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1790.—THE CHICKEN-PIE CLUB
INSTITUTED.—This Society was instituted for
the improvement of the breed of Cattle, and
for may years met at the Crossgates. The
annual meet finished up with a chicken-pie
supper—hence the name.
WEAVING AND THE
LONDON TRADE.—The disposal of Dunfermline
woven fabrics had hitherto been confined to
Scotland, the goods being disposed of by
orders and by hawking. In the year 1760,
“some of the manufacturers penetrated to
London with their goods, where a ready sale at
good prices was readily effected.” Since
then, the London trade has been a mine of
wealth to Dunfermline. (See Histories of
Dunfermline)
ST. MARGARET’S
CAVE OR ORATORY.—An Old MS. Note states, that
so late as this period (1790) there were to be
seen in the cave a stone seat, and a kind of
stone table, with nearly obliterated rude
carvings on it. The writer had also been told
of this, in 1824, by old men who had seen
these relics. (See also An. Dunf. date, 1877)
WEAVING.—David
Campbell,--Sometime in the year 1760 David
Campbell came to Dunfermline, where he for
many years “carried on the Linen trade to a
great extent. He made a fortune of £7000, and
retired to Edinburgh.” (Mercer’s Hist. Dunf.
p. 164) Before he came there were only
thirteen damask looms in Dunfermline.
QUEEN ANN STREET
CHURCH—Induction of the Rev. John Smith.—After
a vacancy of nearly eight years, the Rev. John
Smith of Jedburgh, was inducted, 16th July,
1760 minister of Queen Ann Street Church, and
successor to the Rev. Ralph Erskine, who died
in the year 1752.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“The council, by a majority of
votes, Elected, and hereby Elect, David
Turnbull, Provost.” (Burgh Records, 29th
Sept., 1760)
FIRE-BUCKETS
INSPECTED.—“4th Oct.: The fire-buckets being
this day inspected, are all in good case,
being in Number Eighteen.—The Council appoint
John Kirk, Adam Morison, and David Scotland to
inspect the fire-bucketts once every Three
Moneth thro the year.” (Burgh Records)
ACCESSION OF
GEORGE III.—“1st Dec., 1760: Which Day the
Council Unanimously agreed to address his
Majesty, King George the Third, on his
accession to the Throne; and a Scroll of an
address being Read to the Council, They
approved thereof, and ordered the Provost to
Sign an address agreeable thereto in their
Name, And to Send the same to Mr. Haldane, our
Member of Parliament, To be presented to his
Majestie.” (Burgh Records)
AGRICULTURE.—According to a MS., “a new and
peculiar system of conducting agricultural
pursuits was introduced into the western
district of Fife, in 1760, by George Chalmers,
Esq., of Pittencrieff.”
1791.—THE
VILLAGE OF CHARLESTON.—“The regularly built
village of Charleston was founded early in
1761, by Charles, Early of Elgin, for the
convenience of his workmen; hence the name
Charleston. It lies about one mile west from
Limekilns, and three miles south-west of
Dunfermline. The limeworks, kilns, &c., were
then in progress.”
ST. CATHERINE’S
LODGE.—David Campbell, manufacturer, finished
the building of a large mansion, adjacent to
the “Queen’s House,” and contiguous to the
ruins of St. Catherine’s Chapel, and hence it
received the name of “St. Catherine’s Lodge,”
which it still retains. (Title Deeds, &c.)
CURIOUS NOTICE
OF A FUNERAL IN 1761.—The following singular
account of a funeral at Dunfermline is taken
from an old clipping from the Glasgow
Herald:--
“Dunfermline, June th 15 day, 1761.
