1701.—DUNFERMLINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 18TH
CENTURY.—At the beginning of the
18th Century, the Old Nave of the Abbey continued
to be used as a Parish Kirk (the only Kirk in the Parish).
For several years there had been no legally ordained
minister to conduct the worship. Rev. Hugh Kemp was
ordained to the First charge on May, 1701. Population of
the burgh estimated at 2000; of the burgh and Parish, about
5000. Sir James Halket, Bart.,
of Pitfirrane, Provost. “Much distress and poverty
prevailed,” trade being excessively depressed. The ale
trade, however, appears to have been doing a good business.
There were eight breweries in the town, and “Dumfarlin
yale” was in “high repute
everywhere;” but, in consequence of dull trade and “great
scarcity of siller,” not a few
had to bewail their inability to purchase a draught of it.
The following now-nearly-forgotten lines appear to refer to
this period:--
“As I sat
near the Spittel crosshead,
Dumfarlin
I thocht on,
An; o’
its guid
broon ale ta sell,
But siller I had none!”
(Lines from an “Old Dunfermline Song.”)
According to
several nots there were at this
period “a great many houses in Dunfermline that had
timber-built second and third storeys, with heather and
furze roofs.” “The timber storeys were reached by means of
uncouth stone stairs of every imaginable shape.” These
stairs, on each side of the street, “projected so far into
the street, that they nearly met
in some places, leaving a narrow way in the middle of the
street for the traffic. Below these stairs there were bunks
in which swine, fowls, and dogs were kept. At these stair
foots immense middens were piled
up, which were most offensive, especially in hot weather
after a fall of rain. These remarks apply to all the
streets in the town.” The High Street had only two streets
proceeding out of it to the north, viz., the
Kirkgate.” “The
Tron Burn ran down, uncovered,
in front of the houses on the east side of the Collier Raw
(Bruce Street) and along the foot of the High Street, and a
little way down the Kirkgate,
where it was led under a house, and re-appeared in the
Maygate.” Such was Dunfermline
at the beginning of the 18th century. (From old
MS. notes.)
MASON
LODGE.—Gift of a Brass Square.—In the Masons’ Register of
date January 8, 1701, an entry notifies that “James
Somerville did Gift to ye Ludge
ane brass square for the use of
ye Ludge, for which gift ye
Quorum [of Masons present] quits his sons
enterie money being Six Ponds
and ordains ye Deacon to be dischared
yr of.”
COSTUMES,
&C.—At this period, “the men in
this quarter (West of Fife) wore bonnets and plaids instead
of cloaks. The women wore plaids when abroad or at church;
those of them of the humbler class generally went about
barefooted.” Meals—“Oaten cakes and bannocks, toasted on an
iron girdle above the fire, or on an iron toaster before it,
were the principal sort of bread in use; baker’s bread was
but scantily used.” (A Warril.
Trav.” and
other works.)
PROVERTY OF
THE BURGH.—About the beginning of
the year (1701), the funds of the Burgh were so very
inconsiderable that the magistrates and Council applied for
pecuniary aid to the Convention of Royal Burghs. The
petition for aid is prefixed by a short but sad statement
regarding the position the Burgh was then in, viz., “The
common good of the Burgh at the highest amounted to about
£993 Scots (£82 15s.
sterg.) per annum, besides
the local rent;” that there was little or no trade, except a
little malting; that the houses were so ruinous and decayed,
and, those of them that did stand, so ill-possessed, that
the inhabitants when racked to the highest were unable to
pay £300 Scots of assessment a-year (£25 sterling); that the
common good, assessment and all (except the coal,) amounted
only to £1293 (£107 15s. sterling); that as to their coal
they were frequently put to as much expense by it as they
had profit, and that although their coal-rent came in free,
they would be superexpended in
above 700 or 800 merks (about £43 sterling), which already
had, and daily did, increase their debt. (Representation
and Petition in Dunf. Charter Chest; Fernie’s Hist. Dunf.
pp. 11, 12, and 135, &c.)
THE
MARKET-CROSS in need of Repairs.—“22
March, 1701: This day the counsell
approved of Thomas Mitchell, theasurer,
his paying four pounds to James Mercer, for helping the
croce.”
