Containing miscellaneous papers connected with the county the Black
Book of Kincardineshire is a rare
collection of accounts dating back to the 17th century which have never been surpassed.
I want to concentrate here on the documented criminal
trials within those pages. They are a wonderful source of names, places
and events.
Are your ancestors among those described. Dare you
look?....
17 March 1698
William Clark at Nether Mill of Balmain, Isobel
Dunbar his spouse, Jane Clark their daughter, John Bruce, James
Aitkenhead, Elspet Hampton, and Isobel Walker their servants: Janet
Baine at the said mill, Thomas Greig her son: David Croll in Fettercairn,
Elspet Clerk his spouse, Euphemia Croll their daughter: Alexander Scott
in Harvistoune-muir, Euphemia Clark his spouse, Margaret Cook, and Janet
Gentleman their servants: and Mr David Clark, incumbent at the Kirk of
Fettercairn, summoned to answer for their unchristian, illegal, and
masterful troubling and molesting Mr Francis Melvill, minister of
Arbuthnott, upon the 13th February last, in the Kirkyard of Fettercairn,
being the Sabbath day, when he was bussied about divine service and
declaring the said Kirk of Fettercairn vacant. And putting violent hands
on the said Mr Francis, beating and blooding him with stones, rending
his clothes, and keeping up by themselves and others in their names, of
their causing commanding and ratihabition of the keys of the said Kirk
door, and committing wicked insolencies by word and deed in proud and
manifest contempt of the Laws of the Kingdom made in the conterar. The
saids Isobel Dunbar, Jane Clark, John Bruce, Alexander Aikenhead, Elspet
Hampton, Isobel Walker, Janet Baine, Thomas Greig, Elspet Clerk, Euphan
Croll, Euphan Clark, Margaret Cook, and Janet Gentleman not compearing
were amertiate in poenam contumatice, ilk one of them, in the sum
of ten pound scots: And also the said Elpset Hampton, Isobel Walker,
Janet Baine, Thomas Greig, Margaret Cook and Janet Gentleman, being
summoned and not compearing were declared fugitives and their goods
escheat: And the haill remanent Defenders also being again summoned, and
deponing in the said matter, by virtue of the Sheriff's Interlocutor,
and the matter being continued to this day the Sheriff absolved the said
William Clark, Isobel Dunbar, Jane Clark, John Bruce, James Aitkenhead,
David Croll, Elizabeth Clark, Euphan Croll and Alexander Scott, from the
crime libelled of putting violent hands upon the said Francis Melville,
on the said Sabbath-day, or then troubling or molesting him or hounding
out any person against him: And also he amertiated and fined the said
William Clark and Alexander Scott, ilk one of them, in the sum of fifty
pounds Scots money for harbouring and resetting the persons after named,
after they had committed the foresaid riot; And ordained the said
William Clark with all diligence to apprehend and bring before the
Sheriff the said Elspet Hampton, and Isobel Walker, his servants, Janet
Baine his subtenant, and her son: And ordained the said Alexander Scott
to apprehend and bring to him the said Margaret Cook, and Janet
Gentleman, his servants, under the pain of fifty pound for each of them:
The Sheriff likewise absolved the said Mr David Clark from troubling and
molesting the said Mr Melville in manner libelled, and yet,
nevertheless, amertiated and fined him and the said William Clark, and
his father for his interest, he being in family with him, in the sum of
fifty pounds Scots, for keeping up the keys of the said Kirk door.
7 April 1698
Margaret Thow in Knowgreens, summoned to underly
the law for spoiling, robing, and away-taking a pirn, and breaking a
lint wheel belonging to Isobel Carnegie in Balmanno. Failed to appear -
was declared fugitive.
7 June 1698
George Ker in Easter Migrie in Cromar, apprehended
with the fang, and confessed that he did steal from John Blews in
Johnshaven, three killings; and went into the barn of John Greig there,
by creeping under the back door, and did steal a peck and a half of
pease. Ordained to be scourged through the town - Banished the shire,
and his goods escheat.
8 July 1698
John Cowie in Faskie, summoned to underly the law,
for stealing, cutting, and away-taking, under cloud of night, several
young trees out of the plantation of Faskie, belonging to the Laird of
Balmain: And for stealing a certain quantity of bear belonging to the
Laird of Thornton. Failed to appear - was declared a fugitive, and all
his moveable goods declared to be escheat.
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