“Dear
Brother,--I doubt not by this time but you
have heard of your Mothers Deces. Shou Dyed
the 9 day of Juen, and was buried the 11 day
of June, and shou got a verrey honorable
buriel. We had plenty of eall, and wuskie,
and brandie, and plaine short bread, and
sukart short bread, and Wheet Bread, and wine
bread, and I have paid all founrels (expenses)
that Came from our toun, such as brandie,
short bread, wheet breed, wine breed, and the
Coffen, but did not get a pirticlar a Count of
what eall ther was spent, becays William Paton
Came not back to the Dargie; but it is to be
paid as shon as I get the a Count of it. They
are all to meet at my hous the first day of
July, to wit, David bennet, and Wm. Marshal,
and our sistar Lissie Philip, for to read up
on matters betwixt David bennet and hir, when
I shall give you a pirticlar a Count of what
is Done and what the burile Comes to. I sent
you a linen Serk with Margret Henderson, which
I expect you will have goot. We had at our
Dargie old Dalkeith, Andrew Scotland, Rob.
Johnston, John Demptrston, McGrige, harlaw,
and all the Nebours. Round. We had John
Harley, John Henderson, John Buchan, Rob.
Mudie in Lochend, John Robeson in Shirs Mill,
and the twa John Phileps, John Philp in
Murmill, and his Mother. We had from the east
hand Touchie and Rentoul, Tho. Grive, Hendrey
Symson, Andrew Philp, James Philp in the
Damhead, and other two or three that I did not
know that came from the east hand. Ther was
36 or 37 men at Dargie, becides above a Dozen
on wemon, and was all gentilly served. We are
weall at present but my wife, and shoe is some
Beater. Which is all from your loving
brother, “J.P.”
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull, merchant, was
re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 28th
Sept., 1761)
A SENIOR BAILIE
Qualifies for Office while on Sick Bed.—“Dec.
26, 1761: The council present, or a quorum of
them, agreed to Repair to Baillie Wilson
(Elder) his house, In order that he might
accept as first Baillie, and Qualify in Terms
of Law, as he was not able to come abroad by
Distress. Immediately thereafter, the Council
having Repaired to the said Baillie Wilson
(Senior) his house, He in their presence
accepted as first (or Senior) Bailie of the
Burgh, And gave his Oath, De fideli and
Secrecy; And he instantly thereupon Took and
Swore the Oaths of allegiance and abjuration,
and signed the Same with the assurance to his
Majesty King George the Third, in Terms of
Law, to qualify him as a Magistrate and
Councillor of this Burgh.” (Burgh Records)
1762.—MASON
LODGE, MILL PORT, BUILT.—“The fraternity of
Masons in Dunfermline finished the building of
their Lodge, near the Mill Port, early this
year (1762) being the first Mason Lodge built
in the town.” This lodge (top of Bruce
Street, west side) has, for nearly 80 years
been private property, and is, and has been
for a considerably length of time, inhabited
by “a collection of families.” (MS. Note)
BOOKSELLING AND
PRINTING—Gavin Beugo.—An Old Note states that
“Gavin Beugo as early as this period had a
bookshop and small printing press in the
Collier Row, afterwards in the High Street
(east of the Cross) as early as 1762.” He was
therefore the first printer in Dunfermline, so
far as is known.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull, merchant, was
re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 27th
Sept., 1762)
REMOVAL OF A
PART OF THE MONASTERY WALL.—“A great part of
the old Monastry wall, to the east of May
Gate, having been for a long time, a dangerous
ruin, was removed; also another part of the
wall which stood in the way of the proposed
New Street through the Bleachfield,” viz., St.
Margaret Street. (MS. Note)
MONASTERY
STREET.—William Black, “Clerk of the Admiralty
of Dunfermline,” opened up a new street from
the abbey Close to the Church Glebe, top of
Limekilns Road, of which ground he was
proprietor. This street or way was not named
until 1811 when the name of Monastery Street
was conferred on it. The Abbey Close reached
from “the Pends” to the entrance lodge of
Pittencreiff. (MS.) At this time the old
road from the Netherton Bridge, up behind the
houses in Moodie Street, was disused, as also
“the road which branched off from it up the
burn, along in front of the Palace Wall,” on
to the west road on Tower Hill, which was
converted into private property, and the site
of the road obliterated.
