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1774.—GREAT
SNOW STORMS.—Several MSS. Refer to the
great and continued falls of snow in
Dunfermline in January and February, 1774.
THE NEW CLOCK—“Yettlin” Weights, &c.—“The
Council order John Horn, late Treasurer,
to pay James Symsone, Clockmaker, five
pounds sterling more upon his receipt to
Account of the Town Clock, and the said
James Symsone immediately to compleat the
Clock, with yettlin paises and sufficient
ropes, and to strike upon the present
bell.” (Bur. Rec., 5th March, 1774.) “17th
March: This day Mr. Symsone offered to the
Council to put a minute hand on the East
Dial of the clock, if the Council would
pay him for the expense of the Dial-plate
and hand.” (Burgh Records)
DEATH OF THE REV. THOMAS GILLESPIE.—The
Rev. Thomas Gillespie, Minister of the
Relief Church, Dunfermline, died on the
19th of January, and in the 22nd year of
his ministry in Dunfermline. A
biographical note, referring to Mr.
Gillespie, states that “he was a very
pious and humble man, and greatly beloved
by all;” and conclude with—
“Of this blest man, let this just praise
be given—
Heaven was in him, before he was in
heaven.”
He was interred in the south-east corner
of the Old, or North Kirkyard. In 1818 his
remains were exhumed, and deposited in the
Nave of Dunfermline Abbey Church (north
side). A tablet was lately erected over
his remains.
WATER SCHEME.—“The whole expenditure on
the Water Scheme, from 1764 to 1778,
amounted to £1745 13s. 10 3/12d.” (Burgh
Records) The old Water Committee of 1765
demitted their office in 1774, and was
succeeded by one solely appointed by the
Town Council. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 14)
URQUHART BULWARK [dyke] built by James
Murdoch and Jo. Barclay for 40 shillings.”
(MS.)
DISAGREEMENTS IN THE RELIEF CHURCH,
&c.—Mr. Fernie, in his History of
Dunfermline, p. 37, says:--“After the
death of Mr. Gillespie in 1774, his
congregation split into two parties—one
party continued their connection with the
Relief; the other party petitioned the
Presbytery to have the Meeting-house
converted into a Chapel of Ease.” After
five years of litigation on this subject,
the prayer of the petition was granted by
the General Assembly in 1779.
ROMAN URNS AND COINS FOUND.—In the summer
of 1774, on opening up a small “tumulus”
on Carneil Hill, three miles west of
Dunfermline, several Urns were found
containing Cones and Roman Coins.
(Mercer’s Hist. Dunf. p. 268)
LITERATURE.—“A Treatise on Temptation,” by
the Rev. Thomas Gillespie, late Minister
of the Gospel, Dunfermline, was published
this year.
NEW STREETS.—Chalmers’s Street, Woodhead
Street, and Pittencrieff Street, began to
be built in their present form. There were
scattered cottages on these sites previous
to the opening of the New Bridge in 1770.
They were reached by going down back
closes under the Tolbooth and back of
Collierow, the Back Burn being crossed at
several places, either by planks of wood
or by stepping-stanes.
ADAM SMITH, the Kirkcaldy Philosopher,
enters Dunfermline in Deshabille.—The
following is an extract from a MS. Note
regarding this celebrated political
economist:--
“2nd Sept., 1774: Some Sabbaths since, as
the third bell was beginning to ring for
the forenoon’s sermon, a stranger man
appeared in a reverie on the street in
Dunfermline, having on him his small
cloathes, a morning gown, and cap, which
astonished every one that saw him. He by
the ringing of the bells began to rouse
up, and was as much astonished at himself
as other folks were. It turned out that
his name was Mr. Smith, the Kirkcaldy
philosopher, who, iin pursuing some severe
train of thought for a book he was to
publish, had left Kirkcaldy early in the
morning, westward, following up his train
of thought, and so walked on and on in a
half unconscious state to all around,
until he got into the streets of
Dunfermline, when he was roused out of his
reverie by the bells beginning to ring.”
(MS. Note)
This was the celebrated Dr. Adam Smith,
and the book he was then about to publish
was his Wealth of Nations. (See also Dr.
Rogers’ Leaves from My Autobiography, pp.