(Burgh Records.)
DUNFERMLINE
CHURCH was vacant from 1795 to 1701. (Presb. Records.)
MR. HUGH
KEMP translated from Forgan, 1st
May, 1701, to the First Charge of Dunfermline Church. (Chalmer’s
Hist. Dunf. vol. p. 416.)
THE REV. MR.
GRAME’S FINAL DEPOSAL.—The Rev. Mr.
Grame, Minister (Episcopalian) of the First Charge of
the Kirk of Dunfermline, was deposed in 1696; but in
consequence of the anomalous state of things at this period,
had been allowed to officiate till June, 1701, when he was
finally deposed. He was deposed for contempt of the
authority of the Synod, and for his “contemptuous carriage
in preaching,” &c. He was also accused before the Synod for
not taking any notice of the Quakers in the parish of
Dunfermline! (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i.
p. 424, 425.)
MEETING-HOUSE.—It would seem that
from 1601 to 1705 the Presbyterian Congregation met for
worship one half of the Sabbath in the
Parish
Church, and the Episcopalians in a meeting-house, the latter
body claiming and occupying the church on the other diet.
Mr. Kemp and Mr. Graham would thus preach alternately
forenoon and afternoon. (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 427.) Where was this
meeting-house situated?—In the Queen’s House, adjacent to
the Kirk on the west, or in the large room of the Marquis of
Tweeddale’s House, foot of
Kirkgate, west side?
PITTENCRIEFF ESTATE.—Colonel John Forbes was proprietor of
Pittencrieff this year. (Old Charter-Writ.)
A NEW FAIR,
granted by Act of Parliament, to be held yearly in
Dunfermline, on the second Wednesday of January. (Chal.
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 475.)
THE DRUMMER
AND THE PIPER’S DUTIES.—“13th
Augt.,
1701. The said day the ocunsell
statute and ordained that in all time coming after the day
heirof, the
pyper go throu the
toun precisely by six at night,
and the drum at seven a cloak; thereafter that the bell ring
at eight and ten at night, both summer and winter; and that
the drum go by four in the morning, yt
the bell ring at five a cloak, and ye
pyper do againe at six
and ordained this form to be observed punctually in all time
coming.” (Burgh Records.)
A DEAD MAN
FOUND IN THE MUIR.—Seven Pints of Ale given for bringing him
to Dunfermline.—“7th August. The said day the
counsel approved the baillies
ordering the thesaurer to give
seven pints of ale to some persons for bringing in a man who
died in the town muir.” (Burgh
Records.)
THE LAST
SPECIMEN OF A DISTRICT WITCH.—According to the
Torryburn Parish Records of
1701, Lilias Adie, the witch,
died in Dunfermline prison, and was thrown into a hole dug
for her near high water mark at
Torryburn. Some of her remains were discovered in
1862. The late Joseph Paton,
Esq., Wooer’s Alley, had her skull in his collection of
curiosities.
1702.—WEAVING.—Early in the year 1702, a weaver of the name
of Inglis wove a shirt in the
loom. It was made of unbleached coarse linen yarn, and is
now in a very dilapidated state. Some artist, “unknown to
fame.” Has made some rude paintings on it, apparently
appropriate to the trade, which has spoiled it very much.
This ingenious specimen of weaving now is, and has been for
some years past, in the possession of the writer. (See An.
Dunf. dates 1808, 1813, &c.; also Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 379.)
THE QUEEN’S
PROCLAMATION—Perquisites to Officials.—“21 March, 1702: The
said day the counsel ordained David Wilson to give to the
officers, puper, and drummer,
unto each of them a shilling sterling for their attendance
at the queen’s proclamation.” (Burgh Records.) This
proclamation refers to that of Anne, daughter of James II.,
who ascended the throne on *th
March, 1702, on the demise of William III.
ELIZABETH
HALKET and the poem of “Hardy-knute.”—Elizabeth
Halket, second daughter of Sir
Charles Halket, of Pitfirrane,
is supposed to have composed the celebrated war-poem of
“Hardy-knute,” about the year
1702. (Finlay’s Domestic
Ballads, &c.; see also An. Dunf. date 1262, 1719, 1727.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir James Halket,
of Pitfirrane, was re-elected Provost, Oct. 6, 1701.
