Matthew Douglas

Note about parents

Naming suggests that Matthew was likely a late, undescribed son of beheaded traitor Malcolm Douglas of Mains, son of Matthew. Malcolm was executed in 1584. See: https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/9528/95281270.23.pdf

If this is the case, it is no surprise at all that Matthew was not willing to be acknowledged as a Douglas noble descendant. Very probably he was financed by an older brother, though, probably this one: Robert Douglas, 1st Viscount Belhaven, and was set up with lands in Inveresk where his family lived thereafter for generations. Matthew may even have been born after Malcolm died; the death date for Malcom's widow is not known, and she would have been in her early 40's at the time of his death. It's plausible to think she would have continued to live with her middle son, who would have been barely a teenager at that time.

Malcolm lived in Mains, Dumbartonshire, while Matthew settled near Mains, Midlothian. Matthew's brother settled in nearby Spott, Dunbar, at least until he was created Viscount Belhaven in 1631