Tailor Operative

[possom]

Hi all, Does anyone know of a tradesman register for around 1820 in the Midlothian area, (was there such a thing)? The only lead I have on James Johnston b.abt 1800 is that he was a Tailor Operative at the time of his marriage. Any info would be great.

[MaggiesBoy]

Hi and Welcome possom.
Great thinking to suggest a trades register or similar. Good on you, I never thought of that!
If anyone knows of such, I would be interested in anything on blacksmiths or farriers.
I'm from Midlothian (Musselburgh was in Midlothian until recently when local government boundaries were redone, and it is now in East Lothian), and my ancestry research is based around there.
MaggiesBoy.

[possom]

There is a register for the Glasgow area. Called 'The First Glasgow Directory 1787 List' it can be found at:http://www.scotlandgenweb.org/archives/glasgowlist.html
I don't know much about the list, I haven't studied it.
Thank you for your welcome.

[MaggiesBoy]

Hi again (in New Zealand - Kia ora ano), possom,

Firstly, Glasgow is in west Scotland; Midlothian is in east Scotland. So, the register you mention might and might not be of much use to you.
There is a Scottish Federation of Merchant Tailors with HQ in Edinburgh, Midlothian, and there is also a Midlothian branch of that Federation. Apparently, an existing hotel in Edinburgh is in the original building of the Federstion, built in 1643 or thereabouts. Only the outer walls of the building remain, of course, as the inners have been rebuilt as the hotel.
In a small book "The Dalkeith Talbooth and Market Cross" by David R Smith and published by Midlothian Council Library Service, 1998, ISBN 1-900215-03-9, there is reference to "Craft guilds were formed to protect and promote the interests of the various trades..." and I think this refers to the 17th century.
Later in the book - "The records of the trade guilds provide an insight into the town's social structure. Most of them evolved into friendly societies, their fund being used to alleviate penury in sickness and widowhood. A leading guild was the Incorporation of Shoemakers, constituted in 1719." I mention this to alert you to the use of "Incorporation" in this fashion.
At a website I looked at today is "After 1710, stamp duty was payable on apprenticeship indentures and records of the payments received were kept between 1710 and 1811 but these records were indexed only up to 1774. Some guilds or companies maintain their own records, and we were able to search the indexes to apprentices, freedoms and masters of the Merchant Taylors' Company (1583-1933). Original records are held at the Merchant Taylors Company, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2.
Hope this is of use to you,
MaggiesBoy.

[possom]

Hello again (or in Australia G'day mate)
Thank you so very much for the information you have passed onto me. I am not too good on the geography of Scotland. It is my husband who is Scottish and am researching his family.
Thanks again,