David Dobson

Dr David Dobson is a recognized authority on the Scottish origins of American colonists. His list of publications exceeds 100 books. Many focus on connections between Scots who went abroad and their motherland. In addition to the immigrants themselves, he has also prepared books on the ships, shipmasters, merchants, whalers, and mariners involved in maritime trades.

He has also 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 providing a broader picture of those living there at the time many emigrants boarded ships to the American colonies.

Many, but not all of Dobson's books are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dozens are available online to Ancestry and World Vital Records subscribers. Books marked PILI have been indexed in the series Passenger and Immigrants Lists Index, which is also available online to Ancestry subscribers.

Guides
Dobson has published several guides to genealogical research in Scotland:


 * Scottish Genealogy Research. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2010.
 * Scottish Maritime Records, 1600-1850: A Guide for Family Historians. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1997. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Searching for Scotch-Irish Roots in Scottish Records 1600-1750. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007.

He has published two histories on Scottish maritime trade and emigration to Colonial America:


 * Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 1607-1785. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 1994. ; immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish Trade with Colonial Charleston 1683-1783. Glasgow, Scotland, 2009. PhD Thesis accessible through EThOS ($).

Dobson has also compiled a list of Scottish surnames found in early America:


 * The Scottish Surnames of Colonial America. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2003. ; online at Ancestry ($); immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).

Americans mentioned in Scottish records

 * American Data from the Aberdeen Journal, 1748-1783. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1998. ; online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * American Data from the Records of the High Court of the Admiralty of Scotland, 1675-1800. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2000. ; online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($).
 * American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine, 1731-1868. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company [GPC], 1987. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * "Genealogical Gleanings in the British Isles," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 76 (1988):230-234; online at NGS website ($); indexed online in PILI ($). Includes "Scotland: British-Army Deserters in America, circa 1750."
 * "Genealogical Gleanings from Scotland," National Genealogical Society Quarterly (with Peter Wilson Coldham); online at NGS website ($).


 * Vol. 73 (1985):8-14, 291-293
 * Vol. 74 (1986):171-173
 * Vol. 81, No. 2 (June 1993):139-140. [includes 1807 ship's passenger list, New York City found in the National Archives, U.K.]; indexed online in PILI ($).


 * "Genealogical Gleanings from Scotland: Nineteenth-Century Relief Recipients Immigrating to America," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 82, No. 1 (March 1994):58. ; online at NGS website ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish-American Court Records, 1733-1783. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1991. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Scottish-American Gravestones, 1700-1900. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1998. ; online at Ancestry ($) and World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish-American Heirs, 1683-1883. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1990. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Scottish-American Wills, 1650-1900. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1991. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).

Mariners series

 * Scottish Seafarers of the Seventeenth Century. [Edinburgh]: Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 1992.
 * Scottish Seafarers of the Eighteenth Century. n.p.: Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 1996.
 * Scottish Seafarers 1800-1830. St. Andrews, Scotland: David Dobson, 1997.


 * A Directory of Seafarers of the East Neuk of Fife 1580-1800: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The Mariners of Aberdeen and Northern Scotland, 1700-1800. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1994.
 * Mariners of Aberdeen and Northern Scotland, 1600-1800. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 1997, 2000.
 * The Mariners of Angus, 1600-1700. St. Andrews, Scotland: Historical &amp; Genealogical Research, 1992.
 * The Mariners of the Clyde and Western Scotland. 2 vols. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1994-1999.
 * The Mariners of Kirkcaldy and West Fife, 1600-1700. St. Andrews, Scotland: Historical &amp; Genealogical Research, 1992.
 * The Mariners of Kirkcaldy, St. Andrews and Fife: 1600-1800. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 2000.
 * The Mariners of the Lothians, 1600-1800. n.p.: Willow Bend Books, 1998.
 * The Mariners of St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife. St. Andrews, Scotland: Historical &amp; Genealogical Research, 1992.


 * Scottish Transatlantic Merchants, 1611-1785. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007. ; online at World Vital Records ($); immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).


 * Scottish Whalers before 1800. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1995.

