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How tobacco built modern Scotland


In 1674 the first cargo of tobacco arrived in Glasgow. It soon became one of Glasgow's most important imports. With the establishment of colonies in North America and the West Indies Glasgow benefited from its position on the west of Glasgow. Ref

Tobacco was so central to Glasgow that almost every Provost of Glasgow had tobacco merchant interests. Tobacco merchants set up a number of banks in order to deal with their bills of trading. The Scottish banking system grew as a direct result of the tobacco trade. In 1775 the trade collapsed due to the American Revolution. The colonies, now free of the Navigation Acts, simply bypassed Glasgow and sold direct to the European markets. However, the export trade did not disappear as the West Indies (still under the Navigation Acts) remained the market for Glasgow's exports. Ref

Excerpt from Catalogue of Old Glasgow Exhibition, 1874 Sent by Miss Dinwiddie., London

474. LAWRENCE DINWIDDIE of Germiston Born 1697. Died 1746. Virginia merchant. In 1774 his old firm, then Dinwiddie, Crawford & Co. stood fourth in the list of tobacco importers. An original partner in the Glasgow Arms Bank, in the "New Glasgow Tanwork and Shoe and Saddle Factory," and, like his brother the Governor, in the "Pott Work" at Delftfield, near the Broomielaw. Had his town house in the second flat of that great tenement on the north side of the Trengate, just east of Hutcheson's Hospital. Bought back Germiston, from which, years before, his elder brother Matthew, being insolvent, had vary naturally been evicted. Provost in 1742, 1743. One of "the Six Commissioners" to the Rebels in the '45. Son of Robert Dinwiddie of Germiston, and brother of Governor Robert Dinwiddie (No.11).

City of Glasgow Archives.

30 Sept. 1731 LS. Dinwiddie, Lawrence, of Lawrence Dinwiddie & Christian Crawford. Wits. William Crawford, Lawrence Dinwiddie. Sponsor, Lawrence Dinwiddie, elder. Born 28th, at 11 o'clock forenoon

4 May, 1732. LD. Buchanan, Mary, of John Buchanan & Mary Craw- ford. Wits. William Crawford & Laurence Dinwiddie. Born lst. at 6 o'clock at night.

26 Nov. 1732. LD. Dinwiddie, Mary, of Lawrence Dinwiddie & Christ- ine Crawford. Wits. Lawrence, William Crawford.

10 SePt. 1732. LD. Hamilton, Christine, of Archibald Hamilton & Margaret Aitchison. Wits. Lawrence Dinwiddie, younger, James Calder, Born 4th at 3 in the morning.

8 Oct. 1732. LS. Dinwiddie, Lawrence, of Lawrence Dinwiddie, & Janet Coulter. Wits. John Coulter, John Baird.

26 Nov. 1732. LD. Dinwiddie, Mary, of Lawrence Dinwiddie & Christine Crawford. Wits. Lawrence, William Crawford.

Born 24, twixt 8&9 at night. 3rd Dec. 1732 LS. Ramsay, James, of Andrew Rmnsay & Sarah Douglas. Wits. Lawrence Dinwiddie, elder, Doctor John Woodrop.

lst Nov. 1733 LS. Buchanan, Thomas, of John Buchanan & Mary Crawford. Wits. William Crawford, Moses Buchanan, Lawrence Dinwiddie.

21 Dec. 1733. LS. Dinwiddie, William, of Lawrence Dinwiddie & Christine Crawford. Wits. William Crawford, William Buchanan. Born 19 Nov. 1/4 before 1 o'clock in the morning.

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1767 Mecklenburg Co. VA

1-531: 12 Aug. 1767, mortgage, Thomas Erskine of Mecklenburg Co. to Charles Duncan of Prince Georges Co., merchant, for £1350, 213 acres in Edwd. Goodes line and 600a on branches of Bluestone Creek on Roanoke River, part of a larger tract granted to John Cox 5 Aug. 1764, by Cox to Erskine 13 Sept. 1764. Wit. Dune Rose, Andw. Johnston Junr, Abraham Mauzy. (FHL film 32,532)

