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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: jma09 on Monday 17 January 22 11:16 GMT (UK)

Title: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: jma09 on Monday 17 January 22 11:16 GMT (UK)

Could someone please help me to explain the relationship between these two guys:  "John Murray servitor to Patrick, Commendatour of Lindoris".  Taken from a court case in 1598.

Patrick was Patrick Leslie of Pitcairlie (near St Andrew's Fife) and John Murray was an heir portioner of Aitket [Dumfriesshire].   So I don't think it means he was "a servant of" ..  :)

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: RJ_Paton on Monday 17 January 22 12:16 GMT (UK)

According to Wikipedia There was a John Murray servant of Lord Lindores murdered

Quote

In September 1598 James VI came to Abdie to arrest John Arnot, Goodman of Woodmill, for the murder of John Murray, a servant of Lord Lindores.[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Leslie,_1st_Lord_Lindores

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 17 January 22 12:19 GMT (UK)

Also:
In certain universities (including some colleges of University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh), a servitor was an undergraduate student who received free accommodation (and some free meals), and was exempted from paying fees for lectures.

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: AlanBoyd on Monday 17 January 22 12:41 GMT (UK)

When I worked at the University of Edinburgh in the 1990s the men (and it was always men) who manned the front desk of the building, handled the post–and no doubt did lots of other stuff–were referred to as servitors.

EDIT

see here:
 https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/servitor (https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/servitor)

 https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/servitoure (https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/servitoure)

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: hanes teulu on Monday 17 January 22 14:15 GMT (UK)

Lexicon Technicum, author John Harris, published 1710
"Rodknights alias Radknights were anciently Servitors, which held their land by serving their Lord on horseback; or attending him in his progress or travels on the road."

"An exact and Particular Account of the way and manner of the Killing of Commissioner Cayley, by Madam Mackfarling", published 1715

Untriguingly, the examination into his death refers to "... Mary Liddell, Servitor to John Mackfarlane, Writer to the Signet ..." and goes on to refer to " ... Barbara Martine, Servant to John Mackfarlane, Writer to the Signet ...".

In some instances servitor simply means servant but in others it identifies a relationship much more than this but which cannot be strictly interpreted. I've considered "follower, attendant, companion" - whichever, there's no specific, single interpretation.

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: GR2 on Monday 17 January 22 16:58 GMT (UK)

It just means "servant". It covers anyone in service from the lowest to the highest.

Here is the definition:

https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/servitoure

Title: Re: Servitor to - what does it mean?
Post by: jma09 on Tuesday 18 January 22 09:54 GMT (UK)

Thanks for your help. I suspect the actual relationship will not be know but I now have several options. Cheers