The Scottish presence in the Netherlands was such that by 1700 about a thousand Scots lived in the city of Rotterdam alone. Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, some of these Scots or their descendants participated in the Dutch emigration to America.
For his latest book, Scottish emigration expert David Dobson has found over 2,000 separate references to this traffic. In each case, he states the individual's name, occupation (soldier, merchant, student, etc.), date of the reference, and the source. Marriage entries typically give the Scot's name and place of origin, those of his spouse, and sometimes the name(s) of parents, or more. The author cautions researchers to take heed of the fact that the names brought to America by these immigrants were generally modified by the Dutch and, on occasion, will conceal their actual Scots origin.
For his latest book, Scottish emigration expert David Dobson has found over 2,000 separate references to this traffic. In each case, he states the individual's name, occupation (soldier, merchant, student, etc.), date of the reference, and the source. Marriage entries typically give the Scot's name and place of origin, those of his spouse, and sometimes the name(s) of parents, or more. The author cautions researchers to take heed of the fact that the names brought to America by these immigrants were generally modified by the Dutch and, on occasion, will conceal their actual Scots origin.
