Buittle Parish Council
On the 10th of September 1845, the members of the Kirk Session met together to establish the Parish Council. The minutes of this meeting are as follows:
At Buittle Kirk the nineteenth day of September Eighteen hundred and forty five years.
Convened the following Heritors and agents for Heritors, and members of the Kirk Session of the Parish of Buittle, viz.:Colonel C Maxwell of Orchardton for himself and Mrs Robinson.
Robert McKnight of Barlochan for himself and as acting for Robert Weems of Kirkennan.
Francis Maxwell of Breoch.
The Rev. James Robb Grant, assistant Minister of the Parish.
Mr John Tait – Elder.
James Lidderdale, Writer, Castle Douglas, as Factor for Mr. Parkes Trustees and the Trustees of Mr. Maitland.
Colonel Maxwell PresidesThe Rev. Mr. Grant stated that he had called the present meeting by appointment of the Board of Supervision for the purposes of carrying into effect the provisions of the 32nd Section of the act passed on the fourth day of last month, 8 and 9th of the Queen Victoria, chapter 83rd, for the amendment and better administration of the laws relating to the relief of the Poor in Scotland in as far as that may be necessary in the case of this Parish, and also to assess themselves for the support of the poor during the following year, and he further stated that this meeting was legally called by Edictal citation from the Pulpit and by circular letters to non-resident Heritors.
In Scotland, a heritor was a landholder obliged to contribute to the upkeep of the Parish, especially of the Church. Up till this time the Kirk Session, which was the most minor of the Church Courts, was responsible for both the moral well being of the Parish, calling 'sinners' before it to be admonished, and for the collection of funds from the Heritors for distribution to the poor, commonly referred to as 'Paupers', resident in, or falling under the responsibility of, the Parish.
The Meeting then proceeded to make up a roll of the Poor persons claiming, and by law entitled to relief and a statement of the relief to be given to each, as under.
The following list was therefore compiled from those already receiving poor relief from the Kirk Session. The amounts paid are in Pounds, Shillings and Pence. A shilling was worth 12 old pence, and 240 pennies made one Pound Sterling.
William Thomson - a lunatic in the Crichton Asylum (in Dumfries) - Allowance to the Asylum £18. Deduct for Pension as a discharged Soldier due to the Lunatic £8.12.7 £9.7.5
It is difficult to identify who this man was, although there was a William, born 2nd July 1806, son of William Thomson and Mary Mathieson, at Douganhill, and another born 10th July 1814, son of William Thomson and Margaret McGowan, then in Halketleaths. There were 2 of this name in the 1807 Militia List, but neither were fit to serve as soldiers.
Mrs. McWilliam, a Lunatic also in the Crichton Asylum, wife of Robert McWilliam an able bodied Labourer without a family. Allowance to Asylum £18. Deduct for a proportion of the expense to be paid by the husband £5. £13.0.0
There is no Robert McWilliam listed in either the 1841 or 1851 censuses as living in the parish, nor have I found trace of him in the Old Parish Records.
Mrs. Murphy, a Lunatic also in the said Asylum, wife of Arthur Murphy, an able bodied labourer advanced in years with a family all grown up except two aged 9 and 7 years, one of his grown up children being brought home to take charge of the two younger children. £18. Deduct for a proportion of the expense to be made up by the husband and grown up children £2.10.0. £15.10.0
A. Murphy, a labourer in his early 50's. and born in Ireland, appears in the 1841 census as residing at Cloneshank, with who appears to be his wife Jean in her 40's, and several children. He does not feature in the 1851 census, or in the Old Parish Records.
Andrew Crosbie, a bed rid person boarded with Widow Shearing - per annum. £9.2.6
He is listed in the 1841 census as residing at Auchengate, on Old Buittle Farm. He is in his early 60's and a Pauper then. Shearings are also at Aughengate.
Widow Derby, for her son Peter Miller Derby - a boy below eight years of age, she being unable to support him. Cost per annum. £6.10.0
An Eliza, or Elizabeth Derby is listed in the 1841 census as living at Transalpine, a cottage on Courthill above Palnackie, with what appears to be her husband William. a labourer in his 50's. They had 4 children at home at that time, the youngest of whom was Peter, aged 5 years. Her husband must have died between times.
Ann Herries, an aged person. Cost per annum. £6.10.0
Widow Dunse, an aged person, has a son who was at one time a Gamekeeper, with a family. Cost per annum. £4.10.0.
Widow Hornal, with a young family - Per annum. £5.0.0.
