U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- McDouglas Family ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 490-491 The McDouglas hail from Scotland, where they, a powerful clan, owned and ruled all the islands off the western coast of the Highlands, at the dawn of the history of the "Heelands of Scotia." The ancient coat-of-arms of the Clan is suggestive of a sea-faring people, two crude galleons of early times being represented upon its face; and the motto, which is inscribed thereon, is Vincere vel mori, which means in its complete translation, "We Conquer or Die." The name was first spelled "Dhu Gal," which meant "Black Stranger," a name which was probably given them by neighboring clans, to distinguish them (a dark-skinned, black-haired people) from the (blue eyed, light-haired) Fiongals, or "White Strangers." Time and education finally changed the spelling of the name to "Dugal" and later to McDougal, the prefix "Mc" meaning "son of." "In early times they were a fierce, stubborn, courageous and war- like race. As early as the thirteenth century, they are found opposing the Crown, and in 1306, led by McDougal of Lorn, they fought the battle of Methven against Robert Bruce, and came out victorious, having routed the King and his army. In this battle, Bruce lost to the McDougals the famous, historic "Brooch of Lorn," which was later stolen from them at the siege of Castle Dunolly, the then official headquarters of the Clan; and for centuries it remained in other hands. In fact, it was only restored to the McDougals of Lorn seventy- five years ago. After their triumph at Methven, they seized the reigns of government, and ruled over Scotland for a few brief months, until the mighty Bruce re-organized his scattered forces, added to their strength and prowess, and dealt them a crushing blow at the battle of Argyleshire. Here he defeated them, and stripped them of their power, titles and vast estates, save the District of Lorn. So fierce and so destructive was this battle that, at its close, but three hundred of the name (McDougal) were able to bear arms, and the Clan never recovered from this blow. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------