​Compeared Janet Gibb unmarried residing in Old Aberdeen, confessing that she had brought forth a child in uncleanness, eleven weeks ago, and accusing William Watson an unmarried man formerly gardener at Causewayend & now in Yorkshire as the father. She at the same time produced a certificate of having been thrice proclaimed in the Church of Old Machar in the month of August last in order to marriage, and stated that the same week in which they were to have been married, William Watson absconded. The elders stated that they were partly acquainted with this case and that they believed the statement now made by Janet Gibb, and that in fact the only doubt they entertained on the subject was whether in the eye of the Law, the man was not considered as her husband. The elders reported favourably in other respects of the woman and the Kirk Session resolved to restore her to Church privileges. She was accordingly admonished and dismissed from censure.

Notanda generalia
or
Directions for keeping a church session book methodicall & in good order

Primo. Let all things be keeped in dependence either by reporting new diligence, or by removing the appointment or continuing the same, or delaying it till such time as shall be convenient, or limiting the time which after follows in the minutes, or laying it aside till further consideration, so that whatever matters comes first in the minutes, let it be either discussed, delayed, continued, referred, recommended or determined. Then afterwards new matters & purposes as they come in the minutes. So keeping up the threed of affairs, it shall cause the session records to be more easie, pleasant, profitable and their conclusions to be more readily & easily found outt.

2. Wherever any session act is made, let it be marked in majusculis and a rational narrative made before it for ane introduction shewing the cause of it.

3. Let the day of the month when the Session is kept be still mentioned.

4. As the sederunt is marked, so let excuses for absents be inserted.

5. Let there be a good margin left in the book in which some of the principall purposes or acts contained in the book may be inserted and be carefull that no blanks blotts or interlinings be in the book, and take a care to page the book exactlie.

​6. Give the reason when no session is keeped.

​At Rain, May 10th 1705
The said day the Members of the united presbytrie of Garioch and Alford did meet for the ordination of Mr Walter Turing probationer, and the Congregation being mett Mr William Garioch minister of Kennethmont did preach on text John ch 5 v 35 and after sermon the said Members of the united presbetrie above written did solemnly ordain and admit the foresaid Mr Walter Turing minister of this parish by prayer and imposition of hands and gave him the right hand of fellowship to take part in them in the work of the Ministry. Collected ten shill[ings]. The action was closed wt prayer and singing of psalms.
May 13th [1705]
The minister came to the church to preach but got no access by reason that Patrick Chalmers late incumbent at the Kirk of Boyndie had contrary to law possessed the church and guarded the door by his friends so that the minister was necessitated to go to the schoolhouse, and there after a Congregation met preached on Rom[ans] Ch[apter] 8 V[erse] 7. Coll[ected] four shill[ings]

reported for speaking against the government, describing parliament as a pack of devils and rebels for stating that all who support William should renounce the name of Protestant and assume that of rebel

​At Carriden Church, Sabbath Aprile 9th 1710
The which day the Session taking it into their serious consideratione the many abounding sins and iniquities of the land amongst persones of all ranks, but in particular the sins and iniquities that reigne and rage in this congregatione, breaking forth in adulteries, fornications, lieing, barbyteing, evill-speaking and calumniating, all which are weightie causes of God’s wrath against many in this place, the sad symptoms whereof many have been exposed unto, by being lately laid open to thee rage and crueltie of a wicked enemie, by whom they have suffered the loss of their goods. But which is more sad and bitter, that some persons both formerlie and within these few days have been suddenlie and surprisinglie lost in coall pits to the sad discomfort of all concerned. Upon all which, the Session thought it their duty to set apart a day of fasting and humiliation upon attempt of the forementioned sins, for which the Lord seems to wryte bitter things against us, and did appoint intimation to be given this day that Thursday next the 28th instant is the day appointed for this effect.

Dalziel, 9th July 1820

​[The Session] proceeded to take under their consideration the case of John Weir, Weaver in Motherwell, Precentor in the Church, who had been guilty of beating his wife in a shameful manner and in conducting himself towards his whole family so as to occasion their separation from him. The Session were of opinion that there must have been some irregular behaviour on the part of his wife or family before he would have acted in the manner aforesaid. They therefore unanimously resolved to cite the said John Weir and his wife before them, in order to acquaint them that they are excluded from sealing ordinances till they give evidence of repentance by conducting themselves in a quiet and Christian manner.

In the mean time, they discharge the said John Weir from the office of Precentor in the church. The officer was ordered to cite John Weir and his wife to appear before the session on Wednesday the 19th curr[en]t.

