Kirk Sessions
Some extracts from the Kirk Sessions of Birse.
1820 May 7th
- Distribution to the Poor
Widow Greig 7/- Jane Ross 6/- Jane Middleton 10/-
Isobel Tawse 8/- Jane Whyte 6/- Jane Knox 6/-
John Wilson 6/- Wm Taylor 7/- James Greig 8/-
Widow Nicol 7/- Robert Bain 10/- James Greig 8/-
Widow Ingram 6/- Eliza Tawse 5/- Mary Kesson 5/-
Elp (Elspet) Skinner 7/- Barbara Michie 6/- Isob Thomson 9/-
Janet Simpson 8/- James Dinnie 6/- Al Young 7/-
Alexr Middleton 8/- Widow Esson 6/- Jas Harper 5/-
Helen Hunter 6/- Mgt David 6/- Is Middleton 6/-
Magt Sector 7/- John Dinnie 8/- Sarah Reach 7/-
Ann Skinner 5/- Wm Jaffray 9/-
R Gordon 6/-
Ann Mitchell 6/- Isob Grant 7/- Barbara Kesson 5/-
Alexr Brown 6/- Widow Gruar 10/- Widow Davidson 6/-
Widow Brown 6/- Mary Sim 6/- Mgt Nicol 7/-
Janet Leyel 6/- Margaret Middleton 7/- Jas Bain Jnr 8/-
James Bain Snr 8/- Jean McChray 6/- Margaret Strachan 5/-
Alexr Skene 10/- a poor person 5/6
1820 May 14th
Robert Brown 5/- Jas Crawford 4/6
1820 June 25th
Elders of the Church at this time: James Munro, Peter Owen,
Charles Mitchell, James Finlay.
Moderator: Rev Joseph Smith
1820 July 5th
Proclaimed a Day of Fast.
Mr Jas
Garioch probationer from Banchory preached from the following
text.
Romans, Chapter 10 Verse 13
1820 November 8th
Proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving for a favourable harvest.
Public worship began at the usual hour.
Text for the service: Proverbs: Chapter 3 Verse 6. Collection
12/-
1820 December 31st
An amount of One Pound Sterling was given to Robert Bain Snr as
his house had lately been consumed by fire.
1821 February 11th
4/- was paid to the watchmaker for repairing the movement
(clock) in the Church.
1821 April 22nd - Distribution to the poor
Widow Brown 6/- Widow Davidson 6/-
Widow Gruar 8/- Alexr Brown 6/- Barb Kesson 5/-
Isob Grant 6/- Anne Mitchell 6/- Wm Jaffray 6/-
Rachel
Gordon 7/- Anne
Skinner 7/- Sarah Reach 7/-
John Dinnie 7/- Magt Sector 6/- Mgt Davie 5/-
James Middleton 5/- Helen Hunter 5/- Al Young 6/-
Widow Esson 6/- Jas Harper 5/- Alexr Middleton 6/-
James Dinnie 7/- Janet Simpson 7/- Isobel Thomson 7/-
Barb Michie 6/- Mary Kesson 5/- Elizabeth Tawse 5/-
Janet Low 5/- Widow Ingram 6/- Robert Bain 7/-
Alexr Skene 8/- Margt Strachan 6/- Jean McChray 6/-
James Bain Jnr 6/- James Bain Snr 6/- Mgt Middleton 7/-
Mgt Nicol 6/- Mary Sim 5/- Janet Leyel 5/-
Robert Brown 6/- Isobel Coutts 5/- Widow Nicol 6/-
William Taylor 6/- John Wilson 4/- Jane Knox 5/-
Jane Whyte 5/- Isobel Tawse 7/- Jane Middleton 8/-
Jane Ross 6/- Widow Greig 7/- Wm Bain 10/-
James Crawford 6/- Alexr Davidson Jnr 7/- a poor family 7/-
James Bowman 7/- Elspet Skinner 7/- Geo Sector 6/-
1821 April 25th
Wm Crab 6/- Susan Fenton 5/6
1821 October 25th
Four pounds four shillings was paid to Mr Dyce in Aberdeen who
was to instruct Susan Fenton in the Forest in the practice of
midwifery. One pound six shillings and sixpence was also
allowed for the maintenance of Susan while she was studying.
Kirk Officer was paid his half yearly fee of 12/6
1822 May 19th
10/4 was given to Geo Davidson's family who were in distress.
They had left the parish recently and moved to Durris.
1822 June 16th
Population of Birse - 1545
1822 July 15th
28 1/2 bolls of meal was contributed by the parishioners of
Birse for the Irish "in want". This was sent to Aberdeen "free
of all expenses".
