The Dougall family of Montgomery county, New York, descend from a Scotch ancestor, Thomas Dougall, born in Millenthort, Scotland, about 1790. He was of a family long resident of the town and locally prominent. He married there Margaret Dees, native of the same town. Their children were all born in Scotland. In 1832 the father, mother and children embarked on a sailing vessel for the United States. After a tempestuous voyage of ten weeks they safely landed in New York City. They at once proceeded up the Hudson to Pattersonville, and settled at Scotch Bush, on the line between Schenectady and Montgomery counties. Here they lived and farmed for many years, Thomas dying at the age of seventy, his wife surviving him many years. Children:
- Margaret, married James Barclay.
- Helen, married Samuel Donnan.
- Isabel, married Thomas Dougall.
- Janet, married David Elder.
- John, married, died in 1865.
- Ann, unmarried.
- William, see forward.
(II) William, youngest child of Thomas and Margaret (Dees) Dougall, was born in Scotland, December 26, 1825, and was killed by a railroad train at Glenville, March 20, 1899. He was very young when the family emigrated to the United States. He was reared in Princetown, Schenectady county, New York, where his parents were then living. On reaching manhood he settled at Glenville, where he was one of the substantial men of the town. He had the Scotch virtues of industry and economy, which contributed so largely to make his life a success. He was a farmer all his days, and accumulated a goodly estate, consisting of two well-improved farms. His accidental death was the result of becoming bewildered and stepping from in front of an oncoming train, only to be struck by one on the next track going in the opposite direction. He married, in Princetown, Schenectady county, in 1846, Susan P. Tinning, died in 1907, daughter of James Tinning, a native of Scotland, but a settler of the county, where he was twice married, his second wife dying without issue. Children:
- William S., born in December, 1848, died in 1906; he was engaged in commercial life for many years; he married Addie Gregg, who survives him, a resident of Albany.
- Agnes S., married (first) Henry Palmer, and had Nellie, wife of Roy Webber; she married (second) John Webber (father of Roy), and had Olive, deceased; she resides in Albany.
- Marian, married Ellihu Palmer, a farmer; children: William, Agnes, Jennie, Roy and George Palmer.
- Alfred M., see forward.
- Martha, born in 1862; resides in Utica, New York, unmarried.
- Jessie, married A. R. Conover, an attorney of Amsterdam, New York; children: Marian and Roger Conover.
- Anna L., married Edward Houck, a farmer of Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, and has sons, Everett and Stanley.
- John D., accidentally drowned April 22, 1899.
- Jennie, died at age of seven years.
- Belle, died at age of two years.
- A child unnamed.
(III) Alfred M., fourth child of William and Susan P. (Tinning) Dougall, was born May 4, 1860, at Princetown, and was reared on his father's farm. He attended the town schools, completing his studies at the high school in Schenectady, New York. He then began farming, to which business he has devoted his life. He is famed as an agriculturist among a people who are noted for fine farms and practical, modern methods. His estate is near Scotch Church, Montgomery county, where his wife has a farm equally valuable. They are both members of the United Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics, and serves his town as justice of the peace. He married, February 2, 1887, Agnes M. Van Vechten, born July 16, 1859, daughter of John H. and Isabelle (Keachie) Van Vechten, a descendant of Teunise Kirkse, the Dutch emigrant ancestor, who came to America in 1623, with wife, children and two servants in the ship "Arms of Norway." He had a farm in Green Bush in 1648, and is referred to as an "old inhabitant" in 1663. He had a son, Dirk Teunis Van Vechten, great-grandfather of Hubartus, the great-grandfather of Agnes M., wife of Alfred A. Dougall. From the ancestor the generations are: (I) Teunise Kirkse Van Vechten; (II) Dirk (1), son of Teunise; (III) Johannes, son of Dirk; (IV) Dirk (2), son of Johannes and Elizabeth Van Vechten; (V) Hubartus, son of Dirk (2): married Maria Spoor; (VI) Dirk (3), son of Hubartus, (VII) David, son of Dirk (3); (VIII) John H., son of David; (IX) Agnes M.. daughter of John H.
This early and influential family of the early days is now nearly extinct in the valley. Mrs. Dougall is the last survivor of her father's family. The Van Vechten cemetery, now a public burying ground, was originally the family plot on the old homestead, and many of the race are buried there. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dougall:
- Edith, born May 11, 1889;
- Irene, born May 16, 1901.