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When I was applying to university in the mid-1980s, the then Scottish Education Department maintained a register of educational trusts that were available to provide support to prospective students. There were hundreds of such funds, some of them very specific. One of my university friends was given a significant amount of money each year from a variety of these funds, because of his surname and the small town where he was born. Most of these funds derived from bequests left over the years to various good causes. Kirk Session records often contain records of these legacies – often described as mortifications – as they were often tied to specific locales, and the Kirk Session was the obvious group to administer them. Aberdeenshire and the North-East in general are particularly well represented in such legacies, at least in terms of records surviving in the Kirk Session collections. There are a number covering large parts of the region, and many more covering individual parishes. Some legacies were intended to benefit the poor of the parish in the form of poor relief, but in keeping with the traditional Scots respect for education, many were intended to fund education in one form or another. The minutes of one such trust fund can be found among the Kirk Session records of Birse, in Aberdeenshire. [1] These minutes largely consist of details of payments made every six months to “the most indigent of the poor of the parish”, and are a handy source of information about some of the poorest people in this part of the north-east in the early 19th century. They even include a few payments to cover the cost of funerals of paupers, a useful source for genealogists given that the Old Parish Registers for Birse do not include any death or burial records. As is often the case for records of legacies and mortifications, the minutes include a transcript of the original deed or will establishing the fund. In this case, although the minutes begin in 1800, the fund was actually established in the will of Doctor Gilbert Ramsay, written in 1728. Dr Ramsay was an Episcopalian minister, originally from Birse. In 1686, he had arrived in the Caribbean as minister of St Paul’s, in Antigua. [2] By 1689, Dr Ramsay had moved to Barbados, where he became Rector of Christ Church. He remained at Christ Church for nearly forty years, before returning to the UK, “sojourning” in Bath, where he wrote his will. Presumably he was in Bath to partake of the waters, as in his will he writes that he is sick and weak in body, but (thanks to God) of sound and perfect disposition, mind and memory His first legacy is £4800 sterling to the “Corporation of New Aberdeen in North Britain, i.e. to the Provost, Bailiffs, Town Council, and governing members of the same city for the time being”, which is to be used to purchase land “as near to the City of New Aberdeen as can conveniently be purchased”. The proceeds from these lands are to be divided among various good causes. The “yearly Rent, Interest or Income” of £1000 is to be paid as a salary to a Pious, Learned, and well qualified Professor of Hebrew, Arabic and Oriental Languages, in the Marischall College of the said city of New Aberdeen, for the advancement of true learning, to the glory of God and the good of his Church. The second provision is that the proceeds from £2000 (of the £4800 left to the city of Aberdeen) should be used to provide a yearly pension to four hopeful, deserving young scholars, Masters of Arts, students of Divinity, which four students of Divinity conscionably elected I order shall be placed in said Marischal College of New Aberdeen to pursue diligently their Theological Studies there, for the Service of the Church … for the term of three years and no longer. The third provision of Ramsay’s will is a continuation of a Deed initially granted by him in Barbados in 1714, to provide for “four hopeful young men called Bursars, for ever to be educated in the knowledge of the Greek Tongue and Philosophy in the said Marischall College in New Aberdeen, during the space of four years and no longer.” This was to be funded from the proceeds of £800 of the legacy left to the Corporation. Ramsay did not forget his home parish. The “yearly rent, interest or income of five hundred pounds sterling” was to fund a salary to a pious, provident and experienced Schoolmaster well qualified to instruct the youth in the Parish of Birse … the place of my nativity … in the Principles of Religion, to read and write English, and to understand both Greek and Latin Before employing a schoolmaster, the proceeds were to be used to fund “building a schoolhouse in the most convenient place of the said Parish of Birse”. The remaining £500 of the legacy was to be given “to the order of the Reverend Ministers and Elders of the said Parish of Birse … to be forever by them conscionably and impartially distributed yearly among the poor of the said parish of Birse” on the first Monday of January and July each year. Patronage of the foundation was granted to Gilbert’s cousin, Sir Alexander Ramsay, Baronet and Laird of Balmain in Kincardineshire. Various other smaller legacies are given to “the poor Episcopal Clergy of Scotland”, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the Scots Corporation in London, Balliol College, Oxford, and to various family and friends. Another £500 is left to Christ Church, Barbados to educate the poor youth of the parish. Reading