Luke Wilson (died 1589) was a 16th-century Scottish merchant involved in the textile trade, the export of hides and wool, and lead mining. He served as treasurer to the burgh council.
Career Luke Wilson had a brother James Wilson, who lived at Biggar, South Lanarkshire. They were involved in the death of John Baxter in the early 1540s and later received a royal pardon or remission.Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 5:2 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1957), p. 24 no. 2552.
His name was sometimes spelled "Luik Wilsoun".Robert Adam, Edinburgh Old Accounts, 1 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 50. He lived in Littil's Close in Edinburgh. Wilson was a prominent burgess who was tasked as treasurer of the burgh in 1561 to organise a pageant and a banquet to celebrate the royal entry of Mary, Queen of Scots.Alan R. MacDonald, "The Triumph of Protestantism: the burgh council of Edinburgh and the entry of Mary Queen of Scots", Innes Review, 48:1 (Spring 1997), pp. 77–78: James David Marwick, Extracts from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh, 1557–1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 119–122.
In 1559, during the crisis of the Scottish Reformation, Wilson, Alexander Park, and John Spens cooperated with the Lords of the Congregation when a new burgh council was briefly led by Alexander Douglas of Kilspindie. In November, Wilson's and other merchant's cargoes were lost to pirates off the coast of Northumberland.Michael Lynch, Edinburgh and the Reformation (Edinburgh, 1981), pp. 77–78, 111–112.
Wilson served as treasurer to the burgh council of Edinburgh. In May 1561, the burgh council asked him to send a present of white wine and claret to Lord Erskine, captain of Edinburgh Castle. In August 1561, he paid a contribution for a guard of men of arms commanded by James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran. He was involved in the reception of Mary, Queen of Scots when she returned from France, and helped organise the ceremony of her Royal Entry.James David Marwick, Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1557–1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), pp. 115, 118–119, 121–122. Mary wrote to Elizabeth I for an open passport for Wilson to travel on business to France.Alexandre Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, vol. 1 (London: Dolman, 1844), pp. 129–131.
On 22 May 1562, the burgh council decided to punish adulterers and "fornicatouris" by ducking them in the filthy water of the Nor Loch. Luke Wilson and Robert Glen, who served as treasurer in other years, were involved in the project to renew a place for "dowkeing of the saidis fornicatouris".James David Marwick, Extracts from the records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1557–1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), p. 135.
In 1565, John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl arranged for Luke Wilson, with James Johnston of Kellobank and Robert Ker, to manage his mining contract with Mary, Queen of Scots.John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 373–377. The royal treasurer's accounts include the receipt of duty on exported ore. Barrels containing lead ore for export to Flanders were officially marked with branding irons by the Scottish mint, which was known as the "Cunze Hous".Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), pp. 88, 110, 273: Protocol Book of Thomas Johnsoun, p. 69 no. 348: Extracts from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh, 1557-1571 (Edinburgh, 1875), p. 131: Register of the Privy Seal, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1921), p. 750 no. 4954: T. C. Smout, "Leadmining in Scotland, 1650–1850", Peter L Payne, Studies in Scottish Business History (London, 1967), p. 110.
In 1564, Wilson provided black satin to make a doublet for the Comptroller of Scotland, John Wishart of Pitarrow.Michael Pearce, "Account of George Wishart of Drymme", Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, 17 (Edinburgh: SHS, 2025), p. 34. Wilson was Dean of Guild in 1578–1579.Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1573–1589 (Edinburgh, 1882), pp. 109, 111. He was censured for making the merchant Thomas Bell a burgess and guildbrother for only £30 Scots, and the burgh council subsequently set the fee at £40.Charles Boog Watson, Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses (Edinburgh: SRS, 1929), pp. 6, 54.
Court case In 1574, Robert Watson brought a case against Wilson and Archibald Stewart for non-payment of customs duties owed to the Scottish crown. Wilson had received wool, hides, and skins (for leather making) at the port of Acheson's Haven near Prestonpans, where Stewart acted as the customs officer. Wilson exported these goods from Leith, and claimed he did not have to pay customs again to Watson. He was represented at a hearing by his wife, Katherine Uddert. The Lords Auditors of the Exchequer found that Wilson should pay Watson, and Stewart should not collect duties.Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 20 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 464–465.
Family Luke Wilson married Katharine Uddert, sister of the textile merchant Alexander Uddert (died 1597). Their children included: Susannah Wilson (died 1593), who married the goldsmith John Mosman, a son of John Mosman and Katherine Sym, and brother of Queen Mary's goldsmith James Mosman.Helen Wyld, "The Mystery of the Fettercairn Jewel", Anna Groundwater, Decoding the Jewels: Renaissance Jewellery in Scotland (Sidestone Press: NMS, 2024), p. 74: National Records of Scotland, will of Wilsoun, Susanna, CC8/8/25, p. 322.Charles Boog Watson, Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses (Edinburgh: SRS, 1929), p. 361. Elizabeth Wilson, who married Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie. Carved initials at Pitreavie Castle "D.E.W" are believed to refer to Dame Elizabeth Wilson.John Gibson, The Wardlaws in Scotland (Edinburgh: Brown, 1912), p. 118: David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross, The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1887), p. 544.
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