Andrew Forsythe: A Merchant of Riga with Roots in Scotland (1663)

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The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland is best known for land charters and confirmations, but sometimes it provides us with remarkable genealogical treasures. In March 1663, we find one such entry: a birth-brieve granted to Andrew Forsythe, merchant of Riga, in Livonia (today’s Latvia).

A birth-brieve was an official certificate of lineage—often requested by Scots abroad to prove their noble or respectable ancestry. For Andrew, this document established him as the lawful son of:

  • John Forsythe of Dundee, merchant, and Margaret Rankine his wife.

  • John himself was the son of Andrew Forsyth, citizen of Stirling, by his wife Margaret Robertsone.

  • Margaret Rankine was the daughter of Walter Ranken, merchant of Dundee, and Margaret Clerk.

This record is invaluable because it links Forsyth families across three key Scottish towns—Dundee, Stirling, and Edinburgh—while also placing one of their descendants in the bustling trade hub of Riga.

Why Riga? During the 17th century, Riga was one of the great trading ports of the Baltic, connected with the Hanseatic League and prized for commerce in timber, tar, flax, and other goods. Scots merchants were well established there, forming part of a wider Scottish diaspora that stretched from the Low Countries to Poland and the Baltic states.

For Forsyth researchers, this 1663 birth-brieve shows:

  1. Merchants on the Move – Forsyths were not only landholders but also active in international trade.

  2. Genealogical Proof – The Great Seal entry confirms three generations of family connections, providing a chain from Stirling to Dundee to Riga.

  3. Global Reach – It reminds us that Scottish merchants, including Forsyths, were deeply tied to European commerce in the early modern era.

In short: This charter isn’t just a dry legal entry—it’s a story of Forsyth merchants who carried their name, trade, and heritage from Scotland to the Baltic world.

Are you a descendant of Forsyths?
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