Scots Abroad series
Arranged by destination


 * The Scots Abroad, 1650-1900: [Part One]. n.p.: Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 2003.
 * Scots in Africa. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1999.
 * Directory of Scots, Banished to the American Plantations, 1650-1775. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1983. ; online at Ancestry($); online at World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Directory of Scots, Banished to the American Plantations, 1650-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1996. online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Directory of Scots, Banished to the American Plantations, 1650-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2010. ; online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America, 1625-1825. 7 vols. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1984-1993. ; online at Ancestry: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7; also indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The French and Indian War [America] from Scottish Sources. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2003. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Scottish Immigrants to North America 1600s-1800s: The Collected Works of David Dobson. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2011.
 * The Original Scots Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783. 3 vols. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1989, 1998-1999. ; online at Ancestry ($); supplement also online at Ancestry ($); both indexed online in PILI ($).
 * More Scottish Settlers [America], 1627-1827. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2005, 2007. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in the American West, 1783-1883. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2003. ; online at Ancestry ($) and World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * A Directory of Scots in Asia 1600-1900 [part one]. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * A Directory of Scots in Australasia, 1788-1900. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1994.
 * Barbados and Scotland Links, 1627-1877. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2005. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * A Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1986. ; online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($): Vol. 1; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Original Scots Colonists of Early America: Caribbean Supplement 1611-1707. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1999; online at Ancestry ($) and World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots on the Chesapeake, 1607-1830. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1992. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots-Dutch Links in Europe and America, 1575-1825. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2004-11. and ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Scots-French Links in Europe and America 1550-1850. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2011.
 * Scots in Georgia and the Deep South, 1735-1845. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2000. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish-German Links, 1550-1850. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007.
 * Scottish-German Links, 1550-1850. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2011.
 * Huguenot and Scots Links, 1575-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2005.
 * Scots-IrishLinks, 1575-1725. 9 parts. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2001-13. ; online at World Vital Records ($): part 6.
 * Later Scots-Irish Links, 1725-1825. 3 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2003-2006. ; online at Ancestry: part | part 3 | part 4; online at World Vital Records: parts 1-2.
 * Scots-IrishLinks: 1825-1900. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2009.
 * Scots in Jamaica 1655-1855. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2011.
 * Scots in Latin America. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2003. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in the Mid-Atlantic Colonies, 1635-1783. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2002. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in the Mid-Atlantic States, 1783-1883. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2002. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in New England. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2002. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America, 1550-1850. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2005. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in Poland, Russia and the Baltic States, 1550-1850. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2000-2009. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Scots in Southern Europe: 1600-1900. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2013.
 * Scots in the USA and Canada, 1825-1900. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 200-?.
 * Scots in the USA and Canada, 1825-1875. 6 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1998-2013. ; online at Ancestry ($): part 1; part 1; part 2; part 3; online at World Vital Records ($): part 5; parts 1-5 indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots in the West Indies, 1707-1857. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1998-2006. ; online at Ancestry ($); online at World Vital Records ($); indexed online in PILI ($).

Arranged by origin


 * 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. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Argyll and North Highlands. 2 vols. St. Andrews: David Dobson, 1993-2000. ; indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from the Lothians. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1995.
 * Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Southern Scotland. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1994.

Arranged by religion


 * Scottish Catholics at Home and Abroad 1680-1780. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2010.
 * Scots Episcopalians: At Home and Abroad 1689-1800. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2011.
 * Scottish Quakers and Early America, 1650-1700. [Baltimore, Md.:] Clearfield, 1998. ; online at Ancestry ($); indexed online in PILI ($).

Soldiers

 * Scottish Soldiers in Colonial America. 4 parts. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1995-1997. and ; online at Ancestry ($): part 1 | part 2 | part 3; online at World Vital Records ($): parts 1-2; indexed online in PILI (parts 1 and 2) ($).
 * Scottish Soldiers in Continental Europe. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1997.

Shipping

 * Ships from Scotland to America, 1628-1828. 4 vols. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1998-. ; online at Ancestry: part | part 3; online at World Vital Records ($).
 * Ships from Scotland to North America 1830-1860. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2002-8. ; online at World Vital Records ($).

"This book attempts to bring together evidence of voyages from Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands to North America and the West Indies and is based on both primary and secondary sources in Europe and America." -- Introd.:


 * Transatlantic Voyages 1600-1699. 2nd ed. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2008.


 * Aberdeen Shipping 1751-1753: Ships, Shipmasters, and Voyages. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * The Shipping of Dundee and Montrose, 1720 to 1750: Ships, Shipmasters, and Voyages. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2005.
 * Dundee Shipping 1760-1769: Ships, Shipmasters, and Voyages. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * The Shipmasters of Dundee 1775 to 1825. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, [200-?].
 * The Shipping of Perth 1716-1767: Ships, Shipmasters, and Voyages. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2005.

Burgess Rolls

 * The Burgess Rolls of Fife, 1700-1800, and St. Andrew's, 1700-1775. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 2000. ;
 * The Burgess Roll of St. Andrews, 1751-1775. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1995.
 * Burgesses of Perth 1600-1699. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2002.

Hearth Taxes

 * Hearth Tax Records, 1691, Brechin &amp; Neighboring Parishes. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, [200-?].
 * Hearth Tax Records, 1691: Forfar &amp; Neighboring Parishes. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * Hearth Tax Records, 1691: Kirriemuir and Neighboring Parishes. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * Hearth Tax Records, 1691, Montrose and Neighboring Parishes. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * Hearth Tax Records, 1691: Sidlaw Parishes from Newtyle to Monikie. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * Hearth Tax Records, Angus Coastal Parishes from Monifieth to Arbroath, 1691. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2006.
 * Hearth Tax Records, Burgh of Dundee, 1691. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 200-?.

