Thomas GALBREATH was born about 1735 (from age of 64 yrs given in burial records and tombstone inscription of 1799).  He was most likely born in Scotland, as documentation referred to below will indicate.

There is no corresponding baptism in Scotland for Thomas around 1735. We know that he had a brother William born about 1745 [see William's will]. William was a Scotch factor in London. This lack of baptismal evidence continues with the children Thomas had with wife Mary Ann or Marian (apart from James in 1769), with no further baptisms for children from that marriage in either Paisley, Glasgow, New York or London. It is possible that his 1st wife was Janet Russell, and the children from this marriage are recorded in the baptismal records. Fortunately Thomas left other evidence in his activities as a merchant, in newspapers and directories etc., in his will, and the Bunhill Fields burial records and inscriptions [see items further below]. Thomas may not have been of the mainstream Church of Scotland, which may explain the lack of  church records. In London he used the non-conformist Islington Lower Street Church.

Thomas Galbreath & Janet Russell had no more children baptised after 1766 in Paisley Low Church, hence the possibility that she had died. There is a baptism in Paisley Low Church in 1769 of a James Galbraith, son of Thomas Galbraith and Marion McBeth. Thomas Galbreath of Islington buried a son James in Bunhill Fields, London, in 1800, he was aged 31. This fits the age of the Paisley baptism in 1769. Also in Bunhill Fields, Marian a daughter of Thomas, was buried in 1797. The burial book records her as Mary Ann, whereas the Monumental Inscription records her as Marian. It is therefore equally possible that the burial records for Thomas' wife showing Mary Ann, could actually be for a Marian or Marion, especially given Thomas would have had a Scottish accent. This would then match the Paisley Low Church baptism of James in 1769 to a Thomas & Marion.

Thomas in Glasgow

Regardless of whether Thomas is the same man as the Paisley Thomas or not, he can definitely be traced from Glasgow, to America, and finally to London. Thomas was trading in Glasgow as a merchant (Thomas Galbreath & Co.) before which he went to New York, as evidenced in the following Probative writ :-  Glasgow Discharge of Assignation 1777.

If the Paisley Thomas is the same person, then he must have moved to Glasgow, probably shortly after James was born in 1769. 

Thomas in America

Thomas arrived in America in June 1771, from Scotland in the Friendship. He traded as a merchant in New York in the haberdashery, millinery, hosiery and men's furnishing trade. [Son David's biography in the Biographical Register of Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York by William M. MacBean; 1922]

Several newspaper advertisements tell us more about his time in America - For full details see newspaper items.

He is mentioned as one of forty associates being granted a Patent for 30,000 acres on the East side of Lake Champlain, New York State. Whilst the patent was granted in 1774, the first petition for the patent was lodged in 1771. See Patent transcript.

Mr Galbreath is twice mentioned in letters by Hugh Simm, New York, to his brother Andrew Simm in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland :-
3 Mar 1772 - "PS. Mr. Galbreath just now send me the following lines and desires you to aquaint his sister Mis Galbreath that he hath his complements to her that his wife was safly delivered of a son feb the 26 and recovers very well the childs name is William that he desires her to aquaint Mrs freenos of the same and that he and family are well and love this Country"
9 Jan 1773 - "I have nothing material to write since my last with Mr Galbreath but having this opportunity to send this letter with the Shipe Buchanan I think proper to observe these few things ...........
- In a letter directed to Mr Galbreath I see an account of the badness of trade in pasley (sic. Paisley) that 600 weavers are turned off which I am very sorry for and hope that affairs will soon take a better turn."
['Discoveries in America - Personal Accounts of British Emigrants to North America during the Revolutionary Era' by Barbar De Wolfe]

Thomas was the first signatory in a petition in 1775 by 15 New York merchants regarding the shipping of flax seed to Ireland - see petition.

In 1776 & 1784, Thomas sold some of his Scottish lands, the papers of which were recorded in 1787 in the Register of Deeds, of the Court of Session of Scotland , in Edinburgh. Further research is required to try and find the records of purchase. However it is quite clear that Thomas was a man of some means to be able to purchase the property, whether inherited money or of his own efforts? The properties were farms, and most likely tenanted out. The places of residence for Thomas recorded in the documents, match the actual residence of our Thomas in New York in 1776, and London in 1784, leaving little doubt as to correct identity. 
See Court of Session transcript.

In 1777 Thomas was summoned to appear in Court of Session, Edinburgh, Scotland over a debt. The Court documents in the National Archives of Scotland [ref - CS16.1.170] are in too poor a condition to be copied. Only a copy of the summons was available. See Court of Session summons.

