University life

1570, St. Andrews: James Melville, who has just become a student at the University here, comments on his studies: "..I war teached to handle the bow for archerie, the glubb for goff, the batons for fencing."

Lawyer tries to flee country

1592: George Kerr, doctor of laws in Haddington, was recently excommunicated by the parish minister, for not abstaining from popish practices after having been duly warned to do so. As a result he fled to Ayr and went on board a vessel lying at Cumbrae, intending to leave the country, but Rev. Andrew Knox of Paisley Abbey heard of this and rushed to the ship with 24 men, took Mr. Kerr back to Ayr and delivered him and his servant to Lord Ross on suspicion of being on a treasonable mission. Papers supporting this were later discovered on board.

Harbour reports good profits

1635: Aberdeen harbour remains busy and profitable. A recent visitor was William Gourlay, skipper in Kinghorn, who brought in 17 lasts of goods from Leith (paying 9 shillings per last for impost and cranage). He has now sailed for Flanders with 20 sacks of plaiding, paying a further nine pounds in taxes.

Tragic accident

December,1670: Montrose: Helen Beattie has been killed in an accident at her home. She apparently was going up her stair at night, fell backward, and died immediately. Her burial, including use of the mortcloth and the bells, came to £6-3-4d Scots.

Men exiled

Circa 1671:After depositions were taken concerning the recent tumult at Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, and the great injury done to the minister there, the Privy Council has found James Watson, James Junkein, John Hatrik and John Sinclar guilty of the said tumult and of hounding dogs at the said minister..." the Lords of the Privy Council do therefore ordain the persons forsaid to be carried to the plantations in America with the first occasion, and do discharge them to return to this Kingdom under the pain of death; and appoints the said persons to be be delivered to Sir George Maxwell to be carried in a ship belonging to him and his copartners bounding for the said plantations, he giving bond to land them safely...under the pain of 1,000 merks for ilk (each) one of the said persons."

Covenanter lost at sea

1679: James Lilburn, exiled Covenanter, has drowned off Orkney.

Covenanter returns

September, 1685: Further to our earlier report on William Hanna or Hannay, Covenanter, of Tundergarth in the Borders, The High Court of Justiciary on 5th September declared that the said William Hanna, prisoner at Dumfries and Leith, is to be transported to East New Jersey. However, we understand from our local correspondent that Mr. Hanna evaded his transportation by handing over the sum of 5,000 Scots merks, and was allowed to return home.

River death

May 1741: Woman swept to her death: Isabel Petrie, who lived in Brechin, was drowned on the 24th while attempting to gather dilse at the mouth of the River Southesk.

Manse in disrepair

February 1754: It is reported in the minutes of the Barons of Exchequer that petition has been made by Mr. James Ogilvie, minister of the kirk at Ordiequhill, as to repairs of the manse, and craving that as the whole parish formerly belonged to the late Sir William Gordon of Park, attainted of High Treason, and now to the Crown, warrant might be granted that Thomas Innes of Muiryfold, factor of the estate, should pay out of the said estate the sum of £82-0s-6d for executing such repairs.

Queen Victoria's visit

7th September 1848: Queen Victoria makes a Royal Visit to Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Journal newspaper publishes on the day prior to that some accounts of previous visits by royalty to the city, written by Mr. John Ramsay.

Fossil grove found

1887: Glasgow: An amazing find has been made of a complete fossil grove of trees within an old quarry in the grounds of Lower Balshagray, north of Dumbarton Road near Whiteinch and Partick. The discovery came to light when the ground was taken over by the Partick & Whiteinch Commissioners, to construct a park to be known as Victoria Park. The authorities have decided to carefully excavate the stumps and preserve them in situ for future generations by building a glass roofed shelter over the grove.

The Tennant family

August, 1911: This month's issue of "Chambers's Journal" contains an article on the family who own Tennants of St. Rollox, the great chemical works in Glasgow. The family is descended from John Tennant, occupant of the small farm of Glenconner in the parish of Ochiltree, an intimate friend of the poet Robert Burns.

Schoolmaster dies

Feb 7th, 1912: Mr. James Sutor, M.A., schoolmaster, Forres, whose tragic death was recorded on Saturday, was the eldest son of the late Rev. John A. Sutor, who for the long period of 34 years held the position of headmaster of Fraserburgh Public School. Mr. Sutor graduated at Aberdeen University, and for the past few years he was first assistant master at Forres. A peculiarly pathetic circumstance is the fact that his brother, ex-lieutenant Allan Sutor, the only male member of the family meantime in this country, is completing a term of six weeks imprisonment imposed upon him in connection with the War Office window-breaking incident.

In the cream

April 20th, 1912: The valuable consignment of 37 milk record Ayrshire cattle that was recently shipped from Glasgow to Natal is in charge of Mr. Edward Budge, son of Mr. James Budge, Barnyards, Wick, who has been engaged to join the staff of the Natal Creamery Company and act as milk tester.

Fisherman's bravery rewarded

April 20th, 1912: On Thursday the Committee of the Royal Humane Society awarded its bronze medal to William Cumming, fisherman, Embo, Sutherland, for his gallantry on February 21. The crew of the fishing boat "Pearl" had shot their nets, and when anchoring, one of the crew, John Rose, fell overboard and drifted out of reach of the rope which was thrown. Cumming swam to his help, and in spite of his struggles kept him afloat till they were picked up some 15 minutes later, both much exhausted.

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 Return to home page.

Copyright G. Johnson, 1996