RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Perthshire => Topic started by: moo on Tuesday 11 September 18 20:42 BST (UK)
-
Good Evening Everyone
I have a Baptism and what appears to be a marriage recorded at the same time with what appears to be a telling off, would this have been a normal thing in 1760 ? in the Parish of Dowally, but James and Margaret were wed 2 months previous in Dunkeld.
Roll of Baptisms Dowally 22nd June 1760
Baptised to James Campbell and to his lawful (s/wife)? Margt McLaughlan in Balna Beggan a child in
? ? ? fornication and called James and was ? ? ? rebuked and absolved for his sin of ? ? ? fornication.
Regards
Moo
-
a child in ante nuptial fornication
and was publicly rebuked
for sin of ante nuptial
-
Just to add it's 'his Lawful Spouse'.
I've have seen this a lot in Kirk Session minutes. Looks as if this one evidently got into the Baptism register.You might find the same thing written for other baptisms in this parish.
From what I understand, the Scottish Kirks were very hot on 'Antenuptial fornication', and other misdemeanours. As I said, Kirk Session records I've seen for a few parishes are full of this. The couples had to go before the kirk to admit their sin, and be publicly 'rebuked'. Sometimes having to stand in disgrace on the 'naughty stool' in front of all the other parishioners in the church I believe 'in repentance', to be sniggered at and whispered about, and pay a fine.
(I have an ancestor who had to do similar penance for 'furious dancing'!! Evidently the Kirk were very hot on not being able to enjoy yourself! :) )
See 'Scottish Life in the Eighteenth Century' by Henry Grey Graham.
-
A famous occupier of the kirk "naughty stool" was Robert Burns.
Are you able to define "furious dancing"? Highland Fling?
Of course it was known that dancing of any kind could lead to fornication, so should be avoided.
-
No Maiden Stone - haven't been able to discover what kind of dancing!
As you say, all forms of dancing were frowned on, as it lead directly to fornication (of course!).
It was evidently even classed as 'promiscuous dancing' if you danced with someone other than your own wife. :)
It didn't seem to stop a lot of people though. The Kirk Session records are full of 'promiscuous' people. :)
-
Thank you Everyone
I shall certainly check the Kirk Sessions records to see if they are mentioned.
Regards
Moo
Furious Dancing lol - love it
-
Catholic priests in Ireland also frowned on dancing. >:(
A woman with same name as my 6xGGM, living in same village as her at same time, was among a long list of people summonsed to appear at the parish church in the nearest big town in Lancashire (same town where Quarter Sessions were held) to answer charges of fornication. :o In defence of my ancestor's virtue, both her names were common locally. This happened in 1720s.
-
Hi Moo,
There was something else that was used to demoralize the poor souls at Dowally Parish Church in Perthshire, and that was jougs. It consisted of a metal ring that fitted round the neck of the ''culprit'' and was attached to a thick metal chain. They would be secured firmly to this contraption attached to the church door so the good and kindly congregation could spit, may I say, use foul language and degrade the poor soul who would be attached. There is one on display to this day on the side door of the church and original.
One case I had been fortunate to read where a young girl of sixteen years in 1823 in winter time was so chained in no more that a slim white dress. Her unholy thoughts had turned to sex, at least so the Church Minister and his clerks had decided; in fact she was molested by a male member of the village. It had been decided by the Good Men of the Church that this girl of young years had corrupted the male members mind that had caused him to display himself in a ravenous theme and raped her. She spent four Sundays chained so, with her family skirting past with bowed heads and others making her feel wretched, frightened, filthy and no doubt wishing she be dead.
All the above is factual and this was a mild dose of punishment much more cruel acts were carried out and all in the name of our Saviour..........Jesus Christ.
-
:-X
-
The good people of Dowally had obviously missed the point of the incident in the New Testament when a woman accused of adultery was brought before Jesus to be stoned and he said "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".
-
Maiden Stone,
Yes Biblical times were written by seers, men who dreamed of matters that the good lord said, supposedly......but alas they and he were not there in Dowally, Perthshire to keep the good citizens right; but flesh and blood individuals trying to follow a scripture thousands of years later.
Read some of the punishments directed by Ministers, Priests etc. in these near days you may get a surprise that Our Lord was obviously absent...............