Douglas, Richard William Glode ^{4,5,6,12,21,153,154,155}

   Cause of his death was Inflamation of the lungs.¹⁶¹

   Other names for Richard were Douglas, Sir Sir Richard W G, DOUGLAS, Richard William Glode and Douglas, William.

   User ID: 99.

  General Notes:

Richard William Glode Douglas (1798-1862) England & Australia.

Richard William Glode Douglas was born in Godmanchester, Suffolk, in May, 1798. His father was James Douglas, famed antiquarian (archaeologist) and Chaplain to the Prince of Wales's Regiment. The family was not wealthy, despite the Royal and genteel circles in which they moved. His mother was Margaret Oldershaw. In fact money problems were a feature of the family life, and James was obliged to borrow and beg money from his more wealthy relatives and friends. This was in order to support his antiquarian pursuits. He was able to research and publish a number of books, and had a large antiquarian collection. This collection is now housed in the Ashmolian Museum in London. James's portrait hangs in the museum. His archaeological publications are still used by modern archaeologists.

Richard grew into an extremely handsome young man. He was 6ft 1” tall (185cm). Most men of his time were no taller than 5'6” (165 cm). He was so handsome he is said to have posed for an artist for the figure of Christ. The artist may have been Turner, who was “discovered” and taken under the patronage of Richard's father. Young Turner was just a boy and had never painted on canvas when he was noticed by James in the barber shop. James was having his hair dressed for a court appearance, when he noticed the boy drawing. Turner was taken under James Douglas's wing, and taken to his house in Rochester. He was encouraged to paint from nature, and was given his first canvass by Douglas. He painted his painting of Rochester Castle whilst staying with the Douglas family.

Richard was intended to be a doctor but would have preferred to go into the Army. His position as a gentleman with no money must have placed him in an almost impossible situation.

When he was 17 years old he attended a ball and met Mary Johnson. Mary was from a wealthy family, and must have seemed to be the answer to his money problems, even though she was several years older than he was. The marriage took place on the 9th May 1815. The marriage was “sudden” according to his aunt (Lady Glode). One of the witnesses was Margaret Douglas, his mother. His parents also had severe money problems at this time.

At the time of his marriage to Mary Richard he was living at the Portland Hotel, Duke Street. The couple lived at Preston, Sussex; South Brent, Somerset "and other places". Richard's occupation was given as “Carriage Proprietor” at one time.

1819 was an eventful year for Richard with the death of his father and the birth of his son. His Mother also died a few months after her husband.
Two sons were born, Alexander and William, however the young family had severe money problems.

In Dec 1825 Richard was bankrupt. He received some assistance from his uncle Sir Richard Glode, who had married his mother's twin sister.

Mary had more children but Richard had met the love of his life, Julia Bree. Julia was aged about 19 when they met.

Julia was the daughter of the Reverend Robert Bree, a clergyman from Boulogne. Reverend Bree's wife had died before they came to Chichester [when they were living at Plymouth]. Julia was the only surviving one of three daughters and lived with her father at Chichester from about 1824. Reverend Bree was curate of Chichester Parish churches and of "Woodcut".

The Brees became friendly with Richard and Mary and their then 3 children. For some reason Richard and Mary and the Brees moved to London. Julia's maid Louise described Richard as a "very fine gentleman". Julia sent for her maid to follow her after "Papa" had discovered letters to her from Richard.

Mary's last child Jasper was born in 1827.

Richard and Julia were living as Mr. and Mrs. William Smith".
They were living at the House of Thomas Chitty, 5 Camden Cottages, Camden Town [May 1827], and this is when Julia fell pregnant.

They moved house often to:
Northwood nr Rickmansworth June 1827
House of Joseph Gretton 1 Windsor Terrace, City Road, Aug/Sept 1827
House of Mrs. Logan, widow 9 Gloucester Buildings, Old Kent Road
House of - Bchanan 1 Mount Place, Old Kent Road Dec 1827

Richard left his marital home in January 1828. Their first child, a girl, was born 13 Jan 1828 but died at 4 months of age when they were living at Southend, Essex.