19th [July 1820]
​
Compeared John Weir and Agnes Watson his wife, agreeably to citation. In conformity with the resolution entered into at last meeting of Session, the Session informed the said John Weir and Agnes Watson that in consequence of what had happened they were excluded from sealing ordinances till they gave some evidence of repentance, and of living together in a quiet and Christian manner. The Session at the same time told them that they would receive notice when to appear before them in order to be absolved from scandal. Agnes Watson solemnly declared that she entertained no suspicions of her husband John Weir having had a criminal connexion with Margaret Stewart, wife of John Bond, Labourer, Motherwell.

10th September 1820

Appeared John Weir Weaver in Motherwell and craved to be absolved from the scandal under which he was lying on account of irregular conduct towards his Wife and Family. The Session understanding that the said John Weir had been conducting himself regularly towards his Wife an Family, and thereby giving evidence of repentance, agreed to grant the same. The said John Weir was accordingly rebuked by the Moderator, was exhorted to walk as becometh a Christian, and was absolved from the scandal under which he was lying.

​Closed with prayer.

13th [September 1820]
​
The Session granted a certificate to John Weir.

26th [February 1821]
​
Appeared Agnes Watson wife of John Weir Weaver Motherwell and was absolved from Scandal.

July 17th 1716
At the meeting yesterday the minister said he had a matter of consequence to bring up. This proves to be the case of Robert Wilson who is superseded as Session Clerk by Wm Taylor. The following is then read in the presence of Wilson.
Articles of Complaint and Information to the Session of Kilrenny by Mr Alexander Anderson Minister against Mr Robert Wilson Present Schoolmaster there.

It is of verity that when the late Earl of Mar his Order for raising a General Cess imposed upon this province came to the said Mr Wilson’s hand about the beginning of October last, he went through the parish on the Monday thereafter and intimated the Rebellion order to the Heritors and Tenants.

2nd. That when Strathmore passed by Kilrenny with his party upon the second or third Sabbath of the said month of October on the way from Crail to Auchertador [Auchterarder?] Mr Wilson was standing on the highway to meet with them he came in messenger from the Rebels to the Minister’s house and called him out to speak with Strathmore and these that were in company with him. As also that in the very time the said Strathmore and others were urging and threating the minister to desist praying in publick for our only Rightful Sovereign King George he (Mr Wilson) spoke to the minister pretty audibly saying “Sir Leith and Edinburgh were taken in by the Highlanders yester night adding that they viz the Rebels present had got certain information of it.” This lying and unseasonable newss in such adjuncture of time the minister could construct to be nothing but a wicked design in Mr Wilson to put him to confession and cause his betray himself into a Compliance with the Rebels demand and contrary to his conscience and duty.

3rd. That the said Mr Robert Wilson went along with the Rebels and attended them through the several towns upon the coast side, when and where they proclaimed the Pretender as King of Britian [sic] with sound of trumpet. This was on the seventh day of October last.

4th. That the said Mr Robert Wilson used to keep company and converse with the Rebels when they quartered in this country particularly with Stonniwood and the officers of his party, which lay at Anstruther. In November and December last, about which time he was frequently with the foresaid persons in Mr Le Blance’s house, where they met ordinarily and had their consultations with people that favoured their interest. As also that the said Mr Wilson did upon a Sabbath in December last at night sit in his schoolhouse with two or three of the Rebels of which George St Clair late Gager at Anstruther was one, the whole time that the minister was preaching to a good number of the people of the parish in Rennihils house. They sent the said Mr Wilson’s servant maid twice to a change house in the town for ale. The people as they came to and went from the service saw the horses saddled having pistols and other furniture of that kind upon them standing at Mr Wilson’s door as they did also the light burning in the school where they were drinking. The congregation’s wanting publick workshop that day is no small aggravation of Mr Wilson’s misspending and profaning the Sabbath evening – as has been said especially when he might have had sermon at his own door.

Thereafter the said articles were again read one by one and Mr Wilson interrogated upon them severally.

As to the first article he answered that he owned the charge laid against him therein but alleged that he did it i.e. intimated the Rebels’ order from the Cross for tenants’ safety.

