19th July 1855
​Arbroath. A letter of Messrs Lowson McDonald & Black dated 12th July, with copy minutes of the Parochial Board resolving to erect a Poorhouse, and plans for the Building, were submitted. The Committee approve the resolution to erect a Poorhouse, but delay consideration of the site and plans.

24th October 1855
Arbroath. A letter of Messrs Louson, Macdonald and Black, dated 19th October, with Plans of Poorhouse, altered as suggested, and Certificates by Architect and Medical Officer as to fitness of proposed site for Poorhouse, were submitted. The Board approved the site proposed, and continued consideration of the plans.

1st November 1855
Arbroath. The letters which were before the Board at last meeting, were again submitted with further letter of Messrs Henderson & Son of 29th October, and amended plans of proposed Poorhouse. The Board approved and signed the plans.

10th December 1863
​Arbroath - The Board took into consideration a letter from Alexander Brown and six other ratepayers of the Parish of Arbroath complaining of the management of the Parochial Lodging House for paupers - enquiring whether they are legally bound to pay Poor-rates to "uphold drunken paupers" in that house and stating that one of the paupers lodging there had been "two or three times convicted at the Police Court within the last six months for drunkenness".

The "Administrative Committee" of the Parochial Board admits the truth of the allegation regarding the pauper referred to, but states truly that the Parochial Board has no power to prevent the free ingress and egress of Paupers residing in the lodging house and asserts its willingness to assist by all legitimate means in lessening or preventing the waste of the means of the Poor.
​
The Board would suggest for the consideration of the Parochial Board whether one of the most efficient of the legitimate means which they express their willingness to adopt would not be substitute for the present Lodging House that Statutory Poorhouse which in May 1855, the Parochial Board resolved to erect - of which the Plans were approved by the Board of Supervision in November of that year and which the Parochial Board is still under a legal obligation to erect, altho' the Board of Supervision have hitherto abstained from taking measures to enforce that obligation.

8th September 1864
Arbroath Combination Poorhouse - Leters from Messrs J & W McDonald dated 31st August and 5th September with relative sketch of proposed site for poorhouse and certificates by architect and medical officer, were submitted and continued.

15th September 1864
Arbroath Combination Poorhouse - The documents which were before the Board at last meeting were again submitted with further letter from Messrs J & W Macdonald dated 8th September and relative Ordnance Survey map for the parish of St Vigeans with proposed site for the poorhouse marked thereon. The Board approved the site.

​9th February 1865
Arbroath Poorhouse Combination - Two letters from Messrs J & W Macdonald dated 6th February, with plans of proposed poorhouse was [sic] submitted. The Board approved and signed the plans.

The Easter Ross poorhouse was erected by nine contiguous parishes. The house was opened on the 1st of October 1850, and the first pauper was admitted on the 11th of that month. I visited the house on Monday and Tuesday, the 4th and 5th of August, and communicated with the inspectors of Tain, Tarbat, Fearn, Logie Easter, Kilmuir Easter, and Rosskeen. Since 11th October 1850 to 5th August, forty-eight paupers had been admitted to the poorhouse, some of them having in the course of that time, left the house, of their own accord, and been again admitted. Five of the forty-eight paupers died at the ages of 70, 50, 71, 20 and 72 years. The immediate causes of the deaths of four were bronchitis, hydrothorax, dysentery, chorea, or St Vitus’s dance. In the fifth case, the cause of death was not entered in the record, the pauper having only very recently died. Three of the forty-eight paupers had been removed elsewhere – one of them to a lunatic asylum – four had left the house of their own accord, and had not applied for re-admission: thus at the date of my visit, there were only thirty-six paupers in the house, leaving accommodation vacant for upwards of 120. The appearance of the inmates was good, and the cleanliness maintained throughout the establishment unexceptionable. The governor appears to be well suited for the office, and keeps all his books with great neatness and regularity. The objectionable points of the management are:

