DOUGLAS, William Earl of Douglas, 'Earl of Mar', jure uxoris ^{1 3}

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William married Margaret Countess of Mar, daughter of Donald Earl of Mar, Regent of Scotland and Isabel STEWART.¹ (Margaret Countess of Mar was born about 1325 and died in 1390 ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

"In 1374 Douglas is found styling himself Earl of Douglas and Mar, as he had obtained the latter title after the death of his brother-in-law Thomas, thirteenth Earl of Mar. The latter's sister, Margaret of Mar, Countess of Douglas, became in 1374 Countess of Mar in her own right, and the Earl of Douglas entered into possession of her estates, and also of the title of Mar. There is no doubt he held and used the double title to the end of his life, but by what tenure he held the title is doubtful, some stating that it was by the courtesy of Scotland, and others that he was created Earl of Mar. There are arguments on both sides, but they need not be discussed here, as they have already been stated and decided upon in the House of Lords. All that need be noted here is that Thomas, thirteenth Earl of Mar, died sometime between 22 October 1373, when he had a safeconduct to go to England, and 21 June 1374, when the Earl of Douglas, in writing to the monks of Melrose, styles himself also Earl of Mar. A later date has been assigned to Mar's death, but these dates seem to fix it about 1374." (page 152)

"Hume of Godscroft and others have assigned three wives to this Earl of Douglas: first, Margaret, or Agnes, Dunbar, who is said to be the mother of James, second Earl of Douglas, and of Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway ; second, Margaret of Mar ; and third, Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar and Angus. But his only wife was Margaret of Mar, daughter of Donald, and sister of Thomas, Earl of Mar. Douglas and she were married, so far as can be ascertained, in 1357, and she survived him, marrying, as her second husband, before July 1388, Sir John Swinton of Swinton, and dying in 1390. By her the Earl had issue only one son" (page 153)

from Scots Peerage (vol 3) ¹

William had a relationship with Margaret STEWART co-heiress, Countess of Angus and Mar, daughter of Thomas STEWART 2nd Earl of Angus and Margaret SINCLAIR.² (Margaret STEWART co-heiress, Countess of Angus and Mar was born about 1354.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Her (Margaret's) title of Countess of Mar has led to confusion, and Godscroft, followed by Wood, has given this lady an entirely wrong position, while an imaginary Thomas, third Earl of Angus, has been assigned as her husband. They also state that she became the third wife of William, first Earl of Douglas, after the death of his Countess, Margaret of Mar, who was Margaret Stewart's sister-in-law. But this is erroneous, as the Earl's only wife survived him"

from Scots Peerage (vol 1) ²