Dougald Calhoun

Dougald Calhoun was born in Cumberland County, NC in 1816 (or possibly 1821 in some records). His parents were John Colquhoun (b. June 27,1788-d. Nov. 9,1842) and Sarah Anne "Nancy" Buchanan (b. 1792-d.1862) . John Colquhoun was born in Appin Parish, Highlands, Scotland and migrated the NC likely through Wilmington, NC. He married "Nancy" Buchanan on June 9, 1812 in Cumberland County, NC. There was a large community of Scots who settled that area along the Cape Fear River close to present-day Fayetteville, NC. They must have changed the spelling of the family name to Calhoun when naming their children as many members of the Colquhoun clan did once they came to America. In the early 1820s the family picked up and moved to Clarke County, AL in the southwest corner of the state. Dougald was second in birth order having an older brother John Colquhoun (1814-1893). Dougald had a twin brother Daniel who by some records may have died as an infant but elsewhere is said to have lived until 1899. There were 15 children in that family. At some point in time Dougald moved into the Panhandle of FL. In 1850 he is listed as living in Leon County, FL. On Sept. 6,1855 he married Anna Maria Martin. Their first son John Caldwell Calhoun was born on Jan. 15. 1857 at Woodville, in Leon County, FL. They went on to have six more children. In the 1860 census the family is listed as living in Jackson County, FL where four daughters were born. In 1870 the family was living in Uchee Anna, Walton County, FL. Then the family moved to Taylor County, FL near Perry and settled on the Fin Holloway River at New Hope. Dougald died at Perry on Feb. 5, 1879 at age 63 according to his tombstone in the New Hope Cemetery outside the town of Perry. Anna lived until June 17, 1890 dying at Perry and is buried beside Dougald in the New Hope Cemetery. Their son James who died in 1877 is buried nearby. According to family stories he was called "The Scotsman" so he was assumed until recent years to have been born there. He grew up among Scots and so likely had a Scottish burr. He valued education and made sure his children were given good academic opportunities. Son John attended the West FL Seminary out of which came FL State U. and eventually became the Clerk of the Superior Court of Taylor County, FL for decades until his death in 1919.