Cairntown of Birkenbog

TO LET,

For 19 Years, with immediate possession,

THAT part of CAIRNTOWN of BIRKENBOG, lately held by William Currie; contains about 22 Scots Arable Acres.

ALSO,

The CROFT called WRIGHTSLAND, held by John Hendry, contains about 9 ½ Acres; and a Part of SUMMERTOWN held by him in sub-lease.

Thomas Gillice, at Birkenbog, will shew the Grounds; and offers to be made to A. Young, Esq. at Banff, or to the Proprietor at Mayen.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 22nd July 1818.

John Steinson, Craigyford

NOTICE TO CREDITORS.

THE Creditors of JOHN STEINSON, late in Craigyford, in the parish of Fordyce, are requested to lodge their Claims, with oaths of verity, in the hands of John Smith, Writer in Banff, agent for the trustees, before the 1st day of August next; and in the meantime, the trustees accounts will be seen in Mr Smith's hands.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 3rd June 1818.

Circuit court

On Wednesday, the Court met at ten o'clock, when William Leisk, grain dealer from Banffshire, accused of forgery, or uttering and using a Bill, knowing it to be forged, was put to the bar.  A material witness, the brother of the pannel, being absent, and his father, another witness, being allowed by the Court to decline giving evidence, the Public Prosecutor restricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment; and the libel having been found proven by the Jury, the Court sentenced the pannel to seven years transportation beyond seas.

Robert Stephen, accused of stealing 4 ewes, and a wedder, from Wm. Dickie, at Earlseat of Cruden, and of being habit and repute a thief.  The libel against him being restricted by the Depute Advocate, he pled guilty, and was sentenced to 14 years transportation beyond seas.

Peter Clark, accused of stealing a ewe and lamb from James Currie, at Braeach of Fordyce, having pled guilty, and the libel being also restricted, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in the Tolbooth of Banff.

William Strath and George Strath, from Boghead of Fyvie, and John Thom, flesher in Oldmeldrum, were indicted - the said William Strath for stealing, from a house in Inverury, a Silver Watch, with chains and seals; and George Strath and John Thom for aiding and assisting William Strath in breaking out of the jail of Inverury.  William Strath was outlawed for not appearing; George Strath being found not guilty and the libel against John Thom not proven, they were assoilzed and dismissed from the bar.

The diet against John Salman, alias Salomon, John McCraw, William Forbes, and John Duchison, accused of theft and housebreaking, and John Davidson, accused of theft, on account of the absence of a material witness, was deserted pro loco et tempore, and they were re committed on a new warrant.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 29th April 1818.

Banffshire farm leases

BANFFSHIRE.

Farms in the Boyne, and on the Estate of Birkenbog, to

be Let for 19 Years, from Whitsunday and Martinmas next,

THAT PART of BREACH, possessed by Mr John Black, consisting of about 100 Acres, besides some adjoining Crofts which may be added to it; and should offerers incline, that Part of this Farm called BLACKFOLDS, consisting of from 28 to 30 Acres, will be Let separately.

The NEW PARK, occupied by Walter Gray, together with the PARTS of BREACH and CLASHENDAMER also held by him, containing about 100 Acres; and the PART of CAIRNTOUN, held by John Hendrie, consisting of about 25 Acres.

The Farms may be divided, or differently arranged, to suit the conveniency of offerers, and to some of them additional improveable Land may be annexed.  They are situated in the Parish and near the Village of Fordyce, in that fertile district of country betwixt Portsoy and Cullen, in the immediate vicinity of Sea-ports, Markets, Lime and Manure.  Liberal encouragement will be given to industrious tenants with capital.

Application may be made, and offers given in at Forglen House, near Turriff; or to Archd. Young, Writer in Banff, and the Farms and boundaries will be pointed out by Thomas Gillies, Ground-officer at Birkenbog.

Birkenbog Farm Leases

BANFFSHIRE.

FARMS IN THE BOYNE.

To be Let, for 19 years,

THE following FARMS on the ESTATE of BIRKENBOG, viz:-

	Scots Acres
	A.	R.	F.
Lot 1st.  UPPER MAINS OF BIRKENBOG, possessed by Mr Wm. Mitchell, containing	73	3	22
Lot 2d.  That Part of CAIRNTON, possessed by Mr Wm. Ewen,	59	0	36
Lot 3d.  Do. possessed by Mr John Hendry,	24	3	39
Lot 4th.  BACKFAULDS, and part of the MOOR of BREACH, adjoining, possessed by Mr John Black, This Lot will be Let by itself, or along with Lots 3d or 5th, as offerers may incline.	28	2	10
Lot 5th.  That Part of BREACH, possessed by Mr John Black, containing	70	0	0

  Besides a few Acres adjoining, possessed by Wm. Inglis - and in a few years hence, another possession of 16 Acres may be added.

Lot 6.  The NEW PARK, possessed by Walter Gray, with part of BREACH and CLASHENDAMER, contents not ascertained.

Lot 7.  Part of CLASHENDAMER, possessed by Mr Wm. Mitchell, with more Ground adjoining, extent not ascertained.

Lot 8.  Part of SUMMERTOWN, possessed by Wm. Ewen, to be Let in Sub-lease, extent not ascertained.

Lots 1st, 2d, 3d, and 5th, are all Arable - and the other Lots are partly Arable, Pasture, and Improveable Ground - and additional Improveable Ground may be had, if desired.  The Lots may be divided or differently arranged, to suit the convenience of offering tenants.  Entry to Lot 2d may be had immediately or at Martinmas first, and to all the others at Whitsunday next.

