Dr. Robert Glasgow

Slave-owner on St Vincent, moving to Scotland and leaving a significant physical legacy there in Montgreenan House.

1. Owner of Mount Greenan (or Montgreenan) and Sans Souci estates in St Vincent, which he bequeathed to his 'natural' daughter Anne and her husband Robert Robertson of Gunsgreen House, Eyemouth (both q.v.). The legacy was made conditional upon Robert assuming the name Glasgow. Robert Glasgow resided at Montgreenan house, Ayrshire, which he had rebuilt c. 1810-1820.

2. Robert Glasgow had at least two 'natural' children in St Vincent. A trust deed of 1803 reads as follows: 'To my reputed natural mulatto son John and the lawful heirs of his body, I leave the sum of two hundred pounds sterling. To my reputed natural daughter Emilia and the lawful heirs of her body, I leave the sum of five hundred pounds sterling. To Robert, the reputed natural son of my late brother James and the lawful heirs etc..... I leave the lawful sum of one hundred pounds sterling. To James the reputed natural son of my said brother etc.... the sum of fifty pounds sterling.' John Glasgow died at some point before September 1817; he appears to have owned a metal work business, owning five blacksmiths, two coppersmiths, a carpenter, four labourers as well as three female house servants and five children. By 1822, two of the women and all five of the children had been purchased by Montgreenan plantation. Amelia Glasgow inherited enslaved people from John Glasgow as owner for life: in March 1817 she registered ownership of Mary, age 25, a house servant and four children Adam (age 7), Eve (age 5), Peter (age 3), and James (age 1). These may have been the partner and children of John Glasgow.

1. Fully sourced e-mail from Derek Janes [20/7/2015]; Simon D. Smith, 'Slavery's Heritage Footprint: links between British country houses and St Vincent plantations, 1814-1834', in Madge Dresser & Andrew Hann (eds.) Slavery and the British Country House (2013) pp. 57-68, at p.61 (which gives him as 'Sir Robert Glasgow'). Trust deposition and inventory of Robert Glasgow, SC6/44/4.

2. Transcription of the trust deed in the possession of Isla Tuck. St Vincent slave registers John Glasgow 1817, T71/493 p. 592. St Vincent slave registers Montgreenan 1822, T71/495 p. 54. St Vincent slave registers Amelia Glasgow 1817, T71/493 p. 591.

We are grateful to Derek Janes and Isla Tuck for their help with this entry.