Other addresses were:
Saracens Head, Skinner Street Feb. 1828
As Mr. and Mrs Douglas at:
House of Christmas 66 Kings Square, Goswell Street from 17 or 18 Feb. 1828
Southend, Essex Mar 1828
House of Miss Bacon Hercules Buildings nr Asylum for Female Orphans, Westminster June 1828
10 Leonard Place Kensington July 1828
Mrs James, widow 36 Upper Stanford Street, Waterloo Road Oct/Nov 1828
House of Perkins 2 Crown Row, North Brixton Dec 1828

Richard was arrested for debt 2 Dec 1828 and taken to the lock-up in Chancery Lane. On the 30th December he was moved to Fleet Prison where Julia joined him.

Julia called Richard "John" or "William" or, by mistake in front of a witness "Richard". He called her "Ju" or "my love". On 31st May 1829 Richard and Julia were married at St. Bride, Fleet St. This was a bigamous marriage since Richard was still married to Mary.

In Spring 1828 two of Richard's sons by Mary were sent to the school of Edward Flower at Upper Street, Islington. A third son was sent later. Alexander was aged 10, Bloomfield aged 7 and John was under 5. All three boarded at the school. The boys were taken on several occasions to visit their father in the Fleet where he was lodged at various times on the 2nd or 3rd stories or in the top gallery.

A second child, a boy was born to Julia about 7 weeks before 22 Jun 1829. This boy also died in infancy.

In 1829 Mary sued for divorce on the grounds of adultery with Julia. The judgment of the Court was that a divorce was to be granted but on condition that both parties thereafter remain unmarried. No reference is made to the "marriage" to Julia of which the Court was presumably ignorant.

In December 1829 Richard and Julia married again - this time legally. They had another 8 children between May 1830 and October 1844.

From at least 1843 onwards Richard supported his family by obtaining goods by false pretenses, and failing to pay for them. Richard operated by using various aliases, such as Lord Douglas, Sir Richard Douglas, Captain Douglas. He used his “Title” and his acquaintance of various other gentry to gain the trust of various merchants. He then borrowed goods, or obtained goods for later payment, but did not honor his promises.

Following is an example taken from a transcript of court proceedings:
“In November, 1843, Mr. Thomas Chew, livery stable-keeper, Little Moorfields, city, says that Richard came to him, and representing himself as Lord Douglas, said he had a hunting-box at Eastbourne, in Kent and that he wanted to hire a pair of horses for a short time, giving a reference to Mr. Wells, a solicitor. He accordingly lent them to him, and a few days afterwards the prisoner sent a letter desiring to purchase them, at the same time requiring to know the price. On the 27th of December following he had another horse, when Mr Chew lent him a bridle and saddle. The last horse was returned, but he had not seen the bridle and saddle since, nor had he been able to trace any tidings of the prisoner until he had seen the account in the newspapers (of Richard's arrest). He further added that the dealing with the horses was a debt, but he should certainly charge the prisoner with stealing the saddle and bridle.”

He kept a diary, which was transcribed in a later court appearance…

“A diary was found which revealed a system of living by the wits unexampled for success, audacity, and extent. The diary for the year 1851 was kept in a business like manner. It opened with a list of the names of gentlemen and ladies to whom begging applications for money had been made, the names of the persons who had not replied to the applications being brought forward and posted in quite a mercantile way. The first day of the year was opened by a prayer to Providence to bless the exertions of the writer and his sons, and make them more prosperous and productive than last year. It went on thus:-

"Took possession of Ascot Villa. Got phaeton, dogcart, horses. Looked about Guildford, Staines. Ordered goods, coals and beer, shawls. Got a great coat from Skinner.
Jan 3. - Nothing came in. Charles hired dogcart and harness of Liley. Went in phaeton to Guildford. Ordered carpeting, shawls, coats, &c.
" 4.- Nothing from Guildford but an impudent letter. Sent Charles to station for carpeting. Williamson there, and stopped it. Fear there will be a row. Got shawls.
" 5. - Phaeton and horse seized. Fear exposure at Ascot, and all up with chance there. Fear we must cut.
" 6. - Coals and beer came in. Made us as merry as could. Went to shop in Curzon Street. Ordered brushes &c.
" 7. - All day ill. Row about stable. Forcible possession taken of it. Row all day with one person or another. Fearful how things will end. Three boys at home idle. All ordering things.
" 14.- Not a shilling coming in. 11 mouths to feed. Would not order things except to keep my children. They have my address in Guildford. Dreadful rows. Got carpeting. Fearful row with man who bought an iron safe. Row all night from ringing door bell by boot and shoe man.
" 16. - Row all day with people. Mob outside of house crying "Swindler."
" 17. - Very nervous. More rows.
" 18. - Went to boys dinner - champagne - very merry. Providence not quite deserted us"

The rest of the diary was nearly to same effect.”

