Find Ancestors

Hi, I am stumped looking for what happened to John Dougan after he landed in the USA. This is what I know. He was the oldest son of Peter Dougan/Dugan and Elizabeth Hall. They were born in Ahoghill, County Down, Ireland; John and his 9 syblings were born in Renfrew area of Scotland. John was born c 1876 (using census data) Almost his entire family emigrated to New Zealand but John went to the USA. He we know this is John because he gives his address as 24 Church Street, Alexandria - the family home, and all the other data matches. Info as follows:
John DOUGAN
Date of departure:
2 September 1924
Port of departure:
Glasgow
Passenger destination port:
New York, USA
Passenger destination:
New York, USA
Aboard the California
Date of Birth:
1876 (calculated from age)
Age:
48
Marital status:
Sex:
Male
Occupation:
Chauffeur

I do not know if he was married or had children, but he is alone on the voyage. We have no idea what happened to him after he landed in New York. This is my first effort at tracing someone in the USA any help on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 about John Dougan
Name: John Dougan
Birth Date: 2 Jul 1876
Birth Place: Burley, Scotland
Age: 48
Residence: New York City, New York
Passport Issue Date: 17 Jul 1924
Father Name: Peter Dougan
Father's Birth Location: Scotland
Father's Residence: Alexander, Scotland
Passport Includes a Photo: Yes

26 West 32nd St Bronx NY

I can send his photo from this

on the sailing you list he was in Boston Mass. 1919 > address 80 Pearl St, West Everet Mass ?

He had obviously been before because he came back into England in August 1924

John Dougan
Birth Date: abt 1876
Age: 48
Port of Departure: New York, New York, United States
Arrival Date: 3 Aug 1924
Port of Arrival: Glasgow, Scotland
Ports of Voyage: Moville
Ship Name: California
Search Ship Database: View the 'California' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Anchor Line
Official Number: 147871

possible


1930 United States Federal Census about John Dougan
Name: John Dougan
Home in 1930: Manhattan, New York, New York
View Map
Age: 53
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Scotland { Irish North}
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Dougan
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Dougan 53 superintendant
Elizabeth Dougan 50
Barbara Dougan 13
Barbara Robertson 78
Cornelius Waldamar 23
View
Original
Record

View original image

This looks like him in 1920. He is listed as Chauffeur the same as on his travel details. So he first went out in 1910

Dougan
Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 7, New York, New York
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
[Head]
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Dougan
Father's Birth Place: Scotland
Mother's Birth Place: Scotland
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of immigration: 1910
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Dougan 42
Elizabeth Dougan 40
Barbara Dougan 2

Possible

passenger transcript details
Name: John DOUGAN
Date of departure: 4 February 1910
Port of departure: Glasgow
Passenger destination port: Boston, USA
Passenger destination: Boston, USA

Date of Birth: 1878 (calculated from age)
Age: 32
Marital status: Single
Sex: Male
Occupation: Labourer
Passenger recorded on: Page 5 of 10

Re-checking your original message I don't think this can be him because on the original census image he gives his mother and father as being born in Scotland.

Is this your John in 1901?? The address is different being North Street and not Church Street.

John Dougan
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Annie Dougan
Gender: Male
Where born: Bonhill Ph, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 493
Registration district: Bonhill
Civil parish: Bonhill
Town: Alexandria
COUNTY: Dumbartonshire
Address: 24 North St
Occupation: Cam Roller Buffer (factory Hand)
ED: 7
Household schedule number: 48
Line: 21
Roll: CSSCT1901_166
Household Members: Name Age
John Dougan 24
Annie Dougan 27
Bella Dougan 1

And this must be his family in 1901. So he is not with them

Peter Dougan
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Elizabeth Dougan
Gender: Male
Where born: Ireland
Registration Number: 493
Registration district: Bonhill
Civil parish: Bonhill
COUNTY: Dumbartonshire
Address: No 21 Napierston Terr
Occupation: Hydraulic Engine Man
ED: 16
Household schedule number: 26
Line: 3
Roll: CSSCT1901_167
Household Members: Name Age
Peter Dougan 49
Elizabeth Dougan 48
William Dougan 19
Sarah Dougan 18
Lizzie Dougan 16
Mary Dougan 14
Agnes Dougan 12
Thomas Dougan 10
James Dougan 6
John Hall 73
Sarah Hall 71

Have you looked for John on the 1911 Scottish census to see if he is with Annie and children and what his occupation is.

