Joanna Douglas, Lady Yester

In Summary: Hugh Giffard III ( c. 1322-1365) married Joanna Douglas in 1345/46. After the death of Hugh Giffard, Joanna Douglas married Sir Nigel Cunningham as her second husband in 1366. Joanna Douglas can be shown to be living as late as the year 1400 in the Yester charter of her grandson "Tassy" Maxwell.

Children of Hugh Giffard and Joanna Douglas:

1. Joanna, who married Sir Thomas de Hay of Locherworth.
2. Alicia, who married Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock.
3. Euphemia, who married a McDowell of Mackerston.
4. Mary, who married the father of Eustace "Tassy" Maxwell.

Ancestry of Joanna Douglas:

Joanna Douglas has been stated to be the daughter of Sir James Douglas "the good" and also the daughter of Sir James Douglas of Lothian in a few internet sites. Unfortunately, these sites give no sources or any documentation for the statements. (The Scots Peerage does not list Joanna as a daughter of either Sir James Douglas). Both James Douglases would fit the time frame of Joanna's birth, but Douglas of Lothian, who dies in 1323, would seem the less likely from a dating standpoint.

The charter of Hugh Giffard to John Douglas made circa 1346 concerning Giffard lands may provide some clues. This charter would be close in date to Hugh Giffard's marriage to Joanna Douglas, and would likely be a Douglas related to Joanna. John de Douglas is stated as having been the son of James, Lord Douglas in the document. This seems like a reference to one of the above discussed Sir James Douglases, but a contradiction exists as to which. James Douglas "the good" was always referred to as "Lord Douglas", but had no known son John. James Douglas of Lothian had a second son John who was killed in 1349, but was always addressed as Sir James Douglas "of Lothian".

The 1366 papal dispensation given at the time of Joanna's second marriage to Nigel Cunningham could provide a definitive answer, but a critical piece of information is lacking. The dispensation says: "Joanna Douglas is related to Nigel Cunningham in the third degree of affinity". This means she is not related to Nigel Cunningham by blood (consanguinity), but a second cousin to someone who was closely connected to him. In all likelyhood this was his deceased first wife. If her name could be discovered, proof of Joanna's ancestry would be possible. Other connections of Hugh Giffard and Joanna's descendants with the Black Douglas line provide clues and suggestions, but no absolute proof of the Douglas ancestry of Joanna. Joanna Douglas certainly is descended from the Douglases originating with Archibald Douglas in the early 13th century. But whether her descent is through the Black Douglas line of Sir James Douglas "the good", or their cousins the Douglases of Lothian requires more documentation to resolve.

Notes

Another interesting fact found in Euphemia Morham's charter is that she styles herself as Euphemia "Giffard", adopting the use the deceased husband's surname was a common practice of widows. In their widowhood, both her daugher-in-law (Joanna Douglas), and her grand-daughter (Joanna Giffard), will follow the similar practice of using the surname of their deceased husbands.

Links

• http://community-2.webtv.net/NUbrubun55/GIFFARDOFYESTER/page2.html

http://www.palmspringsbum.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I100...

Name Joanna Douglas Born 1314 Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location Gender Female Died 15 Feb 1398 Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location Person ID I4419 MontyHistNotes_II Last Modified 5 Sep 2016

Father James Douglas, b. 1300, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location, d. Bef 20 Apr 1323, Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 23 years) Relationship natural Mother Joan Stewart, b. 1286, Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 1337 (Age 51 years) Relationship natural Family ID F2068 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Family Hugh Gifford, b. 1306, Yester Castle/Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 11 Mar 1409, Yester Castle/Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 103 years) Children + 1. Alice Gifford, b. 1350, Yester, East Lothian, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 1384, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 34 years) [] Last Modified 5 Sep 2016 Family ID F2069 Group Sheet | Family Chart