Other examples of their activities are recorded in court proceedings…

“22 February 1848. Southwark. - Richard Douglas, alias Lord James Richard Douglas, a tall gentlemanly looking man, who claimed acquaintance with the leading aristocracy in the country, attended before Mr. COTTINGHAM on his recognizances, to answer a charge of felony, preferred against him on Monday last by Captain Aaron Smith, of Camden cottages, Camden Town. From the particulars which transpired on a former occasion, it appeared, that Captain Smith held a bill of sale on a quantity of plate, a dog cart, horse and harness, and other property of considerable value, in a house occupied by the prisoner in Shropshire; that when Captain Smith went to take possession, he found that the property had been taken away since the bill of sale was completed. Other circumstances of grave suspicion against the prisoner were mentioned, which induced the magistrate to remand him until yesterday. A report of the evidence appeared in the newspapers on Tuesday last, which caused a vast number of tradesmen to be in attendance at the examination, believing that the prisoner had obtained property from them in a suspicious way.
Mr. Wyld, the barrister, attended on the prisoner.
Mr. Smith informed Mr. Cottingham that since the last examination he had received a vast number of letters from all parts of the country, intimating that a person answering the description of the prisoner had obtained horses, carriages, furniture, &c., from them, and afterwards suddenly decamped with the property.

27 February 1851. Marlborough. Arthur Douglas and Charles L. Douglas, two respectably dressed young men, were brought before Mr. HARDWICK, charged with having obtained a quantity of goods from Mr Henry Gabell hosier, Burlington gardens, by false and fraudulent pretences.
Mr Gabell said, - On the 7th of January last the prisoners drove up to his shop in a dogcart, and told him they had just returned from France, and had lost their portmanteau, containing all their linen and under clothing, and they wished to have a fresh supply from him. He told them it was not usual to give credit without knowing something of the person. They replied, their father was a respectable man, living in Kent, and he need be under no apprehension about his money. The prisoners then gave a list of articles observing that the order would be a very nice for him. The prisoners took away some articles, and one of the prisoners at that moment had on a necktie obtained from him. The prisoners gave the address No. 6 Belgrave terrace, Pimlico. Witness went to that address, and made inquiries as to the prisoners respectability. The servant replied the prisoners had occupied apartments in the house for some time, and were highly respectable. Witness then went on with the order, and sent in some of the articles.
Mr. Hartley, bookmaker, King street, St. James's, said the prisoners and a third young man drove up to his shop in a dogcart, and one of them said he wanted a pair of dress boots, to go to a ball in Kent. The prisoners gave name Douglas, but the one now calling himself Arthur assumed the name of Lionel. The other, calling himself Charles, said his name was Arthur. The third person, he believed, was at that moment in court (pointing to a young man who appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings), but he would not swear to him. While witness was engaged in taking the order of his supposed customer, a pair of dress boots was nipped up by one of the parties. A second pair was also taken away at the same time. The prisoners ordered several pairs of boots to be made, and then left. The address given was 6, Belgrave place, not terrace, and of course the prisoners were not known there. Witness met the prisoners afterwards by accident, and then he got their address, 6 Belgrave terrace. Witness applied at the house, and was given to understand that either the father or the uncle of the prisoners lived there, who promised to see him paid. Witness had not been paid.

5 Apr 1851. Marlborough Street Court.
Richard Douglas otherwise Sir Richard Douglas, otherwise Captain Douglas, of Orpington House, Kent, Ascot Villa, Ascot; and 6 Belgrave Terrace, and his two sons, Charles and Arthur Douglas, charged with having, for a length of time, carried on a most successful system of obtaining goods from various tradesmen without the least means of paying for them, and in many instances by fraudulent pretences.
The constable Downing, who took charge of the two sons and got up evidence in many cases against them, has since their apprehension, ascertained that within two years the father and sons have succeeded in getting from between 45 and 50 tradesmen £3,702 worth of property.