BOILING AND
COOKING YARN IN THE KIRKGATE.—“March 7th:
This day the council set the Two little Shops
at the head of the Kirkgate to Andrew Bowie,
weaver here, for one year after Whitsunday
first, at Twelve pounds Scots (Ster.) of Rent,
in order to be a place for boiling and cooking
yearn, &c., to the inhabitants; and this the
council, as an indemnification to the said
Andrew Bowie for the Expence and Trouble he
had been lately at in making the wester shop
proper for the above use by building a vent
therein and furnace, and the council agree to
take all the iron utensils off Andrew Bowie’s
hands at the end of the year at their real
worth and value.” (Burgh Records) These two
little shops stood at the top of the Kirkgate
north-east corner, and were removed when the
present large house was built.
COAL
EXPORTED.—The writer of the Statistical
Account of the Parish, done about this period,
states that the value of coal annually
exported from the parish did not exceed £200.
PITTENCRIEFF
PROPERTY Purchased by Captain Grant.—Captain
Archibald Grant, of the 39th Regiment,
purchased the Pittencrieff Estate, in 1763,
from Colonel Arthur Forbes, for £11,000.
(Burgh Register, 27th May, 1763.)
THE HEAD
WELL.—“18th June, 1763: The Council appoint
the Dean of Gild, John Harley, Deacon Low, and
John Letham, mason, To inspect the head well,
and give orders for the Reparation thereof as
they shall see necessary.” (Burgh Records)
This well was about a mile N.N.E. from the
Cross, and anciently called St. Margaret’s
Well.
DEATH OF ADAM
ROLLAND, ESQ., OF GASK.—He died on 21st July,
1763, aged 57 years, and was interred at
Dunfermline. On the east wall of the north
porch of the church there is a large marble
tablet, having on it a Latin inscription, of
which the following is a free translation:--
“Sacred to
the memory of Adam Rolland of Gask—a man on
every account to be praised, inasmuch as he
was adorned by many virtues; to be beloved for
his piety towards God, love to his country,
benevolence to mankind; to be esteemed for the
integrity of his life, the courtesy of his
manners, and the moderation of his desires;
who regarded his own relations with fatherly,
honest men with brotherly, and all persons
with kindly affection; prudent, faithful, and
diligent in the discharge of public and
private duties; liberal in heart and hand;
careful for the future; at all times above the
cares of fortune. Thus, by the divine will,
he rendered up his spirit to the Creator, and
his ashes to the earth, on the 21st July, in
the year of Salvation 1762, at the age of 57,
leaving to his friends a sad regret of him.”
(Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 489, &c.)
WATER
SCHEME—Town Loch and New Street.—“6th Aug.,
1763: Which day the Clerk laid before the
Council a Scroll of a Contract proposed to be
instantly Entered into ‘twixt Clerk Black and
the Town Relative to bringing in water from
the Town Loch in Pipes, and anent a public
road from the foot of the Street at the Cross,
down thro the Abbey Yeards,” &c. (Burgh
Records)
ST. MARGARET
STREET—Water Scheme, &c.—The Magistrates and
Council obtained liberty from Clerk Black to
bring water from the Town Loch to Dunfermline,
and to open up a new street through the Abbey
Park or Bleachfield. The Grant, of which the
writer has a copy, is entitled, “Contract
Betwixt William Black, Esq., Clerk of the
Admirality of Dunfermline, Proprietor of the
Collier Row and Heugh Mills, Loch Dams, and
Mill Leads, Abbey Parks, &c., and the
Magistrates and Town Council of the Burgh of
Dunfermline, granting power and liberty to
open a new street, and to bring in Water from
the Town Loch or Leads thereof in Pipes to the
Town, for Serving the Inhabitants of the
Burgh.” Dated 7th Sept., 1763. (See Burgh
Charter Chest.) “St. Margaret Street, in
1763, and for many years afterwards, had no
name. In connection with Guildhall Street, it
was sometimes called the New Street, sometimes
the New Road.”
