David Dick

Given simply as 'Dick' [as in 'Ballantine & Dick'] but identifiable as David Dick, a clerk and possibly junior partner of John Tailyour (1743-1815) and a correspondent with him after the latter's return to Britain c. 1792. David Dick and Ballantine were co-owners with Richard Miles, Robert Taylor and Thomas Hughan of a slaving voyage by the Phaeton from London in 1799, and David Dick was co-owner with Thomas and Alexander Hughan, Simon Taylor and Robert Taylor in voyages from Liverpool in 1799 by the Stag and 1800 by the Hinde, the latter captained by John Kimber.

1. 'David Dick was one of John Tailyour's clerks in Jamaica during his residency there. After Tailyour left, Dick and John McCall helped to oversee Tailyour's accounts in the firm of Taylor, Ballantine, and Fairlie. Soon after, Dick and McCall entered into their own partnership, which combined with Tailyour's old firm for a one-eight share of all non-slave business. By 1800, Dick and McCall had begun feuding. McCall accused Dick of not consulting him in the formation of the firm Dick, Orr, and Clark, and of mishandling three thousand pounds of their partnership's capital. The two asked Simon Taylor to arbitrate the case, but Simon was not interested in the affair. Ultimately, John Tailyour sided with McCall, which produced a rift in his relationship with Dick. After Tailyour left Jamaica, Dick helped to oversee and settle the affairs of Polly Graham, Tailyour's Jamaican lover and mother of his colonial children.'

2. This is probably David Dick, brother of Archibald Dick and James Dick merchant of Kingston (both q.v.). He was born 02/02/1769 in Glasgow, son of Hugh Dick, merchant, and his wife Cathrin Somerville. This is probably the man who bought the Glenshiel estate from Lord Seaforth in 1813/14 and married Elizabeth Mackenzie of the Mountgerald family. Archibald Dick was married to Elizabeth's sister Isabella. David Dick and Elizabeth Mackenzie had three children baptised in Glenshiel: John Graham (1816), Emilia Fraser (1817) and James (1819) and another son baptised in Jedburgh: Colin Mackenzie (1822). On 10/10/1843, the marriage of Major Anderson, of Hainault Hall, Essex, to Elizabeth Catherine, youngest daughter of the late David Dick, Esquire of Glenshiel and Amroth Castle, Pembrokeshire. David Dick bought Amroth Castle at some point before 1828. David Dick of Glenshiel died at Hatagain [sic - Ratagan?] House, Glenshiel, 16/07/1833.

William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Tailyour Family Papers 1743-2003, http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-4207tai?view=text [accessed 28/09/2016].

1. Tailyour Family Papers, William L Clements Library Manuscripts Division Finding Aids, University of Michigan.

2. GROS OPR Births 644/1 150 104 Glasgow; email from David Alston 22/10/2018 sourced to Finlay McKechie, Lord Seaforth (2018) p. 264; the marriage record of David Dick gives him as "David Dick Esq of Glenshiel", GROS OPR Marriages 070 10 401 Kiltearn; Finlay McKechie, 'Lord Seaforth and Highland Estate Management in the First Phase of Clearance (1783-1815)', The Scottish Historical Review Vol. 86, No. 221, Part 1 (Apr., 2007), pp. 50-68, see p. 66 n67 and p. 67 n74; Gentleman's Magazine New Series Vol. XX p. 647 (December 1843); Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural & Domestic Improvement (1828) vol. III p. 352 for an account of a hydrangea in the garden at Amroth Castle, belonging to "David Dick, Esq., of Glenshill"; Perthshire Courier 01/08/1833; Alexander Mackenzie, History of the Mackenzies (1894) pp. 472-473. See separate entries for Archibald Dick and James Dick merchant of Kingston.

We are grateful to David Alston for his assistance with compiling this entry.