During the first two quarters of the operation of the poorhouse, the parochial board of Rosskeen issued sixty orders for admission to paupers on the roll; of that number, only ten availed themselves of the order – all the others refused to enter the house, and were consequently struck off the roll. Seven of them were, however, subsequently admitted to outdoor relief, but four at smaller allowances than they formerly had. All the others, forty-three, have supported themselves since without parochial assistance. It appears, too, that adding the out-door allowances, which (if there had been no poorhouse), would have been payable to the paupers who took advantage of the orders of admission, to the allowances of the paupers who have supported themselves without parochial relief, for two quarters and a half, a sum would be given equal to £59 19s. whereas, the exxpense of the paupers in the poorhouse, for maintenance and general expenses for three quarters, amounted to only £58 8s 1 1/4d. Thus Rosskeen has afforded relief to their paupers, under a poorhouse system, for three quarters of a year, for a less sum than that which would have been required to give outdoor relief for two quarters and a half, supposing no poorhouse had existed.
​
In Kilmuir, during the first two quarters, poorhouse admission orders were given to twenty-nine paupers. Ten availed themselves of these orders, the others refused to enter the house, and were, with four exceptions, struck off the roll, and supported themselves without parochial relief. The out-door allowances, for two quarters and a half, to the paupers who entered the poorhouse, and those who refused to do so and were not subsequently relieved, would have amounted to £30 7s, and the expense of maintaining the paupers in the poorhouse for the same period, and the other charges payable by Kilmuir on account of the poorhouse, amounted to £31 4s 2d.

Another subject was frequently touched upon by those with whom I conversed on the matter of poorhouses, namely the diet of the inmates – in regard to which, a rather general misapprehension seems to prevail, many conceiving that the diet in a poorhouse would be of such a superior description to that of the people of the country where the poorhouse would be situated that a desire would be created among the paupers of participating in it, although they might have serious objections to the confinement and discipline of the poorhouse itself. Should poorhouses ever spring up in the Western Highlands, the dietary of the Easter Ross house, which is appended, might be adopted by them, except perhaps barley-broth and pea soup, neither of which, so far as I know, are articles of food in general use among the people of the Western Highlands and Islands. Potatoes, herring, oatmeal, and mil would seem to be the requisites of a diet-table for a poorhouse there.

​At Manse of Forgue the 28th of June 1751 years, being the time fixed for the meeting of the heritors, minr & elders of the parish of Forgue for taking the state of the poor of sd Parish under consideration, in consequence of the repeated Intimations of the Sherriff Substitute of the County of Abdn, there being pnt Theod Morison of Bogny, Alexr Duff of Hatton, Mr Willm Irvine of Corniehaugh, George Phyn of Corse, Mr Alexr Forbes minr, And Harper, Geo Morison, Alexr Horn, Jas Anderson & Alexr Muir elders; When the Resolutions of the freeholders of the County of Abdn met at Abdn the 5th of June curt anent Vagrants & begging poor, wt abstracts of the Laws & proclamations of Council on that Subject were laid before the said Meeting; and in consequence of the sd Laws, Resolutions and repeated Intimations of the Sherriff, the Meeting thought it incumbent and necessary for ‘em to make a Record containing the Resolutions as to the Managemt of the poor, the publick funds and Collections of sd Parish, Present State of the poor and quarterly allowance formerly given ‘em; and to settle what further will be necessary for maintenance of such poor as will be subsisted by the parish of Terms of sd Laws, Proclamations and Resolutions.

​1. The Heritors, minr and Elders agree to use all possible means to detect all Impostors, and to prevent any person from being entered upon the poor Roll of sd parish but such as are unable & uncapable to maintain emselves either in whole or in part.

​2. That such as are able to work for a part of their Subsistence either at Husbandry or Manufactures, shall be obliged to do it, & supply’d for the remainder only; and if they refuse to work confirm to their Ability, that they are to have no Relief and to be prosecuted as Law directs.

​3. That parents when able are to maintain their children, and children their parents, in whole or in part, which if they refuse to do they are to be prosecuted before the Sherriff in terms of Law.