1822 November 17th
Paid to the Session for the use of the poor by Rev. Mr Smith for
use of the mortcloth for his daughter's funeral 5/-
1822 December 22nd
Paid by James Finlay Elder for the use of the mortcloth for his
father 2/6
1823 January 21st
Paid by James Finlay Elder for the use of the mortcloth for John
Low Snr in Easter Clune 2/6
1823 February 1823
No sermon preached as the Minister was called to Aberdeen to
make funeral arrangements for his son Joseph who died 21st inst.
1823 April 13th
The Kirk Session resolved to impose a further penalty of 5/-
above the normal penalty on any person found guilty of a
"relapse in fornication".
The first person to incur this penalty was William Reid and his
wife Barbara Greig. Barbara Greig being guilty of the
"relapse" Their pledges were forfeited and an extra 5/- was
paid.
Also compeared on the same day was William Dinnie and his wife
Elizabeth Young, both guilty of ante-nuptial fornication.
William Dinnie had also been guilty of the sin and scandal of
fornication with Margaret Strachan. After some argument William
Dinnie paid 15/-.
This was distributed to the poor:
Magt Bain 2/6 Robert Bain 3/-
James Dinnie's family 5/- Alexr Davidson 2/-
poor man 8d poor family 5/-
1823 April 27th
Dyet of Examination and Visitation were scheduled for Glenchatt
the following day, Auchabella on Tuesday and Milltown on Friday.
1823 May 4th
Dyet of Examination and Visitation was scheduled for Mill of
Chattie on Saturday.
1823 May 11th
Dyet of Examination and Visitation scheduled for Marywell on
Thursday and the Forest on Saturday.
Given Janet Milne 2/2 Hugh Ross' family 1/-
Widow James 4/6
John Gillespie's family 5/- Jas Bain 1/3
Widow Gruar 2/6 Alexr Davidson Jnr 2/-
Said Mgt Sector's funeral expenses 10/-
Robert Bain 10/- Alexr Smart's family 5/-
Eliza Machie 5/- a poor man 1/6
Helen Hunter 1/- Barbara Ley 2/-
William Milne 1/6
1823 May 18th - Distribution to the poor
Widow Nicol 6/- Wm Jaffray 8/- Jno Wilson 5/-
Jane Knox 6/- Jane Whyte 6/- Isobel Tawse 7/-
Jane Middleton 8/- Jane Ross 5/- Wid. Greig 6/-
Robert Bain 8/- Isobel Thomson 8/- Barb Michie 6/-
Widow Henry 6/- Isobel Coutts 6/- Elspet Skinner 7/-
Widow Henry 6/- 6/- Jno Mason 7/- Mary Kesson 5/-
Eliza Tawse 5/- Janet Low 5/- Alexr Davidson 10/-
Widow Esson 5/- James Harper 4/- Anne Skinner 6/-
Ann Middleton 6/- Jas Dinnie 7/- Wm Jaffray 6/-
Janet Milne 6/- Sarah Reach 7/- Mgt Davie 6/-
Helen Hunter 5/- Alexr Young 6/- Geo Sector 8/6
Will Crab 5/- Wid. Brown 5/- Wid. Davidson 6/-
Wid. Gruer 8/- Barb Kesson 7/3 Isob Grant 6/-
Jas Crawford 9/3 Jas Bowman 5/-
Mgt Strachan 6/- Jean McChray 6/- Jas Bain 8/-
Mgt Bain 8/2 Mgt Nicol 6/- Mary Sim 6/-
Janet Lyal 6/- Francis Watt 6/- Wm Bain's family 6/-
Margaret Dunn 6/- Robert Brown 6/-
Hugh Ross 6/- Donald Dhu 5/- Widow Birss 6/-
Jas Young's family 6/- Robert Brown's 2/6
1823 November 18th
Six pounds seven shillings was collected for the Institute of
Deaf and Dumb in Aberdeen
1824 April 4th
2/6 paid by Alexr Rawyer for the use of the mortcloth to his
wife lately deceased.
1824 May 2nd
5/- paid for a new rope for the bell.
1824 May 30th
Lecture Romans Chapter 8, Verses 1 - 11. Collection 9/4
Paid for the use of the mortcloth ------ Smith 2/6
1824 June 27th
Young persons wishing to receive communion are called to attend
the Dyet of Examination to be held at the Church on Tuesday
1st.
1824 September 2nd
Mr George Smith was ordained to the Office of the Holy Ministry
and appointed assistant and successor to his father the Rev. Mr
Smith, Minister of Birse. Rev. Mr Campbell of Coull presided
over the service and preached from Colossians Chapter 1 Verses
27 & 28.
1824 September 5th
Mr George Smith preached his first sermon - Hebrews Chapter 12
Verse 2