1772 Mecklenburg Co. VA

The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, "British Mercantile Claims 1775-1803" with significant information and a vital new research lead for all of us.
We find on pgs. 282 and 290, John Jessee listed as owing 29.9.3 pounds, 1 Sept. 1772, to the Dinwiddie, Crawford and Company Store in Mecklenburg, Co. VA, indicating he "never was able" and "Removed from this county before the peace, insolvent." Mecklenburg is about 40 miles north of Caswell Co., NC. Tom believes this was very likely our John Jessee, who would have moved from Mecklenburg after 1772, and is next recorded in Caswell Co. in 1777 Ref

1774/5 Mecklenburg Co VA

Henry1 Chavers (Thomas2, William1, Thomas1), born say 1735, was a Lunenburg County taxable in the list of Hugh Lawson in 1752 (called Henry Cheffers) [Tax List 1748-52, 2] and taxable in 1764 adjacent to Jacob Chavis [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside, 248]. He was sued for debt by Richard Hanson in Lunenburg County court on 9 June 1768, but the suit was dismissed because he was not living in the county [Orders 1766-69, 151]. And he was sued in Brunswick County, Virginia court on 29 September 1772, but the suit was dismissed for the same reason [Orders 1772-74, 117]. He mortgaged eight head of cattle, eleven pigs, a mare, and his furniture for 25 pounds he owed to Dinwiddie Crawford, & Co., merchants of Glasgow, in Mecklenburg County on 9 April 1774 [DB 4:319].

Mecklenburg Co, VA Deed Book 4, p. 360 John Brooks of Lunenburg County conveys on 16 September 1774 to Dinwiddie Crawford & Company and Henry Deloney, one acre of land bounded by David Brooks and the Meherrin River, together with a mill on the said river. Ref

John1, born say 1748, baptized in Bruton Parish on 7 May 1748, described as a "free mulatto" who lived near the lower Mecklenburg County store of Dinwiddie, Crawford, & Company and owed them 3 pounds on 1 September 1775 [Virginia Genealogist 15:291]. Ref

1774/5 BUTE

1 REV. CHARLES CUPPLES to ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD in behalf of Messrs. DINWIDDIE CRAUFURD & CO., Merchants of the City of Glasgow. Mortgage on negroes, livestock, household furniture, Library of books, "the whole of my Estate of every kind," to secure debt to be paid in five years. Dated 1 February 1774. Wit: HENRY HILL, ROBERT GOODLOE. Recorded May Court 1774.
2 RICHARD WHATLEY, planter, to DINWIDDIE CRAUFURD & CO., Merchants. Mortgage, dated 23 February 1773, on a negro bought from WM. ROSE & one from JOHN BILBAO, two horses, one bought from HENRY ALSTON, cattle, tobacco, and bed, to secure debt. Wit: JNO. HAMILTON, ROBERT CALLER, JR. Recorded May Court 1774.
4 MARTIN DICKERSON, planter, to DINWIDDIE CRAUFURD & CO., Merchts. Mortgage, dated 20 February 1773, on livestock, corn, guns, & household furniture, to secure debt. Wit: JOHN HAMILTON, ROBT. CALLER, JR. Recorded May Court 1774


BUTE COUNTY RECORD BOOK 2 1774-1779 Will Book 2, Warren County Registry

DB-5, page 97. 6 May 1774. GEORGE KIRK, of Bute Co., to DINWIDDIE(DUNWIDDIE) CRAWFORD & CO., Merchant, Glasgow. To secure debt of 45 PdS:14 Sh: Va. money, Mortgage on 150 A. in Bute Co. on BS Bens Creek to Piney Branch, along fence of SARAH BENSON & adj. BURCHE & HARRIS, bought from SARAH BENSON & registered in Bute Co. last Feb. Wit: S. PALLANCE, LEWIS SCARBROUGH, JOHN BAKER, Proved by SIMON PALLANCE, Bute November Court 1774, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: 9 March 1775, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.

DB-5. page 204. 15 February 1775. NATHANIEL HENDERSON, of Bute Co., to DINWIDDIE CRAWFORD & CO. 260 Pds. Va. money for 700 A. in Bute Co. on a branch of Shocco Creek, adj. HAWKINS. Wit: ATKINS McLEMORE, ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD. Proved by ALEXANDER MUIRHEAD, Bute February Court 1775, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: ll April 1775, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.