​4. That all Persons before they be put upon the Poors Roll be made to convey to the Kirk Session of the Parish whatever effects they shall be possessed of or intituled to at Death (unless on the event of their circumstances being altered by succession or legacies sometime before their Death, or upon their repaying to the Session the full Extent of what was given out for their former support), in which Event the Session is to repone em, but in no other event are they to repone who once accept of a full subsistence; and such as accept of a partiall subsistence may be reponed by the Session at any time upon prepaying what was formerly given them.

​5. That no more shall be allowed to any person but one peck of meal for each week, or the value thereof, unless upon extraordinary occasion & when done by consent of heritors, minr and Elders.

​6. And in order to afford work to such of the poor as have not trades to buy flax or wool to ‘emselves, the Session agrees, that if no manufacturers will trust em, they will be Caution to such manufacturers or Merts for the value of the wool or Lint given to such Poor by their Advice, if not returned when manufactured, in order to put such poor people aworking what they can for their own Support, that the Parish may be relieved.

​7. The meeting further agree that none shall be received upon the poors Roll but such as have resided three years in the Parish; and if any poor shall intrude the Constable for the District be called to remove ‘em; and that the Resetters of any such be prosecuted.

​8. The Meeting also agree that every Heritor, tenent or subtenent that shall bring in any person upon the Parish who shall become uncapable to maintain emselves before the three years of Residence shall expire, by which they are intituled to Charity, whoever brings them into the parish shall be bound to maintain such Persons untill he transmit ‘em to their legall place of Residence for their maintenance; and that none shall be resett as a tenent or subtenent, but such as bring along with them certificates from the Parishes where they formerly resided.

9. And as by the Laws it is enacted, that if Children be found begging under the age of fifteen, any person may take such Children before the Heritors, minr & Elders, & record their Names & enact emselves to educate such Child to trade or Work, such Child shall be oblidged to serve the person until the 30th year of his or her age for meat & cloath, and this not only to extend to the Children of Beggars but also to poor Children whose Parents are dead, or with consent of the parents if alive; if any such Children be found, the meeting agree that the Law in Relation to ‘em take place.

​10. They further resolve, that in the Event of the Congregation withdrawing the ordinary Collection, which formerly was the only support the poor had, every labouring servant if draws ten pounds scots of fee or above, shall be yearly assessed in six shillings Scots, and every servt that draws ten merks in thre shillings Scots, and every Grassman that pays 20 merks & below in 3 shillings Scots, and from 20 pounds to fifty merks yearly rent in 6 shill Scots, the masters to be accountable for the servt’s proportions which is to be put to accts of their wages; and it is not doubted by the principal Tacksmen will continue their Collections as formerly, as the maintenance of the poor will at last recur upon ‘emselves.

​11. They further agree that the least fine that shall be exacted from any fornicator shall be five pounds Scotch; and it is the Opinion of the Heritors that the minr and Sess when they think fit may dispense with the public appearances upon the stool for paymt of a Guinea each; which sums when so paid, are to be annually applyd for maintenance of the Poor. And that the minr and session before Absolution require the Parents of Children thus begotten to enact emselves & find Caution to free the Parish of the Charge of the Children; and in Case of their Refusal, to cause the Constable summon every Person refusing before the Sherriff of Abdn and transmit to the pro[curato]r fiscal an Extract of their judicial confession in order to have the law there anent enforced.

Thursday 30th November 1871
Urquhart (Inverness) – A letter from Dr John Fergusson, dated 27th November, requesting the Board to investigate death of a pauper alleged to have been wrongously removed to the Poorhouse was submitted. The Board directed the Secretary to transmit a copy of Dr Fergusson’s letter to the Procurator Fiscal, and to enquire where he is to make an investigation, as in that even the Board will suspend their action until the Crown Officers have either taken proceedings or have resolved not to do so.

