Background
Lady Jane Douglas was the daughter of James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas and the only sibling of Archibald Douglas, third marquess and first duke of Douglas.
Lady Jane Douglas was the daughter of James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas and the only sibling of Archibald Douglas, third marquess and first duke of Douglas.
This birth was thought incredible and the ensuing long and expensive court case was fought in three countries and it was settled in her favour by the House of Lords in 1769, over 15 years after her death. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Kerr, first marquess of Lothian. When she was 22 the Duchess of Queensberry thwarted the plan for her to marry Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch by marrying him, coincidentally, to another Jane Douglas who was the daughter of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry and the duchess"s sister in law.
Despite several earls and dukes wanting to be suitors this Jane Douglas refused their proposals.
After two years she heard rumours of his misbehaviour and refused to see him again. In the middle of 1748 she admitted the marriage and gave out the news that she was heavily pregnant with twin boys.
Her twins were born in Paris where the couple had moved to escape their creditors. One of these children would inherit the family"s riches.
lieutenant was suspected that she had adopted rather than given birth to the twins.
The ensuing long and expensive court case over the family"s inheritance with Duke of Hamilton became known as the The court case started in 1761 and involved judges in Scotland, England and France. lieutenant was eventually settled in the son"s favour by the House of Lords in February 1769. The lords overturned the previous judgement made two years before in Scotland and awarded the estate to Archibald Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas.
He inherited Douglas Castle which was his family seat and seat of Alec Douglas Home, British Prime Minister.