The Day James Moved Shop

James Tait was a goldsmith in Edinburgh, with his shop "under the Tolbooth" on High Street.
On 24 May 1739 James placed an ad in the Caledonian Mercury newspaper stating he was moving his business to the next door on the north of the Parliament House.

Here is a map of the area, showing the Tolbooth, the Parliament House and the building in between:

 

 

 

 

From a bigger Town Plan of Edinburgh 1784:

 



 

 

The south end of the building between the Tolbooth and the Parliament House is home to the Goldsmith's Hall.

James' last apprentice (of 6 that I could find) was Robert Gordon, booked July 1731, so he would have come along to continue learning his craft. Robert would gain freedom from his apprenticeship 11 Sept 1741. James would still be an essay-master for other apprentices wanting to pass their apprenticeship.  Several of James' pieces are in museums in Scotland, England and New York.




James Tait (b 1679 in Edinburgh to John Tait and Helen Yorstoun)
My 6x great grandfather