DUNFERMLINE RACES AND PRIZE SADDLE.—“16th July,
1702: The said day the counsel ordained the
thesaurer to put out a saddle on
the toun’s account, to be ridden
on the morn after July mercat,
betwixt the toungreen and
buckieburn, back and fore, ye
imput; each horse
Ilib. 10s.,
the horse not to be above 5lib. sterling value, and ordained
the thesaurer also to buy a
bonnet and a pair of stockings, to be exposed for a
foot-race on his same ground immediately after the horse
race with ribbons to the bonnet.” (Burgh Records.)
COMMISSIONER TO PARLIAMENT.—Sir James
Halket, Provost, was elected to be the commissioner
for the Burgh in Parliament, 17th September.
(Burgh Records.)
THE EAST
AND CROSSWYND PORTS IN A RUINOUS STATE.—“August 22, 1702:
The counsel ordained the thesaurer
to cause mind the east and crocewynd
ports with all expedition, they now being ruinous and like
to fall.” (Burgh Records.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir James Halket
was re-elected Provost of the Burgh on 5th
October. (Burgh Records.)
THE CATTLE
MARKET.—The Cattle Market, which had hitherto been held in
the Netherton, was, by Act of
Town Council, removed on 14th November to Collier
Row and Rotten Row—(Burgh Records)—much against “the will
and pleasure of the inhabitants.””
1703.—EDUCATION—Opposition to Private Schools.—“13th
Feb, 1703: The said day Mr. Patrick Dykes, master of the
Grammar School, Dunf: having given in a complaint to the
counsel, representing that Hohn
Anderson and Thomas Hanna had at their own hand
Sett up private Schools in this
town, contrary to several acts of the town counsel, and to
Mr. Dykes great discouragement; Therefore, the counsel
unanimously discharge the said John Anderson and Thomas
Hanna and oyr persons
qtsoever to
sett up schools within the territories of this burgh,
and teach any male children hereafter, accept such as shall
be under seven years of age, and that under the
paine of
twentie pound scots,
toties
quoties—the one-half of the fine to ye town, and the
other half to ye schoolmaster and doctor.” (Burgh Records.)
EPISCOPALIANS of Dunfermline get the use of one of the Abbey
Vaults for Worship.--The “meeting house” referred to under
date 1701, appears to have been unsuitable. The
Episcopalians, through Mr. Logan, one of their members,
solicited Lord Yester to give the use of one of his vaults
in the Abbey to worship in, which his Lordship readily
granted. (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i.
p. 427.)
IRON
WEIGHTS for the burgh to be got from Holland.—“16th
Sept. 1703: The said day the counsel ordains the
thesaurer to send to Holland for
12 stand of trone
yetling weights, consisting of a
Stone, a half-pound, a quarter, 2 pound, and 1 pound each
stand.” (Burgh Records.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir James Halket
re-elected Provost 11th October. (Burgh
Records.)
THE
FLESHERS and Blown Meat.—“13th Nov. 1703: The
said day the magistrates and counselors discharged and by
thir prsnt
discharges all fleshers either freemen or strangers in any
time coming within the territories of this burgh to
blaw sheep, lambs or
calfs, or to expose such
blawn meat for
seall under the pain of
forfeiting each beast blawn as
said is, and fourteen shillings scots
of fine besides, and also discharges all other manner of
working of sheeps,
calfs or lambs under the
paine of fourteen shillings for
each wrought calf or sheep, and 40s. for each wrought lamb,
and also discharges all manner of cutting or carving of
kine or oxen, except only on
fliep or ye
soulders and one squint cutt
on one of the hinder legs, and also all cutting of sheep
except an even in score in ye shoulder and a
fliep in ye
rumpell, and yt under the
paine of six shillings 8d.
for each
cutt in a sheep and 40s. for
each cutt in a lamb. And
ordains the
baillies to give one-half of yr fines to ye
poor of ye toun and ye
oyr half to ye poor of ye trade
yt need.” (Burgh Records.)
THE SPITTAL
BRIDGE IN RUINS.—“11
Dec. 1703: Ordains the
baillies to take some
skill’d men to visit the Case of
the Spittle bridge, in order to repair the ruins of it.”
