Douglas book > Angus memoirs

MARRIES MARGARET DOUGLAS OF MAINS, 1758. 4G9
various settlements of his estates, with express intention to prevent their
passing to the family of his sister, hut these deeds were all cancelled at a later
period of his life.
In March 1758, the Duke married Miss Peggy or Margaret Douglas,
eldest daughter of James Douglas of Mains in Dumbartonshire, a cadet of
the family of Morton. The marriage took place at Douglas Castle. 1 The
Duchess is said to have been beautiful, which, with her rank and wit, made
her a recognised leader in Scottish society. In the end of the same year,
Douglas Castle was burned, the fire originating in a small room adjoining
the bedroom of the Duchess, whose jewels were destroyed, with the whole
furniture in the upper part of the house. 2
Only a year after their marriage, the Duke and Duchess separated by
mutual consent, the Duke granting to his wife a yearly income of £250
sterling, on condition that she made no effort to see or speak with him,
unless by his own invitation. 3 Within a few months, however, a recon-
ciliation was effected, and they remained together until the Duke's death. 4
One special mark of favour was the replacing of the Duchess's jewels
by a set which cost upwards of £3000 sterling. By the friendly offices of
his Duchess, added to other influences, the Duke was ultimately induced to
do justice to the memory of his late sister Lady Jane Douglas, and he left
his whole estate to his own nearest heirs, no longer excluding his surviving
nephew, Archibald Steuart.
One of the Duke's latest acts was the rebuilding of Douglas Castle. He
employed Adam, the celebrated architect, to make plans for the new edifice,
which, as designed, is still unfinished. Adam had shortly before built the
1 Scots Magazine, voL xx. p. 275. Douglas Charter-chest. Date of separation,
•> tt w j c t ii.- i ••• 6tn March 1759.
- Upper Ward of Lanarkshire, vol. in. p.
.p. 4 A post-nuptial contract of marriage
was entered into between the Duke and
3 Contract, dated 20th April 1759, in Duchess on 6th August 1759.