| Description | John Muirhead was a merchant in Glasgow and was the brother-in-law of James Watt of Greenock. The following six bundles have a mixture of mostly business correspondence and accounts concerning different ships and cargoes. Salt and timber are major items in the accounts and there are also accounts for the fitting out of ships, especially the Lady Forbes, by James Watt of Greenock.
All the pieces had been numbered in red ink and were arranged in chronological order, with the most recent item first. This has been retained.
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/73, [JWP JW/15] reads: 'Miscellaneous accounts and papers of James Watt, merchant, Greenock. 1732 to 1770. No. 1 to 230.'
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/74, [JWP JW/16] reads: 'Sundry accounts of Mr James Watt at Greenock. 1733 - 1773. No. 1 to 91.'
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/75, [JWP JW/17] reads 'Sundry accounts of Mr James Watt at Greenock. 1733 - 1773. No. 1 to 64.'
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/76, [JWP JW/18] reads: 'Miscellaneous accounts of James Watt, Merchant,Greenock. 1734 - 1776. No. 1 to 71.'
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/77, [JW/19] reads: 'Salt & other accounts of Mr James Watt of Greenock. 1735 - 1771. No. 1 to 76.'
In addition to accounts, there are numerous letters to James Watt of Greenock from his brother-in-law, John Muirhead, merchant, of the Gorbals, Glasgow, and other members of the Muirhead family. The letters mention salt and other cargoes such as timber, sugar, rum, potatoes; news of shipping; finances etc. No. 54 is a booklet headed 'Account of Sales of Muirhead & Watt's Timber begun Anno 1756', which covers the dates 1756 to 1758. No. 20 is headed ' Protest Capt[ain] Will[ia]m Glassford Ag[ains]t Wind and Tide 1767. Protest for Tonnage on Salt.' No. 68 is a legal document, 'letters of horn'.
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/78, [JW/21] reads: 'Sundry accounts of James Watt & others. 1740 - 1773. No. 1 to 54.'
The bundle label for Finding number MS 3219/3/79, [JW/20] reads 'Accounts James Watt, Merchant, Greenock. 1740 - 1787. No. 1 to 14.'
These are annual cash balances. |