The circumstances of Richard's eventual capture also makes interesting reading in the court proceedings.
“The capture of the elder prisoner was effected under rather remarkable circumstances. The prisoner wrote a pathetic letter to the Rev. Mr. Hamilton imploring assistance, being confined, as he said, to a sick bed, and in a state of complete destitution. The police gained a knowledge of this letter, and, as every attempt to capture the prisoner had failed from the precaution, taken to keep the police out of the house, the following stratagem was adopted:- Police sergeant Allen, B 3, dressed himself in a long black robe, white neckcloth, and broad-rimmed hat, with the view of rendering his appearance as clerical as possible. With an open letter in his hand, he knocked at the door of No. 6, Belgrave-terrace, and when the door was opened on the chain, to an enquiry what he wanted, he replied, in a subdued tone, he called to see a brother in affliction. The door was instantly opened, a smartly dressed lady came forward, and, saying, "The Rev. Mr. Hamilton, I presume?" begged him to walk in. The lady ushered him into a backroom, arranged carefully so as to present the appearance of severe want and destitution, and there, on a truck-bed and little straw mattress, reposed the prisoner, writhing, or appearing to do so, with pain. The constable, in a tone of commiseration, asked if he addressed Captain Douglas. The prisoner feebly replied he did, and he presumed he was speaking to the Rev. Mr. Hamilton. "Not exactly," said the constable; "my name is Allen, sergeant of the B division of police." The lame man jumped nimbly out of bed, and, in the voice of a Stentor, roared out to his wife that "he was betrayed." The constable then told him his errand, and took him to the station house. The room in which the prisoner was taken was prepared for the occasion, as the rest of the house, a large one, was abundantly and handsomely furnished”.

April 15th - Central Criminal Court
Richard William Douglass, 52, labourer; Charles Lionel Douglass, 19, clerk; and Arthur Douglass, 18, also a clerk, were indicted for conspiring to defraud Matthew Gooch. The Defendants, who are father and sons, are of genteel though somewhat shabby appearance. The elder defendant, who seemed unwell, was allowed to be seated. The particulars have already appeared in our police reports.
The jury found the two elder defendants Guilty, and acquitted the younger one.
The two younger ones were then again for obtaining two pairs of boots, valued at £5., by fraud, from Joshua Hartley.
The jury found them both Guilty.
The father said he was innocent of any intent to defraud.
He had brought up eleven children, and had endeavored to instill in their minds principles of religion and honesty.
The three defendants all wept very much, and seemed to feel very keenly their degraded position.
The Recorder, in passing sentence, said that it was impossible not to see that there had been a deliberate scheme to defraud. A difference would be made with the sons, who might be supposed to have acted under their father's advice.

The father was sentenced to twelve, and the sons to three months' imprisonment.

The Australian Chapter

It is not certain how Richard and his family arrived in Australia. He was not transported. They seem to have arrived between 1851 and 1853. One family account has them arriving in May 1851, aboard the Duchess of Northumberland, and a book on the history of Queensland has him arriving in Sydney in 1853.

What is clear is that they began a new life. The history in England was forgotten and never mentioned in Australia. Richard was known as “Sir Richard WG Douglas. He was said to have been a Captain in the Royal Armory.

Richard found employment in the customs in Sydney before moving to Brisbane in 1858. He was appointed Clerk of the court in Taroom where he worked for a number of years.

We do not know whether Julia moved to Queensland. There is no further record of her until after Richard's death, when she was in Sydney. His son Arthur and Daughter Rosa did go to Queensland. In 1860 Rosa married Henry Boyle, a solicitor from Surat, western Queensland. However Rosa was living at Enfield in NSW at the time of her marriage. Morton the youngest son also went to Queensland.

Richard was transferred to Banana as Clerk of Petty Sessions and his son Arthur took over as the clerk in Taroom, on 1st July 1861. Richard probably went to Banana at this time to prepare for the establishment of the new court of Petty Sessions.

On 4th April 1862 Banana was declared a place for the holding of Courts of Petty Sessions, with the appointment of Richard Douglas as Clerk. The boundaries of the newly defined Banana police district were then published.

Douglas erected a slab home containing six rooms, part of which he rented to the Government for use as a court house and Lock-up until the completion of the official buildings. Sadly he did not have time to enjoy the fruits of his labours. It appears that he was in Banana for a maximum of 11 months.

