There are differing versions about who William Douglas married. Most sources suggest he married first Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Sir Robert Stewart of Durisdeer and his wife, Janet MacDougall. Janet's line can be traced directly back to Robert the Bruce. It appears that Elizabeth bore William a daughter and perhaps his son and heir, William. That appears to be the majority historical view. Whether Elizabeth died or the couple separated is unclear, but William appears to have married secondly to Jean Murray.. She died before 12 June 1410, and is described as his late wife in a Papal dispensation of that date, for his next marriage with Jacoba Douglas, daughter of Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith, and widow of Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow.
Percy Adams, in his work 'The History of the Douglas family of Morton in Nithsdale (Dumfriesshire) and Fingland (Kirkcudbrightshire) & their descendants', writing in 1921, omits any reference to Elizabeth and names only the two other women as his wives. He posits Jean Murray as the mother of his heir, William, 2nd Lord Drumlanrig.
This has created confusion as all other main and reliable sources show Elizabeth Stewart as mother to William's heir, also William, who became the 2nd Baron Drumlanrig. These other sources include (1) Burke, John & Bernard (1848). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. London: Henry Colburn. p. 817. (2) The Heraldry of the Douglases by G. Harvey Johnstone, 1906. (3) The Peerage by Sir Robert Douglas written in the 18th century. (4) The Douglas Archives.
