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 55 includes surnames from Pagan to Pollock.
Merchant John Pagan made his mark on the history of Nova Scotia. In July 1773, his ship Hector sailed from Greenock with ten passengers and later picked up 179 more from Loch Broom, Wester Ross. When the passengers disembarked in Pictou they more than doubled the population of the town.
Archibald Paton was one of Glasgow's legendary characters. Each day he would promenade the "plainstones" opposite his house in the Trongate, clad in a suit of snuff-coloured brown, and wearing blue striped stockings and knee breeches, and shoes with buckles. He sported a long pigtail, a gold-headed cane, cambric ruffles, powdered hair and a cocked hat, which he removed with French politeness when saluting a friend.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 914.14351
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
characters, directories, emigration, family history, genealogy, Hector, John Tait's Directory, merchants, ships, soldiers