RootsChat.Com

I recently came across a parish entry for a 'Private marriage'  in Edinburgh.

This surprised me as I thought that the Scottish church had held a very strong grip on such things at that time (1794).

However after looking into it further I found out that the Scottish law on marriage was quite flexible:

“The law of Scotland as to marriage was this – it adopted the principle that consent alone made marriage… The law of Scotland did not require the presence of a priest, nor the intervention of any religious ceremony. The law of Scotland considered marriage to be a civil contract, but it did not provide any particular mode by which that contract was to be proved”

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-and-kirk-session-scotland

I have a lot of people in my extended family tree with very large families, but frequently I've been unable to find a Parish record for a marriage - so maybe there wasn't one and I've been searching in vain!

Best regards

Hi all,

I have a 1709 marriage record from an Edinburgh church and would be grateful for any help in
clarifying some obscure points in the register entry

I can read most of the selected entry:

George Miller, Smith,  Inndweller in [?] parish and Elizabeth Brockie [or Brodie] daughter of the deceased [?] Brockie inndweller in [?] parish

The marriage was in Edinburgh but what did the abbreviations for the Bride and groom's respective parishes stand for?

Thanks for your help and best regards

Hi,
I'm not sure whether you are asking this question - occupations -  but the Groom, as you know, is William Robertson, Poultry Farmer, (Batchelor) and similarly the Bride is Isabel Robina Wales, Hospital Nurse (Spinster)

Best regards

Hi again

I've made a fair copy from GR2's transcription ~ text below:

Jon Blackwood, portioner of Wester Coldrain, Testament, Will and Inventory dated 6th June 1668
The Testament Testamentar, latter Will and Inventory of the goods & gear pertaining to the deceased Jon Blackwood, portioner of Wester Collindren within the parish of ………. Comissariot of Dunblain.
The time of his decease, which was in the month of ……… in the year 1668, faithfully made & given up by himself upon the twenty sixth day of December in the year 1667, before these witnesses: Duncan Martin servant to Thomas Blackwood his son, James Beverage portioner of Tullilochie, Wester & Jon Sanders in Annacroich.
Inventory
Firstly, the said Jon Blackwood gives up his goods & gear at the values and prices following viz
One old mare with her colt under 3 years old, price thereof £10 13/4d
Item two cows with their bullocks or heifers (between 1 and 2 years old), price of them in total £24
Item thirty Lambs price per head 20/-, hence £13*
Item eight older sheep, price per head 30/-, hence £12
Item standing in the barn and barnyard of oats - four bolls, price of the boll with the straw £4, hence £16
Item of bear one boll, price of the boll £5
Item standing in the barn of threshed corn, six firlots, estimated £4
Item the utensils & household effects estimated to £4
Total of the inventory - £84 13/4d
* The arithmetic is wrong here. 30 lambs at 20/- a piece should come to £30.
Debts owing to him
Item by Edward Malcom £21
The total is clearly £105 13/4d)
Debts owed by him
Item to Robert Blackwood his lawful son of borrowed money £30
Item to William Blackwood also his lawful son £23 4/-
Item to Andrew Taylor in Cassigoiore? £7
Item to Robert Stirk merchant 30/-
Item to William Glass 13/4d
Item to Jon Sanders 13/4d
Sum of the said debts £63 0/8d
Sum of free gear £22 13/-
Half is £11 6/6d)
Legacy
The said Jon blackwood being sick in body yet of perfect memorie recomends his soul to God and nominates Agnes Drysdal, his spouse, his only executrix and intromessatrix (a woman entitled to deal with the estate of a deceased person) with his whole goods & gear & debts excluding all others therefrom by these presents with power to her to exercise the said office freely in all respects as is suitable.
Item - the said Jon leaves and appoints the whole free gear above written for the expenses of the funeral
In witness whereof written by John Day, Notary in [          ] are subscribed by the said Jon Blackwood as follows, day year & place foresaid. Before the witnesses above insert John Blackwood foresaid with my hand at the notary's pen led at my hand*
    Ita est Joannes Day notarius publicus in premissis subscribere requisitus de mandato dicti Joannis Blackwood scribere ut nesciens assueruit teste manu propria**
Confirmation
I, Robert Bruce of Bordie, Commissary of Dunblain ratify & approves this present testament, providing furthermore the said Agnes Drysdal executrix foresaid, has found Jon Blackwood messenger in Culross, cautioner
Confirmed at Dunblain the 6 of June 1668
* When you see "with my hand at the pen led by the notary", it means the person could not write and touched the pen as the notary signed for them.
** The Latin section means "It is so. John Day, notary public, required to sign by command of the said John Blackwood as he asserted that he does not know how to write, witness my own hand."

I've also attached a pdf which includes full transcription, ScotlandsPeople image and faircopy of the text.

Best regards

Thank you so much GR2!

When I posted the complete ScotlandsPeople image of the will above, 2 days ago, I was not expecting anybody to tackle this very big job - but of course I was secretly hoping that somebody would take a look at it!

I had suspected there were no children from this marriage, but now find that there were.

Moreover, I have just discovered that in 1802 the Blackwood family was still working the land in Coldrain (William Blackwood - 1802 Land Tax roll for Tullibole - see image below).

Thank you again GR2 for expending your valuable time on this work.

Best regards