Note, by this
Contract liberty is given to “make a public
street leading down through the Bleachfield
[St. Margaret Street], form the foot of the
New Street [Guild Hall Street], at the Mercate
Cross, to join and connect with the road
lately made by the said William Black, in the
Abbey Close [Monastery Street], which leads
down by the Minister’s Glebe towards the
Netherton and Lime Kilns,” &c. (see An. Dunf.
date 1762); and also “full power and liberty
is given to convey or bring in water from the
Town Loch, or from the Leads thereof, in
pipes, to the town, for serving the
Inhabitants of the Burgh with good and
wholesome water in time coming; and in order
that the said Loch may be a proper
fountain-head for the said purpose, he also
grants full power and liberty to the said town
to heighten and repair the front dykes of the
said Loch in what form and manner they
please,” &c. (See Contract Deed in Charter
Chest of the City.) A copy of the Contract
was printed in 1835, when a further supply of
water was so much wanted. Between the date of
this Contract, 7th September, 1763, and 11th
June, 1768, there are twenty four minutes in
the Burgh Records relative to
difficulties—borrowings of money, disputes,
&c., in connection with the “Water Scheme,”
which, no doubt, was then the “talk of the
town for some years,” and instead of giving
extracts of them, the reader must be referred
to the Burgh Records of 1763-1768.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull, Sen., re-elected
Provost. (Burgh Records, 26th September,
1763)
FIRE
BUCKETS.—“26th Sept.: Which day the fire
buckets were laid before the Council.
Thirteen found to be good; four at the touns
Coalwork as overmans receipts; the officers
say the other one was lost at Alexander
Kilgours kiln when on fire.” (Burgh Rec.)
PRICE OF BUTTER
AT THE TRON MARKET.—An old account notifies
that the price of butter in market was 6d. per
lb. of 22 or 23 oz.
GREAT
DROUGHT.—“There was a great drought and little
or no water to be had anywhere; the dam was
dry; the back burn and the lynn burns were
dried up.” This state of things continued
from July till October, 1763. (MS. Note)
AUGMENTATION OF
PARISH MINISTERS’ STIPENDS.—Much discussion in
the Council, and a great many minutes in the
Burgh Records regarding this matter.
1764.—LITERATURE—Rev. Ralph Erskine’s Works.—“
Sermons and other Practical Works of the late
Reverend and Learned Mr. Ralph Erskine,
Minister of the Gospel, Dunfermline;
consisting of about One Hundred and Thirty
Sermons, besides his Political Pieces; in two
large folio volumes. To which is prefixed a
Short Account of the Author’s Life and
Writings, with the Contents; whereunto is
subjoined a copious Alphabetical Index of the
Principal Matters contained in the whole
Work. ‘The righteous will be had in
everlasting remembrance; by these he being
dead yet speaketh.’ Glasgow: published by
Robert Urie for John Newlands, 1764.” This
work had a rapid and extensive circulation,
and has gone through many editions.
WIDENING OF
CANMORE STREET.—The Town Council purchase from
the proprietors of yards on the north side of
the proposed street several “tail-pieces” of
their yards, in order to make “a wide street”
from this date. “Canmore Street began in
earnest to be formed.” (Burgh Records, March
30th, 1764)
NEW STREETS AND
TOWN-HOUSE—Tax on Ale, &c.—The Town Council
proposed to put a tax of “two pennies on the
pint of ale, in order that they might be
enabled properly to finish the whole New
intended Streets, and build a proper
Town-house, all necessary for the advantage,
policy, and ornament of the Burgh,” &c.
(Burgh Records, 14th April, 1764) These new
streets, since 1811, have been known as Guild
Hall Street, Canmore Street, and St. Margaret
Street.
“THE TOWN LOCH
WATER SCHEME” was abandoned, and the St.
Margaret’s or Head-Well Scheme adopted.
“Great outcry about the dreadful scarcity of
water.” (MS. Notes)
WATER
SCHEME.—The Council appointed a committee of
their number to make up a scheme for “bringing
in water to the town by pipes from the Town
Loch, or Leads, so that they may consider the
same, and give further directions thereanent,
agreeably to the Contract between Clerk Black
and the town,” granted 7th Sept. 1763.