all of this, you cannot help but wonder how an Episcopalian minister born in 17th century Aberdeenshire could have accumulated what was, for the time, a substantial sum of money. One clue is given in another provision of his will and my will is that all my slaves except my negroe man Robert here now attending me, be immediately sold after my death by my executor after named to such persons as will use them well tho’ at a cheaper rate than to others and to my said negroe man I give him his freedom from the day of my decease, and I will that he shall be taken care of and sent to Barbadoes at my charge, as soon as may be after my death and that the executors of this my will do pay him five pounds of that country money on his arrival at Barbadoes and likewise order, and appoint that all the money arising by such sale of my negroes shall be applied with the rest of my estate to pay off my legacies. Gilbert had evidently benefited significantly from the proceeds of slavery in Barbados. And his legacy continued to have knock-on benefits for a very long time. The Minute book of the Birse trust only cover the period 1800-1838, but the National Records of Scotland hold files on the Birse Mortification dating from 1886 [3] and 1889 [4] over 160 years after the bequest was made. Even that is not the end of the story: another record held by the NRS shows that it was not until 1961 that the trust fund was wound up.[5] For over 230 years, the people of Aberdeenshire benefited from an endowment established on the basis of profits from slavery. A number of prominent scholars are today attempting to unravel the ramifications of the proceeds of slavery on Scottish society. You have to wonder how many – if any - of the beneficiaries of this foundation were aware of where the money came from to fund their education. Sources:
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Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 31 October - 6 November 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. Monday, October 31 2016, 5.30 pm The Public History of Scotland and Caribbean Slavery Louise Welsh (Glasgow), Stephen Mullen (Glasgow) and Michael Hopcroft (Glasgow Caledonian) Venue: Room 202, 3 University Gardens, Glasgow Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies Monday, October 31 2016, 7.30 pm John Tweedie Memorial Lecture, It’s A Dogs Life Hamish Coghill Venue: Gibson Craig Memorial Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie Currie & District Local History Society Monday, October 31 2016, 7.30 pm Photographs of Cupar Allan Carr Venue: Age Concern Building, Provost Wynd, Cupar Tuesday, November 1 2016, 1 pm “Imprest on vellum": Lowland language and the early American republic, c. 1800-1830 Sean Murphy (University of St Andrews) Venue: Room G16, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies Diaspora Studies Graduate Workshop Series Tuesday, November 1 2016, 5.30 pm Memory and the work of forgetting: telling protest in rural England Dr Carl Griffin, Reader in Historical Geography, University of Sussex Venue: Ross House, Dornoch University of the Highlands and Islands Centre for History This paper offers an initial attempt to think through how, against markers of traumatic pasts, English rural communities in the long eighteenth century attempted both to forget and to reinscribe the past in usable ways. Tuesday, November 1 2016, 6.45 pm for 7.15 pm The Life of Eric Liddell Sue Caton Venue: Morningside Parish Church Hall Morningside Heritage Association Tuesday, November 1 2016, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm Bangour War Hospital (incl. Hopetoun and Polkemmet Aux. Hospitals) WWI Sybil Cavanagh Venue: Lanthorn Community Education Complex, Kenilworth Rise, Livingston EH54 6JL West Lothian Family History Society Tuesday, November 1 2016, 7.30 pm From Cannon to Steam Propulsion Professor Michael Moss Venue: Fairweather Hall, Barrhead Road, Newton Mearns, G77 6BB The origins of Clyde Engineering. Tuesday, November 1 2016, 7.30 pm The Victoria Cross Alexander Hall Venue: Kilmarnock College, Hill Street, Kilmarnock Kilmarnock & District History Group £2 donation for non-members Wednesday, November 2 2016, 2 pm - 3 pm The Argyll Papers Alison Diamond Venue: New Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh Professor Allan Macinnes (Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Strathclyde and expert on Highland history), has described the Argyll Papers held at Inveraray Castle as ‘one of the most important private archives in Britain.’ Alison will talk about the archives, their history and content, and the current focus on raising the profile of the collection and making it more accessible. She will speak about the forthcoming partnership project with Argyll and Bute Council, Written in the Landscape, which will catalogue collections of family papers and conserve the maps and plans held at Inveraray Castle, working with local communities and heritage centres throughout Argyll. (New Register House) Wednesday, November 2 2016, 4 pm Lochbrown Landscape Proect: the hidden archaeology of a prehistoric landscape Kirsty Millican, HES Venue: Lecture Theatre (109), Gregory Building University of Glasgow Wednesday, November 2 2016, 7.30 pm Art and Architecture in Neolithic Orkney: Process, Temporality and Context Dr Antonia Thomas Venue: Orkney College Launch of Dr. Antonia Thomas' exciting new book on Neolithic Art, plus the chance to buy the book at a discount. Thursday, November 3 2016, 7 pm Annual General Meeting + When, how and why Scottish Burials changed dramatically Dr Ed Small Venue: The 252 Memorial Hall, Betson Street, Markinch Free to members and £2 for non members Thursday, November 3 2016, 7.30 pm Ken the Horse of Hawick Ian Landles BEM Coldstream and District Local History Society Thursday, November 3 2016, 7.30 pm John Sutherland Todd Warnock Venue: Royal Dornoch Golf Club Friday, November 4 2016, 11.00 am S R Crockett: Penicuik Minister and Best Selling Author Pam Stell Venue: National Mining Memorial Centre, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, Dalkeith EH22 4QN National Mining Museum Scotland Saturday, November 5 2016, 10 am - 12 pm Annual Coffee Morning