Thomas may have got himself into trouble during the American War of Independence. If so he must have traded in or moved to Newark, New Jersey at some stage, before returning to New York. See NJ Inquisition of Thomas Galbrath 1778. The fact that this Thomas retreated behind British lines to New York is suggestive. He may very well not been a resident of Newark but there for a time on business. His son's father-in-law, John Stites, suffered a similar fate whilst trying to do business across the same military lines between New York & New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. John Stites situation is recorded in his claims to the British for compensation (see John Stites).  Perhaps Thomas was similarly involved?

Thomas moved to London in 1779, as per his New York newspaper advertisement of 23 Oct 1779. See newspaper items.  It is possible that the prospect of an American victory, coupled with the New Jersey troubles, scared Thomas into leaving? This can further be deduced from a petition lodged by a T. Galbreath with the Privy Council in London in 1783 where he claims to have been branded a spy by the Americans. Thomas must have continued to do business in America after his move to London, probably via his son David who stayed in New York until he also moved to London in 1791. It looks like a couple of former customers took advantage of their credit :- NJ Supreme Court case re. Thomas & David Galbreath 1792.

The London Thomas :-

There is evidence of the Thomas Galbreath being in Islington, London from 1780 when he appears in the Islington rate books. The 1780 appearance in the rates books coincides with his move from New York to London.
[Islington rate books]

There are two entries of the surname Galbreath (without any further information as to first names or event) in the Islington Lower Street Independent Church Register in 1781 & 1783. His grandson John was baptised in 1791 in the same church, soon after Thomas's son David also moved to London from New York.

His occupation as a Merchant has been recorded in various document and publications (The Scotland addresses subject to above comments**.) :-
- Port Glasgow Marriage 1758**. 
- Paisley Lair Book 1762, **.
- New York 1771 - Son David's biography at the St. Andrew's Society of New York.
- Rivington's New York Gazetteer 1775
- Probative Writ of 1777
- Royal Gazette 1779
- Bailey's British Directory or , Merchant's and Trader's Useful Companion 1784, 1790 - as Thomas Galbraith.
- Kent's Directory 1782, 83, 85, 86, 88.
- London Directory 1783 & 1785, Universal Directory 1791.
- Lowndes's London Directory 1782-7, 89, 90 incl as Thomas Galbraith.
- Holden's London Directory 1790 - as Thomas Galbraith.
- Warehouseman - London Directory 1795.

His addresses have been variously recorded as (The Scotland addresses subject to above comments**.) :-
Scotland - to 1781
- Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland (1756 Marriage)**
- Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Scotland (1757 Dau baptism)**
- Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland (1759-1766 children's baptisms)**.
- formerly of Glasgow, now of New York (Probative Writ of 1777)
New York - 1771 to 1780
His New York addresses are as found per his business. His residence may (or may not) have been separate.
- Corner of Maiden Lane, facing the Fly Market, New York - (Rivington's New York Gazetteer 1775)
- 219 Queen St., New York - (Royal Gazette 1779)
London - 1780-1799
- Colebrook Row Islington, London - 1780 to 1782 (Islington Rate Books) 1784 Bailey's Directory)
- Britannia Row (off Lower St), Islington - 1783 to 1787 (Islington Rate Books)
- Lower St, Islington, London (Sun Fire Insurance policy 1786 on Colebrook Row, Islington - "unfinished but intended for his own occupation" )
- 5 Colebrook Row, Islington :- 1794 to 1799  (Islington Rate Book, Will 1798, Bunhill Fields Cemetery Burial Book 1799)
The following are his London business addresses, as distinct from his London residential addresses as above :-
- 130 Wood St, London (London Directory 1783)
- 8 Bow Church Yard (London Directory 1788)
- 16 Bread St, Cheapside, London (Universal British Directory 1791)
- 57 Friday St, London, as Galbreath, Henderson & Co. (London Directory 1795)

He is also recorded as subscribing to :-
"Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (3rd edn), Burns, Robert. London." - as Thomas Galbraith

Thomas was involved in at least three Court cases in relation to his business dealings :-

1. Court of Common Pleas and Exchequer Chamber - 11 Feb 1789 - See report.

2. Court of Chancery - Miller v Galbreath (PRO ref. C12/191/17)
- Complainant's Pleadings 6 Nov 1793.
- Defendant's Answer 23 Nov 1793.
If this case proceeded to judgment further research will be required at the PRO to access the decree or order.
The Complainant's pleadings suggest that Thomas and his co-defendants had already instituted proceedings in the Court of the King's Bench in this matter. Unfortunately to date the King's Bench records have not been catalogued individually by the PRO.