(Burgh Records)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—David Turnbull, sen., merchant,
was elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 1st Oct.
1764)
WATER SCHEME—St.
Margaret’s, or Head Well.—This “Water Scheme”
was adopted in October, 1764, and the work of
cutting the pipe-way from St. Margaret’s (or
Head Well) was commenced. The undertaking was
left to the superintendence of a committee
appointed by the Town Council, the Cuildry,
and the Deacons of the Incorporated Trades,
the water to be conveyed in lead pipes. (See
An. Dunf. date 1765) Head Well (St.
Margaret’s Well) is situated about 1200 yards
north-north-east from the Market Cross of the
burgh.
SEWING
SCHOOL.—An old memorandum states that “Miss
Goodlet opened a Sewing School in a house in
the Cross Wynd,” that it was “extremely well
attended,” that “she had from about thirty to
forth scholars,” and that “some came to her
from Lochgellie, and other distant places.”
(MS. and Newspaper Notice)
PITREAVIE
HOSPITAL.—A process was raised before the
Sheriff-Substitute for the district of
Dunfermline, in name of the Heritors, the
Magistrates, Town Council, and the Kirk
Session, against the Proprietor of Pitreavie,
to oblige him to account for the management of
the Hospital. The Cause afterwards came
before the Court of Session, and that Court,
notwithstanding that in the deed of
mortification, all judges, or ministers, civil
or ecclesiastic, are discharged to meddle
therewith in any sort, found the Patron
accountable, and therefore the Patron or
Proprietor was ordered to render an account of
his intromissions. (Pres. Records; Fernie’s
History. Dunf. p. 48)
THE NUPTIAL BED
OF QUEEN ANN adorning an Ale House in
Dunfermline.—Fernie, in his History of
Dunfermline, states tat about this period
“there was to be seen in the bed-chamber of an
inn at Dunfermline, the nuptial bed of Queen
Ann, which she brought with her from Denmark.
For this piece of royal furniture, the
inn-keeper, Mrs. Walker, a zealous Jacobite,
entertained a very high veneration. Bishop
Pocock, of Ireland, happening to be in
Dunfermline, called on her to see the bed;
after having seen it he offered her fifty
guineas for it, which she refused, telling
him, at the time, that she still retained so
great a reverence for the two royal
personages, whose property it was, and who
slept in it when they resided in Dunfermline,
that all the gold and silver in Ireland was
not fit to buy it.” Some time before her
death she made a present of it to the Earl of
Elgin. It is of curious workmanship, and
ornamented with several grotesque figures,
nearly carved. Adam Smith in his Wealth of
Nations takes notice of this bed; he says—“The
marriage-bed of James the First of Great
Britain, which his Queen brought with her from
Denmark, as a fit present for a Soverign to
make to a Soverign, was, a few years ago, the
ornament of an ale house at Dunfermline.”
Mrs. Walker’s ale house was half way down
Guild Hall Street, right hand side, near the
site of the Music Hall. (See also Histories
of Dunfermline)
1765.—BURGH
ACCOUNTS TO BE KEPT IN ENGLISH MONEY.—“The
Council unanimously Statute and Enact that in
all time coming after this—The Town Treasurer
Accompts shall be drawn out and booked in
Sterline or English money and not in Scots
money, as has been the bygone practice.”
(Burgh Records, 1st May, 1765)
BAKERS AND
BAKING.—At this period “the bakers of
Dunfermline heated their ovens twice a week
only, as loaf bread was not used amongst the
common people.”
PITTENCRIEFF
ESTATE.—George Chalmers, Esq., purchased the
Pittencrieff Estate from Captain Archibald
Grant, of the 39th Regiment, the proprietor,
for £13,500 sterling.
THE DUNFERMLINE
FARMERS’ SOCIETY ESTABLISHED.—Object same as
the “Chicken-Pie Club Society.” (See An.
Dunf. date 1760; also Histories of Dunf.)
