The History of Fettercairn; A Parish in the County of Kincardine - Archibald Cowie Cameron

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... Chapter XXXIV. PAROCHIAL REGISTERS, BEQUESTS, AND SAVINGS BANKS. PAROCHIAL REGISTERS. It has been said that divines, lawyers and archaeologists are the only people who regard the musty records of the past with a business-like and professional interest. Bat all who take any interest in the history of their country, and specially in that of their own locality, must feel doubly interested in the time-worn books that record the names and deeds of those who fulfilled their life-work in former generations. And from these documents much of the simple life led by "the rude forefathers of the hamlet" can be recovered. The oldest register book of the Kirk Session begins with the induction of Mr Hercules Skinner, in 1669, and ends in 1682. It contains a promiscuous record of baptisms, marriage contracts, church collections, disbursements, and other incidental proceedings, stated in a very brief and cursory manner. There is reason to believe that an earlier record existed. In Sir John Clerk's Memoirs it is stated that, "according to a Kirk Session Record now lost," Bishop Forbes, minister of Fettercairn, baptized a John Clerk on 22nd December, 1611. This record may have shared the fate of the others, from 1682 to 1720, which were lost in the fire at the schoolhouse in 1747. Those from 1720 to 1747 were partially destroyed. One of the same so far tells the tale. A number of its leaves are half consumed, and the parts remaining bear evidence of the fire. The frequent changes of schoolmasters and clerks which took place from 1737 to 1747 account for the various styles of writing upon the portions rescued from the fire. From 1747 down to 1855, when the Registration Act came into operation, the births and baptisms were fairly but not fully recorded in...