This useful bridge was not rebuilt until the end of the year
1706, when “ye shyre was content
to give sixty pounds and ye toun
40lib.” (Burgh Records.)
1704.—NEW
BURGESSES AND “MARCH STONES.”—“10 June, 1704: That day the
counsel statute and ordained that all persons who shall
bereafter be admitted burgesses
yt ye freemen’s sons or not
shall before yr admission be obliged to give bond to put in
a new large march stone payment of yr
burges dues, and yt even
gratis burgesses shall be liable to this act as soon as they
shall settle their residence within this burgh.” (Burgh
Records.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir James Halket
was re-elected Provost of the burgh, 9th October,
1704. (Burgh Records.)
FOOT MANTLE
AND THE PROVOST.—“29 Nov. 1704: This day the magistrates and
toun
counsellers having taken to their consideration the
extraordinary charges that the family of Pitfirrane has
frequently been at on the toun’s
account, and particularly the great expense that Sir James
Halket, our provost, has of late
been putt to for the honour of
the toun in providing a
foot-mantle at the riding of the parliament, and that the
provost has gifted the said foot-mantle to the
toun; Therefore ye
sd magistrates and
toun
counsellers did and hereby do make offer to ye
sd Mir James of ye
heall bygone annual rents of ye
prsnt sum of 3000
mks due by him to the
toun , conform to his father’s
bond, the same extending betwixt
Lambmas, 1698 (fra which
terms ye sds annual rents are
due), and martinmas last, 1704,
to ye sum of six hundred and ninety pounds
scots, and of which annual rents
resting preceeding the term of
martns last ye
sd magistrates and
toun
counsellers do unanimously discharge ye
sd Sir James
Halket now and for ever. Also,
ye sd
day ye magistrates and toun
counsellers ordered a press to
be made for ye keeping of ye sd
foot-mantle, and ordains James Pringle to keep it. Sic
Subtur.,
JER. COWIE.” (Burgh Records.)
DOCTOR OF
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ELECTED.—“27th Dec., 1704:
This day the counsel unanimously elected Mr. Thomas Anderson
to be doctor of the grammar school, in place of
peetir
Kennedie, latelie
decased, and appointed a
corum of the counsel to install
him at two a clock afternoon, and desired the ministers to
be invited to be present.” (Burgh Records) Doctor, as here
applied, means second master, or assistant to the master of
the school. It is an old designation.
MASON
LODGE.—“27th Dec., 1704: By a
pluaralitie of voices,
Continueous James
Mudie, Deacon, and John
Stavin, Warden for
ane yeir
to come.” (Masons’ Register.)
QUEEN’S
PRESENTATION TO FIRST CHARGE OF ABBEY CHURCH.—The
First Charge, under the Queen’s presentation, was reported
in the Presbytery Records of
25th
April, 1705, to have been vacant from
Candlemas, 1693, to Martinmas,
1700.
1705.—PROVOST HALKET KILLED by a fall from his horse.—Sir
James Halket of Pitfirrane,
Provost, was killed in March this year (1705), by a fall
from his horse. “The baronetcy, in consequence, became
extinct, but he was succeeded in the estate of Pitfirrane by
his eldest sister Janet, who intermarried with Sir Peter
Wedderburn of
Gosford (created a baronet of
Nova Scotia in 1697), who was obliged to assume the name and
arms of Halket of Pitfirrane.”
(Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p.
298.)
MR. HUGH
KEMP demitted his charge in Dunfermline Church in
consequence of his having accepted a call from
Carnbee, to which he was
translated. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 35.)
THE
PROVINCIAL SYNOD OF FIFE assembled in Dunfermline Church, 22nd
March, 1705. (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i.
p. 436.)
EAST PORT
ordered to be repaired.—“22nd May, 1705: This
day the counsel ordained James Meldrome
to cause repair the east port.” (Burgh Records.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—In consequence of the death of the late
Provost, a new Provost was wlwcted.
“25th June, 1705: This day Sir Peter
Halket
compeared persnlie before
ye counsel, and his instructions insert in ye book of ye
date of his election. He gave his promise and word of
honour to obey them, and
qtoyr instructions ye counsel
should fra
time to time give him.” Sir Peter
Halket was re-elected Provost at the usual annual
elections on 8th October, 1705. (Burgh Rec.)