DB-5, page 205. 7 December 1774. THOMAS FLOYD, of Bute Co., to DINWIDDIE CRAWFORD & CO., of Glasgow. 31 Pds:10 Sh: Va. money for 260 A. in Bute Co. on NS Sandy Creek to Rockey Branch, adj. PUTMAN, PETTY, CARLILE, STANFORD & DAVID WALKER. Wit: ALEXR. MUIRHEAD, WILLIAM DUNCAN, ALEXANDER SCHIVER, Proved by ALEXR. MUIRHEAD, Bute February Court 1775, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: ll April 1775, by JAMES JOHNSON, P.R.

1776 Mecklenburg Co. VA Deeds

6-81: 2 Sept. 1776, David Dortch of Mecklenburg Co. to Charles Duncan of Chesterfield Co. and Robert Turnbull of Dinwiddie Co., for £246, 82 acres on Dockry's (?Dockny's) Creek, Insels corner, granted to David Dortch by patent 10 Nov. 1757, reserving to David Dortch 5a which was leased to Messers Dinwiddie Crawford & Co. for 21 yrs. Wit. William Turnbull, Alexander Schw.. (?Schvir?), John Cook, John Cook
(twice), Noah Dortch, David Dorlelys?. (FHL film 32,534)

1789 Bute Co NC

78. Feb. Ct. 1789. Acct. in Est. WM. PERSON, dec'd., by BEN MOSS, Extr. Includes: cattle sold by legatees to WM. JOHNSON to be paid to R. TURNBULL as part of debt owed by Est. to DINWIDDIE CRAFFORD & Co.; items sold to: SOLOMON GREEN, WILLIAM JOHNSON for himself & for LEWIS BOBBITT, WILL JOHNSON, Jr., SAML. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM PERSON, THOMAS PERSON, Jr., BEN EATON PERSON.

1796 Mecklenburg Co VA

Mecklenburg Co, VA Deed Index 8 Aug 1796 David Brooks to Ingram Pines, 9-122 12 Jun 1780 Thomas Brooks to John Grainger et all 6-50 12 Nov 1774 John Brooks to Dinwiddie Crawford & Co 4-1360 13 June 1768 Thomas Brooks to John McNeill 2-82 13 Mar 1769 Robert Brooks to Murphe William 2-174 11 Mar 1773 David Brooks from David Andrews 3-387 Ref

1807Chesterfield Co VA

Will of Charles Duncan of Chesterfield Co., 27 Jan. 1807;
Chesterfield Co. VA Wills 1795-1850 (Index 1749-1947 on FHL film 30,870)
(No others through at least 1852)
7-45/48: Will of Charles Duncan of Chesterfield Co., 27 Jan. 1807; to my dau. Nancy Gilliam Dunlap and her husband James Dunlap all my lands or farm called Roslin which I purchased from Archibald Batting, William Thompson and Drury Ragsdale, negroes, horses, etc., on condition they pay my daughter Charlotte Smith Gamble £3,000 upon their getting possession, and they return to VA within 7 years. In case my daughter Nancy G, and son in law James Dunlap or either of them not choosing to accept these lands and negroes on those conditions, I give my afsd. land called Roslin to my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble and her husband John G. Gamble, and all my negroes not hereafter disposed of, and my horses, etc. on condition they pay my dau. Nancy Gilliam Dunlap £4,000 on their getting possession of Roslin, £1,000 of which already paid to Jno. G. Gamble; in case my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble or son-in-law John G. Gamble not choosing to accept Roslin etc. on these terms, then the land and negroes except those particularly bequeathed, the stock, etc., should be sold, £1,000 to be paid James Dunlap in lieu of so much paid John G. Gamble, and the remainder equally divided between my daus. Nancy Gilliam Dunlap and Charlotte Smith Gamble. To my son-in-law James Dunlap and my dau. Nancy G. Dunlap my negro woman Cross? and her five children Ann Eliza, Cecelia, Zach, Burwell, and James, my negro woman Betty and her child, my negro ship carpenter David Johnston; and their increase. To my son-in-law John G. Gamble and my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble my negro ship carpenter Charles, my negro man Pully? Short and his wife Anne, their children Willie and Peter, my negro woman Sally, my mulatto woman Eloise? Joan?; and their increase. To Charles Macindoe? £100 when he becomes of age to set him up in his business. £100 sterling to the Minister andreldew? of the parish of Strathblam in Co. Sterling in Scotland. Emancipate my mulatto woman Shatlee and her child Jean and their future increase; if they wish to leave the state and if VA law will not let them, then I leave them to either of my daughters they may wish to live with. Residue of my estate including my stock in the Bank of VA, the loan office, the Commercial Insurance of Norfolk, my shares in the Appomattox Canal, and in the Lower Appamattox Co. and whatever may be due me by Dinwiddie Crawford & Co. and Duncan & Trumbull or any other, be equally divided between my daughters Nancy Gilliam Dunlap and Charlotte Smith Gamble. I own two lots in Blandford Hill which if not disposed of in my lifetime, I leave to be divided between my two sons in law James Dunlap and John G. Gamble. Appoint my sons in law James Dunlap and John G. Gamble, my friends Donald MacKenzie, John Dunlap and Robert Gamble Jr., merchants, executors of my will. I forgot to mention that the organ and pianna that was Eliza's may be sent to my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble, and my furniture may be sold. /s/ Charles Duncan. Codicil: As my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble is going to England with me, my organ and pianno may be sold, but if it will not sell for its value, it may remain for my dau. Charlotte Smith Gamble till her return. /s/ Charles Duncan. Proved 13 June 1808, on oaths that it was Charles Duncan's handwriting, by William Clarke, John T. May and Roger Atkinson. (FHL film 30,874) Ref

