Masons and Burgesses in Linlithgow area

[jennyblain]

Does anybody know if there are records of masons in Linlithgow in the latter part of the 18th century?

And a somewhat related topic - has anybody come across lists of burgesses in that area?

Jenny

[LesleyB]

Hi Jenny
There are a few interesting looking records at NAS (not sure if it was the same time period you were after):

GD1/634/1 Dean of Guild of Linlithgow Council Book or Guildry Register. Includes extract acts of the burgh council concerning the dean of guild and guildry, 1623-1652, copied because 'throw the iniquitie of the tymes and laitt troubles in this natioun the wholl buiks [etc] ... belonging to the Gildrie have bein takin away and destroyed.' 25 Oct 1652-28 Nov 1696

GD1/634/11 Rules and regulations of the Guildry Incorporation of Linlithgow, including a list of the guild brethren. (Printed - 2 copies). 1841

GD1/634/14 Rules and regulations of the Guildry Incorporation of Linlithgow, including a list of the guild brethren. (Printed) 1876

GD215/1726 Notes on the provosts, bailies, deans of guild, deacons of crafts, Sheriffs and customers of Linlithgow (no date given)

There may well be more hiding in the catalogue!
Best wishes
Lesley

[Chris Paton]

Thought this might be of interest - my great great great great uncle John Paton was a mason who died in a gruesome accident at Burgh Mills, Linlithgow in 1840.

The event was recorded in the Perthshire Advertiser of April 9th 1840:

"DISTRESSING AND SUDDEN DEATH

"At Linlithgow, on Saturday last, while John Patton, mason, eldest son of William Patton, Cars Croft, near Perth, was removing some tools from one part of the work at which he was engaged to another, and while passing an excavation, the ground gave way, and he was precipitated to a considerable depth. A lump of rock followed his fall, and bruised him severely, while a pick-axe which he was carrying cut literally almost through his head. He only survived the accident an hour and a half.

"He was a young man, and remarkably kind and obliging in his disposition. A high mark of respect was paid to his memory by the whole body of workmen attending his remains to their final resting place."

[jennyblain]

GD1/634/1 Dean of Guild of Linlithgow Council Book or Guildry Register. Includes extract acts of the burgh council concerning the dean of guild and guildry, 1623-1652, copied because 'throw the iniquitie of the tymes and laitt troubles in this natioun the wholl buiks [etc] ... belonging to the Gildrie have bein takin away and destroyed.' 25 Oct 1652-28 Nov 1696

This looks interesting!

GD1/634/11 Rules and regulations of the Guildry Incorporation of Linlithgow, including a list of the guild brethren. (Printed - 2 copies). 1841 <snip>
GD215/1726 Notes on the provosts, bailies, deans of guild, deacons of crafts, Sheriffs and customers of Linlithgow (no date given)

The lists are printed later than my time, but it depends of course on what's in them. GD215/1726 may be interesting anyway. Looks like I need at least a week in Edinburgh! Time to get there, that's the problem...

Do we need a Talking-Scot event specially for time in NAS? I know that the various family history socs do this, but of course never when I'm actually there

Jenny
who needs to go and work, now!

[jennyblain]

Thought this might be of interest - my great great great great uncle John Paton was a mason who died in a gruesome accident at Burgh Mills, Linlithgow in 1840.

Interesting indeed, and distressing indeed, Chris!

Testimony also to the ways in which masons moved around the country to where work was! Where is he buried - in Perthshire or or Linlithgow?

Jenny

[Chris Paton]

Hi Jenny,

John was buried in Linlithgow - I found his headstone there about two years ago in the graveyard beside Linlithgow Palace. There's a photo of it at my family history website at http://chrispatonscotland.tripod.com/id37.html . It was great to find this stone as it is the earliest one in my family that I have so far been able to locate.

Chris