Thursday, 11th January 1872
Urquhart (Inverness) – The letter of Dr John Fergusson, dated 27th November, respecting the case of Alexander McDonald, alleged to have been wrongously removed to Inverness Poorhouse, which caused his death shortly after his admission to the Poorhouse, which was before the Board on 30th November, and letters from the Governor of Inverness Poorhouse, dated 30th November, Mr Charles Stewart, Procurator Fiscal at Inverness, dated 2d December, Mr G Ellice, dated 4th December, Mr Charles Morton, Crown Agent, dated 27th December, and Inspector of Urquhart, dated 4th January 1872, thereanent, were submitted and directed to be circulated among the Legal Members.

​Wednesday, 7th February 1872
Urquhart (Inverness) – The documents which were before the Board on 11th January, respecting the case of Alexander Macdonald, whose death is alleged to have been caused by his removal to Inverness Poorhouse, the same having been circulated among the Legal Members, were again submitted, and remitted to the Chairman to draft a Minute.

Thursday, 15th February 1872
Urquhart (Inverness). The documents respecting the case of Alexander McDonald, whose death is alleged to have been caused by his removal to Inverness Poorhouse, which were before the Board at last meeting, were again submitted (together with a Draft Minute by the Chairman). The Board approved the Draft Minute, which is as follows:

The Board have carefully perused the Precognition taken by the Procurator-Fiscal of Inverness-shire regarding the death of Alexander Macdonell or Macdonald, which was transmitted to them by direction of Crown Counsel for their consideration, and in order that they might take such steps as they might think proper. The Board regret to find that the conduct of the Parochial authorities in this case has been most unsatisfactory, and far from creditable to themselves.

It appears that Macdonell was a pauper belonging to Urquhart who resided with his sister in the Parish of Kilmonivaig. He was about 75 or 76 years of age, very frail in body, having been for a considerable time troubled with a severe chronic cough, and much confined to the house and bed, and almost am imbecile in mind. The Parochial Board of Urquhart, being dissatisfied with the amount of outdoor relief which the pauper was receiving, ordered his removal to his own Parish and subsequently to the Poorhouse at Inverness. The Medical Officer of Kilmonivaig certified, of date 15th June 1871, that the pauper was “in an unfit state to be removed”, and of date 24th August 1871, that he was “not in a fit state to be removed to the Poorhouse without serious injury to his health”. Both these certificates were given on soul and conscience. The Parochial Board of Urquhart, nevertheless, resolved to adhere to their previous determination, and on the 2d October 1871 they requested their Chairman and Deputy Chairman to arrange with their Medical Officer and Inspector for the pauper’s immediate removal from Glengarry to the Inverness Poorhouse. Accordingly upon the 17th or 18th of October the Medical Officer of Urquhart visited the pauper at his sister’s house in Glengarry, and granted a certificate, of date 18th October, to the effect that he considered him “a fit case for Hospital or Poorhouse treatment”. This certificate was not given on soul and conscience, and it was also defective in respect it did not bear that the pauper could be removed to Inverness (a distance of upwards of 40 miles) without injury to his health, and did not prescribe (as in such a case it should have done) the mode of conveyance to be used in effecting the removal.

The Inspector of Urquhart proceeded to Glengarry on the 25th of October, and forcibly removed the pauper to Glen Urquhart upon a wet stormy day in an open conveyance, although it appears that at Glengarry the defective character of the certificate upon which the Inspector was about to act was pointed out to him, and it was further suggested to him that the pauper, if removed at all, should be conveyed either in a close carriage or by the steamer.

On the 27th of October, the pauper was forwarded from Glen Urquhart to the Poorhouse at Inverness with the concurrence of the Medical Officer of Urquhart, but again he was conveyed in an open carriage, notwithstanding his delicate state of health and the inclemency of the season.

The unfortunate pauper died in the Poorhouse on the 25th November, but there does not appear to be evidence directly and distinctly connecting the death with the removal, and it is probably on that account that Crown Counsel have directed the Precognition to be transmitted to the Board, instead of ordering proceedings to be taken as a criminal charge. On the other hand, it is obvious that the removal and the manner in which it was executed could not have been beneficial to the health of the pauper, and there is but too much probability that they must have been prejudicial to it.