3. Court of the Kings Bench - De Garron v Galbreath :-
- Report in the "The Times" 4 Jul 1795, page.3, col.c

Thomas married his last wife Elizabeth Augusta CRAWFORD in Reading in 4 Feb 1794. Marriage notification "The Times" 6 Feb 1794 :-
"On Tuesday last, at Reading, Thomas Galbreath Esq. of Islington, to Miss Elizabeth Augusta Crawford"
The marriage Licence issued by the Faculty Office London on the 25 Jan 1794 gave his address as Islington, and that he was a widower. She was shown as of Reading and a spinster.

They had at least one child - Augusta  GALBREATH, born 21 March 1795 at Islington, London.
[baptism recorded in Dr. William's Library records].

He died on the 20th of May 1799 [London Gazette 18 Jun 1799], and was buried on 27 May 1799 in Bunhill Fields, London 
[see the Bunhill Fields Burial records & Monumental Inscriptions.]

His Last Will and Testament was proven in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London on the 10 June 1799.

Wife Mary-Ann / Marion (McBeth?) was born about 1746. She was buried on 3 Jul 1786 in Bunhill Fields, London (shown as aged 40 yrs on tombstone).

The children listed below may not be strictly in order of age nor necessarily all the children of wife Mary Ann, if indeed she was his 2nd wife. These are the children that can be definitely attributed to Thomas through the Bunhill Fields Burial records & Monumental Inscriptions, and his Will. 

i. Margaret GALBREATH - Married William SHARP of Paisley in Islington St Mary, London on 24 Jul 1783. Possibly bapt 2 Dec 1757, Port Glasgow, Scotland.
ii. David GALBREATH. Possibly baptised on the 18 Oct 1761 in the Paisley Low Church. David died in 1812 in Gibraltar (adj. Spain).
iii. Thomas GALBREATH. Possibly bapt 22 Jan 1766, Low Church, Paisley. Thomas doesn't appear in his father's will, indicating that he had died by 1799. However he is known to have existed as he appears as a witness, "Thomas Galbreath jnr." in a deed of David Galbreath in New York in 1784. If he is the Thomas baptised in Paisley he would have been 18, of working age, and most likely working for David. (see David's pages via link  above).
There is an interesting monumental inscription in the Paisley High Churchyard. The age of this Thomas matches the baptism above :-
"129 - (Tomb Stone) Thos Galbraith 28.4.1793, 27, w. Marion Morrison 21.11.1806, 39; Walter Carswell manufacturer here d Newark on Trent on business journey 27.2.1812, 42."
iv. James GALBREATH was born on 13th Nov 1769. Baptised Paisley Low Church on 16 Nov 1769 (Thomas Galbreath & Marion McBeth - With proviso that this is his correct baptism entry) [Pailsey Low Church Register]. He was buried on 7 May 1800 in Bunhill Fields, London aged 31 (Burial Register).
v. Marian or Mary Ann GALBREATH was born about 1780. She was buried on 24 May 1797 in Bunhill Fields, London. [Note - the burial book records her as Marian, the tombstone inscription as Mary Ann].
vi. Elizabeth GALBREATH born ca.1782/3 in St. Mary, Islington, London.
 [Birth details - 1851 Census - HO/107/1498/f.142/p.39].
Named in Thomas's Will. Married James Fiddes of Great St. Helens, London in 1810.  Beneficiary of her sister Catherine's will. Death details not known. Also mentioned in letters [see David's page].
vii. Archibald GALBREATH was born on 14 Apr 1785. He died on 28 Jun 1785 in Islington, Middlesex and was buried in 1785 in Bunhill Fields, London.
viii. John GALBREATH.
Named in Thomas's Will. No other details known.
ix. Catherine GALBREATH.
Named in Thomas's Will. Born about 1774 (age 67 on death certificate). 
She died on 23 April 1841 in Brighton, Sussex, apparently a spinster. See her Will. Mentioned in letters of brother David and niece Cornelia [see David's page].
x. Peter GALBREATH. Named in Thomas's Will. No other details known.
xi.   Elizabeth Augusta Crawford, born 21 March 1795 [baptism recorded in Dr. William's Library records].
                   She married Christopher Wearing on 11 January 1816, St Gregory, Parish of Saint Clement Danes, Westminster.

Possible further children if Thomas was from Paisley and previously married to Janet Russell  :-
i. Jean GALBREATH bapt 30 Sep 1759, Low Church, Paisley, Scotland.
ii. Jean GALBREATH bapt 12 Feb 1764, Low Church, Paisley.

Obviously the first Jean died before 1764. This leaves only one of the children baptized in Paisley unaccounted for in documentation found so far, the 2nd Jean,  in order for Thomas to be definitely confirmed as the most likely for the Thomas of Paisley. Given mortality rates in the 1700's this lack of documentation for the 2nd Jean is not unusual.