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.

She was able to live due to the support of her brother, and possibly to spite him, she started a romance with the penniless Colonel John Stewart of Grantully, but broke off the courtship having previously said that she had an 'aversion' to the married state.

After a decade she wrote to him, saying she would admit their friendship publicly if he wanted to visit her again and she and the colonel were married in 1746 at Drumsheugh without the knowledge of her brother.

[1] The ensuing long and expensive court case over the family's inheritance with Duke of Hamilton became known as the Douglas Cause.

[2] The inheritance included Douglas Castle, which later descended to Alec Douglas-Home, British Prime Minister.