Thanks John. I'm hoping for a chance to get up to Edinburgh myself before then, but it may not happen... I'm looking in particular for mentions of a James Philp (or Philip) and John Philp - John was a tailor involved in some rows within the tailor's incorporation, about which I'm hoping to learn more. James Philp was a wright, and I'm trying to find out, among other things, whether he was the son of John or from a different family.
In January 1796, after some dispute among the tailors over who was entitled to sit in their seats in South Leith Kirk, there was a small 'seat occupation' by the children of John Philp and two other tailor families. There might just be a mention in the Kirk Session records. It's good that they are digital now.
This is the entry in the Incorporation of Tailors' records in the City Archives - alas I didn't have the chance to find out more during my recent trip north, as the hours at which the City Archives are open are rather restricted. (On another visit I'll try to get back into these records, in addition to trying to pursue the people through the Kirk Session records at NAS and any other means I can find!)
11th January 1796.
It having being represented that Mr Philp’s son & daughter, Mr Hosie’s son & daughter, & Mrs Bowie’s daughter & her servant had on the first Sunday of this year taken possession each of them of a room in this Incorporations Seats in South Leith Church contrary to the instructions given by the Society to Mrs McFarlane their officer & intrusted by her to the above persons intruders, the consideration of this affair is deferred till an after meeting.
At the tailors' next meeting on 25th January 1796, John Philp to pay 6 shillings ‘each room' for the seats occupied by his children. Hosie had to pay only for one 'room' because his children were small enough for the two to occupy one space. Quite an interesting little snippet of social history.
The tailors seem to have been involved in various rows among themselves for the 20 years before that...
Jenny