DAVIDSON, ALEXANDER [SSNE 7187]
Text source
Alexander Davidson was a Scotsman who lived in Riga in 1684. He was a correspondent of Andrew Russell [SSNE 143], the Scottish merchant factor in Rotterdam though his letters indicate more a friendship and religious link rather than direct business. In his two letters to Russell from 1684, Davidson talked of the representatives of the small society of the [Scottish?] reformed religion in Riga. He told of the troubles they were having trying to get recognition from the Swedish king. Despite the fact that he initially seemed pleased to allow freedom for them within his kingdom, Davidson said that the Swedish church was so against it that they even sent their chancellor to Riga with 3000 rixdaler to bribe those deputies who favoured toleration of the reformed faith. In his second letter, Davidson also asked Russell to intervene with the affairs of his mother-in-law who had married a godless and un-Christian man. Having heard of his death, Davidson feared that his creditors would pursue her to the detriment of her children and so he asked Russell to advise her on how to proceedNational Archives of Scotland, Russell Papers, RH15/106/532/16-17. Alexander Davidson to Andrew Russell, 25 July and 20 October 1684.
Service record
- SCOTLAND, SWEDEN, RIGA
- Arrived 1684-07-01
- Departed 1684-11-30
- Capacity MERCHANT, purpose TRADE, COMMERCE