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James Douglas, Clockmaker
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James Douglass of Chertsey ca 1733 - 1805 was a watch
and clockmaker. He was born around 1730-1733 to John Douglas(s).
It seems lilely that the Douglasses originally came from Scotland),
though when is uncertain.
James Douglass married Letitia Joyce on 20 May 1761 in Godalming.
Letitia, born in 1733, was the daughter of Joshua Joyce (a baker and
formerly Warden of Godalming) and Elizabeth, née Chitty.
James, though from Chertsey, had been apprenticed to learn watchmaking
from Richard Stedman in Godalming in October 1747. At the time he
started this apprenticeship, his future father in law, Joshua Joyce
would have be the out going or previous Warden of Godalming. The
Guidelines for apprenticeships in the Ordinances of Godalming suggest
that apprenticeships should end at 24 years old, so James Douglass could
have bee born as early as 1730. He must have met Letitia during this
period. However he did not marry her until 7 years after the end of his
apprenticeship, in 1761. Four children were born by the end of 1769.
Letitia received legacies from the following: – her father in 1760, her
uncle William Chitty in 1769, and her unmarried sister Mary Joyce in
1792 See Mary Joyce’s Will. It is noticeable that the latter will is
phrased (written as it was after James’s bankruptcy) to safeguard the
legacy from external control. Her uncle William was extremely wealthy
and powerful, and may have been one of the William’s who was also Warden
of Godalming, and a Maltster by trade.
James had an apprentice, James Front(?), on 29 April 1767.
James died at Chertsey in 1805.
James Douglass, 1765-1835 was their son.
See also:
• Douglas watch
and clockmakers
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Source
Sources for this article include:
Tribe JoyceChertsey Museum
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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