Venue: Dunn Memorial Hall, Largs North Ayrshire Family History Society
Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 17 - 23 October 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. Monday, October 17 2016, 1 pm 'Toil and Care under the Scorching Sun': Scots in Jamaica, 1776-1838 Dr Stephen Mullen (University of Glasgow) Venue: Room G16, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies Diaspora Studies Graduate Workshop Series Monday, October 17 2016, 7.30 pm The Gretna Rail Crash Disaster Ken Nisbet Venue: Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society Monday, October 17 2016, 7.30 pm Singer Hub Camera Club - Scottish Waters and views Nan Caldwell and Jack Morrison Venue: Morison Memorial Church, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank Clydebank Local History Society Monday, October 17 2016, 7.30 pm The Battle of Pinkie Cleuch Arran Johnston Venue: Gibson Craig Memorial Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie Currie & District Local History Society Monday, October 17 2016, 7-9 pm 18th Century - Town or Country, Everyone Knew their Place
Venue: Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh Tuesday, October 18 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm The Herschel Family David Gavine Venue: Museum of Communication, 131 High Street, Burntisland KY3 9AA £4 members, £5 non-members Tuesday, October 18 2016, 7.30 pm Halloween John Burnett Venue: Kilmarnock College, Holehouse Rd, Kilmarnock Kilmarnock & District History Group £2 donation for non-members Wednesday, October 19 2016, 12 pm - 1 pm The Records of Arisaig House 1850-1993
Venue: Lochaber Archive Centre A talk on the papers held at Lochaber Archive Centre relating to the history of the Arisaig Estate. Suggested donation £3 Wednesday, October 19 2016, 2 pm Dundee Poor’s House Walter Dunn Venue: Monifieth Community Cabin, South Union Street, DD5 4JG Monifieth Local History Society Wednesday, October 19 2016, 4 pm Revolutionary Chronologies: Recreating Ancient Histories with the Bayesian Approach Tony Krus (SUERC Radiocarbon Laboratory) Venue: Lecture Theatre (109), Gregory Building University of Glasgow Wednesday, October 19 2016, 7.30 pm Conscripts; The Forgotten Men of the Great War Dr Craig Haggart, University of Glasgow Venue: Best Western Eglinton Arms Hotel, Eaglesham Non-members welcome, £3 on the door Wednesday, October 19 2016, 7.30 pm Thomas Muir of Huntershill; The Father of Scottish Democracy Don Martin and Jimmy Watson Venue: Bo'ness Library, Scotland's Close, Bo'ness West Lothian History and Amenity Society Wednesday, October 19 2016, 7.30 pm Voices of Lilliesleaf: The importance of oral history Ian MacDougal Venue: Selkirk Parish Church Hall Selkirkshire Antiquarian Society Annual Membership £6 per year. Non member £2 per event. For enquiries about the meetings or the Antiquarian Society please contact Jamie McIntyre [email protected] Wednesday, October 19 2016, 7.30 pm Emanuel Nunnery Laurie Alexander Venue: Falkirk Trinity Church Thursday, October 20 2016 Workshop
Venue: Heritage Centre, Paisley Renfrewshire Family History Society Thursday, October 20 2016 Members Night
Venue: Portland Church hall Troon & Ayrshire Family History Society Thursday, October 20 2016, 2 pm Perthshire and the Suffragettes Ajay Close Venue: Soutar Theatre, Perth £5 for non-members Thursday, October 20 2016, 7 pm The Man's the Gowd Dr James A Begg Venue: Rothesay House, Cumnock Dr James A Begg – presents an illustrated talk on the family research that led to his Scots historical novel The Man's the Gowd - on the hard lives and struggles to survive of the common folk of upland Ayrshire over 300 years from the Covenanters to the start of the 20th Century. Thursday, October 20 2016, 7.30 pm Sundials of Scotland Dennis Cowan Venue: Abbey Church Hall, Abbey Park Place, Dunfermline Dunfermline Historical Society Visitors are charged a fee of £2.00 per meeting and are made very welcome. Thursday, October 20 2016, 7.30 pm Diary of an Engineer Bruce Field Venue: Royal Dornoch Golf Club Thursday, October 20 2016, 7.30 pm The Battle of the Somme Ruth Duncan Venue: MacRobert Hall, The Square, Tarland Ruth Duncan, the curator of the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen will talk about the part played in the Battle of the Somme by the men of the Gordon Highlanders Regiment Thursday, October 20 2016, 7.30 pm The Revenant: an exploration of Scotland's walking dead Dr Louise Yeoman Venue: Haddington Town House Friday, October 21 2016, 7.30 pm Set in Stone- The Geology and Landscapes of Scotland Alan McKirdy Venue: Aytoun Hall, High Street, Auchterarder Auchterarder and District Local History Association |
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