Jacobites

 * The Jacobites of Angus, 1689-1746. 2 parts. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1997. ; online at Ancestry ($).
 * Jacobites of the '15. Scotland: Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 1993.

The People of Scotland series

 * The People of Arbroath, 1700-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of the Braes of Angus, 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of Brechin: A Genealogical Source Book, 1600-1799. 2 vols. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * People of Carnoustie, Barry and Panbride 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of the Carse of Gowrie 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009.
 * The People of Cupar 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009.
 * The People of Dundee: Part One 1600-1699; Part Two 1700-1799. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2009.
 * The People of Dundee, 1700-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of Eastern Perthshire 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009.
 * The People of Edinburgh, 1725-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2012.
 * People of Ferry-port-on-Craig, Forgan and Balmerino: A Genealogical Source Book. Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2010.
 * The People of Forfar 1600-1699: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009.
 * The People of Glasgow, 1725-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2012.
 * The People of the Scottish Burghs: The People of Greenock 1600-1799. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2010.
 * The People of the Scottish Burghs: The People of Kirkcaldy 1600-1799. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2010.
 * People of Kirriemuir 1600-1699: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of Monifieth 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009.
 * People of Montrose, 1600-1699: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2007.
 * People of the Scottish Burghs: A Genealogical Source Book: The People of Montrose 1600-1799. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2014.
 * The People of Newburgh, Fife 1600-1799. Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2010.
 * People of the Scottish Burghs: Perth, 1600-1799. Part One and Part Two. Baltimore, Md.: GPC-Clearfield Company, 2009.
 * The People of Perth 1700-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2008.
 * The People of Lowland Perthshire, 1600-1799: Carse of Gowrie, Strathearn, Western Strathmore.
 * The People of St. Andrews. 2 vols. St. Andrews and Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2009-10.
 * People of the Scottish Borders 1650-1800. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2012.
 * The People of the Scottish Burghs: A Genealogical Source Book: The People of Stirling 1600-1799. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2010.
 * The People of Strathearn 1600-1799: A Genealogical Source Book. Dundee, Scotland: D. Dobson, 2010.

Scotland During the Plantation of Ulster series

 * Scotland During the Plantation of Ulster: The People of Ayrshire 1660-1699. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2008.
 * Scotland During the Plantation of Ulster: The People of Dumfries and Galloway, 1600-1699.
 * Scotland During the Plantation of Ulster: The People of Lanarkshire 1600-1699. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2009.
 * Scotland During the Plantation of Ulster: The People of Renfrewshire 1600-1699. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2009.

Scottish Highlanders series

 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration, 1725-1775: The People of Argyll. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2005-12. ; Vol. 1 immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration 1725-1775: The People of the Grampian Highlands. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2008. ; immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration 1725-1775: The People of Highland Perthshire. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2006.
 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration, 1725-1775: The People of Inverness-shire. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007. ; immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration 1725-1775: The People of the Northern Isles. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2008. ; immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration: The Northern Highlands. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007. ; online at World Vital Records ($); immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).

Occupations

 * Scottish Goldsmiths, 1600-1800. [Westminster, Md.]: Willow Bend Books, 1998.
 * Scottish Schoolmasters of the Seventeenth Century. 1995; reprint, n.p.: Willow Bend Books, 1998.
 * Scottish Soldiers, 1600-1800. St. Andrews, Scotland: D. Dobson, 1997.

Irish Abroad

 * Irish Emigrants in North America. 2 vols. St. Andrews, Scotland: David Dobson, 1994.
 * Irish Emigrants in North America. 7 vols. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 1997-2000. and ; online at Ancestry: parts 1-3 | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | parts 4 and 5 | part 6 | parts 1-7 are indexed online in PILI ($).


 * Ships from Ireland to Early America, 1623-1850. 3 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1999-2010. ; online at Ancestry: Vol. 2.

Irish People

 * The People of Ireland: 1600-1699. 3 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2007-11.

Irish People in British Sources

 * Irish Vital Records from the Scots Magazine 1739-1836. Baltimore, Md.: GPC, 2013.
 * Irish Wills and Testaments in Great Britain, 1600-1700. [Lovettsville, Va.]: Willowbend Books, 1998.

Jews in Great Britain

 * The Jewish Presence in Early British Records, 1650-1850.

Other American Colonists

 * Dutch Colonists in the Americas 1615-1815. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2008. ; index online in PILI ($).
 * The French in the Americas 1620-1820. Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 2011.

Website

 * Dr David Dobson, Staff page, University of St Andrews, School of History