Colin Rae of Little Govan

COLIN RAE OF LITTLE GOVAN (1730-90)

Merchant in Glasgow: Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

Colin Rae of Little Govan is the youngest son of Robert Rae of Little Govan and Tannochside, Merchant in Glasgow, and his wife, Elizabeth Dunlop. He was born before 25 December 1730, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Govan in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Colin Rae, Merchant in Glasgow, was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of the burgh of Glasgow on 24 June 1757. He was admitted in right of him being the youngest son of his deceased father, Robert Rae of Little Govan, merchant, burgess, and guild brother of the burgh of Glasgow James R. Anderson, Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1751-1846 (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1935), page 22

According to R. R. Stoddart: "Archibald (Rae), merchant, burgess of Glasgow, married Christian, daughter and heiress of John Jack of Tannochside, in Lanarkshire, who was dead in 1678. On the death of Archibald Rae of Tannochside, he was succeeded by his cousin, John Rae of Little Govane, to whom arms were granted in 1758 : "vert, a chevron argent between three roebucks in full course proper". His brother and successor, Colin Rae of Little Govane, married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Stuart of Castlemilk, Baronet. On the death of her brother Francis Stuart Crawford of Milton, in 1793, Margaret Stuart inherited his estate, but had no issue" R. R. Stoddart' Scottish Arms, Being a Collection of Armorial Bearings, A. D. 1370-1678, Reproduced in Facsimile from Contemporary Manuscripts, With Heraldic and Genealogical Notes, volume second (William Paterson, Edinburgh, 1881)page 368

The Lands of Little Govan

Colin Rae of Little Govan had signature of the lands of Little Govan granted to him on 10 December 1762 National Records of Scotland, reference SIG1/142/41. He had a decreet dative from the Commissar of Hamilton and Campsie on 6 March 1766 which confirmed: "Colin Rae, now of Little Govan, son lawfull of the said Robert Rae and brother german of the said John Rae" as executor dative and nearest in kin to both men and corroborated : "a Generall Disposition and Assignation made and granted by the said Robert Rae in favours of the said John Rae and the Like Generall Disposition and Assignation granted by the said John Rae to and in favours of the said Colin Rae" [National Archives of Scotland, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, Hamilton and Campsie Commissary Court, reference CC10/5/11]

The Lands of Govan-Haugh

Among other lands, Colin Rae of Little Govan inherited the lands of Govan-haugh from his father. John Geils and his trustees sold the lands of Govan-haugh, to Robert Rae, father of Colin Rae, in 1737 [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]

The Aikenhead Estate

James Hamilton of Aikenhead sold the Aikenhead estate to Colin Rae of Little Govan TheGlasgowStory Colin Rae of Aitkenhead is noticed there on 30 August 1785 when the female servant tax was assessed ScotlandsPlaces: Female Servant Tax Rolls

Death

Colin Rae of Little Govan died on 7 August 1790 [The Scots Magazine MDCCXC, Volume LII (Printed by Murray and Cochrane, Edinburgh), page 414]

Marriage

Colin Rae of Little Govan married Margaret Stewart (Otherwise Peggy Stewart, or Crawford), the daughter of Sir John Stewart of Castlemilk, Baronet. The request for marriage proclamation was booked at Carmunock in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on 31 January 1767, and they were married on 5 February 1767.

The Kirking of the Newly Weds

The marriage booking at Carmunock reads as follows: "Mr. Colin Rae of Little Govan and Miss Peggy Stewart lawfull daughter to Sir John Stewart of Castlemilk gave in their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage Jany 31st were married Feby 5th & gave two guineas to the poor the Sabbath they were Kirked 1767" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Carmunock Marriages, 1653-1819, reference OPR.631/1]

Children

Margaret Stewart and her husband Colin Rae of Little Govan had an only son named Robert Rae, who was killed in a riding accident while still a child :

1. Robert Rae