The first Glasgow directory was published in 1783 by John Tait. This image is taken from a facsimile reprint published in 1871 by Robert Forrester. Page 37 includes surnames from Hamilton to Hepburn.
Thomas Hopkirk and his son James were Virginia tobacco merchants. Thomas Hopkirk bought the estate at Dalbeth around 1754, and when James succeeded to the family business he diversified by mining coal on the estate, as well as investing in the brewing industry. Part of the estate was later used as St Peter's Cemetery.
Andrew and Robert Houston were sons of Alexander Houston, founder of the firm of Alexander Houston & Co which played a leading role in Glasgow's trade with the West Indies. The family's country house was at Jordanhill. The collapse of Alexander Houston & Co in 1795 was the biggest business failure in Glasgow during the 18th century.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 914.14351
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Alexander Houston & Co, bankruptcies, bankrupts, brewing, cemeteries, coal mining, coalmasters, directories, family history, genealogy, John Tait's Directory, St Peter's Cemetery, Tobacco Lords, tobacco merchants
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