The Board are of opinion that this was not a case in which the power of removal should have been exercised at all. It was not a case in which the application of a test was requisite, and no reasonable person could suppose that the poor old man’s comfort would be increased by removing him from his sister’s care to a distant Poorhouse. The sole reason for removing the pauper was a difference of opinion between the Parochial authorities of Urquhart and Kilmonivaig as to the proper amount of outdoor allowance, and that question might have been settled by an appeal to this Board. As regards the mere matter of expense, the last month of the pauper’s life (including the cost of removal and the Poorhouse charges) was probably after all more costly to the Parish of Urquhart than any previous month of the pauper’s chargeability. It appears, therefore, to the Board that the Parochial Board of Urquhart acted neither wisely nor humanely in ordering this pauper to be removed to Inverness.

​The Board are further of opinion that the Inspector or Urquhart committed a grave error of judgment in removing the pauper upon a manifestly defective certificate, and in a manner obviously improper in the circumstances of the case. The Inspector appears to have had at the time some misgivings as to the propriety of the course he was pursuing, and he seems to have considered that he was bound to carry out the wishes of his Chairman and Deputy Chairman, and that he would not have been justified in incurring the additional expense of a journey in the steamer or a close carriage. It is, therefore, necessary to inform him that even in executing a competent and legal order of the Parochial Board, an Inspector of Poor is responsible for carrying out his instructions in a legal, proper and humane manner. The Board consider the conduct of the Inspector of Urquhart in this case to have been highly culpable, and they hereby censure him for it.

​1847, June 13
By Cash to George Thomson in need, £1

​1847, July 4
Cash to George Thomson, 6/-

1847, July 25
Cash to Widow of George Thomson, 12/-

Friday 13 August 1847
Widow Thomson, 6/-

Church of Drumoak 13 August 1847
It was reported that on 12 June last George Thomson, labourer at Burnside in this Parish, had applied for temporary relief to himself, wife, and four children, which had been granted. That he died on 11 July, and that his wife had since become chargeable as a Pauper in this Parish. That some time previous to his death the Inspector had taken in writing a declaration of the different places in which he had resided – which was to the following effect

​That George Thomson, late husband of Ann Gillespie, was born at Little Mill of Cairney, that his father George Thomson is still alive and is resident at Foggy-Moss in said Parish. That he left his father’s when 13 years of age to be servant to Joseph Horne in Netherton of Cairney, with whom he resided six months; that he then went to serve John Christie in Busswarney in the Parish of Cairney, where he resided 2 ½ years; that he afterwards was in the service of Isaac Robertson, Banks of Cairney, 6 months; that he then went to Alexander Christie, Gangdurnas, parish of Cairney, with whom he resided 6 months; and thence to Charles Bruce in Broadland of Cairney, whom he served six months. That he then removed from his native Parish and entered the service of James Pirie, Culithie of Gartly, with whom he remained for 2 ½ years; that he afterwards went to the Revd Mr Leslie, assistant to the Minister of Rathven, where he remained 6 months; that he then went to James McCulloch, Cleffes in the parish of Grange, and continued with him 6 months; that he thence went to work with a contractor in whose service he worked in different parishes for short periods, and then removed to Fyvie for 6 or 8 weeks, and then to the parish of Belhelvie where he resided with a William McDonald for about 15 months; that he then resided six months with William Stronach carpenter in the parish of Nigg; that he thence removed to the parish of Fordoun and lived with Deacon Bruce innkeeper, Auchinblae about a month; that he then resided with Peter Laing in Banchory Ternan a month, and went to Kincardine O’Neil, where he lodged in the house of William Cooper for about six months. That he then removed to Banchory Ternan and was married 20 June 1840 to Ann Gillespie. That from Martinmas 1841 to the month of September 42 he earned his livelihood by working at Countesswells in the Parish of Peterculter or Banchory Devenick, visiting his family every Saturday night and continuing with them till Monday morning, as long as they resided in Banchory Ternan. That on the 7th of June 1842 his wife and family removed from said Parish of Banchory Ternan to this parish (Drumoak), he himself continuing to earn his livelihood at Countesswells, residing first in the house of Archibald Leslie and then in that of Alexander Watt, crofters in Loanhead of Countesswells. That he continued as before visiting his family every Saturday night and continuing with them until Monday morning till the month of September 1842 when he took up his regular residence in this parish, and resided till his death on 11th July 1847.