Sarah Hornal's name was the first to be entered in the Register of Poor in 1845. This register was maintained by the Inspector to the Parish Council, and recorded details of those 'on the parish'. She lived in Palnackie. Her husband's death, as well as her own, and of her daughter, many years later are recorded on a gravestone in the churchyard.
Widow McKnight, an old woman without a family. Per Annum. £4.0.0.
Ellen or Helen McKnight (sometimes as McKnaught) is listed in the 1841 census as staying at Kirkstile, adjacent to Buittle church. She lives with George McKnaught aged in his late 70's, also a pauper. By 1851 he is no longer shown, and Helen lives at Courthill. She is shown as having been born in Colvend Parish, a widow aged in her 70's. She died in the summer of 1846.
Widow Alexander, an old woman without a family. Per annum. £4.0.0.
Susan or Susannah Alexander. In 1841 she lived at Park with a 10 year old child, James. She is listed at being 62 years of age and of independent means. By 1851 she is in Palnackie, a lodger with Archie Anderson, the clogger. She was born in Crossmichael Parish.
Margaret Johnston, old and infirm, stays with her daughter and her son-in-law. Per annum. £5.0.0
All I know about Margaret is that, in the 3 months before the Parish Council meeting in August 1846, she died, and was struck of the Poor Register.
James Birkmyre, an old man. Per annum. £4.0.0.
In the 1841 census James Birkmyre is listed as being in his 70's, an agricultural labourer, living in the house of James Carswell, a shipowner in Palnackie. He died in the summer of 1851, the Parish council picking up the bill of 18 shillings and 1 half-pence for his funeral (minutes 5/9/1851)
Thomas Clounie, an old man. Per annum. £4.0.0.
In 1841 this old man, in his 70's, lived in Palnackie. Agnes Clounie aged late 50's is also recorded. Could this have been his wife? They lived along with a family called Hewitson. Anthony Hewitson was a seaman, born in England, and his wife Agnes, born in Buittle. It may be that Agnes was Thomas's daughter. Agnes Clounie's name also appears as a pauper in 1853, in Palnackie, but there is no mention of them in the 1851 census.
Mary Graham, an old woman. Per annum. £4.0.0
In 1851, Mary Graham is listed as living on her own in Palnackie. She is a spinster, aged 72, and was born in Colvend parish. The list of paupers for June 1853 made no mention of her, so she must have died between times.
James Costin, an old man with a wife and grown up son who is married and has a family. Per annum. £5.0.0
In 1841, James Costin was listed as living at Woodend, a now long forgotten pair of cottages on Orchardton Estate, with his wife Isabella. By the time of the 1851 census they had moved to one of the 2 houses at Park of Almorness, again on Orchardton Estate, and Parish council records of 5 June 1858, show Isabella then aged 86 now a widow, back at Woodend and being added to the poor roll. She died 27th April 1866, about 92 years old.
Widow Brydson, a young woman with two young children, whom she is unable fully to support. Per Annum.
The 1851 census has Agnes Brydson, then aged 42, living in Palnackie, with her son William, aged 11. In 1838 she married Robert Brydson from Buittle, probably a Brydson from Broomiebrae who were local weavers and tailors. There is no further record of them in Church or Census records until 1851.
Sarah Dowal, an old woman with a grown up family one of whom assist in supporting her. Per annum. £4.0.0.
Sarah is shown in the 1841 census as Sarah Roan, aged 83 years, apparently residing with a relative called Margaret Roan, aged 20, possibly her granddaughter. The records for 1795, show the baptism of John, son to Robert Roan and Sarah McDowall, and in 1802, the baptism of a William, another son, at Cuil or Cuil Row. Council records for 1846 show that she resided at Corra. Margaret Roan was to prove problematical for the Council as she had at least two illegitimate children, one of whom was fostered by Sarah Hornal (see above), and another who was born in Dumfries, abandoned there to the Parish, and died in infancy. I have found no record of Sarah's death, but her name dropped from the Poor Roll about 1847.
Widow McMin and her daughter. The widow is bed rid and the Daughter is infirm - allowance including house rent. Per annum. £7.5.0.
Janet McMin, who lived in Palnackie, was listed as being 52 in 1851, and a native of Kirkgunzeon parish. She is not the Janet McMinn who appeared in the 1841 census.
Agnes and Janet Stitt, both inform. Per Annum. £5.0.0.
They lived in Dalbeattie.
George McKnight, an old man with an aged wife with a daughter who assists them. Per annum. £4.0.0.
