Dechipering OPR Burials

[wildgoose]

I have just received extracts from OPR burials for Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath.  All though a poor photocopy I can more or less make out what each column means except for one.  Next to the column heading RESIDENCE is one called CLO(E)ATH or MORE CL(E)OATH?  Any ideas?

Many thanks.

[sheepy450]

"cloath" looks like some kind of Scots word for "cloth" - but that doesn't make much sense for a residence!    Would you be able to put the extract on here so we can see it?
Anna

[JAP]

It sounds as if it is something to do with the Mortcloth.  Normally a parish had two or three mortcloths (the cloth which covered the coffin as it was taken to the cemetery) which were hired out for a specified charge (the rates varied according to the quality or size of the mortcloth).

JAP
PS: I've just looked at the online Dictionary of the Scots Language for specifically Scottish spellings of mortcloth.  It gives mortcloth, mortcloath, mortclaith and also morecloth, morecloath, moreclaith. 

[wildgoose]

Many thanks below are the extracts.  They appear as written.

Dave

OPR Burials, Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, ANS, recs.
1831, Jun 24th, son of David NICOL, flaxdresser, age10 years.
res: Guthrie Port or S? P?
desease: inflamation.
pob: St Vigants.
cle?ath: St Vigants.
nearest to what stone in the yard: 2 F, N & E of Griffath NICOL's stone.

OPR Burials, Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, ANS, recs.
1831, Oct 19th, child (daur.) of David NICOL, flaxdresser, age 1 & half years. /
res: Stolescrofs?
desease: mezels.
pob: Arbroath.
more cloath?: non.
Distance from what stone: 1 F N & E of Griffath NICOLS

OPR Burials, Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, ANS, recs.
1832, Jan 26th, David NICOL, flaxdresser, marr., age 61 years.
res: H?M?oles?erass?
deseas: assa(d)my
pob: St Vigants
cleath?: St Vigants
nearest to what stone: on S & E of Greffan NICOL

[wildgoose]

I have had another look at them again and if you read "more cloath" as "mort cloth" it fits in with what you are saying.

Dave

[JAP]

Interesting stuff.

I've not seen burial entries like that before.  Are they from a parish film?

Could you post the image so we could have a go at deciphering the other words?

I take it that Griffath/Greffan NICOL(S) is the father of flaxdresser David and that you have the following from the IGI:
Griffin NICCOL m Meatie KAIRIE 1764 Saint Vigeans
Griffith NICOL m Meatie CAIRIE 1764 Arbilot
(banns called in two parishes)

They had (all bap at Arbroath and father's name given as Griffith):
Margaret 1767 (mother's name given as Matilda KAREY)
Isobel 1767 (do)
James 1771 (do)
David 1769 (do)
Mary 1773 (Methilda CARY)
Helen 1775 (Methilda CAREY)

Griffith possibly the following:
Gryphin NICOL, bap 1737 Carmyllie, father James NICOL

And perhaps this is also him?
Griffith NICOL m Elspet BUTTER, 1785 Arbroath

Regards,

JAP

[wildgoose]

The are photocopies I ordered from Angus Council archives.  I will try and scan them but they are already very dark.  The David b 1769 is a possible the David on the burial record. 

Below is the rest of my info.

Dave

Name:   David NICOLL
----------------------------------------
Birth:   1771   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Forfar.
Death:   1832   Arbraoth, Forfar.
Burial:   24 6 1832   Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, Forfar.
Occupation:   Flax dresser
Father:   Griffith NICOLL
Marriage:   12 6 1812   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
----------------------------------------
Spouse:   Bryce BARRIE
----------------------------------------
Birth:   1792   Arbroath, Forfar.
Christen:   30 1 1792   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Forfar.
Death:   14 10 1858   West Abbey St., Arbroath, Fofar.1
Burial:   1858   Abbey Churchyard, Abroath, Fofar.
Father:   Peter BARRIE
Mother:   Margaret STRONER
Other Spouses:   John STEPHEN

Children:
----------------------------------------
1 M:   George Griffith NICOLL
Birth:   1812   Arbroath, Forfar.
Christen:   30 11 1812   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Forfar.
Death:   20 12 1874   49 West Grimsby St., Arbroath, Forfar.2
Occupation:   Police constable.  Other occs. also recd.
Religion:   Church of England.
Spouse:   Mary Ann ANDERSON
Marriage:   10 10 1840   Parish Church of St. George, Middlesex, London.3
----------------------------------------
2 M:   David NICOLL
Birth:   1814   Arbroath, Fofar.
Christen:   9 9 1814   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
Death:   2 7 1867   31 King Street, Montrose, Angus, Scotland.4
Occupation:   Flaxdresser
Spouse:   Rachel DUNBAR
Marriage:   11 10 1834   Brechin Parish, Angus, Scotland
----------------------------------------
3 M:   William Webster NICOLL
Birth:   1816   Arbroath, Fofar.
Christen:   26 6 1816   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
----------------------------------------
4 M:   Frederick NICOLL
Birth:   1819   Arbroath, Fofar.
Christen:   24 4 1819   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
Death:   10 1 1863   34 Applegate, Arbroath, Forfar.5
Occupation:   Weaver later Pte. 71st Foot.
Spouse:   Catherine LOW
Marriage:   6 7 1839   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
----------------------------------------
5 M:   Robert Smith NICOLL
Birth:   1821   Arbroath, Fofar.
Christen:   1 5 1821   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Fofar.
Death:   1831   Arbraoth, Forfar.
Burial:   24 6 1831   Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, Forfar.
----------------------------------------
6 M:   John NICOLL
Birth:   1827   Angus.
Occupation:   Canvas hand loom weaver
----------------------------------------
7 M:   Alexander Webster NICOLL
Birth:   1828   St. Vigeans, Arbroath, Forfar.
Death:   27 9 1891   54 Helen Street, St Vigeans, Arbroath.
Occupation:   Flax spinner.
Religion:   Church of Scotland
Spouse:   Ann Deuchars KENNEDY
Marriage:   30 5 1862   22 Helen St., Arbroath, Forfar.6
Spouse:   Isabella SHANDS
Marriage:   19 6 1852   Arbroath, Forfar.
----------------------------------------
8 F:   NICOLL
Birth:   5 1830   Arbraoth, Forfar.
Death:   10 1831   Arbraoth, Forfar.
Burial:   19 10 1831   Abbey Churchyard, Arbroath, Forfar.

[JAP]

Hi again Dave,

The LDS Library Catalogue lists a number of Arbroath burials films.  Might they be clearer?

Search on FamilySearch, Library Catalogue, place Arbroath Scotland.

That middle name Griffith of David's first son George strongly suggests a connexion with Griffith NICOL - though the proximity of the graves is even more convincing.  Griffith was an unusual forename and the surname NICOL not (from the IGI) all that common in the area ...

Best regards,

JAP

[wildgoose]

Many thanks.

Dave