To which answer the minister replied that this was a most groundless pretence for the intimating of the foresaid order was so far from being a favour or kindness that it was manifest a prejudice and injury done both to the masters and tenants being that it was a direct method to expose them to the fury of the Rebels in case of deficiency of payment in regard that after the foresaid order was intimated to them they could no more plead ignorance of the said order as an excuse for not giving obedience to it. Beside the minister desired the Session to notice that Mr Wilson his making intimation of this order for the Cess as it was plainly obedience given and service done to the Pretender and to the Rebels acting in his name and for his interest contrary to his duty so it behoved to be altogether voluntary on his part and consequently no obscure evidence of his affection and good wishes to the Jacobite cause of which he has all along been much suspected. In as much as it was more than what he was obliged to do even by the order itself viz to publish it after the manner he did for the order required no more of him nor of any precentor to whom it was directed but to read from the Lettrine on such a Sabbath as determined in the paper.

And Mr Wilson has a sufficient excuse to plead for himself for not reading it to the parish in the church because that on that very day it should have been intimated according to the order the congregation was abruptly dissolved before divine worship was ended by the noise of the Rebels being in the town.

As to the 2nd articles Mr Wilson acknowledged that he was standing at the South Yairds which are close upon the High Road that Sabbath when Strathmore passed by with his men and confessed that he came in to the minister’s house with the message mentioned in the information. But he alleges that he spoke these words which are charged against him as culpable in this article of the complaint after the Rebels were gone away from the place and at the same time denied that he spoke them credibly or so as any might hear them but the Minister himself to whom they were directed.

To this answer the minister replied that as we was surer of nothing than that Mr Wilson spoke the foresaid words to him when they were both standing with the Rebels so he remembers perfectly well that he came off abruptly from the Rebels and left Mr Wilson with him and that he came straight home alone and spoke to nobody by the way till he came to his own yaird where finding some of the Elders particularly Bailie Peacock he told them what had passed between himself and the Rebels and at the same time gave them account as he said to Rennihill and several others that same night and next day of the villainous news which Mr Robert told him before Strathmore as he minds he then called it. The Minister further added that he thought the answer did pretty sufficiently confute it for if Mr Wilson had told him the news of Edinburgh being taken after the Rebels were gone, there was not the least reason for whispering it as he positively asserts.

As to the 3rd Article Mr Wilson answered that he went through Cellardyke and Anstruther indeed with the Rebels that day they proclaimed the Pretender but not with a design to attend them.

The minister did not reply but referred it to the Session, Mr Wilson insisted and was then removed when on being closeted alone it was agreed to leave the whole matter to the Pres.

[Anstruther Easter Kirk Session minutes, NRS Ref CH2/625/37 p. 22-25]

An action between an English ship and vessels of the Barbary Corsairs [1]

A communication from the Privy Council being read for a voluntary contribution for the relief of Robert Williamson skipper in Montross [Montrose] and the rest of his company captives with the Turks in Algiers, the Session ordains a collection to be made through the several houses of the Parish & intimation publickly to be made before the collection thereof.

October 22 1678
The Session desires those that were named to gather the collection for the Prisoners with the Turks to go about it with all diligence.

December 8 1678
The Session appoints Mr James Brown to deliver to John Knox in Borrowstounness [Bo'ness] Factor constitute for receiving the Voluntary Contribution for Robert Williamson skipper in Montross & his company Captives with the Turks, that sum which was collected for them in this Parish, being £24-00-00.

XXXV. In the Case of an illegitimate Child it shall not be lawful for the Registrar to enter the Name of any Person as the Father of such Child, unless at the joint Request of the Mother and of the Person acknowledging himself to be the Father of such Child, and who shall in such Case sign the Register as Informant along with the Mother: Provided always, that when the Paternity of any illegitimate Child has been found by Decree of any competent Court, the Clerk of Court shall, within Ten Days after the Date of such Decree, send by Post to the Registrar. of the Parish in which the Father is or was last domiciled, or in which the Birth shall have been registered, Notice of the Import of such Decree in the Form of the Schedule (F.) to this Act annexed, or to the like Effect, under a Penalty not exceeding Forty Shillings in case of Failure; and on Receipt of such Notice the Registrar shall add to the Entry of the Birth of such Child in the Register the Name of the Father and the Word "Illegitimate," and shall make upon the Margin of the Register opposite to such Entry a Note of such Decree and of the Import thereof; and in like Manner in the event of any Child registered as illegitimate being subsequently found by Decree of any competent Court to be legitimate, the Clerk of Court shall notify such Decree to the Registrar, in the Form as nearly as may be of the said Schedule (F.), who shall forthwith make upon the Margin of the Register in which the Birth is entered, and opposite to such Entry, a Note of such Decree and of the Import thereof, under a Penalty not exceeding Forty Shillings in case of Failure.