COCK-FIGHTING was “one of the popular amusements” about this
period in Dunfermline, as elsewhere. The barbarous sport of
cockfighting was introduced into Dunfermline on the day
before Yule, in 1705, when the auld
kirk-yard was selected for the field of action; a
great crowd attended. Afterwards, when “The Queen’s House”
became uninhabited, the fights were held in one of the large
rooms in that old building on Auld
Handsel Mondays. “Admission, front seats, 6d,;
second seats, 3d.; and
Id. For back
seats.” These fights appear to have been abolished about
1797, but were afterwards revived for a short period.
(MSS., Tradition, &c.)
1706.—DUNFERMLINE CHURCH-YARD TO BE PROTECTED BY GATES.—“23d
Feb., 1706: This day the counsell
appointed David Wilson to build up what of the
kirkyeard are ruinous, and put
yeats on the entry’s, in respect
that the heritors have condescended that it be allowed in
the first end of the touns
proportion of the reparation of the church, and that both
heritors, toun
consell, and session, have
appointed the bellman, who possesses the grass, to uphold it
in time coming.” (Burgh Records.) There were at
this period two entries into the
Kirkyard, but without gates.
The new gates, then erected, were situate as follows: A
large massive gateway on the site of the present entrance
facing Kirkgate. The other one
was erected in the Kirkyard
Wall, near the foot of St. Catherine’s
Wynd; This gate was
removed and the entrance filled up in 1823. At the same
time a new gateway was built facing the
Kirkgate, on the site of the old one. (See also An.
Dunf. date 1823.)
PITREAVIE
WILDERNESS.—An old MS. note mentions that “the wilderness
way of planting” was introduced into Scotland about the year
1699, and that a great many acres were planted with trees on
“the wilderness system at Pitreavie;” hence the origin of
“Pitreavie Wilderness”—a name no
extenct in 1878. (See also
Chambers’s Gazetteer of Scotland, Article
“Haddingtonshire,” p. 518.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir Peter Halket
re-elected provost of the Burgh, 5th October.
(Burgh Records.)
CURSERS AND
SWEARERS” TO BE SEIZED BY THE SEIZERS.—“23d October, 1706:
This day the counsell instructed
the constables to sease all
cursers and swearers, and all
that shall be found committing
ryots either by night or day and
ordains ye balillies to give ye
constable apprehender a shilling for his pains of ye first
end of ye fine; also, to informanent
all vagabonds who come to reside in ye
toun without testificals.”
OPPOSITION
TO THE UNION BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND.—The Magistrates
and Town Council, with the greater part of the inhabitants
of Dunfermline, were “bitterly opposed to the Union,” and,
in consequence, sent a letter to Sir Peter
Halket, their member in the
Scottish Parliament, to vote and protest against it. The
following are copies of the Council minutes regarding “the
matter”:--“4th Nov., 1706: That day the
counsell signed a letter to Sir
Peter Halker, their commissioner
to the parliament, instructing and requiring him to vote
against and protest against ye union, and elected ye deacon
converner to go and deliver ye
letter, and get ane answer.” “6th
Nov., 1706—That day the counsel having got a letter
fra Sir
Peeter Halket that he was
content to give in ane address
fra the counsel ordain an
address to be frawn up to be
pnted to ye parliament, and
commissionat ye clerk to go over
and deliver it to Sir peeter,
and to wait on till ye address be presented.” (Burgh
Records, Nov. 4th and 6th, 1706.) The
writer has in his possession one of these printed on a sheet
of strong paper 17 3/4x15 inches. In order to preserve the
ocntects of such a remarkable
document, it is here reproduced, viz.:--
TO HIS
GRACE HER MAJESTY’S HIGH COMMISSIONER AND THE RIGHT
HONOURABLE THE ESTATES OF PARLIAMENT.
