The study of family history can often lead to unexpected and fascinating discoveries, shedding light on the lives of our ancestors and the world they lived in. Recently, while researching the Douglas family, I stumbled upon some intriguing information about James Douglas, the brother of John Douglas.
James Douglas married Barbara Riddell, daughter of John Riddell, who founded the Riddell Brewery in 1851. But what caught my attention was a reference to a "Douglas Riddell Brewing Company" that apparently took over an earlier brewing operation in the late 1840s.
Unfortunately, information about this brewery is scarce, and I couldn't find any further details about it. However, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a partnership between James Douglas and John Riddell, with James eventually leaving to pursue a career as the deputy registrar.
If this theory is correct, it would mean that both John and James had partnerships with their future fathers-in-law, who were both brewers around the same time. This is a fascinating coincidence and provides an interesting insight into the brewing industry during the mid-19th century.
It's worth noting that John and James would have likely had some exposure to at least the distilling industry through their mother, Margaret Usher. The Ushers were a prominent brewing and distilling family in Scotland.
Another interesting fact is that John Riddell also originates from Roxburgh in Scotland, the same place as the Douglas family. This suggests that there may have been a pre-existing connection between the two families, further strengthening the possibility of a business partnership.
Although the details are sparse, the discovery of the "Douglas Riddell Brewing Company" and the potential partnership between James Douglas and John Riddell opens up a world of possibilities and further research opportunities. It's incredible to think that a chance discovery can shed so much light on the lives of our ancestors and the world they inhabited.