84, 85)
DISTURBANCES IN THE BURGH.—By the minute
from the Burgh Records, as under, it will
be seen that an enactment was made for the
repression of disturbances in the burgh:--
“10th Sept., 1774: This Day it was
represented by Provost Wilson that of late
there had been great disturbance in this
Burgh by Sundries Convocating in a
tumultuous manner, and going through with
Drums and Colours, hazzaing, and calling
out the names of different Gentlemen, and
giving abusive names to some of the
Inhabitants and others without check.—The
Provost and Baillies, by the power vested
in them, enact a law to repress these
unlawful proceedings.”
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—26th Oct., 1774:
John Kirk, merchant, Dunfermline, elected
Provost.” This election was conducted amid
much squabbling; was voted illegal with
many; and by such the majority who voted
in favor of Mr. Kirk were designated as
“the so-called majority.” Protests and
Instruments were taken, but without any
result. (Burgh Records)
“DANCES OR BALLS” not to be held in the
Town-House.—“28th Dec., 1774: Which Day
the Council, by a Majority of votes,
Discharged any Public Dances or Balls to
be in the Council-House for the future.”
(Burgh Records)
1775.—THE NEW CLOCK in the Town-House
Steeple appears to have been “set up and
put in motion about the beginning of
April, 1775.” (MS. Note; also Burgh
Records)
IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION IN
DUNFERMLINE.—“A petition was sent to the
council, Signed by Sundries, for a new
plan for the Education of the youth in the
Burgh.” The Council recommend “a proper
plan for ye improvement of ye Education,
and to find out a proper fund to encourage
men of merit for these offices, and to
Report.” MS. Note; also Burgh Records)
“KNABBIE RAW.”—This street previous to
this period was a narrow cart-road. It
appears from MSS. And Title-Deeds that “it
first began to be built in 1775, and for
some years was called the Heigh Street”
(High Street), owing to its elevated site.
In 1805-1807 it was known as Reid Street
(from “Deacon Reid”). (An. Dunf. 1809; Act
of 1811) After 1807, an Old Note says, the
name settled comfortably down to that of
the “Knabbie Raw” and “Knabbie Street,”
from some one or tow well-to-do weavers
having been styled nabobs, or nabbies, by
the public. When the street was being
named in 1809, it was suggested by some
members of the Town Council that the
whimsical name of “Knabbie Raw” should be
changed to North Bridge Street, “now that
a bridge had been thrown over the Laigh
Dam, joining the street with the
Collierow.” “The Knabbies” objects, and
prevailed, and down to 1878 the street was
called Knabbie Street. In May, 1878, the
name of the street was changed to Carnegie
Street, in honour of A. Carnegie, Esq., of
New York, a native, who, at his own cost,
built the Baths, situated at the
south-east corner of the street, and
presented the building to the city. (See
An. Dunf. date 1877)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—John Kirk,
merchant, re-elected Provost. (Burgh
Records, 30th Sept., 1775) Much discontent
again prevailed at this municipal
election, and protests were lodged.
THE REBELLION IN AMERICA.—“18th Oct.,
1775: Which day the Council agreed to
address his Majesty on the Present
Rebellion in America, and an address was
made out accordingly, and signed by the
Provost, in name and by order of the
Magistrates and Council.” (Burgh Records)
PATRONAGE OF THE DOCTORSHIP OF THE GRAMMAR
SCHOOL.—In the Burgh Records of date 11th
December, 1775, there are two pages
occupied about the right of patronage of
the Doctor or Usher of Dunfermline Grammar
School, too long for insertion here.
THE INHABITANTS OF THE ABBEY HOUSES, &C.,
IN 1775.—The following list will show the
names, trades and rents were paid by the
indwellers in the Abbey precincts in 1775.
These rents were paid annually to Mr.
Chalmers of Pittencrieff, the
proprietor:--
John Wishart, miller at the Heugh Mills,
£30 0 0
David Cant, miller do. 25 0 0
James Anderson, smith do. 0 15 0
James Thomson, indweller, do 0 10 0
John Hutchison, shoemaker, Abbey Close 0
16 8
Elizabeth Gold, at Stark’s do 0 13 4
George Meldrum, baker, a yard at Heugh
Mills 0 6 0
James Wardlaw, indweller, 0 11 0
Elizabeth Bruce do 0 10 0
Thomas Mitchel, do 0 0 0
John Hunter, weaver (Pends) 0 5 0
Charles Shorthouse, gravedigger, &c. 0 0 0
Peter Murrie, indweller 0 6 8
“At this period ‘the Pends,’ Queen Ann of
Denmark’s House, some old houses in
Stark’s Close (foot of St. Catherine’s
Wynd), and the Constables and Bailies’
House (near the Kirk Steeple), were
inhabited by weavers, tailors, &c., at low
rents.” (MS).