Richard died on 10th June 1862, from inflammation of the lungs, an illness of 24 hours duration. There were no family members listed as witnesses to his death, so we presume he was in Banana alone. His son Arthur was Clerk in Taroom (130km away, in a direct line) and registered the death. Richard was buried in Banana, but his grave has not been found. There is no monument to mark his resting place. There was no cemetery reserve in Banana until 1869. However there is another grave in the reserve of a man buried 2 months before Richard, so it is thought probable that Richard also was buried there.

His Family
Julia remarried after Richard's death - to William Norton, on 28th November 1865. They had a child who died in infancy. Julia lived until 18th Nov 1879. She was buried in Sydney. No gravestone has been found marking her final resting place.

William Bloomfield Douglas - the first son of Richard and Mary, gave his father's occupation as “Army” on his marriage certificate, presumably to give him some respectability. He later spent some time in Australia as Government Resident in Darwin. He was instrumental in the completion of the overland telegraph between Darwin and Adelaide, and the telegraph connection between Jakarta and Darwin. He is buried in Nova Scotia Canada.

Richard (the eldest son of Richard and Mary) died in Sydney at age 36 years - with no profession and not married. He had no issue.

Charles married and had children. He was a clerk. He lived to an old age and is buried in Sydney.

Rosa married Henry Boyle and died in childbirth at age 28 years. She had three surviving children.

Arthur “Archie” married and had children. He was a clerk and then a teacher. He was buried in NSW.


Post Script
In 2004 there were more than 60 living descendants of Richard WG Douglas and Julia in Australia. The Australian descendants knew nothing of Richard's past until 2003 when Chris Wheeler (in London) and Beryl Turner (in Australia) made contact via the internet. Both had been researching the family history. Chris had information on Richard's life in England, ultimately losing track of him in jail in 1851. Beryl knew only of his life in Australia as "Sir" Richard.

Our "Sir" became our “scoundrel".

So far it appears that he turned over a new leaf in Australia. We have found no evidence of any misbehavior in his new home. It seems Australia was good for him.

In 2004 his descendants decided to erect a monument to mark his resting place. This is to be erected in the Banana cemetery in 2005.

(By Beryl Turner 1/6/04, with thanks to Chris Wheeler for the court documents).
^{6,29,154,162,163,164,165,166,167}

  Birth Notes:

or Chiddingfold

  Death Notes:

"Inflamation of the lungs"

  Burial Notes:

Burial Surety:3

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Con Man. ²¹

• Bankruptcy, 19 Dec 1825.

• arrested, 2 Dec 1828, Fleet Prison. Julia joined him there.

• Prison: debtor - now in Fleet prison, 18 May 1829.

• Bankruptcy, 24 Feb 1848. ¹⁵²

• charged: Obtaining goods by false pretences, 22 Mar 1851.

• Gaol, 15 Apr 1851. Sentenced to 12 months imprisonment!

• Emigration: 1851 on "The Duchess of Northumberland"., late 1851, Moreton Bay. Brisbane Queensland, Australia. ¹⁶¹ Noted on shipping list

• Occupation: Customs Officer, 1852, Sydney.

• Relocation: Relocated to Brisbane, 1858, Brisbane, , Queensland, Australia.

• Occupation: Clerk of Petty Sessions, 1 Dec 1860, Taroom. ¹⁶⁸

• Occupation: Clerk of Petty Sessions Banana, 8th Apr 1862, Banana, , Queensland, Australia. ^168,169,170

Richard married Julia Elizabeth Nugent Bree (Norton), daughter of Dr. (Rev) Robert Francis Bree and Charlotte Richards, on 22 Dec 1829 in Chichester, England ^6,31,149,150.^,151 (Julia Elizabeth Nugent Bree (Norton) was born before 1810 in United Kingdom,^6,9,171,172 died on 18 Nov 1879 in Sydney Infirmary, Nsw ^6,173,174 and was buried on 28 Nov 1879 in Church Of England ^{6,173,175,176}.) The cause of her death was Morbis cordis, ascites, after 7 days in hospital, in the Sydney infirmary.¹⁶¹

Richard next married Mary Johnson, daughter of Rev Charles Johnson and Willes, on 9 May 1815.¹⁵² (Mary Johnson was born in 1792 ¹⁵².)