Fergusson, Robert, 1750-1774

Variant names

Hide Profile

Robert Fergusson and Alexander Hamilton were agents for the Scottish firm of James Glassford & Company during the latter half of the eighteenth century. Glassford & Company traded primarily in tobacco, though the company was also concerned with other goods, including coffee, sugar, and slaves. Fergusson and Hamilton made contracts with local stores, which in turn purchased tobacco directly from planters. The agents were then responsible for arranging for the crop to be shipped to Europe. Their responsibilities also included collecting payment for debts and distributing payment for goods and services.

Fergusson was born in Moniave, near Dumfries, in Scotland, around 1745. By 1772, he was established in the American colonies as an agent, or "factor" in contemporary parlance, of Glassford & Company. At different times, he also represented James Brown & Company and Neil Jamieson & Company. Fergusson owned Nanjemoy, an estate in Charles County, though he lived in Georgetown and later at "Mulberry Grove," also in Charles County, near Port Tobacco. The move to "Mulberry Grove" might have accompanied his marriage to Elizabeth Ballantine in 1788. Robert Fergusson died in 1813.

Hamilton was also born in Scotland, in Mauchline, Ayrshire. He was not closely related to either the American statesman of the same name or the Hamilton Family whose papers are held at the University of Maryland Libraries. As a young man, Hamilton emigrated to America. In 1768 he became a factor in Piscataway, Prince George's County, Maryland. Eventually he and Fergusson both served as factors for James Brown & Company as well as Glassford & Company. Hamilton maintained a sizeable estate of his own, including more than ten slaves at the time of his death in 1799.

Robert Fergusson and Alexander Hamilton corresponded frequently on business matters and appeared to be on friendly terms.

From the guide to the Fergusson/Hamilton papers, 1761-1827, 1761-1827, (State of Maryland and Historical Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Robert Fergusson and Alexander Hamilton papers, 1761-1827 (majority 1780-1800) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1846 Sept. 11, Western Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
creatorOf Fergusson, Robert, 1750-1774. Poem: 1781 Jan.4, on seeing Alexander Runciman's work / Robert Fergusson. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Macnab, John, fl. 1851. Letter: 1851 July 3, Stead's Place, Leith Walk [Edinburgh], to David Laing / John Macnab, A. Fullarton & Co. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, E-K. Houghton Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1847 Jan. 16, Western Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
creatorOf Fergusson, Robert, 1750-1774. Clippings relating to the Scots poet Robert Fergusson, 1924, 1927. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1846 Oct. 27, Mrs Mains, 71 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: [1843?], to David Laing / Alex B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1847 Oct. 18, 71 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1847 Aug. 9, 71 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
referencedIn Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. Letter: 1851 Jan. 15, 16 Middle Arthur Place, Edinburgh, to David Laing / Alex. B. Grosart. University of Edinburgh - Main Library, Edinburgh University Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Glassford and Company corporateBody
associatedWith Grosart, Alexander B. (Alexander Balloch), 1827-1899. person
correspondedWith Hamilton, Alexander person
associatedWith Houghton Library. corporateBody
associatedWith James Brown & Co. (Glasgow, Scotland) corporateBody
associatedWith Macnab, John, fl. 1851. person
associatedWith Runciman, Alexander, 1736-1785. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Maryland
Subject
Commercial agents
Poetry
Tobacco industry
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1750-09-05

Death 1774-10-16

Britons

Scots,

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b27sfm

Ark ID: w6b27sfm

SNAC ID: 35822755