THE FAMILY OF DINWOODIE OF DINWOODIE
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THE NAME
The name was derived from a hill by that name in the parish of Applegarth, Dumfries, Scotland. The hill, the highest in the area, is 871 feet above sea-level, and is the site of ancient fortifications. Various inerpretations have been suggested for the ancient meaning of the name. "The castle of the dismal gallows", "the hill of the widow's castle", "the castle of the wanton", "the castle in the wood", and "the castle of the wager or pledge" have all been suggested. There are many variarions of the name. I have found 37 different spellings, and it is suggested that there are as many as one hundred.

THE PLACE
Dinwoodie is approximately 9 kilometers north of Lockerbie, in hilly country on the east of the River Annan. There are several place names still in existence; Dinwoodie Hill, Dinwoodie Brook, Dinwoodie Green, Dinwoodie Lodge, and Dinwoodie Mains. There was also a station at Dinwoodie on the Caledonian Railway. This area is between the old estates of the Johnstones to the north, and the Jardines to the south. As it is located in the borders between England and Scotland, it was involved in much of the historic warfare, raids, and feuds that took place in the area.

THE PEOPLE
It is thought that the original Dinwoodies were either Normans who settled in the area with Robert DeBruce, or indigenous Kelts already living there. The earliest mention of a Dinwoodie appears in the record of the first Feudal Court held by William DeBruce, the Lord of Annandale, at his Castle of Lochmaben, in 1191 A.D. Dinwoodie would have been one of the landed nobility who were vassals to DeBruce. This court was held in preparation for the First Crusade. DeBruce, his knights and retainers, accompanied King Richard on this crusade. It is therefore likely that a Dinwoodie was a crusader.
The Dinwoodies were landed nobility until 1620 when Lady Jean Dinwiddie died without an heir. She had previously resigned her position in favor of her husband's family, the Maxwells, and the estate and title passed into their hands.
The clan had never been very large - at most numbering about 40 men. They had generally allied themselves with the larger Johnstone Clan in the many inter-clan feuds, and border raids. With the dissolution of the Lairdship, many of the families apparently migrated to other areas. One of the prominent families moved to Glasgow where they became successful merchants and community leaders. From this family came Robert Dinwoodie who was colonial governor of Virginia. Others of the family moved to Dumfries where they were merchants, artisans, etc. The largest concentrations of individual family members over the years have been been in the Glasgow, and Dumfries areas.