The Lands like in the Parish, and near the Village of Fordyce, in that fertile district of country betwixt Portsoy and Cullen - and are conveniently situated for Sea-ports, Markets, Lime and Manure.  Liberal encouragement will be given to industrious tenants with capital.

Application may be made, and offers given in, at Forglen-house, near Turriff; or to Archibald Young, Banff - and the Farms will be shewn, and the boundaries pointed out the Thomas Gillice, Ground-officer at Birkenbog.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 6th August 1817.

Dykehead farm lease

FARM TO LET,

ON THE ESTATE OF DURN, BANFFSHIRE.

THE FARM of DYKEHEAD, situated about 3 miles from Portsoy, on the Turnpike Road leading from thence to Keith and Huntly, as presently possessed by William Wilson, containing 64 Acres Arable, and 32 of Pasture, will be Let, for such number of years as may be agreed on, with entry at Whitsunday or Martinmas next.

Peter Badenoch at Knockdurn will show the marches; and Mr Cameron, Writer in Banff, will give any further information that may be required.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 11th June 1817.

In memory of Pte James Main

James Main was the son of Mrs Jane Main, who lived at 24 Chapel Street in Portsoy.  He served at Pte 10/1901 in the Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force and fought along with them at Gallipoli, where he was fatally wounded.  He died of his wounds in London on 22nd September 1915, aged 23 years.

James is commemorated by a marble stone in Fordyce Old Kirkyard and on the Portsoy town war memorial.

In memory of Alexander Gray

On this day we remember the loss of Alexander Gray.  At the age of 18 Alexander was serving in the Royal Naval Reserve when, on 9^th June 1915, he died of wounds sustained in action in the Dardanelles.  A gravestone is dedicated to him at Mudros in Greece and he is also commemorated on the family gravestone in Portsoy cemetery.  Alexander was the son of John and Maggie Gray who lived at Muir of Glassaugh, Fordyce.

In memory of James Grant Gray and Donald Stuart

One hundred years on, Portsoy war casualties James Grant Gray and Donald Stuart are present in our thoughts.  Both young men were on active service with the Gordon Highlanders when they lost their lives on 16^th May 1915.  Both are commemorated on the LeTouret memorial in Pas de Calais, France. 

James Grant Gray, Pte 909, Gordon Highlanders was aged 23 at the time of his death.  His parents were William Ker Gray, Glenboyne, Portsoy, Banffshire, and Christina McKechnie Gray.

Donald Stuart, Pte 1470, 6^th Battalion Gordon Highlanders was the son of James & Annie Stuart of Cultain, Fordyce and was only 17 when he was killed.  His name is absent from the Portsoy town memorial but he is commemorated on the family gravestone in Portsoy cemetery.  

James Williamson, Glassaugh, Fordyce

Today we remember James Williamson, Pte 1465, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, a casualty of the battle of Neuve Chapelle.  James was the son of J. Williamson, gamekeeper at Glassaugh, Fordyce, and was aged just 19 when he died on 13th March 1915.  He is named on the memorial at Le Touret in Pas de Calais, France.

Masters and Servants

A complaint having been brought before the Justices of Peace of Banffshire, by Mr Ogilvie, farmer at Tillynaught, against William Duncan and James Pirie, his servants, who had refused to do some necessary work after six o'clock (at night), and had soon after deserted their service, the Justices, after considering the complaint, and hearing parties, found that the servants had forfeited their wages from Whitsunday last to the period of desertion (being nearly three months), fined them in £1 15s. sterl. of expences each, besides the expence of extracting; - And were of opinion that it is a very mistaken idea, which has become but too prevalent in the country, that farm servants are not bound to work after six at night - there being no such law in existence; but on the contrary, they are bound to obey the orders of their masters at all hours when he may necessarily require their labours; and the farmer who permits such customs, in order to gain low popularity in the country, is doing a very serious injury to himself, and to the agricultural interest at large.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 24th August 1814.

Farm leases at Birkenbog, Fordyce

FARMS TO LET,

IN THE PARISH OF FORDYCE, BANFFSHIRE.

To be Let, and entered to at Whitsunday 1815,

THE following FARMS, on the Estate of Birkenbog, viz:

The UPPER MAINS of BIRKENBOG, possessed by James Murray, Esq.

MILL and MILL LANDS of TOWIE, possessed by Ditto.

CLASHENDAMER, as lately possessed by the deceased Peter Geddes.

And the two Pendicles of CLASHENDAMER, formerly attached to Mains of Birkenbog and Towie, which will be let separately, or along with these Farms, as offerers may incline.

Mains of Birkenbog consists of upwards of 80 acres, and Towie of upwards of 100 acres of excellent arable land, besides a considerable extent of pasture and improveable grounds.  They are situated in the most fertile district of Banffshire, near the sea coast, and almost adjoining the turnpike road from Portsoy to Cullen.

Proposals, in writing, may be given in to Sir George Abercromby, Baronet, Forglen-House, by Turriff; or to Archibald Young, Writer in Banff, who will inform as to other particulars.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 29th June 1814.

Alexander Bower, Fordyce

Upon Saturday the 8th curt. a vagrant calling himself Alex. Bower, a native of the parish of Fordyce, was apprehended at Huntly by the constables, and brought before the Justices there, charged with theft; and the same being clearly proven, they sentenced him to be confined in Bridewell (which seems to him to be a place of amusement, he having been there twice before) for the space of twelve months, therein to be kept at hard labour.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 12th May 1813.