Many early Scottish immigrants were enterprising individuals. In fact, many were engaged in such economic endeavors like the tobacco trade, which prior to the Revolution was controlled by Glasgow-based merchants and their factors. As is always the case, where there are business transactions there are lawsuits. Scottish-American Court Records: 1733-1783 lists North American residents engaged or involved in litigation in Scotland and came before the Court of Session (the highest civil court) or the High Court of the Admiralty (which oversaw all seafaring and maritime cases).
Each name is listed with its corresponding reference. Each is also listed with the names of those on whom the litigation is against, usually with a location and date. Some of these entries include the names of relatives. Here are a few examples:
- Craigdallie, Janet. Janet Craifdallie, daughter of Hugh Craigdallie, surgeon in Princess Anne County, Virginia, eldest son of Gilbert Craigdallie, glover in Perth, V. Thomas Anderson, merchant in Perth, & Lawrence Reid, maltman in Perth, 14 Feb. 1776.
- Crawford, George. George Crawford, merchant in Glasglow then in Jamaica, V. Andrew Crawford in Fearlinebank, 7 Aug. 1777.
There are over 800 names listed in the index.
Scottish-American Court Records: 1733-1783 is available at Family Root Publishing; Price: $17.64.