Lawrence Dinwiddle, baptised on 31st December 1696, was a student of the fifth class at Glasgow University In 1709, and on 11th September, 1723, he was admitted a burgess of Glasgow by right of his father; on 11th May, 1743, he was elected a burgess of Edinburgh and again, along with his brother Robert, on 2nd August, 1758, though why twice Is unknown. I. Several of the family of Robert Dinwiddle of Germiston besides Lawrence, the provost, are of Interest: Matthew, eldest son and eldest child, baptised lst September, 1687, was a merchant in Glasgow, and was served heir to his father on 21st January, 1709. BY 1725 he had fallen into difficulties, and his properties passed into the possession of the Merchants House. In 1738 he was enrolled a pensioner of that Institution and was buried in the Glasgow Cathedral Yard on 30th Nov. 1747; Robert, fifth child and second son, was baptised on 6th October, 1692. Appointed in 1727 Collector of Customs in Bermuda; he was the means of exposing a long continued series of frauds on the Government. In 1751 he received the appointment of Governor of Virginia, and after serving there for six years he returned home broken in health by unending and bitter struggles with the French and the colonists. He died at Clifton on 27th July, 1770, and is buried In the old parish church there

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Plantation trade. Petition of merchants and traders of Bristol and Liverpool trading to His Majesty's plantations in America
Issuing Body/Bodies: House of Commons.Committee, to Whom the Examination and Consideration of the Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the City of Bristoll...and also the Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the Town and Borough of Leverpoole

That there had been, for many Years past, a constant Trade carried on by divers Persons, contrary to the Act of Navigation, and other Laws for securing the Plantation-Trade, from Scotland to the Sugar and Tobacco-Plantations in America; and from the said Plantations back again in Scotland: And particularly, That one Thomas Meech, who had been concerned in the said illegal Trade, had informed the Commissioners, That, in the Year 1693, Twelve Ships of the Kingdom of Scotland had laded Tobacco and Sugar in the said Plantations, and had returned directly to Scotland, and there unloaded: Besides which, there were then Eight more Ships upon the same Voyages. And Mr. Sanson further declared to the Committee, That, by these illegal Practices, the King was damaged in his Customs at 50,000l a Year. That then several Merchants were called in; and examined: And, First, Mr. Micajah Perry informed the Committee, That he had now Bills of Exchange, which were drawn in Virginea, payable to him for the Country Duties of Tobacco loaded on a Ship in Virginea, which was now actually discharged in Glasgow in Scotland; and that he had, for several Years past, received Returns from Scotland, for the Account of several Planters in Virginea, being the Produce of Tobacco loaden on Scottish Ships in Virginea, and landed in Glasgow in Scotland: That before this illegal Trade driven by the Scots, from the Tobacco-Plantations, he used yearly to ship from England to Scotland at least 800 Hogsheads of Tobacco; and of late he has not sent one: That the like illegal Trade was carried on between Ireland and Virginea: That one great means of carrying on this fraudulent Trade from Virginea to Scotland...Ireland, did proceed from a late Practice of loading on Shipboard vast Quantities of Tobacco in Bulk, which they run on Shore in every Port they put into; thereby defrauding the King of his Customs, at least 60,000l per Ann.; and abating at least a Sixth Part of the Shipping employed in that Trade; and causing the Price of Tobacco in all Places to abate so considerably, that the fair Traders cannot live by their Trade;

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On 10th December 1782 Alexander Spiers died. He had been one of Glasgow's most successful and prominent Tobacco Lord, a group of merchants who not only made considerable fortunes for themselves and their backers, but also made Glasgow much of what it remains today - one of the greatest of Victorian cities.

By 1775 Glasgow's tobacco merchants were at the height of their prosperity and importing from Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland more than half the tobacco brought into Britain. In 1771, four years before war broke out in America, the Clyde saw 46 million tons of tobacco imported into Glasgow. Of this, three million tons remained for British consumption while the remainder was exported to France and the Low Countries.

The handful of leading Tobacco Lords owned about 25 ships each. The tobacco trade was of course two-way, with ships leaving Glasgow loaded with merchandise such as cotton and glass Ref

(W. Cuninghame and Co.), edited by T.M. Devine (1984). A Scottish Firm in Virginia, 1767-1777: W. Cuninghame and Co. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Printed for the Scottish History Society by C. Constable, 255 p.). W. Cuninghame and Co.--History--Sources; Merchants--Scotland--Glasgow (Strathclyde)--Correspondence; Merchants--Virginia--Correspondence;Tobacco industry--Scotland--Glasgow (Strathclyde)--History--Sources; Tobacco industry--Virginia--History--Sources.