NETHERTON
WELLS.—“24th June, 1765: This day there was a
petition given into the Council, signed by
John Reid in name of the Inhabitants of the
Netherton, Craving Liberty to Digg and Build
Two Wells. To which the Council agree and
Grant Liberty Accordingly.” (Burgh Records)
These wells were removed many years ago; they
were on the north side of Broad Street.
WATER SCHEME—The
Reservoir Erected.—“The water scheme was
completed during the summer of 1765, the pipes
being all laid from Head Well to the Old
Mercat [now Douglas Street.] A Reservoir of
large dimensions, which had for some time been
building, was finished in August, 1765, and
thus was finished the St. Margaret’s Well
Water Scheme.” (See Histories of Dunfermline)
PUBLIC
WELLS.—Six public wells ordered to be set up
at the following places, viz., one at the
Tron, one at foot of Rottenrow, one in
Maygate, one in the Horse Market, at foot of
Reservoir Close, one at the top of the Newrow,
in Eastport Street, and one in the New Street
(Guildhall street). (See also the Annals of
Dunfermline, date 1774)
THE TRON TO BE
REMOVED—New Crane to be Erected, &c.—The
Council, upon a petition form sundry of the
Inhabitants, authorize the Water Scheme
Committee “to Remove the present Trone, and
Enlarge and Repair the fish mercate stance
therewith, and to Erect a Cran or Sway at the
North-West Corner of the New built Well for
weighing Goods, and also to provide a Triangle
for the use of the Leidges.” (Burgh Records,
17th July, 1765) This tron well “stood on the
High Street, north side, near the gutter,
opposite the fourth or fifth house from Bruce
Street.”
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—John Wilson, jun., stationer,
elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 30th Sept.,
1765)
CLANDESTINE DRUM
NOTICE REGARDING CERTAIN BANKS.—“2nd Nov.,
1765: Which Day Several members of Council
present Represented to the Council That an
Intimation or advertisement had been published
thro this Town by Tuck of Drumb upon our
October fair day this week, as if from the
merchants, manufacturers, and dealers of the
Burgh, that they would Receive no Notes of any
Bank or Banking Company in payments except
what were Issued by Old and New Banks of
Edinburgh and the three Banks of Glasgow,
known by the Thistle, Ship, and the Glasgow
Arms, And even None of these under Twenty
Shillings Sterline. Further, the said member
Represented That They Apprehended the said
Intimation, instead of doing good, would be
hurtfull to the Traders in the place on
several Accounts, And therefore wanted the
councils serious consideration.—Which being
Considered by the Council, They Unanimously
Declare that the said Advertisement was a
without their knowledge or approbation, and
Therefore Unanimously Disapprove thereof, More
Espicially that many of the Traffickers in
this place have considerable Dealings with
several of the Banks or Banking Companys
pointed against by the Advertisement,
Particularly the british Linen Company, Who
are of Singular Use to them on Many
Occasions.” (Burgh Records)
WEST PORT AND
THE CROSS-CHAMBER.—From the following minute
in the Burgh Records of Nov. 30, 1765, it
would appear that the West Port and its
Cross-Chamber was then in a very ruinous
condition:--“This day the Provost reported to
the Council that certain gentlemen had
complained to him of the unsufficiency of the
Cross-Chamber, and East gavil thereof, above
St. Kathrine’s Wynd, or West Entrie to the
Town and they were afraid to pass that way for
danger of their lives by the fall of the said
cross-chamber.—Which being considered by the
Council, and knowing the complaint to be just,
they order the Procurator fiscall, in name of
the Public, To give in a petition and
complaint the reanent to the Dean of Guild
Court, Craving a visitation thereof, and that
the same may be condemned if found Dangerous,
and to get John Wilson, the proprietor, and
others concerned, called in the said Petition
and Complaint.” (For removal of this old
port, see An. Dunf. date 1780.) This port is
mentioned in one of the Abbey charters under
date 1327. (See An. Dunf. 1327) This port
stood in the middle of St. Catherine’s Wynd,
on the spot where the Burgh Causeway
terminates.
