Kirk Sessions
Some extracts from the Kirk Sessions for Strachan.
Christian Wood and George Barclay
1777 October 5
Compeared Christian Wood in Knock acknowledged herself guilty of the sin of fornication and to be with child to George Barclay in Coran being properly admonished she was cited to attend the meeting of session on Sunday next and Geo Barclay was also appointed to be cited to attend said meeting session closed with prayer.
1777 October 12
Christian Wood being called upon appeared and adhered to her former declaration. Excuse was made for George Barclay’s not attending this meeting. The officer was ordered to cite him to attend on Sunday next. Christian wood was also summoned to attend.
1777 October 19
Christian Wood being called upon declared as above. George Barclay being also called upon appeared and acknowledged himself guilty of the sin of fornication with Christian Wood and father of her child. George Barclay made offer of Twenty Shillings Sterling for behoof of the poor upon being absolved with a sessional rebuke. The Session taking the same into their consideration agreed. He was accordingly rebuked before them seriously exhorted to repentance and absolved paid One Pound Sterling.
Christian Wood was appointed to make the usual appearances before the congregation as she should be directed and pay the usual penalty. Session closed with prayer.
1777 October 26
Christian Wood appeared pro primo and was seriously exhorted to repentance.
1777 November 30
George Barclay in Coran had his natural daughter baptised named Margaret. Witness David Lindsay in Knockhill.
1778 February 8
Christian Wood appeared pro secundo was rebuked seriously exhorted to repentance.
1778 April 5
Christian Wood appeared pro tertio paid her penalty (6/8)
Janet Morice and James Petrie
1778 October 4
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr, Will Lindsay and John Rennie Elders and Jas Birss Session Clerk. Compeared Janet Morice wife of Jas Petrie in Waterhead, acknowledged that she was guilty of the sin of anti-nuptial fornication with the said Jas Petrie was properly admonished and absolved.
John Taylor and Jean Grant
1778 July 4
John Taylor and Jean Grant both in this parish were contracted in order for marriage.
1778 August 2
Compared John Taylor and Jean Grant and acknowledged themselves guilty of the sin of anti-nuptial fornication at the same time signifying their willingness, upon being dismissed with a Sessional rebuke to give for the behoof of the poor the sum of thirteen shillings and four pence (13/4) which being agreed to and paid in accordingly they were seriously exhorted to repentance and absolved. Session closed with prayer.
1778 August 18
John Taylor in Shamphire had a daughter baptised named Isobel.
Alexander Wood and Margaret Lyon
1778 December 5
Alexr Wood and Margaret Lyon both in this parish were contracted in order for marriage.
1778 December 7
Appeared Alexr wood and Margaret Lyon and acknowledged themselves guilty of the sin of anti-nuptial fornication. The Session after maturely considering the case agreed to dismiss them with a sessional rebuke. They were accordingly properly admonished and absolved paid for behoof of the poor. (3/-)
Alexander Wood had a daughter baptised named Margaret.
1779 January 18
To the widow and children of William Nivy who was found dead on the hill in the late storm (10/-)
April to June 1780
1780 April 16
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr and William Lindsay and John Rennie Elders and Jas Birss session Clk. Compeared being called upon Isobel Smith in Letterbeg and acknowledged herself guilty of the sin of fornication and to be with child to George Mitchel late servant in Bucharn now in the parish of Durris. She was seriously exhorted to repentance. A letter appointed to be wrote Mr Strachan Minister at Durris to cause cite Geo Mitchel to attend the meeting of session on Sunday next.
A certificate appointed for Elizabeth Nicol. Session closed with prayer.
Fran Strachan’s Funeral charges 8/-
Alexander Lindsay Funeral charges 8/-
April 23
Distribute to Margaret Knowles 1/10
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr, Will Lindsay, Thos Will and John Rennie elders and James Birss Session clerk.
Compeared Isobel Smith and adhered to her former declaration.
