Marriage Contract of 1650

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi there

I'm having a problem deciphering parts of this document from 1650.

What I have so far is:

June 30 being Sabbath

Contract   The whilk day Jhon Godsman and Elspet Broune both parishoners were contracted before the elders William .......... ? & John Mather all .......... ? interest giving their consent William L.......... ? .......... ? .......... ? for Jhon Godsman plaidge & Jhon Broune for his daughter Elspet Broune .......... ?

July 22

Marriage   The whilk day John Godsman and Elspert Broune both parishoners were married

WHILK is old Scots for WHICH ... I'm certain of that having read extracts from Sir Walter Scot's "Rob Roy"

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

Regards

Chiad Fhear


Extract from a document obtained from the Scottish Records

[JAP]

Junne 30 being Sabbath

Contract
The whilk day Jhon godsman and elspet Broune both parishoners were

contracted before the elders William Lies & John Walker all parties having

interrest giving ther consent William Lies becam cation for John godsmans

plaidge & John Broune for his daughter elspet Broune plaidge 4 lib

July 22

Marriage
The whilk day John godman and elspet Broune both parishoners were maried

Not certain about the number of pounds constituting the pledge - looks like 4.

'cation' = caution i.e. William stood security for John, and her father stood security for Elspet.

JAP

[Chiad Fhear]

This is looking promising JAP and now begins to make some sense.

Thanks for you help 

Chiad Fhear

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi JAP

I've just returned from the University Library where I managed to peruse the Kirk Session Minutes for Dunino, circa 1650, in the hope of finding confirmation for the names of the elders and it seems fairly conclusive that Lies/Lees and Walker are correct.

Interestingly, the Minutes are written in the same hand as the Contract/Marriage!

I can't find reference to 'lib' anywhere but I'm assuming it refers to money!  That's what makes the world - and the Kirk - go round    Two dictionaries give "To lib a farm animal is to castrate it" 

Cheers

Chiad Fhear

[JAP]

Hello again Chiad Fear,

Lib or li - superscript often with a line through it - is the standard old Scots abbreviation for 'pounds'.

Let me know if you can't locate a reference - it probably would be in the SP glossary and on the Scottish Handwriting site (under numbers or money).  I won't search for it now - far too late here where I live!

You are lucky to have such access to Kirk Session Minutes - but how could you have doubted me! 

Regards,

JAP

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi JAP

Can I pose you another bit of the same document, this time the baptism of John and Elspet's son John Jnr in November the same year

I have this so far:

Friday November 15

Baptism   The whilk day Jhon Gossman in Strafvithie Cotton  re? ane testimonial to the Minister of St Leonards parish ? baptised male child which was named Jhon Wittnesses Jhon Broune Strafvithie Cotton Andrew Sh?

Can you complete it for me?

Regards

Chiad Fhear


Extract from a document obtained from the Scottish Records

[JAP]

Hi Chiad Fear,

I'm having a bit of difficulty.
Obviously John Godsman sent a testimonial to the Minister of St Leonards Parish attesting to the fact that his son had been baptized and named John - but ...

At least I can see that witness Andrew's surname is Spence!

**********
Baptisme

friday Novemb: 15

The wilk day Jhon godssman in strafuthie colton ?receafed? ane

testimoniall to the minister of St Leonards parish anont the baptism

bef... his male child which was named Jhon  wittnesses Jhon Broune

strafuthie colton Andrew spence
**********

Notes:
-Strafuthie an old spelling of what is currently Stravithie
-Colton probably stands for Coaltown - Dunino used to have coal-pits
-what looks like 'anont' (middle letter not like 'e' or 'a') is surely a spelling of 'anent' i.e. about
-testimonials did seem to be sent in to the parish.  I have Dunfermline records from the early 1600s which refer to a 'testimonial from Aberdour'

JAP

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi JAP

Many thanks, once again, for your help with this document.  The script is quite difficult to decipher in some places but I think you have got it.

Whilst not wishing to contest your theory, I've come across 'Cotton' quite a lot in this part of Fife and it seems to be a collection of cottar houses (or cottages) usually found on or around a farm almost forming a hamlet.  Most of them have either been demolished or converted into 'holiday cottages' as the farmers 'diversify'

Regards

Chiad Fhear