1891.

John Dugan
Age: 14
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relationship: Son
Father's name: Peter Dugan
Mother's name: Elizabeth Dugan
Gender: Male
Where born: Busby, Lanarksh
Registration Number: 493
Registration district: Bonhill
Civil parish: Bonhill
COUNTY: Dumbartonshire
Address: 5 Main St
Occupation: Printfd Labourer
ED: 21
Household schedule number: 35
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1891_157
Household Members: Name Age
Peter Dugan 38
Elizabeth Dugan 32
John Dugan 14
Rose Ann Dugan 13
William Dugan 9
Sarah Dugan 8
Lizzie Dugan 6
Mary Dugan 4
Agnes Dugan 2
Thomas Dugan 2 MO
Mary Barret 26

1881

John Dugans
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Relationship: Son
Father's name: Peter Dugans
Mother's name: Elizabeth Dugans
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland, N K
Registration Number: 560
Registration district: Cathcart
Civil parish: Cathcart
COUNTY: Renfrewshire
Occupation: Not In Sch.
ED: 4
Household schedule number: 95
Line: 3
Roll: cssct1881_162
Household Members: Name Age
Peter Dugans 27
Elizabeth Dugans 24
John Dugans 5
Rosanna Dugans 3
Margaret Carlton
Margaret Dugans 1

Wow, thank you so much for your work - I am in the States, so I woke up to this this morning!
Yes, I am sure that's John in the 1901 census. Everything is correct, and he had a sister Bella (who is not on the census for some reason) so naming his daughter Bella would be entirely likely.
The passport application could work, except that hsi father was Irish born - but a coincidence if his fathers name was Peter and its not him.
So what do we make of the passenger lists? Two John Dougan's that age, in that timeframe?
Also, my John married to Annie - he doesn't seem to travel with anyone, I will look into the idea that Annie might have died, or I guess he could have gone without her.
Thanks for the continued help , the census info was great too, I wasn't able to find the family of "Dugans" on the earlier ones.

Also Lindsey, I would love to see the passport photo. I have a photo of his three brothers around the same time, so that might be helpful.
Janet

Astra, I have searched the 1911 census for Scotland and cannot find John, Annie or Bella, either separately or together. Either they went to Ireland, The United States (Though John is never listed with a wife or child on the possible passages) or Annie and Bella died and John left alone.
The rest of the Dougan family - parents and brothers and sisters are still in Dumbarton.

images sent.

thanks so much Lindsey!

I think I have found Bella - JOhn's daughter staying with her grandparetns and family in Bonhill, Dunbarton in 1911 as follows

Peter Dougan Head 58
LIzzie Dougan Wife 53
William Dougan son 29
Thomas Dougan son 20
James Dougan son 17
Agnes Dougan daughter 22
Bella Dougan daughter 11
Agnes McLean Visitor 19

It lists Bella as Peter's daughter, but I don't think he had a daughter named Bella, and that this is his granddaughter Bella. (She emmigrated to NZ with most of the family)

I also found her marriage Certificate
Isabella Dougan 24yrs m James Logan 30 yrs
On 2oth Feb 1925 in Bonhill, Dumbarton
James' parents are James Logan and Christina Logan nee Ferguson
Isabella's parents are John Dougan Chauffeur and Annie Dougan nee Gadsby.
The bride and groom both live in Alexandria, and were married at the Masonic Temple on Gilmour Street, Alexandria.
I have not been able to find out any more about Annie Dougan (Gadsby). I have not been able to find her in the census for any other date except 1901 with Bella at 1 year old.
Soon after this Bella and James emmigrated to New Zealand and the trail for them is pretty clear. Questions. Did John and Annie have any more children? Did Annie die before or after John emmigrated to the USA? DId Bella happen to be at her grandparents house, or was she being raised by them for some reason? (family lore seems to support the later, but not sure.)

Annie Dougan widow of John Dougan (Chauffeur) died in Glasgow in 1941 -

1941 DOUGAN ANNIE GADSBY F 68 MILTON GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 644/10 0216

Catherine