Michael T Tracy

John Douglas (1783-1869) Michael T Tracy

John Douglas was referred to as "an old ad tried servant of the late Mr. Young," marking the birthday celebrations of Thomas Young at Lincluden in 1847. He began his employment at Lincluden decades' earlier, although the exact year of when he began at the large estate cannot be determined. Douglas worked his way up and eventually became Head Gardener of Lincluden. He eventually married and raised a family of seven children at Lincluden. Most of his sons worked there while they were young and he presumably helped his niece, Helen Scott Hunter (1831-1903), obtain a position within the household. John Douglas worked as Head Gardener until 1859-60 when he retired from service to the Young family and quietly lived on the estate for many years after his retirement. This then is the narrative of the life and times of John Douglas, the Head Gardener of Lincluden.