THE PILLORY AND THE STOCKS.—According to a
MS. Note, “these instruments of ancient
justice, which had for ages stood in the
High Street, at the tron, were removed in
1775. The pillory cleeks were shortly
afterwards securely fixed into the
east-front wall of the new town house,
above the Blackhole window, where culprits
were fixed by the neck (1775-1803.) The
stocks are still to the fore,” lying in
the garret of the town house, ready for
use when required.
COLLIERS’ EMANCIPATION.—The Colliers’
Emancipation Act passed this year, and
consequently “toun’s colliers” became
freemen. From time immemorial they were
property, and exchanged or sold at the
will of the owners. They long had the name
of “black slaves.”
NEW RELIEF MEETING-HOUSE Founded and
Built.—This small plain edifice stood on
the site of the present “Gillespie
Church,” and had sittings for 520. (Annals
of Dunfermline, 1770, 1774, 1790, 1830,
1835, 1876)
UNSEEMLY FRACAS IN THE PARISH CHURCH.—The
following note is extracted from the
Edinburgh Literary Magazine:
Rev. Mr. Thomson, minister of the Old
Church (Dunfermline), delivered a sermon
on Psalms xxci. 10: “In whose hands is
mischief and their right hand is full of
bribes.” In the course of his sermon he
dwelt on the sin of bribery in connection
with the late Parliamentary election in
the town, and in one of his heated
climaxes said that “there was one in this
assembly, who could not shake himself free
of bribes,” and pointing to Mr. Scotland,
bawled out, “and thou Robert Scotland art
the man! Upon this Mr. Scotland rose up,
and looking hard at Mr. Thomson, said in a
loud excited voice—“Thou art a liar, thou
old military blunderbuss, in the place of
verity where thou standeth!!” (The
minister had formerly been chaplain of a
regiment.) The minister made some confused
reply, purporting that he did not care
what he (Mr. Scotland) said of him, but
that he could prove what he had said.
In the Edinburgh Literary Magazine and
Weekly Amusement for 1776 there is the
following notice:--
The Court of Session determined the affair
of Mr. Thomson, minister of Dunfermline;
they found him (Mr. Thomson) liable in
five pounds damages to Mr. Scotland, jun.,
£25 to Mr. Scotland, sen., and fifty
guineas of expenses. The Court severely
condemned Mr. Scotland’s conduct, and
thought the Presbytery blameable in not
censuring him.
Another of our notes on this subject
remarks, that the “Rev. Mr. Thomson got
very easy off in his Court of Session
business, and that, “as he was the
aggressor, he ought to have been mulct of
at least four times the amount.”
JOHN MACKIE, manufacturer of carpets, died
this year. “He introduced the Carpet
Manufactory into Dunfermline; had a great
many looms at work in Rotten Row and
Collierow, which gave employment to about
30 persons.” (MS. Note)
WEAVING PATTERNS.—At this period the
patterns or devices wrought on table
linens in Dunfermline and vicinity were
almost invariably the British Flag, the
Scottish Arms, and gentlemen’s armorial
bearings, flowers, birds and other
animals. James Thomson of Drumsheugh, near
Edinburgh, supplied the patterns.
URQUHART CUTS AND ROAD.—The new road from
Dunfermline, by Pittencrieff Street to the
west, was forming in 1775. A MS. Note
states that “the deep cutting in the rock,
between the town and Urquhart Farm, was
accomplished by means of powerful charges
of gunpowder.”
1776.—FALL OF SNOW.—The year 1776 “opened
on Dunfermline with very heavy falls of
snow, which buried the streets to a great
depth; then a month’s black frost set in.”
(MS. Note)
THE LODGE West End of Bridge Street
Founded.—This lodge, afterwards known as
the Union Lodge, was founded in the Spring
of 1776, and finished end of same year.
(MS. Note)
REID’S MORTIFICATION.—“John Reid,
Shopkeeper in Dunfermline in 1776,
mortified a considerable property in the
town for the use of the poor; the
management of which was committed to the
Provost, Two Bailies, and Dean of Gild,
The Two Ministers and Two Elders of the
Established Kirk-Session; The Minister and
Three Elders of Relief, and Three Elders
of the Burgher Congregations. The
Guardians, or Trustees, are strictly
enjoined to bestow its funds upon such
persons as have once been in good worldly
circumstances; and the heritors of the
Parish are requested to superintend the
management. Should a Poor’s House be
erected in the parish the trustees are to
surrender the property to its directors.”