The Humble
Address of the Magistrates, Town-Council, Merchants, Deacons
of Crafts, and others, Tradesmen and Inhabitants of the
Burgh of Dunlermling:--
We the
Magistrates, Town Council, Merchants, Deacons of Crafts, and
other Tradesmen and Inhabitants within the Burgh of
Dunfermling underscribing:
Having seen and Considered the Articles of the Union agreed
upon by the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland and
England, in which they have agreed: That Scotland and
England be united into one Kingdom, and that the United
Kingdom shall be Represented by one and the same
Parliament: And seeing it does not evidently appear that
such an incorporating Union, as is contained in the said
Articles, is contrary to the Honour,
Fundamental Laws, and Constitution of this Kingdom, Claim of
Right and Rights and Privileges of the burrows and Church
Government, as by Law Established: And that the same is
destructive to the true interest of this Nation: Therefore,
We humbly beseech Your Grace, and the
Honourable Estates, and do confidently expect that
you will not allow any such Incorporating Union; but that
you will Support and Preserve entire the Sovereignty and
Independency of this Crown and Kingdom, and the Rights and
Privileges of Parliament, which have been so valiantly
maintained by our Heroick
Ancestors for near 2000 yeirs;
That the same may be transmitted to succeeding Generations,
as they have been conveyed to us; and we will heartily
concur with you for Supporting and Maintaining our
Sovereignty and Independency with our Lives and Fortunes
conform to the Laws of the Nation—
TAYLORS.
James Richardson Robert Donald Andrew Hepburn
Alexander Coventry Thomas Hanna James Henderson John
Jamison William Hodge Alexander
Couper John Horn James
Kellock James Wardlaw Robert
Bauld James Hall James Richardson James
French John Wilkie
SMITHS
James Law David Black Thomas Wilson John
Cunninghame Adam
Stevinson William Anderson
James Smith
BAXTERS
William Ker John Anderson
Robert Adamson Robert Drysdale
James Buist Robert Ferguson
George Crawford James Legat
John Buntine
WEAVERS
John Wilson, Deacon James Wilson John Stark Patrick
Hutton James Trunbull David
Marres James Wilson Charles
Kirk Andrew Wilson William Kirk Thomas
Drysdale Thomas Richardson
Alexander Douglas John Gotterson
John Black John Williamson William Wilson David
Dalglish John
Ker Andrew Wilson James
Shortlands John Wilson John
Wilson, alter Robert Gotterson
Robert Wilson Robert Strachan
Robert buist John Durham
Robert Dalgleish Adam
Robertson Andrew Young Robert Black Robert Stark
Thomas Bain Magnus Malcolm Robert Inch George
Pullans William
Beanny Robert
Mackeraigh John
Inglis John
Mackeraigh
WRIGHTS
John Main, Deacon Andrew Wilson John Simpson John
Potter George Walker George Walls Thomas French Thomas
Bonnar John Henderson James
Henderson John Mair James
Kirk Patrick Thomson William Hutton James French
Thomas Richardson
MASONS
James Signet Charles Young David Hunter James
Sumervel David Purvis
William Murgain
SHOE-MAKERS
Andrew Duncan, Deacon George Stewart John Young Andrew
Main
FLESHERS
John Hodge, Deacon James Cusin
Robert Kirk John Belfrage
Thomas Beverage Thomas Beverage George Philip William
Taylor William Welwood John
Burly Andrew Belfrage
TOWN-COUNSIL
David Adie, Baillie David Adie, yr., Baillie Jerome
Cowie, Dean of Guild William
Wilson, Treasurer David Wilson,
Counsellor John Cowie,
Counsellor James
Meldrum,
Coun. Laurence Henderson ,
Counseller William
Inglis,
Coun. William Findlay, Coun.
William Young, Coun. James
Walls, Coun.
