Drowning fatalities at Don mouth

On Thursday afternoon, a melancholy accident happened at the Mouth of the River Don, by the upsetting of one of the Cobles employed in the Salmon Fishing there, and on board of which there were four salmon fishers, a woman with her two children, whom she had taken out for trying the effects of the sea air in alleviating the hooping cough, and a girl of about 13 years of age.  The four men were pulling out the coble through the breach on the sea shore, when a heavy swell struck it, already deep in the water with the net and number of people on board, and an alarm of danger being given by their cries and shrieks, an attempt was made to draw the coble to the shore, but unsuccessfully, the succeeding wave upsetting it, by which all were thrown into the sea.  The net, which was partly out, was immediately drawn in by the fishermen on shore, by which means two of their companions were brought out, while a number of White Fishers, who were accidentally near the spot, with the most praise-worthy alacrity rushed, into the water, and succeeded in bringing the remaining part of the unfortunate people to the land, two of the men, however, after some interval of time, and the whole seemingly in a lifeless state.  Some of the people present, with the prompt and laudable assistance of Mr Nicol's servants, and the carts from his farm, had them conveyed to Mr Allan's House, Brick-kilns, and another near; where, after a long perseverance in every endeavour which the circumstances would allow, or humanity suggest, the greater part of them were restored.  But we regret to state, that Thomas Nicol, a respectable old man, and John Hay, a young man of 23 years of age, much regretted, also one of the children about six months, were unfortunately past recovery - the means which had been used, both by those present after the accident, and afterwards by the Medical Gentlemen who attended, having unhappily failed of restoring animation.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 23rd June 1819.

Buckie: Police Court

Before Bailie Hendry yesterday, Donald Robertson and John Noble, labourers, were fined 2s. 6d. each, or 24 hours, for being drunk and incapable.  A similar fine was imposed on Michael Baker, labourer, for a contravention of the Police Act.  John Hay, carter, Seafield Street, Cullen, pleaded guilty to working a bay mare by causing it to draw a lorry while suffering from a suppurating sore underneath the saddle.  He was fined 16s., or five days.

Published in the Banffshire Journal, Tuesday 26th May 1914.

Cullen Kirk Session Minutes, 26th December 1813

This day the Moderator gave in to the Treasurer Two Guineas, being a Donation to the Poor of the Parish from Mr. John Hay in Leith.  At the same time the Moderator produced a letter from Alex. Watson in Portsoy confessing himself to be the father of the child which Jean Pirie lays to his charge.  The Session resolved not to proceed further in this case till it be laid before the Presbytery.

To be continued...

Cullen Kirk Session Minutes, 1813 (NAS Reference: CH2/1113/7)

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