Robert Rae of Little Govan

ROBERT RAE OF LITTLE GOVAN

Merchant in Glasgow: Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

Robert Rae of Little Govan is the son of John Rae of Little Govan, and his wife, Elizabeth Dunlop. He was born before 22 October 1691, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His baptismal record reads as follows: "John Rae and Elizabeth Dunlop a lawll son; Robert Witnesses Robert Rae & James Dunlop elder of Garnkirk" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Glasgow Baptisms, 1687-98, reference OPR.644/7]

Robert Rae of Little Govan, Merchant in Glasgow, was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of the burgh of Glasgow on 15 November 1732. He was admitted in right of his father. James R. Anderson, Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1573-1750 (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1925), page 408

The lands of Govan-Haugh

In 1737 John Geils and his trustees sold the lands of Govan-haugh, for the behoof of John Geils's creditors, to Robert Rae, father of Colin Rae [William Maxwell Morrison, Advocate, The Decisions of the Court of Session, from its Institution to the Present Time, Digested Under Proper Heads, in the Form of a Dictionary, Vol. XVL (Bell & Bradfute, Edinburgh, 1804), page 14191]

One of the Assessors for the Community of Gorbals

In a disposition made in favour of the town council of Glasgow dated 16 February 1748 he is noticed as one of the assessors for the community of Gorbals Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow with Charters and other Documents, VOl. VI, A.D. 1739-59, edited by Robert Renwick, Depute Town-Clerk (Scottish Burgh Records Society, Glasgow, MCMXI), p. 583

Death

Robert Rae of Little Govan died on 4 September 1754 in the sixty-third year of his age View of the Merchants House of Glasgow; Containing Historical Notices of the Origin, Constitution, and Property, and of the Charitable Foundations which it Administers, presented to the House by Archibald Orr Ewing, Esquire, of Ballikinrain, Lord Dean of Guild, 1866 (Bell & Bain, Glasgow, MDCCCLXVI), page 585

His Successor

Robert Rae of Little Govan was succeeded by his eldest son, John Rae of Little Govan Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow with Charters and other Documents, VOl. VI, A.D. 1739-59, edited by Robert Renwick, Depute Town-Clerk (Scottish Burgh Records Society, Glasgow, MCMXI), p. 415