Scotch Funerals in the Olden Time.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:15 am

Scotch Funerals in the Olden Time.

The following is a letter that appeared in the Glasgow Herald on 5th April, 1862. I came across it a couple of days ago while looking for something about a William Paton and then again yesterday while looking for a Philp from Dunfermline. Some of the print is a little unclear but there would few transcription errors. I thought I’d post it on the forum just in case someone has some relatives there and for general interest.

SCOTCH FUNERALS IN THE OLDEN TIME.
To the Editor of the Glasgow Herald.
Sir,—I noticed in the Herald of yesterday a letter in reference to a change in the mode of conducting funerals in the burgh of Sanquhar. This brings to my recollection that I have past me a letter addressed one hundred years ago by a respectable person in Dunfermline to his brother in Glasgow, announcing the manner in which the funeral of their mother had been conducted. It seems to have been rather a jolly affair; but was, no doubt, managed according to regular custom. You will observe that the MS. of the venerable document is very good, although the spelling is rather peculiar.—
Yours, M. W. Glasgow, 4th April.

The following is a verbatim et literatim copy of the letter:—

Dunfermline June th 15 day 1761.
Dear brother,—I Dout not by this time but you have heard of your Mothers Deces—Shou Dyed the 9 day of June & was buried the 11 day of June & Shou got a verrey honorable buriel: we had plentey of eall and Huskie and brandie & plaine short bread and sukard short bread & wheet Bread and wne bread—and I have payed all the founrels that Came from our toun such as brandie short bread wheet bread wne bread & the Coffen but Did not gate a pirticlar aCount of what eall ther was spent becavs William Paton Came not back to the Dargie: but it is to be payed as shon as I geat the aCount of it: they are all to meet at my hous the first thusday of July: to wit David bennet & Wm. Marshal and our sister Lissie Philp for to read up maters betwixt David bennet and hir, when I shall give you a pirticlar aCount of what is Done and what the burile Comes to—I sent you allinen Serk with Margret Henderson which I expect you will have goot—we had at our Dargie old Dalketh Andrew Scotland Rob: Johnston John Demperston Mc Grige harlaw & all the Nebours Round about we had John Harley John Henderson John Buchan, Rob: Mudie in Lochend John Robeson in Shirs Mill & the two John Philps John Philp Jn Murmill & his Mother —we had from the east hand Touchie & Rentoual Tho: Grive Hendrey Symson Andrew Philp James Philp in the Damhead & other two or three that I Did not know that Came from the east hand: ther was 36 or 37 men at the Dargie becides above a Dozon of wemon & was all gentilly served we are all weall at presant but my wife & shoe is some Beater —which is all from your Loving brother, J. P.

Hope that’s interesting,
Alan

wini · Post by **wini** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:24 am

It was interesting Alan and not unlike some of today's funerals.
Could also say that for the spelling, have seen some very similar spelling on some Forum, not this one of course.

wini

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:21 pm

Hi Alan,
Thanks for posting that-- very interesting indeed. What I'd like to know is:

1) What was going on betwixt David Bennet and Lissie Philp?
2) Did his siblings ever reimburse their loving brother J.P. for expenses?

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **joette** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:31 pm

I'm more worried about his wife which like his shoe is some Beater!
Does this mean his shoe is worn out by beating his wife?Or does his wife beat him with the shoe?
I think we should be told.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:51 pm

Hello All,

I’ve think I may have seen the same Forum as Wini.

I'd say he's misspelt his misspelling of ‘she’ and has written ‘shoe’ instead of ‘shou’ in the last line. But it could be a transcription error as it’s been through a few hands including mine. I think he means that they are all well at present except for his wife and she is getting better. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

If J. P. is J. Philp then I suppose sister Lissie is unmarried and she and Dave have been fooling around but I think I’ll wait for the movie. I’d say he would have got his money off his brother, Glasgow people are just naturally kind hearted and generous.

What are a Dargie and a Huskie?

Good night,
Alan

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:10 pm

Currie wrote: What are a Dargie and a Huskie?

Dargie sounds like a place, the name of an Inn perhaps?
though there is a Dargie Church in Invergowrie near Dundee, but that seems a bit far from Dunfermline.

and Huskie could be Whisky as it's mentioned along with Brandie and eall [Ale]

All very interesting.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:11 pm

are all weall at presant but my wife & shoe is some Beater

As he is talking about health, it could be:
"are all well at present but my wife, and she is some better" (health wise? So maybe not a husband beater after all)

Oh, sorry Alan I see you have sugested that already. Well, that makes two of us think that, so I reckon the wife is off the hook!

What are a Dargie and a Huskie?

I reckon Huskie is Whisky
Dargie I suspect is Dirgie (same root as Dirge, musically?) a funeral feast, esp. of drink (Concise Scots Dictionary)

Best wishes
Lesley

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:32 am

Thanks Lesley and Wilma,

The Dirge and the Whiskey sound good to me.

All the best,
Alan

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Scotch Funerals in the Olden Time.

Scotch Funerals in the Olden Time.

Scotch funerals in the Olden times