MERCHANTS
William Black Hendry Elder Robert Anderson John Hart
John Belfour William Wilson
Thomas Mitchel Andrew
Polland Robert Adie Charles
Chambers John Hay Patrick Clow
Joseph Kirk John Couper
William Wilson Robert Robison James Dick David Gray
George Christie John Watson Patrick Currie John
Brown John Allan James Pringle John
bethon Robert Wilson David
Meldrum Robert Walker
Ego Andreas
Symson,
Notarius Publicus a
scriba
dicto de Dumferling,
speciali
mandato, Davidis Sands,
Gulielmi Pierson,
Jacobi Band, &c.;
Gulielmi Robertson
Fabrorum
Ferrariorum in dicto
Burgo ac
Roberti Wellwood,
Andreæ
Smeitton, Jacobi Wilson,
Calceariorum in
dicto Burgo,
&c.; Joannis Rea,
Jacobi
Beannie, Tomæ Wilson,
Joannis Hepburn, &c.;
Jacobi
Mappertoun, Sartorum in
dicto Burgo,
&c,; Eduardi
Ovenwhyt,
Andreæ Meanny, &c.;
Joannis
beanny, Fabrorum
Murariorum
ibidem, ac Petri Nigrew,
Alexandri Grieve,
Roberti Crawford,
Joannis
Broun, Andreæ Morrice,
Roberti Durham,
Gulielmi Kirk,
Andreæ
Chrystie, Jacobi Walker,
Gulielmus Walker,
Davidis
Chrystie, Gulielmi Eason,
Jacobi
Broun, &c,; Joannis
Thomson Fabrorum
Lignariorum, &c,’
Gulielmi
Cusin Lanioris in
dicto Burgo
pro ilis omnibus
scribere
nescien tibus
specialiter
requistus subscribo,
AND SYMSON,
N.P.
LITERATURE,--Dr. Steedman
(surgeon), Dunfermline, published this year “A Treatise on
Astronomy,” explaining the general Phenomena of the Heavenly
Bodies, and the Theory of the Tides, Published at
Edinburgh, 1706, at Is. (Title Page.)
1707.—THE
“UNION QUESTION” and Discontent.—Sir Peter
Halket, of Pitfirrane, Provost
of Dunfermline and Burgh Commissioner to Parliament, was
pressingly charged by the burgh to deliver their Address to
Parliament, and to vote against the Union. This he solemnly
promised to do. He in due time presented the Address, but
voted for the Union! This inconsistency and want of moral
rectitude in the Provost “caused a wide-spread spirit of
discontent an dill-will against
him.” It is said that “his conduct gave so great offence to
the council and inhabitants that Sir Peter did not show face
in Dunfermline for twelve months afterwards.” (Mercer’s
History Dunf. p. 96; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 279.) If this really
happened, it is singular that the Town Council, on the first
election of Provost thereafter, re-elected him to be their
Provost, and continued to do so for twenty-seven years.
The Act of
Union was “a great and glorious act” for both
contries, but the good deed was
not accomplished without a blemish. A great many of the
Burgh Commissioners or Representatives had a price, it would
appear, and such were secured, to vote in favour of the
Union, and “considerable personal advantages held out to
them besides.” It has been supposed that “Sir Peter had
been threatened by those high in power, the granters of
privileges, that if he did not vote in favour of the Union,
his coal privileges would not be renewed, and thus Sir
Peter, perhaps against his better inclinations, was forced
to vote contrary to his promise.” Thirty-three burghs voted
for the Union and twenty-nine against it. (Marshall’s
“History of the Union,” and other works.)
CROWN
RATIFICATION OF COAL PRIVILEGES TO SIR PETER HALKET.—From
a remote period, the family of Pitfirrane had a government
privilege of exporting their coals to foreign parts free of
all duty whatever. This privilege was renewed by Queen Anne
on 21st December, 1706, and was ratified in the
United Parliament, London, on March 21st, 1707
(see also Annals, date 1788). It will be observed that the
renewed “Pitirrane coal
privilege” is dated 21st December, 1706, shortly
before “the Union became an accomplished fact,” and the
Crown ratification of it three months after the renewal.
(See Crown Charters; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 21,
&c.)
THE
CUSTOMS, &C., OF FOUR OF THE FAIRS TO BE ROUPED.—“23rd
April, 1707: This day the
counsell ordains the
customes of ye
foure old fairs—laddle
of the meall
tron, and small
customes—to be
rouped on Wednesday next, and
declaires ye July and October
faires free of a custom for a
year.” (Burgh Rec.) The “ladle” was a small one; the
“holder of it” had the power of dipping it into every
sack-mouth containing meal that was exposed for sale, and to
“put the ladle-fu’ into his own private bag.” (Tradition,
and MS.)
