New Wonder Drug

 3,000 B.C.: Skara Brae, Orkney: The latest wonder drug to come into fashion is the puffball fungi -to be later named Bovista Nigrescens. The inner tissue of the puffball resembles what later ages will call cotton wool. When applied to minor cuts, it acts as a blood-clotting agent. [The outer skins of puffballs were found in large numbers here, when excavated in modern times.]

Sailor Enslaved

 June 1627: John Sturrock, mariner, presently detained in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh for debt, has appealed to the Privy Council of Scotland. He claims that he had been unable to attend to his creditors, as he had been taken captive as a slave by the Turks for two years, then taken captive by the Spaniards for a further year. When he had freed himself he came home intebnding to sell his land and pay his creditors, but they took advantage of him and had him thrown into the Tolbooth. He asks for his creditors, Thomas Scott, merchant Burgess of Dundee, Thomas Wychtman in Ballow, and John Burn, maltman in Leith, Mungo Carmichael, tailor in Leith, and the deceased William Cuthill, tailor in Leith, George Rois, merchant Burgess of Edinburgh, to be forced to allow him time to sell his property.

Montrose trader wrecked

 1674: A trading vessel from Montrose was lost during a violent storm in the North Sea on the 18th November 1674. Skipper James Howison's ship, richly loaded for a trading venture to Hooland, and carrying merchants from Montrose, was "furiously driven upon the coast of Holland by a most violent storm, where all were immersed in the merciless waves of the sea," according to the recorder of the Montrose Book of the Dead.

Death threat by soldiers

 1682: William Hannay of Tundergarth in the Borders was seized by soldiers and forced to march with them for some days, although he was suffering from ague. Passing a spot where a Covenanter had been shot, they laid him on the grave and threatened to kill him if he did not take the Oath of Supremacy. He refused point blank but was not killed.

Soldier drowned

 Jan 1709: Dunbartonshire: Andrew Spiers, soldier, perished in the water of the River Leven on the 11th, and was buried on the 13th January.

Honour for peddlar

 July 1730: Dunbar Burgh: John Broun, peddlar, who married Elizabeth Muir, lawful daughter of the deceased James Muir, Burgess of this Burgh, in her pure virginity,...was...admitted Burgess and freeman of the Burgh.

Pagan guisers

 1734: Three men of Embo village, on the Dornoch Firth, have been fined for using anti-Christian rhymes as guisers on New Year's Eve.

Brechin man found dead

 1741: David Taylor, who lived in the Cottown of Arrat in the parish of Brechin, died in a barn of the Farmhouse of Higham, Craig parish by Montrose, on 5th May 1741.

Weather causes emigration to US

 October 1782: The crop at Wick, Caithness, afforded a most melancholy spectacle, being while quite green, covered with frost and snow at the beginning of the month. Some families, who were most reduced by the crop failure, went to Lanark for employment at the cotton manufactures there, but not meeting with the success they expected, were obliged to return or starve. A few emigrated to America.

Tree Vandalism

 December 1786:Aberdeen [advertisement] "Whereas...many tresspasses have lately been committed in some parts of the County of Aberdeen, by wilfully and maliciously cutting down and destroying young, green and growing trees, and entering parks and plantations without the consent of the owners:[there follows a list of penalties]...And further, by Act of Parliament, "All tenants, subtenants, cottars and others are ordained to herd their horses, nolt, sheep and other beasts the whole year, as well winter as summer, and keep them from all inclosed or parked ground, and from woods and hedges; and masters are liable for their family and servants...as the Justices of Peace are determined to put these Laws in full execution, to prevent such transgressions in all time coming.
[and dinna say ye wisna telt!]

Tears in Kirk

 1843: Cromarty Kirk,[Cromarty, on the eastern edge of the Black Isle] where many of poorer section of the congregation sat on their own stools: A few days after the Disruption Assembly, when the Free Kirk broke away from the established church, at seat-letting time, the sub-factor waited in the kirk alone for some hours. Then all the poor bodies...came to take away their stools, many of them in tears.

Fees for new school

 August 1876: Greenock, Renfrewshire: At the opening of the new Belville Street school, built at a cost of 10,320 pounds and 16 shillings, ex-Provost Morton, Chairman of the School Board, announced that the new school would accomodate 752 scholars, and fees would be on a scale between 8d and 2 shillings. A wish was expressed that the children should be taught "useful rather than ornamented sewed work", and the pupils were urged to cultivate habits of cleanliness and good manners.

Schooner missing

 February 1877: It is reported that the Banffshire schooner Quercus of Cullen, 53 tons register, built in 1861, is missing. Some of the crew belonged to Portsoy, and the rest to Sandend.

New 1888 Almanack

 Jan. 1888: The Brechin Almanack and Directory has just come to hand. The plan of the work is admirable, and the fulness of the information given makes it a first-class guide to Brechin men and institutions. The epitome of local events for 1887 will be useful for reference, and the genealogy of the Dalhousie family will be prized. The get-up of the work is faultless, and reflects credit on the publishers, Messrs Black & Johnston, Brechin. The price is only one penny.

Gold find

 October 1899: The other day Mr. William Copeland, while emptying manure on the farm of Mains of Usan, Angus, discovered a gold chain of massive design with a handsome stone attached. The chain and stone are value for about 6 pounds. The manure came from Glasgow.

New Steamer ashore

 September 1899: The steamer Harlaw, of Aberdeen, has gone ashore in the Pentland Firth while on her trial run.

Swimming champion at Arbroath Gala

 September 1900: The third annual swimming gala under the auspices of the St. Thomas Swimming Club, Arbroath, was held in the harbour at Arbroath on Saturday afternoon. The weather was ideal for an outdoor display, and a large crowd was present. The principal feature of the programme was the appearance of Miss Mary Livingstone, the lady champion swimmer of Scotland.

Snuff story

 August 1902: Cathcart, near Glasgow: David Lindsay, the late owner of the snuff mill, used to entertain his friends with reminiscences of old days when Cathcart was a clachan and Mount Florida and Crosshill were not; when an omnibus ran twice daily between Glasgow and Busby, serving Cathcart en route.

Couple in Court

 June 1905: Wigton: At a special Sheriff Court held on Saturday last - Hon. Sheriff-substitute Dr. Shaw presiding - John Williamson, mat-maker, of no fixed residence, and Margaret Low or Williamson, his wife, were charged with having on 23rd June, in the village of Mochram, committed a breach of the peace. They pleaded guilty.

Inventor dies

 August 1907: Stranraer: We regret to announce the death of Mr. James Vernon, cabinetmaker, Albert Street, on Wednesday last. Deceased was the inventor of the patent "Vernon's Noiseless Ware", much used aboard ship....Latterly he brought out a patent horse-shoe and other inventions. he is survived by a grown-up family of daughters.

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of our "oldnewspaper". Contributions are welcome for future issues, but please note that they must all be Scottish news items, and not less than about 70 years old (for copyright reasons). They may be emailed to gordon@kinhelp.co.uk

Copyright G. Johnson, 1996