The yearly rental derived from the
property in 1827 was £140 sterling. The
Deed is dated 17th of April, 1776. (See
Mercer’s History of Dunfermline, p. 147)
WEAVING.—Mr. Stark’s Beetling Mills.—Mr.
Campbell, manufacturer, retired from
business, and was succeeded by Mr. Stark,
who this year erected Beetling Mils and
other “appliances” at Brucefield, near
Dunfermline. (MSS. and “L.W.”)
REV. JAMES HUSBAND (afterwards D.D.) was
ordained Colleague and Successor to Rev.
John Smith, Secession Church, Queen Ann
Street. (MS. Note)
JAMES CHRISTIE, Schoolmaster of Kennoway,
was on 10th July, 1776, elected Master of
the Song School, Dunfermline. (Burgh
Records) He shortly afterwards opened a
Music Class in the Mason Lodge, at the
Mill Port, Collier Row, top of Bruce
Street; at same time he had a Day School
there. He died in the month of September,
1817.
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—John Kirk,
merchant, was elected Provost. (Burgh
Records, 30th Sept., 1776)
PRESENTATION PORTRAIT—Large Likeness in
Oil of George Chalmers, Esq., of
Pittencrieff, December, 1776.—The expenses
of this large oil painting and framing of
George Chalmers, of Pittencrieff, was
defrayed by public subscription. The
painting was, at the time it was executed,
highly praised as a faithful likeness. Mr.
Chalmers is represented in a sitting
posture, with a view of Dunfermline
Monastery on the left of him. At foot, on
a small projecting panel, is the following
inscription:--
“To the Memory of George Chalmers, late of
Pittencrieff, Esquire. The neighbourhood
that knew his worth, and the town of
Dunfermline, which, by sound intelligence
and liberal improvement, combined with
public spirit, he Benefited as well as
Adorned, Erect this Memorial of his Virtue
and Esteem, 1776.”
The likeness adorns the wall of the
Council Chambers, Town House.
1777.—THE NEW WEST ROAD Opened to Urquhart
Cuts.—This new road from Dunfermline to
the west, by Pittencrieff Street, Urquhart
Cuts, &c., which had been forming since
the end of the year 1774, was opened for
traffic in January 1777, and thoroughly
opened to Crossford in 1780. (Vide An.
Dunf. of the date.)
RELIEF CHURCH.—Rev. James Smith was
ordained minister of the Relief Church in
Dunfermline in 1777. He afterwards joined
the Established Church. He was translated
to Chapelshade Church, Dundee, in 1790. He
was the author of “Historical Sketches of
the Relief Church.” (MS.)
DEPRESSION IN THE WEAVING TRADE.—An Old
MS. Note states that the weaving trade in
Dunfermline, in 1777, began “to suffer
great depression, owing to the late
American war, which occasioned slack
trade, poverty and much distress.”
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—John Kirk,
merchant. (Burgh Records, 29th Sept.,
1777.)
A SPADE MANUFACTORY was established in
1777 at the lower end of the Heugh Mills,
by James Anderson, blacksmith. “A good
trade in this kind was carried on for some
years, and gave employment to a number of
hands.” (MS. Note.)
1778.—FUNERAL ETIQUETTE.—“28TH March,
1778: This day the Council, upon a
petition from the Convener Court, agree
that the town officers shall wear the
Black bands or sashes provided by the said
Conveener Court, at the burials of all
Deacons or Deacons’ wives or widows, in
time coming, and authorize the officers
accordingly.” (Bur. Rec.)
WEAVING—Fly-Shuttle Invented.—Early in the
year 1778, Mr. John Wilson, Dunfermline,
completed his invention of the
fly-shuttle, thus introducing “a new epoch
in the art of Weaving.” “Before this
period, while weaving broad webs, the
shuttle was thrown by one man and catched
on the other side by another, while the
weaver on the loom performed his part. By
using this new invention, Drawn Dornock
[single diaper] got the name of Machine
Dornock and the Machine itself that of the
Diaper Dornock.” For this invention Mr.
Wilson received £20 from the Edinburgh
Board of Trustees, and was made a free
burgess of Dunfermline on 10th January,
1780. (See An. Dunf. 10th Jan., 1780; also
date 1826)
LITERATURE.—The select works of Lady
Halket, who died in Dunfermline in 1699,
were this year (1778) published in
Edinburgh. They are as follows:--An 8vo
vol. of 168 pages, entitled, “Meditations
of the Twenty-fifth Psalm;” “Meditations
and Prayers upon the First Week, with
Observations on Each Day’s Creation;”
“Instructions for Youth,” to which is
prefixed an account of her life. The
publishers were Bayne & Mennons. (See Am.
