Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purposes of review and I have received other books from Genealogical Publishing Company, also for review. However, my opinions are my own and not influenced by outside sources.

The full title of this book is a mouthful: Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830, Consolidated Edition Comprising Volumes 1 and 2 Together with Chapter Four: the Emigrant Trade from Scottish Trade with Colonial Charleston, 1683-1783 by prolific Scottish author and compiler David Dobson.

Directory of Scots 2026 , titled as a consolidation, represents the combined volumes 1 and 2, in addition to one chapter from a third Dobson book, some of which were first published 40 years ago.

Examples of Entries:

Smith, Duncan 90. Born in Scotland. Margaret 80. Born in Scotland. Mary 50. Born in NC. Margaret 40. Born in NC. Catherine 38. Born in NC. Emigrated to America in 1786. A farmer in Robeson County, NC with a wife and 10 children in 1812.

McKaskill, Allen Born in Skye, Inverness-shire during 1768. Probably a son of Daniel McCaskill and his wife Christian McLean. Settled in NC. Father of Daniel, Allen, and Kenneth. Died in Richmond (?) County, NC.

Murray, John, of Murraythwaite, in Charleston around 1757

Whitney, John B. born in Fochabers, Morayshire, around 1780, died in Charleston on 13 December 1817

Chapter Four: The Emigrant Trade adds helpful background information about the many business transactions between Charleston, South Carolina and Scotland.

I have to continue with another recommendation for libraries and serious Scots researchers to have this book on their reference shelves.

Now for the elephant in the room – would it be cheaper to buy used copies of the three books rather than this new compilation? A quick check online showed me that the least expensive used books plus shipping would total more than the purchase of the new book and the single volume is handier to use than paging through three different books.

Directory of Scots in the Carolinas 1680-1830, Consolidated Edition Comprising Volumes 1 and 2 Together with Chapter Four: the Emigrant Trade from Scottish Trade with Colonial Charleston, 1683-1783 can be purchased from Genealogical.com for $78.00

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purposes of review and I have received other books from Genealogical Publishing Company, also for review. However, my opinions are my own and not influenced by outside sources.

Today, we”l take a look at the second of David Dobson’s three newly published books in 2026.

For those who are unfamiliar with David Dobson’s work, he has compiled massive amounts of facts about Scots and the individual records about them uncovered in original resources, including archives, newspapers, etc.

Scottish Soldiers and Prisoners of War 1638-1652 The Wars of the Three Kingdoms is especially significant because the wars in Britain from 1638-1652 brought about many life changes, particularly for those on the losing side who were punished with transportation far from today’s United Kingdom.

There are also numerous entries about Scots in the military

Given that this book is a compilation of names, Dobson’s method of presenting the facts in alpha-order of surnames, there is no need for an index and it is easy to open the book and look for possible information about the researcher’s possible Scottish ancestor.

Scottish Soldiers does have an introduction, providing a brief overview of the war/s involving King Charles I and describing the penal transportation system.

There are also a few locale illustrations and a list of the abbreviations for the sources of details about each person named i nthe book.

Examples of Entries:

Darling, George, captured at the Battle of Worcester, on 2 September 1651, was transported via London aboard the John and Sarah of London, master John Greene, landed at Boston, New England, on 13 February 1652

Naismith, William, a chaplain of Montgomery’s Regiment in 1645

Kidd, William, possibly a prisoner of war who was transported to Barbados, a militiaman there in 1679

Rodger, Captain, was hanged at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh on 26 April 1654

The lengthier entries are similar to that of George Darling, above, identifying battle participation and what became of them.

David Dobson’s books are absolutely fabulous guides to the movement of Scots around the world. Scottish Soldiers and Prisoners of War 1638-1652 will be especially helpful in identifying early American colonial ancestors of Scottish origins.

Ancestors found in this book who settled in the American colonies have sources cited explaining how and why they ended up in the New World and it wasn’t by their own choice.

Scottish Soldiers and Prisoners of War 1638-1652 The Wars of the Three Kingdoms is another book that needs to be on the shelf of every genealogical library and on the book shelf of those with many 17th century Scottish connections in colonial America.

The book can be purchased from Genealogical Publishing Company for $30.50.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purposes of review and I have received other books from Genealogical Publishing Company, also for review. However, my opinions are my own and not influenced by outside sources.

Scottish expert and author/compiler David Dobson turned his sights to the oceans in his latest newly published (2026) book, Scottish Seafarers at Home and Abroad 1550-1850 and each time I review his books, I wish I had more concrete information about my own handful of Scots ancestors.

This book follows the usual format of Dobson’s many other publications. Entries are in alphabetical order by name with a key to abbreviations of sources provided along with several illustrations.

Although most entries are from the 1700s and 1800s, there are quite a few from the 1600s and there are a very few from the 1500s. Entries are short, but factual.

Examples:

Small, John, clerk of the Clynkbells of Dundee arrived in Dundee in 1580.
Simpson, John, master of CHANCE, sailed from Port Royal in Jamaica in a convoy, included in the CUPID, the GREENWICH, the NABOB bound for the River Clyde in November 1778, however, the CHANCE became detached from the convoy and on 14 December 1778 was captured by the sloop PROVIDENCE master Patrick Rathbone and a prize crew was put on board, but on 1 January 1779 they retook the ship and took it to Scotland.
Kerr, John, born 1784, a shipmaster, died on 22 January 1848 (Greenock)
Boyd, Robert, a sailor in Cork, son and heir of John Boyd a shipmaster in Irvine, Ayreshire, in 1741.
Millar, Captain D.C., of the barque MARINER OF LONDON son of Francis Millar in Glasgow, died at Taboo, Yawney Bay, Africa on 6 January 1849.

The entries, as the reader can see, are varied and pertain to local history, the American Revolution and ports of departure and arrival.

The information is often unique, not to be found elsewhere so may be invaluable to a researcher with Scottish mariners in the family line.

Like Dobson’s other historical compilations, this book should be on the reference shelf of all genealogical libraries and, as mentioned, if there are mariners in the Scottish family tree, it should be on those book shelves as well.

Scottish Seafarers at Home and Abroad 1550-1850 by David Dobson can be purchased from Genealogical Publishing Company for $32.50.