Luke Wilson (merchant)

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Luke Wilson (died 1589) was a 16th-century Scottish merchant involved in the textile trade, the export of hides and wool, and lead mining. He served as treasurer to the burgh council.

Contents

Career

His name was sometimes spelled "Luik Wilsoun". [1] He lived in Littil's Close in Edinburgh. Wilson was a prominent burgess who was tasked as treasurer of the burgh in 1561 to organise a pageant and a banquet to celebrate the royal entry of Mary, Queen of Scots. [2]

In 1565, John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl arranged for Luke Wilson, with James Johnston of Kellobank and Robert Ker, to manage his mining contract with Mary, Queen of Scots. [3] The royal treasurer's accounts include the receipt of duty on exported ore. Barrels containing lead ore for export to Flanders were officially marked with branding irons by the Scottish mint, which was known as the "Cunze Hous". [4]

In 1564, Wilson provided black satin to make a doublet for the Comptroller of Scotland, John Wishart of Pitarrow. [5] Wilson was Dean of Guild in 1579. [6]

Court case

In 1574, Robert Watson brought a case against Wilson and Archibald Stewart for non-payment of customs duties owed to the Scottish crown. Wilson had received wool, hides, and skins (for leather making) at the port of Acheson's Haven near Prestonpans, where Stewart acted as the customs officer. Wilson exported these goods from Leith, and claimed he did not have to pay customs again to Watson. He was represented at a hearing by his wife, Katherine Uddert. The Lords Auditors of the Exchequer found that Wilson should pay Watson, and Stewart should not collect duties. [7]

Family

Luke Wilson married Katharine Uddert, sister of the textile merchant Alexander Uddert (died 1597). Their children included:

References

  1. ↑ Robert Adam, Edinburgh Old Accounts, 1 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 50.
  2. ↑ Alan R. MacDonald, "The Triumph of Protestantism: the burgh council of Edinburgh and the entry of Mary Queen of Scots", Innes Review, 48:1 (Spring 1997), pp. 77–78: James David Marwick, Extracts from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh, 1557–1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 119–122.
  3. ↑ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 373–377.
  4. ↑ Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), pp. 88, 110, 273: Protocol Book of Thomas Johnsoun, p. 69 no. 348: Extracts from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), p. 131: Register of the Privy Seal, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1921), p. 750 no. 4954: T. C. Smout, "Leadmining in Scotland, 1650–1850", Peter L Payne, Studies in Scottish Business History (London, 1967), p. 110.
  5. ↑ Michael Pearce, "Account of George Wishart of Drymme", Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, 17 (Edinburgh: SHS, 2025), p. 34.
  6. ↑ Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1573–1589 (Edinburgh, 1882), pp. 109, 111.
  7. ↑ Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 20 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 464–465.
  8. ↑ Helen Wyld, "The Mystery of the Fettercairn Jewel", Anna Groundwater, Decoding the Jewels: Renaissance Jewellery in Scotland (Sidestone Press: NMS, 2024), p. 74: National Records of Scotland, will of Wilsoun, Susanna, CC8/8/25, p. 322.
  9. ↑ John Gibson, The Wardlaws in Scotland (Edinburgh: Brown, 1912), p. 118.
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