Geo Mitchel likewise appeared and acknowledged himself guilty of the sin of fornication with the said Isobel Smith. It being reported to the session that Elspet (sic) Smith in Bucharn is with child to the said George Mitchel and he being interrogated acknowledged the truth of the report upon which he was cited Apud Acta to attend a meeting of the Kirk session on said day. Isobel Smith is appointed to make her first appearance before the congregation on Sunday first. They were both serious exhorted to repentance. Session Closed with prayer
April 30
Sermon Luke Ch 16-30. Collected for the Infirmary One pound Ten Shillings Sterling and transmitted accordingly.
Isobel Smith appeared pro primo
May 5
William Merchant in Pitdelphan had a daughter baptised named Jean.
May 7 lecture Matt Ch 10.37-7. Collected 1/-
Isobel Smith appeared pro secunda paid her penalty (6/8). Is appointed to appear Sunday next.
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr, Will Lindsay, Thos Will and John Rennie elders and Jas Birss Session Clerk. Elspet Smith being called upon appeared and being interrogated acknowledged herself guilty of the sin of fornication and to be with child to the forementioned George Mitchel who not attending this meeting was appointed to be wrote to by the clerk. Elspet Smith being seriously exhorted to repentance was appointed to make the usual appearances. Session closed with prayer.
May 14
Isobel Smith appeared pro tertio and absolved.
Distributed to Margt Knowles 2/-
Janet Knowles 2/-
William Anderson 3/-
May 27
William Merchant in this parish and Anne Brand in the parish of Birse were contracted in order for marriage.
May 28
Lecture Matthew Ch 11.20
Sermon Luke ch.19-16/17/18. Collected 2/3.
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr Thos Will and Will Lindsay elders and Jas Birss session Clerk.
Distribute to Christian Clark 2/3
Certificates given to Jas Petrie, James Linton and Bar Murray. T
he Clerk reported he had wrote Geo Mitchel according to appointment he being called upon did not appear. It being reported he had left the country and gone to sea. The Session agreed to delay any further procedure against him till further information could be obtained.
June 11 Elspet Smith appeared pro primo
June 14
(Helen Mitchel baptised) Isobel Smith in Letterbeg had her bastd daur baptised named Helen.
June 18 Elspet Smith appeared pro secundo.
June 23
(Smith absolved) Elspet Smith appeared pro teritio paid penalty (3/4) passed the rest on account of her poverty and absolved.
March 1781
1781 March 4
Compeared Jean Durward servant in Blackhall and acknowledged herself guilty of the fornication and to be with child to John Douglas presently a servant in Kirktown. John Douglas being called upon appeared and acknowledged himself guilty of fornication with the said Jean Durward but would only acknowledge the child to be his if it should come to his time. Session delayed the further consideration of the affair until Sunday next before sermon and summoned the parties apud acta to attend. Session closed with prayer.
March 11
Session met and constitute sederunt Mr John Ramsay Modr William Lindsay and John Rennie elders and Jas Birss Session Clerk.
There was a certificate given to David Smith.
Distribute to Elspet Smith 4/-
Appeared Jean Durward and John Douglas craving of the session to be admitted to make profession of repentance for their sin of fornication and making offer of what money might be required of them without making any publick appearances.
The session taking the affair under their consideration agreed to absolve them upon their making one appearance and paying Ten Shillings Sterling each for behoof of the poor, to which they readily agreed.
Jean Durward appointed to appear this day and John Douglass Sabbath next.
Session Closed with prayer.
March 11
Sermon Rom Ch12.2. Collected 1/11½
Appeared Jean Durward and was absolved having paid her penalty. (10/-)
March 18
Lectr Matt Ch 18 – 15.23. Collected 2/10¼
Appeared John Douglas having paid his penalty and absolved (10/-)
March 20
Distribute to Jean Adam 3d
To Janet Ross 3d
"apud acta" - at the time of the proceedings
"pro primo" - first time
"pro secundo" - second time
"pro tertio" - third time