The Board taking the matter under consideration were of opinion that his widow and family had no claim upon this parish, but that Cairney was the parish of settlement, and instructed the Inspector to forward a statement of the case to the Inspector of said parish of Cairney.

1847 Octr 3 Seven weeks aliment to Widow Thomson, £1 1s

Thursday 18 November 1847
Widow Thomson, £1 1s

1848 Jany 2
Widow Thomson, [5s]

Wednesday 23 Feby 1848
Widow Thomson, 15s

Drumoak 24 February 1848
The meeting proceeded to revise the Poors Roll and the Inspector having given in his report on the state of the Poor, it was agreed to continue the present allowance to all the paupers on the Roll with the exception of Widow Thomson, who gave in a claim for an increased allowance. Said Widow Thomson was called in and being examined stated that she pays thirty shillings of rent yearly for her present house and yard, that she has four children, the eldest six years of age and the youngest about two years of age, that she receives three shillings of board from her late husband’s brother who lives with her pursuing the occupation of a tailor, who also affords light. The Board having considered this case dismissed the complaint, and thereafter resumed consideration of the liability of this parish to maintain said Widow Thomson, and the Inspector having laid on the table a letter which he had received from the Inspector of the Poor of the Parish of Cairney intimating that they considered Drumoak as the parish of the woman’s settlement. The meeting agreed to refer the case to arbiters mutually chosen if the Inspector of Cairney will agree to that arrangement, and if not, they instruct their Inspector to bring a legal action against the Inspector of said parish of Cairney with a view to recover the money already advanced for relief in this case.

​1848, March 26 By 4 weeks aliment to Widow Thomson, 12s
1848, April 30 By 4 weeks aliment to Widow Thomson, 12s
Friday 12 May 1848 4 weeks aliment to Widow Thomson, 12/-

​Drumoak 12 May 1848
…
A letter was then laid on the table the tenor whereof follows

Cairney 27th April 1848
Sir,
Case of Widow Thomson & Family
Before giving a final answer regarding this case I have to request that you will have the goodness to inform me in what capacity George Thomson was employed while working at Countesswells in the parish of Peterculter from the 7th of June to the month of September 1842.
I am, Sir, your ob[e]d[ien]t serv[an]t
(Signed) Wm Taylor, inspector

The meeting instructed the Inspector to write to the Inspector of Cairny that George Thomson was employed as a contractor during the period referred to in the above and instructed him farther to remind him that the application was made prior to 7 June 1847, until which time even the widow and family of said George Thomson have not acquired an industrial residence in this parish.

1848 July 30 By Widow Thomson’s 8 weeks aliment, £1 4s
1848 Septr 10 Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1848 Octr 22 Wid Thomson 8 1/3 weeks aliment, £1 5s

Drumoak 31 Oct 1848
…
A letter was then laid upon the table from the Inspector of the Poor of the Parish of Cairney relative to Widow Thomson & family the tenor whereof follows

Cairney 19th August 1848
Sir
Case of Widow Thomson & family
At a special meeting of the Parochial Board held to day for the purpose of considering & finally disposing of this case, I have been instructed to intimate to you that they refuse to recognise the claim.
I am, Sir, your ob[e]d[ien]t servt
(Signed) Wm Taylor, Inspector

​The meeting being clearly of opinion that Widow Thomson had no claim on this parish but on Cairney instructed their Inspector to give the case into the hands of John Blaikie Esq, Advocate, Aberdeen and request him to raise an action against the Inspector of Cairney for the Recovery of the sums paid to Widow Thomson by the Parochial Board of Drumoak, and to intimate the same to the Inspector of Cairney.

