Thanks, all. I have enough info now. It's interesting that the Glasgow gang name would have come from supporting King Billy, and one of the origins of the billyboy ships' name is said to be from that same source, but I think it's highly unlikely. There is a statue of King Billy in Hull that dates back to the early 18th century and 'billyboys' was said to have been applied to Hull men. Then by association to these vessels many of which were registered at Hull, but these vessels didn't appear till about 1820 and in all my researches I have seen no other evidence of this.
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