PROPOSED NEW
BRIDGE—TOLBOOTH. &c.—A Minute of the Burgh
Records, of date 16th November, 1765, notifies
that the Council had received a letter from
Mr. George Chalmers, of Pittencrieff,
containing proposals for “improving the Street
and building a New Bridge over the Tower Burn,
in a line with the High Street, and condemning
the old road via tower hill, as also the old
tolbooth,” and for its removal. This is the
first notice of Mr. Chalmer’s intention or
offer to build the bridge. “It took the Town
Council three years and a half deliberating
before they could make up their minds to
comply with Mr. Chalmer’s wishes; for it was
not until early in May, 1769, that the Council
came to a final and legal understanding with
him.” Between 16th Nov. 1765, and 3rd May,
1769, there were no less than twenty-four
meetings of the Council about the matter.
(See An. Dunf. dates 1769, 1771, 1795, 1876,
1877; also the Histories of Dunfermline)
1766.—PART OF
THE RUINS OF THE LADY CHAPEL
REMOVED.—According to an old MS., part of the
ruins of the old “Ladie Chaple” were removed,
in order to make room for the new
burying-place of the Elgin family—(See the two
following articles). It was in this locality
that the finds of the Stone-Coffin, Female
Skeleton, Iron Chest, Cup and Coins were
found.
STONE
COFFIN—FEMALE SKELETON, &c., DISCOVERED.—The
Scot Magazine of July, 1766, contains the
following notice:--“About the middle of May
(preceding), as some labourers were digging in
the spot where the east part of the Church
stood, they discovered a human body entire,
which appeared to be that of a female. It was
enclosed in a stone coffin, covered with three
flag stones, on which could easily be
discovered a crucifix, with some other figures
or letters, so much defaced as not to be
understood. Several gentlemen of the
neighbourhood have visited this curiosity,
and, from various circumstances, have reason
to believe it to be the body of Queen
Margaret, who was buried at Dunfermline, and
who was afterwards canonized, and known by the
name of St. Margaret.” The country
antiquaries of 1766 were young in the “science
of archeology.” Instead of the body being
that of St. Margaret, it is more likely to
have been that of Elizabeth the Queen, consort
of King Robert the Bruce, because the site
which was then being prepared as a place of
sepulture for the Elgin Family, was contiguous
to Elizabeth’s grave.
IRON CHEST,
SILVER CUP, AND SILVER DUG OUT near the site
of the Old High Alter.—The Scots Magazine of
the same month and year, also mentions that
the same time, April or May, 1766, an iron
chest was dug up containing a number of very
ancient Danish Silver Coins, and in the
beginning of July, 1766, a silver cup was also
dug up with double handles, supposed by some
antiquaries to be upwards of 1300 years old.
These were all found in the same locality as
the skeleton. (See also An. Dunf. date 1759.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—John Wilson, junior, stationer,
was re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 29th
Sept., 1766.)
BUFFIES-BRAE
BRIDGE BUILT.—This bridge was built in 1766;
near the top of the arch of the bridge, north
side, there is a “date stane,” having on it
“1766”. Previous to this year the burn was
crossed by means of a few planks laid over the
stream, and by stepping-stones. This bridge
is at least twelve feet too narrow, and it is
very inconvenient for traffic.
NEW
TOWN—“STAFF-MAN, HIS LIVERY,” &c.—“8th Nov.,
1766: The Council approved of the Committee’s
agreeing with William Anderson as Staff man to
their Burgh. By which agreement he is to have
a free house from the Toun, Bull’s-hole being
at present taken from the Mess. Scotland for
the End at Six pounds Scots of Rent Yearly, of
yearly fee, a New Coat, a Bonnet, Two new
shifts, and some other Necessaries for his
Back and Bed. And the Council recommends to
the said William Anderson to be faithful in
his office, and particularly, to keep the Town
clear of Stardy Beggars and Vagrants—and to
obey his masters in all lawful orders.”
(Burgh Records)
WATER.—Notwithstanding the large supply of
water from St. Margaret’s Well, a great
scarcity of water is still felt, especially in
time of drought.
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