John Anderson was a Scottish tailor working in Edinburgh in the 1540s and 1550s. He made clothes for Margaret Douglas, Countess of Arran and her daughters.[1] At this time, the James Hamilton, Earl of Arran was Regent or Governor of Scotland, and the treasurer's accounts include details of clothing bought for his family.[2] [3]
Occasionally, Anderson travelled to Hamilton and Linlithgow for fittings and to complete garments for "My Lady Governor".[4] Margaret, Countess of Hamilton had riding cloaks and "wardygards", a Scots language word for a "safeguard" riding skirt. Some of her garments were trimmed with fur supplied by John Craig.[5] An embroiderer, John Cochran, carried out specialised work on cutting out satin sleeves and skirts.[6]
An entry for tailoring work in February 1553 reads:
Item to Jhone Andersoun tailyeour for making of this foresaid clethying viz tua gownnis of sating, ane goun of velvote, with paitlattis, hudis, skyrttis, slevis, gorgettis, furnessing of glaspis, & other necessars _ xxx s.
Item, to John Anderson tailor for making of this foresaid clothing viz: two gowns of satin, a gown of velvet, with partlets, hoods, skirts, sleeves, gorgets, furnishing of clasps, & other necessities _ 30 shillings.[7]