1848
Novr 19 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
Decr 17 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849
Jany 21 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 Feby 18 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 March 11 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 April 8 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 May 13 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 June 10 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 July 1 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 July 12 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 Septr 2 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 Octr 18 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1849 Novr 8 By cash to Wid Thomson 8 weeks aliment to 17th Novr 1849, £1 4s
1849 Decr 16 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1850 Jany 13 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s

Drumoak 31st January 1850
…
The Inspector reported that he had received an intimation from Messrs Blaikie Advocates, Aberdeen, to the effect that the Sheriff on appeal had finally decided the case of Widow Thomson (referred to in the minute of 31st October 1848) with expenses against the parish of Cairnie and that after deducting necessary expenses a balance of £13 was due to this parish.

1850 Jany 31
Received from the Messrs Blaikie balance due by them on account of Parochial Board of Cairney, £13

​1850 Feby 10 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1850 March 10 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1850 March 24 By cash school coal money for Wid Thomson’s children 2/- and for a school book 1/9
1850 April 7 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s
1850 May 6 By cash to Wid Thomson 4 weeks aliment, 12s

​1850 July 14, Received advances made to Wid Thomson by this Session on account of the Parish of Cairney, £3 15s 9d

Isabella Whitelaw’s children, Lethendy Moar
1846
24 July Admitted 4 May 1846 – on imprisonment of mother
24 December – seem tolerably attended to by grandfather
1847
13 July – Removed from Roll 3rd August on release of mother
[NRS Reference CH2/803/3 p. 235]

​Janet Gall or Cochrane, and Isabella Whitelaw, charged with several separate acts of theft some of which were committed beyond the bounds of Police, were handed over to the Sheriff.

Sheriff Court
Tuesday July 14
Janet Gall or Cochrane, wife of John Cochrane, porter, Perth, and Isabella Whitelaw, Muir of Lethendy; Cochrane and Whitelaw charged with theft of clothes from the person of a girl of weak intellect, and Whitelaw of several acts of falsehood, fraud and wilful imposition; both have been previously convicted of both charges, and Cochrane has been eight months in the general prison; sentenced to twelve months each in general prison.

​[Northern Warder and General Advertiser for the Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar 16 July 1846]

Isabella Whitelaw’s two children
1849
17 July. Have been sometime with Aunt, now with Margt Jackson. Well.
1850
3 January. Are well kept with Margt and regularly at school
17 July – both well, mother in Jail
1851
11 January – Both well, and at School. Mother sentenced to 7 year’s banishment
7 August. Ditto
29 December – Nothing particular.
1852
21 July – Oldest girl from school with a slightly burned hand
27 Decr – Both well, and at school
1853
9 July – Much as usual
1854
4 January – Both well, and apparently comfortable.
21 July – Both well and at school
1855
3 Jany – Both well and at school
[NRS Reference CH2/803/3 p. 208]

Isabella Whitelaw, Perth, accused of theft – aggravated by previous convictions, was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.

Of thygaris nocht to be thollyt
Alsua it is ordanyt that na thigar be thollyt to thyg nor bege nothir in burghe nor to lande betuix xiiij and iij score [and ten] of yheris of age bot thai be seyne be the consall of the toune or of the cuntre at thai may nocht vyne thar leyffing othir vays. And thai that sa beis fundin sall have a takin to land of the schera and in bwrowis off the aldirmen and baylyheis, and that undir the payn of birnynge on the cheyk and bannyssing of the cuntre.

Translation:
Of beggars not to be suffered
Also it is ordained that no beggar be suffered to thig or beg either in burghs or in the land between fourteen and seventy years of age, unless it is seen by the council of the town that they cannot make their living in other ways. And they that are so found shall have a token from the sheriff in the land, and from the aldermen and bailies in the burghs, and that under pain of burning on the cheek and banishing from the country.
[The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2016), 1425/3/22. Date accessed: 17 April 2016.]

