POLAND
It is beyond my ability to describe the situation in Poland to any extent. It is a subject for specialist historians. But some understanding is required in order to see why the two families of Watsons and Kedslies went there.
A good place to start is with Mona Kedslie McLeod's books, specifically Agents of Change : Scots in Poland 1800 - 1918.
She starts this book noting a very long relationship between Scotland and Poland. Perhaps Scotland found it easier to establish trade with the Baltic countries than England did. Polical relationships with Europe were such that it was a hindrance. Scotland by contrast found the politics of northern Europe on their side. Many Scottish merchants established permanent colonies in such places as the Flemish ports. But this was not condusive to less formal trade. The Hanseatic League kept tight control. Danzig (now Gdansk in Poland) though was out of its control and provided new opportunities.
