Items from local newspapers can bring to life events of long
ago. During my research into the fisherfolk of Kincardineshire I
came across many such articles. The discovery of your distant ancestors
in this way is a thrill that you never forget. Suddenly its no
longer just a story - its part of your history. Check out the
following newspaper pages. Are your relatives mentioned?
Only one way to find out, start reading!
The Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday, May 31, 1837
Stonehaven - We regret to state that a boat belonging to this
place, engaged in taking an anchor to the Skateraw, was, when off the
Garron Point, overtaken by a heavy squall of wind, and instantly upset,
whereby three men - the whole crew - met a watery grave.
Melancholy Accidents - Two children, one in Chapel Street, and the
other in College Street, were burned to death, on Thursday evening. Both
children had been left alone at the same hour, and, on the return of the
mothers, the one met her daughter, aged seven, all in flames, and the
other saw the melancholy spectacle of her child, of only twenty months'
old lying on the floor, almost lifeless. Both the children were carried
to the Infirmary, where they died about the same time.
On Sunday evening, the body of a boy, of the name of Hendry, about
six years of age, was taken out of the river Dee, at the place known by
the name of "The Kettle." The body appeared to have been but a
short time in the water, and, being still warm, the means of
resuscitation were used, but unfortunately in vain. It is supposed that
the boy had been wading in the water, and had been carried down by the
stream.
We understand that a neat piece of ground, in connection with John
Knox's Church and Parish, has been set apart for a burying ground. On
Wednesday last, the first interment took place. Such an occasion, always
interesting, is peculiarly so when it forms the commencement of such an
undertaking in immediate connection with a newly erected Church and
Parish. From the retirement of the spot, and the taste displayed in
laying out the ground, which we believe is from the plan of Mr Fraser,
Architect, we do not hesitate to say that it is a most eligible
situation for a burying ground. It will prove a great advantage to that
parish and neighbourhood.
The King's Birthday - Monday last, being the day on which his
Majesty's Birth day was kept, was observed here with the usual
demonstrations of public rejoicing. In the evening, there was the
customary display of popular loyalty, in the shape of squibs, crackers,
and sky-rockets. The public authorities, however, very properly, denied
it imprudent to permit a bonfire to be kindled in Castle Street, in
consequence of the immediate vicinity of the wooden railings surrounding
the various buildings, now in progress, in that quarter. Those fences
would doubtless, have been speedily put in requisition by the popular
zeal, regardless of the damage which property might have thereby
sustained. Some idle boys, however, whose nascent loyalty overstepped
the limits of discretion, resolved to take forcible possession of a
boat, and sundry tar-barrels, with which they were proceeding, with all
diligence, to kindle a bonfire, when their career was checked by the
interference of the Police. This, of course, was deemed by the populace
an untoward invasion of the liberty of the lieges, and so they thought
proper to vent their indignation by breaking a considerable number of
panes of glass in the Town-House. With the assistance, however, of
several special constables, the officers of Police succeeded in speedily
dispersing the crowd, - no irregularities having been committed, except
the above stated.
Police Court - Yesterday, the several individuals who were
apprehended as connected with the disturbance in the evening of the
King's Birth Day, were brought before Baillies Lumsden and Simpson,
charged by the Procurator Fiscal with rioting, and a breach of the
peace. Evidence was led at great length, showing the relative degrees of
culpability of the different parties, where the following sentences were
passed, viz., - William Meldrum and William Booth, each 40 days solitary
imprisonment in Gaol: Andrew Adam and George Begg, each 30 days solitary
confinement in Gaol: Alexander Stewart, William Bannerman, and John
Mackenzie, to find security to keep the peace for six months. The others
were dismissed with suitable admonitions. Baillie Lumsden, in awarding
their sentences, animadverted on the improper conduct of the parties,
and distinctly impressed on all, that, though parties might not be
actively engaged in such proceedings, they were yet, in law, equally
culpable with those who were, if they remained after being warned to
depart by the proper officers - a caution which, we trust, will, on
future occasions, be duly attended to.