George and Helen McKnight are listed as living at Kirkstile, a cottage attached to the church yard at Buittle, in 1841. He was 75 years of age then, she 60. George's death is not recorded, but Sarah is listed as a widow by 1853, and shown living on her own in Palnackie in 1851. She was born in Colvend.
Margaret Sloan, old and nearly blind, has no person to assist her and must be boarded. Per Annum. £.6.0.0.
In 1841 Margaret was in her 70's, and lived with her family at Hardhills. She does not appear on the 1851 census, but was alive and well in June 1853, according to the Council minutes.
John Alexander - totally unable to work, has a wife and several children. Two sons are grown up and at service, one of whom is married and has a family. One of the daughters is at service. These children are able to assist their parents. One of the other sons is now able to work and there are five children at home. The wife is quite able to work. The Allowance £10.0.0. per annum.
I have not established where the Alexanders lived.
Mary Clark, an old woman boarded at - Per annum. £5.0.0.
I have not been able to establish Mary's connection to the Parish, but by June 1848 she had removed to Castle Douglas, and on 6th September 1850, the minutes record that she has died there.
Michael Fitzsimmon, and his wife, their family are grown up. Two of the sons are gardeners and are able to support their parents. An allowance of £4.0.0. per annum to be given and measures taken to compel the sons to repay the Parish. £4.0.0.
Michael Fitzsimmon was an Irish immigrant, working as an agricultural labourer. He was aged 55 in 1841, as was his wife Marion, and they lived at Halketleaths cottage. His death is not listed, but in 1847 'widow' Fitzsimmon is admitted to the roll. She is not shown on the 1851 census for the parish, but in 1852 she was struck from the roll as one of her daughters (in England) had agreed to support her mother.
The son of Ebenezer Hume and Mary Miller, who was exposed by the mother. The mother is unable to contribute to the support of the child, and the father has hitherto paid three pounds to account of the aliment but as he is now able to bear the whole expense the same must now devolve to him, and the meeting direct one quarter's allowance only to be paid - and further direct measures to be taken to compel the father to repay to the Parish that allowance and to relieve the Parish of the maintenance of the child in the future. This quarter's allowance. £0.15.0
The Old Parish Records name the child as Ebenezer. He was born 18th December 1842 and baptised 29th April, 1843. His mother was listed as Mary Miller from Dumfries, but his father's details were not shown. The father Ebenezer has not been identified in the parish, and Mary soon made off abandoning the child. He was also lodged with Sarah Hornal (see above) and continued to be supported by the Parish.
William Duncan and family of eight children, four of them away from their parents, but unable to assist them, and four with them respectively eleven, nine, six and four years old. The husband lame from an accident and the wife delicate, Per annum. £8.10.0
William lived in Troqueer Parish, to the west of Dumfries. I have not been able to establish his link to Buittle, but it must be there somewhere, as the Council would not have paid him otherwise. No doubt the Session records will reveal all.
Grace McClellan. Settlement disputed bewixt the Parish of Urr and this parish, and to prevent a lawsuit the two parishes agreed to support her - the whole expense is seven pounds four shillings. The half payable by this parish. £3.12.0.
Grace McClellan resided in Dalbeattie. It was quite common for protracted disputes to arise between Parishes over who was responsible for making payments. Many of the heritors were extremely unwilling to part with any of their money if they didn't absolutely have to!
It was stated that no application for relief had been made and refused since the act came into operation.
The meeting nominated and appointed Mr James McKie, Schoolmaster at Woodhead to be Inspector of the Poor for this Parish at a salary of Ten Pounds per annum
The meeting unanimously resolve that the necessary funds for the support of the Poor of this Parish shall not be raised by legal assessment, but that they shall be supplied by voluntary contribution and collections at the church as formerly.
The meeting then proceeded to fix the sum which will be required for the support of the Poor for the current year, the Inspector and other salaries, and allowances for occasional Poor which amounts in whole to One hundred and ninety Pounds
The church collections it is calculated for the current year will amount to twenty pounds leaving the sum of one hundred and seventy pounds to be provided for. The Tenants in the parish will raise fifty pounds of this sum and the meeting agree to raise the remaining one hundred and twenty pounds from the Heritors, to be contributed by each Heritor according to his valued rent.
The meeting Nominate and appoint Wellwood Maxwell Esq. of Munches chairman of the Parochial Board of this Parish for the ensuing year.
So ended the inaugural meeting of Buittle Parochial Council. Not a great step away from the Kirk Session, still the same member, still the same paupers, still the same arguments about how much relief the poor of the parish should be grateful for. It did however, take notional control away from the church, into the power of the government.