Sic as makis thame selffis fuilis and ar bairdis or utheris siclike rynnaris about, being apprehendit, salbe put in the kingis waird and yrnis salang as they have ony guidis of thair awin to leif on
[​RPS, 1579/10/27]

​all personis being abone the aige of xiiij and within the aige of lxx yeiris that heirefter ar declarit and sett furth be this act and ordour to be vagabundis, strang and ydle beggaris, quhilkis salhappyne at ony tyme heirefter, efter the first day of Januar nixtocum, to be takin wandering and misordering thame selffis contrarie to the effect and meaning of thir presentis salbe apprehendit; and upoun thair apprehensioun be brocht befoir the provest and baillies within burgh, and in every parochyne to landwart befoir him that salbe constitutit justice be the kingis commissioun or be the lordis of regalities within the samyne to this effect, and be thame to be committit in waird in the commoun presoun, stokkis or irnis within thair jurisdictioun, thair to be keipit unlettin to libertie or upoun band or souirtie quhill thai be put to the knawlege of ane assyse, quhilk salbe done within sex dayis thairefter. And gif they happyne to be convict, to be adjuget to be scurget and brunt throw the ear with ane hett yrne
[​RPS, 1579/10/27]

exceptit sum honest and responsall man will, of his charitie, be contentit then presentlie to act him self befoir the juge to tak and keip the offendour in his service for ane haill yeir nixt following, undir the pane of xx libris to the use of the puyr of the toun or parochyne, and to bring the offendour to the heid court of the jurisdictioun at the yeiris end, or then gude pruif of his death, the clerk taking for the said act xij d. onlie. And gif the offendour depart and leif the service within the yeir aganis his will that ressavis him in service, then being apprehendit, he salbe of new presentit to the juge and be him commandit to be scurgit and brunt throw the ear as is befoirsaid; quhilk punishment, being anys ressavit, he sall not suffer the lyk agane for the space of lx dayis thairefter, bot gif at the end of the saidis lx dayis he be found to be fallin agane in his ydill and vagabund trade of lyf, then, being apprehendit of new, he salbe adjuget and suffer the panes of deid as a theif.
​[​RPS, 1579/10/27]

all ydle personis ganging about in ony cuntrie of this realme using subtill, crafty and unlauchfull playis, as juglarie fast and lowis, and sic utheris, the idle people calling thame selffis Egyptianis, or ony utheris that fenyeis thame selffis to have knawlege of prophecie, charmeing or utheris abusit sciences, quhairby they persuaid the people that they can tell thair weardis deathis and fortunes and sic uther fantasticall imaginationes
​​[​RPS, 1579/10/27]

​utheris nouthir having land nor maister, nor useing ony lauchfull merchandice, craft or occupatioun quhairby they may wyn thair leavingis, and can gif na rekning how they lauchfullie get thair leving, and all menstrallis, sangstaris and tailtellaris not avowit in speciall service be sum of the lordis of parliament or greit barronis or be the heid burrowis and cieties for thair commoun menstralis, all commoun lauboraris, being personis able in body, leving ydillie and fleing laubour, all counterfaittaris of licences to beg, or useing the same knawing thame to be counterfaittit, all vagabund scolaris of the universities of Sanctandrois, Glasgw and Abirdene not licencit be the rectour and deane of facultie of the universitie to ask almous, all schipmene and marinaris allegeing thame selffis to be schipbrokin, without they have sufficient testimoniallis
​​[​RPS, 1579/10/27]

correction-houses for receaving and intertaining of the beggars, vagabonds and idle persones within their burghs, and such as shall be sent to them out of the shires and bounds aftir specified

​in every such Parish as aforesaid in which the Funds requisite for the Relief of the Poor shall be provided without Assessment the Parochial Board shall consist of the Persons who, if this Act had not been passed, would have been entitled to administer the Laws for the Relief of the Poor in such Parish; and in every such Parish as aforesaid in which it shall have been resolved, as herein-after provided, to raise the Funds requisite for the Relief of the Poor by Assessment, the Parochial Board shall consist of the Owners of Lands and Heritages of the yearly Value of Twenty Pounds and upwards, and of the Provost and Bailies of any Royal Burgh, if any, in such Parish, and of the Kirk Session of such Parish, and of such Number of elected Members, to be elected in manner after mentioned, as shall be fixed by the Board of Supervision