Scottish Glassblowers

[Robinson1857]

Are there any ledgers, account books, or other resources to help pinpoint glassworkers in Scotland? I am particularly interested in researching the late 1700's and very early 1800's? Here in the U.S. we have some company records that have survived. Also, since most early U.S. factories provided housing for glassworkers,you can look through census records and estimate who was employed by the glass factory if you know a few key names affiliated with that business.

I have traced my 4th great-grandfather, Daniel Robinson, as far back as the Rensselaer Glass Factory (Sand Lake, Berlin, New York) in 1810. Legend holds that the superintendent of that factory recruited glassblowers from Scotland (Dumbarton Glassworks) in 1806. The pieces fit, but I can't seem to connect Daniel to Scotland. Since the secrets of the glass trade were passed from father to son, I am confident that I can narrow my search down... if I could identify glassworkers that far back in Scotland. Based on my father's Y-DNA results, I am pretty sure our Robinsons originated in the region between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Now I need to learn what resources might be available.

Thank you for any advice!

My Robinson Genealogy Site
https://sites.google.com/site/robinson1857/

[johnniegarve]

Glassworkers were amongst the earliest tradesmen to move around the UK. Robinson sounds English but possibly from Ireland, check...

http://scotlandsglass.co.uk/

Johnnie

[Robinson1857]

Thanks, Johnnie. That helps me narrow down my search and gives me some direction. I'm not sure how far back my Robinson line goes in Scotland. One Robinson relative listed his ethnicity as "Scotch" when crossing the Canadian border years ago. Another ancestor Reported that my 3rd great-grandfather was born in Scotland. Apart from my father's one strong Robinson Y-DNA match, the other matches are Scots with surnames like Wishart, McKellar, McCrain, and Grant. I realize that it's no guarantee, but the connections could predate surnames, and I find it interesting that those matches' most distant ancestors were located within that region around Glasgow and Edinburgh. It could be a coincidence, but it's a hunch I need to follow up on.

Glassworkers were amongst the earliest tradesmen to move around the UK. Robinson sounds English but possibly from Ireland, check...

http://scotlandsglass.co.uk/

Johnnie

[SarahND]

Hello Robinson1857 and welcome to

I noticed that you have the surname Little in your signature. We have a member littlealison who has done quite a bit of research on her Little ancestors who were glass makers. Search the forum for her posts and you may find some interesting information.

Best wishes,
Sarah

[Robinson1857]

Thank you, Sarah! I will take a look at her posts. My most distant Little ancestor, William Little (1754-1797), was not a glassworker here, but there may a connection.

Regards,

Alan

Hello Robinson1857 and welcome to

I noticed that you have the surname Little in your signature. We have a member littlealison who has done quite a bit of research on her Little ancestors who were glass makers. Search the forum for her posts and you may find some interesting information.

Best wishes,
Sarah

[SarahND]

And I forgot to mention her informative article in the Talking Scot Library: viewtopic.php?f=39&t=17390

[johnniegarve]

Robinson, a family of this name were glassmakers/employers in the Dudley/Stourbridge area from the 1770's to the 1850's. The names Ann, Benjamin, George , Frederick. John & Samuel Robinson & a glassworks at Amblecote.


My own glassmaking ancestors moved from Edinburgh to Derby, to Dudley then Glasgow.

Johnny.

[Robinson1857]

That's a promising lead! Thanks, Johnny!

-Alan

Robinson, a family of this name were glassmakers/employers in the Dudley/Stourbridge area from the 1770's to the 1850's. The names Ann, Benjamin, George , Frederick. John & Samuel Robinson & a glassworks at Amblecote.


My own glassmaking ancestors moved from Edinburgh to Derby, to Dudley then Glasgow.

Johnny.

[Currie]

There's a letter to the editor in The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany, 1809, page 410, that probably wont help, but may be of interest.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=wV ... J&pg=PA410

Alan

[Robinson1857]

Interesting! Thanks, Alan!

-Alan

There's a letter to the editor in The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany, 1809, page 410, that probably wont help, but may be of interest.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=wV ... J&pg=PA410

Alan