David Dobson

David Dobson is a recognized authority on the Scottish origins of American colonists.

Guides

Dobson has published several guides to genealogical research in Scotland:

He has also published a history of Scottish emigration to the American colonies:

  • Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 1607-1785. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 1994. FHL US/CAN Book 970 W2dd

Scots Abroad, Maritime, and Shipping Books

Americans mentioned in Scottish records
  • American Data from the Aberdeen Journal, 1748-1783. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1998. FHL British Book 941.25/A1 B3d
  • American Data from the Records of the High Court of the Admiralty of Scotland, 1675-1800. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2000. FHL British Book 941 P2a
  • American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine, 1731-1868. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company [GPC], 1987. FHL US/CAN Book 973 V22d
  • "Genealogical Gleanings in the British Isles," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 76 (1988):230-234.
  • "Genealogical Gleanings from Scotland," National Genealogical Society Quarterly (with Peter Wilson Coldham)
  • Vol. 73 (1985):8-14, 291-293
  • Vol. 74 (1986):171-173
  • Vol. 81, No. 2 (June 1993):139-140. FHL Book 973 B2ng [includes 1807 ship's passenger list, New York City found in the National Archives, U.K.]
Mariners series
Scots Abroad series

Arranged by destination

Arranged by Scottish region

  • The Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Aberdeen and North East Scotland, Fife, Moray and Banff, Angus and Perth, Southern Scotland, Glasgow and the West of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, the Lothians, and the Northern Highlands. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 2000. FHL British Book 941 W2da
  • The Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Argyll and North Highlands. 2 vols. St. Andrews: David Dobson, 1993-2000. FHL British Books 941.38 W2d pt. 1-2
  • Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from the Lothians. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1995. FHL British Book 941 W2ddob
  • Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Southern Scotland. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1994. FHL British Book 941 W2ddb

Arranged by religion

Shipping

Scottish People

Dr. Dobson has compiled a large number of books designed to help researchers identify people who lived in Scotland in the 1600s and 1700s. He uses many sources that supplement more commonly-used parochial records and testaments.

Burgess Rolls
Hearth Taxes
Jacobites
The People of Scotland series
Occupations

Irish Abroad

Irish People in British Sources

Jews in Great Britain

Other American Colonists