend with ‘clad in armour, and advancing in firm array’. “...The
Royal North British and Irish dragoons met these ‘squadrons’ of
French cavalry ‘with bravery’ but were outnumbered. They re-grouped
and were joined by ‘several corps of horse’ and ‘returned to the
charge’...Finally, British valour prevailed, and the enemy retired
in disorder. The Greys and royal Irish dragoons...highly
distinguished themselves...and were honoured with the thanks of the
Duke of Marlborough...The regiment was subsequently employed in
covering the siege of Mons...”
*“Early the following spring a remount of a hundred men and
horses joined from Scotland.” I am imagining that Andrew Douglas
c1681 was part of this new contingent. “in the beginning of April,
1710, the regiment...encamped on some elevated grounds near Tournay...on
20th April, it was again on the march, and formed part of...the
allied army which forced the enemy’s fortified lines at Pont-a-Vendin
on the 21st, and encamped at night on the plain of Lens. It was
afterwards employed in covering the siege of Douay...and was
stationed...near Pont-a-Rache...its colonel, the Earl of Stair, was
invested by the Duke of Marlborough, with the order of the
Thistle...the 10th May(and) the French garrison made a ‘sudden and
unexpected sally’...but they were arrested by a ‘squadron of the
Greys’, and ‘two squadrons of the royal Irish dragoons’...After the
surrender of Douay, the Greys traversed the country of Artois...and
encamped before Bethune...which...was immediately besieged...after
the capture of Bethune they were engaged...with the sieges of Aire
and St Vernant, and were for a short time encamped on the banks of
the Lys. The surrender of Aire terminated the campaign, and the
regiment was disposed in quarters of in the conquered country”.
* “From these quarters the Greys were withdrawn in the early
part of May, 1711...the regiments assembled in French Flanders
...encamped...at Warde, from whence they advanced to the plain of
Lens. After some skilful manoeuvring, the Duke of Marlborough
succeeded in forcing the enemy’s lines by the causeway at Arleux...and
besieged Bouchain. The Greys took part in these brilliant
achievements...After the surrender of Bouchain, the works of the
town were repaired, and the troops separated into winter
quarters...”
Of course I will never know what of these specific battles
Andrew Douglas c1681 took part in, but the fact that the timeline is
officially documented means that I can at least narrow his
involvement down to probable battles that he was part of.
From Wikipedia - French Flanders in present day France consists
of two regions –
* French Westhoek to the Northwest, lying
between the Lys River and the North Sea...
* Lilloise
Flanders...(Walloon Flanders) to the southeast, south of the Lys.
The Region of French Flanders was originally part of the feudal
Countship of Flanders, then part of the Southern Netherlands and now
in present day Belgium.
From Wikipedia - Tournay
* Tournai
is located in the lowlands of Belgium, at the southern limit of the
Flemish plain...After the end of the War of Spanish Succession in
1713, under the terms of the treaty of Utrecht the former Spanish
Netherlands, including Tounai, came into the possession of the
Austrian Hapsburgs. From 1815 on, following the Napoleonic Wars,
Tournai formed part of the United Netherlands and after 1830 of
newly independent Belgium.
21st January 2013 - Sally E Douglas
7th October 2014:
Andrew was involved in fortification in the
Siege of Tournai
He survived after fighting in Flanders and
went back to being a Gardener in Jedburgh
His sons Thomas (2)
Douglas 1716 and Andrew Douglas 1720 were both Gardeners in Jedburgh
See also:
The Douglas Family in France
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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