THE RACE
SADDLE.—“4th Aug.: The said day warrants the
treasurer to pay the sadler 6
pounds for ye
sadle ridden at July
mercat last.” (Burgh Rec.)
A COMPASS
FOR THE COAL HEUGH.—“29th
Augt.:
The counsell appoints the
thesaurer to buy a good compass
for the use of the heugh.”
(Burgh Rec.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“8
Oct. 1707: The said day the grand
counsell re-elected Sir Peter
Halket Provost; David Adie, yr and David Wilson,
baillies.
(Burgh Rec.)
THE LATE
FISCAL’S SALARY AND THE FOOT-MANTLE.—“11TH Oct.
1707: The counsell
warranated Wm.
Wilsone to pay Helen
Broun, four pound ten, P. in
compleat payment of her husbands
fiscall
cellary till
michaelmas next; including his
service for keeping the carpet on ye seat in the Kirk:
Also, ordains, a foot gar to be made at ye officers seat in
the [Kirk?] for holding ye carpet and ye officer to keep
it.” (Burgh Rec.)
1708.—GREAT
SNOW-STORM.—Several old accounts
refer to this snow-storm. It continued without intermission
for eight days; the streets in some place were 12 to 20 feet
deep in snow. The followed a frost which continued for
nearly three months. (Notes on Dunf.)
DUNFERMLINE
PALACE.—Fall of the North Gable and Roof.—According to
several old MS. notes, “the Palace, previous to this period,
had been long neglected, and suffered to become ruinous,”
and “early in the year 1708, the north gable wall and part
of the front wall fell, along with the greater part of the
roof;” henceforward it became an utter ruin.
“So fades, so
perishes, grows dim, and dies,
all
that the world is proud of.”
Probably the
great snow-storm and frost of this year hastened the fall of
the Palace wall and gable. (MSS. And Tradition; also Chal.
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 99.)
SEAL OF
CAUSE TO THE WEAVERS.—“18th
May, 1708: This day the
counsell granted a new
gift, or Seal of Cause, to the Weavers.” (Burgh Records.)
This Seal of Cause, as well as similar documents, occupy 2
or 3 pp. folio of the Records.
ANCIENT
BURIAL CUSTOM ABOLISHED.—“22 April, 1708: The
whch day the
counsell taking to their
consideration yt it has
beena n ancient
custome of the burgh at burials
to invite ye magistrates, counsell
and oyr burgers up to ye burials
immediately before lifting of ye corps and
yt ye sd
custome is both
uneasie to the people who must
wait a long time on ye street till ye magistrates come out,
and besides makes a confusion when too many people goes up
to the buriall house,
considering yt ye best burgh in
the nation has left of yt
custome, and the
counsell yr for, for avoiding
confusion and observing more decency at such occasions, have
and hereby, do resolve and enact, yt
in all time coming, no magistrate,
counsellor, or burgar (tho
invited) go up to ye buriall
house immediately before lifting of ye corps in time coming,
except they be near relations of the defunct.” (Burgh Rec.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“11th October, 1708: The said day
the grand counsell, continued
and re-elected Sir Peter Halket
Provost.” (Burgh Records.)
NEW WEIGHTS
AND MEASURES TO BE BOUGHT.—“20TH
Nov. 1708: The counsell
commissionat
baillie
Wilsone to go to Edinburgh to
procure a letter fra ye provost
of Ed. To Lithgou, Lanark, and
Stirline for ye new
english
standard of weights and measures and if he procure
ym. to
go to ye sd
touns and receive them and pay yr dues.” (Burgh
Records.)
BRASS JUGS
AND ELL-MEASURE FOR USE OF THE BURGH.—“29th Nov.
1708: Ordains baillie
Wilsone to writ to deacon
Inglis at Edinburgh to cast two
brass jugs for ye use of this burgh, and to get stamped by
ye dean of gild of Edinburgh’s stamp: Also, orders Adam
Stevinson to make a iron
eln and yard, according to the
english standard, and it to be
sent to Edinburgh there to get the dean of
Gild’s stamp.” (Burgh
Records.) “Adam Stevinson’s
charge for his job, including the irons for lettering, was
ten shillings.” Are these weights, measures, jugs, &c.,
still in existence?
