Colin Ferguson wrote: > > Hello All, > > I found the following entries in Holden's Triennal Directory - LDS Film > #0100179. My question is what kind of records exist to follow up and > learn more about any of these entries? I am particularly interested in > Ferguson & Elliot. > > Belfast 1809 > Ferguson, John S. linen merchant & factor, Donegall Place > Ferguson, R & F, haberdashers, 125 High-St. > Ferguson & Elliot, wine & spririt merchants, 57 Hercules St. > Ferguson, Wm. & J, haberdashers, 50 High-St. > Ferguson, Wm. tailor, Legg's-lane > -- Seeing the entry for Ferguson, linen merchant, reminds me that Dr. James Ferguson of Whiteabbey was licensed to conduct experiments in bleaching of linen and received in 1770 a grant of 300 pounds from the Linen Board."In bleaching a dark coloured substance is extracted by the leys out of linen; this substance is found to consist of a ponderous oil and some particles of earth. The Chymists generally agree that alcaline salts and saponaceous substnaces are the proper solvents for bodys that are of an oily nature; the activity of which may be however greatly heightened if to them be added a certain proportion of quicklime." The manuscript of Dr. Ferguson's "Experimental essay in the use of leys and sours in bleaching" is preserved in the Linenhall Library, Belfast. Dr. Ferguson's son James continued in the linen trade at White Park, Ballynure which was eventually sold in 1929 to Nicholson and Templeton.