Curiosities of Glasgow citizenship

Short biographical notices of the principal merchants, manufacturers etc of Glasgow in 1783

WILLIAM WARDLAW

WILLIAM WARDLAW, father of the venerable Dr. Ralph Wardlaw, and himself a much esteemed citizen; bailie in 1796, and again in 1800; merchant and manufacturer, of the firm of Smith & Wardlaw. His house was in Charlotte Street, east side; his warehouse was on the south side of Smith's Court, off Candleriggs. (10) Wardlaw is an east country name. William Wardlaw, of a family originally from Fife, came here from Dalkeith, where Dr. Wardlaw was born. He had married Anne Fisher, daughter of the Rev. James Fisher, and grand-daughter of Ebenezer Erskine, father of the Secession. Anne Fisher's sister, Margaret, was wife of Walter Ewing MacLae of Cathkin, and mother of the late Humphrey Ewing MacLae of Cathkin, James Ewing of Strathleven, M.P., and Mrs. Crum of Thornliebank. William Wardlaw and Ewing MacLae followed the Erskines and Fishers in Church matters; and Ralph Wardlaw, though so well known as an Independent, was brought up a Burgher Seceder.

(10) In premises vacated by James Finlay & Co. "Smith's Court" was so named because owned by Archibald Smith of Jordanhill. On the north side of the court was a calender, in which he was a partner. There is a calender there now.