Dunf. date 1699.) The writer has a copy of
this rare work.
WEAVING—Mr. Stark.—According to an Old MS.
Note, there were only eighteen damask
looms at work in Dunfermline in June 1778.
Mr. Mark Stark commenced the manufacturing
of table-linen about this period, and had
three damask looms in operation in an old
house near the ruins of St. Leonard’s
Hospital.
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull,
merchant, elected Provost. (Burgh Records,
28th Sept., 1778)
THE FOOT-PATH (Fit-paith.)—“At this period
(1778) a road was completed leading from
the west end of Bridge Street to Golfdrum.
The road was afterwards widened and built
upon. All the way up on the east side a
kind of foot-way was laid out and paved
with coarse boulders. This way or road was
known by the homely name of the fit-paith,
which name it retained till after the
beginning of the present century, when the
paith began to be known as Chalmers Street
and Woodhead Street.” (MS. by J.L.)
1779.—THE POPISH BILL.—29th Jan., 1779:
This day the Town Council resolved to
petition both Houses of Parliament against
this Bill, proposed to be brought before
Parliament. (Burgh Records)
THE GRAMMER SCHOOL.—“Mr. John Jesson,
schoolmaster, of Cupar-in-Fife, was on
April 23d elected Usher of Doctor of the
Grammar School, Dunfermline.” (Burgh Rec.)
WEAVING LANDSCAPES, &c.—An Old Note states
that landscapes and old castles were first
wrought on Dunfermline table-line by the
weavers in 1779.
THE PAUL JONES PANIC.—In the autumn of
this year there was great excitement in
Dunfermline and vicinity, as also among
the inhabitants along the shores of both
sides of the Forth, from a “threatened
bombardment and invasion by Paul Jones and
his vile crew.” About 300 of the valiant
men of Dunfermline “clubbed and armed
themselves,” to be ready to give him
battle. “Inchgarvie, in the Forth, was
strengthened, and some heavy cannon placed
in position on its ramparts.” Paul did no
business in the Forth, and the panic
subsided. (MS.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull,
merchant, re-elected Provost. (Burgh
Records, 27th Sept., 1779)
ST. LEONARD’S CHAPEL.—An Old Note, dated
November, 1779, states that “the walls of
this venerable building were entire, but
they were tottering to their fall.” (See
the several notices of St. Leonard’s in
An. Dunf. and date 1798.)
TABERNACLE or Independent
Congregation.—“This congregation was
formed in 1779, in connection with Mr.
David Dale of Glasgow. Their
meeting-house, in Woodhead Street, was
called The Tabernacle, built in
1779-1780.” (MS. Note.)
1780.-CHAPEL CHURCH—Ordination of the Rev,
John Monteith.—On the 20th February, 1780,
the Rev. John Monteith was ordained
minister of the new Chapel of Ease,
Dunfermline.
FREEDOM OF THE BURGH—John Wilson, Inventor
of the Fly-Shuttle in Weaving, made a Free
Burgess of the Burgh.—“26th Feb., 1780:
Which day the Council, upon ya application
from the Incorporation of Weavers, agree
the John Wilson, weaver in Abby Parks of
Dunfermline, be admitted a burgess of this
Burgh, Gratis, for his ingenuity in
finding out some valuable improvement in
the weaving of Diaper.” (Burgh Records)
ROMAN CATHOLIC BILL.—At this time there
existed “an unpleasant and discontented
feeling in the toun and country-side anent
the proposed repeal of the Roman Catholic
Bill.” (MS.)
WEST END OF “IN-BELOW-TH-WA’AS,” now known
since 1811 as Abbott Street, had only one
house in the Street in 1780, which had
just then been finished on the widened
road there.” (MS. Note.)
PATTIE-MUIR AND LIMEKILNS SOCIETY.—This
society was instituted in the summer 1780.
(Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 52, and MS. Note)
BRIDGE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.—“A small
congregation of Baptists was formed in
1780, and worshipped in the lodge, west
end of Bridge Street, south side. Their
number did not exceed 50.” (MS. Note;
Mercer’s Hist. Dunf. p. 134)
WEST PORT—St. Catherine’s Wynd Removed,
1780.—According to an Old Memorandum Note,
“the new road along Bridge Street to the
west being now thoroughly opened up, the
old road by Tower Hill was abandoned, and
the West Port, in St. Catherine’s Wynd,
which had for many years been in a ruinous
and very dangerous state, was removed in
1780. (See An. Dunf. 1765) This was the
oldest port of the Burgh, so far as is
known. It is nemtioned in a charter in
Registrum de Dunfermelyn, under date 1327,
in connection with St. Catherine’s Chapel
and Elemosynary (Alms House), which stood
adjacent a few yards south-west, viz.,
“the elimosinaria, or alms-house outside
of the port adjacent to the chapel of St.
Catherine.” (Regist. Dunf. No. 370, p.
253; An. Dunf. 1327, 1566, 1765; for other
Ports, see 1488, 1585, 1735, 1745, 1752.)
The West Port or “West Entrie”, was a
lofty but narrow edifice; the archway on
the street was about eleven feet in
height, but only seven feet in breadth;
above the archway there was an apartment
known by the name of “the Cross Chamber,”
which was entered by a door in its wall
facing the kirkyard; the height of the
building from the street to the top of the
roof, according to an Old Note, was
twenty-nine feet.
The above view
of the Port and adjacent buildings is
taken from an old sketch by J. Burlans in
our possession.
Immediately above the archway, north side,
there was above the “key-stane” a small
square stone, on which were cut the
figures of two men supporting a stag’s
head, “supposed to refer to David I., and
his escape from a stag in early life.” The
following cut represents the carving on
this stone, which was, till lately, seen
in the front of an old house in St.
Catherine’s Wynd.
Thus was swept
away the first and the last remaining of
the Ports of “Burgo de Dunfermlyn,” and
the last visible landmark of the boundary
of the burgh. The old burgh was confined
within the small area bounded by the Mill
Port, Cross Wynd Port, East Port, and this
West Port, including, probably, the yards
or gardens outside the backs of the
houses.
POPULATION, WEAVING, &C.—According to a
manuscript in our possession, there were
“8690 souls in the town and Parish of
Dunfermline, and the amount of money
produced yearly by weaving of diapers,
&c., in computed at £45,750.” (MS.)
CAMERONIAN KIRK.—This kirk, founded in
1779, was finished and opened for worship
in the summer of 1780. “About the year
1790 it was turned into a Macmillan Kirk.”
In 1816 the Lancasterian School was held
in it; John Preacher, master. In 1823 the
building was acquired by the Burgh, and
has since been known as Rolland Street
School. (MS. Note)
“VIEW OF THE ROYAL PALACE AND ABBEY OF
DUNFERMLING, published by G. Kearsly,
Fleet Street, London, June 1, 1780.”—This
is a very fine View, showing the outside
wall of the palace, with a small part of
the old bastion, “which top’d the wall;”
also, the old foot or bridle road which
led along its base to Tower Hill. The
“Pends,” or Gatehouse, and entrance to the
Magazine, is in the centre; toward the
right a few of the Frater Hall windows are
shown, with tracing in them; and behind,
in the distance, the top of the Fratery
Tower, and the upper part of the Auld Kirk
Steeple. This is a valuable print, and is
extremely scarce; size 8 inches by 6. We
have a copy in our possession.
SEARCH FOR SILVER IN THE FERRY
HILLS.—According to an Old MS. Note, some
private gentlemen in Edinburgh sent over
one or two labourers to the Ferry Hills to
tap them for silver in 1780, but without
results.
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull,
merchant, re-elected Provost. (Burgh
Records, Sept., 1780)
THE TOWN MUIR PLANTED WITH TREES.—A Burgh
Record Minute notifies that the planting
of trees in the Muir was completed on 30th
Dec., 1780, by Mathew Richmond, Seedsman,
Edinburgh.
THE REV. JOHN SMITH, Minister of the
Secession Church, Backside, Queen Ann
Street, died on 7th December, 1780, aged
fifty eight years, and the thirty fifth
year of ministry. He was minister in
Jedburgh for twenty seven years, and eight
in Dunfermline. (See An. Dunf. date 1752)
THE BEST INN IN THE BURGH.—“In 1780 the
best Inn in Dunfermline was the house in
the north west corner of Bridge Street,
kept by Robert Staig, Innkeeper.” (MS.
Note)
TANWORKS.—In an old writ the tanworks at
Damhead are mentioned. They were possessed
by Alex. Pearson, at a rental of £9 15s. |
