A Quarrel at the Inn of Balnabruich

 

A Quarrel at the Inn of Balnabruich

February 1833 The Latheron Kirk Session met to hear the details of a quarrel of a very serious nature which had happened at the Inn of William Falconer and Mary Falconer in Balnabruich of Dunbeath between Alexander Gunn of Ouag and Robert Sutherland of Balnabruich.

Map shows Balnabruich near Dunbeath

Witnesses: David Bruce, Matthew Waters both of Balnabruich, George Sutherland of Leodibist. All present were said to be Heads of Families. Plus George Falconer of Balnabruich. 

Uag top left

Ann Waters, the wife of Alexander Gunn, was at home in Ouag with her baby. They were both innocently named by the Kirk Session subsequent to this quarrel.

Ouag was also known as Ouagbeg.

Latheron Kirk Sessions

On 4^th February 1833 Alexander Gunn of Ouag

Alexander Gunn appeared before the Latheron Kirk Session to answer to a quarrel that occurred several nights before between him and Robert Sutherland at the Inn of William Falconer and Mary Falconer in Balnabruich. As Robert Sutherland of Balnabruich and none of the witnesses came forward the Session adjourned.

On 8^th Feb 1833 Alexr Gunn

The Session resumed consideration of the quarrel. Alexr Gunn was earnestly exhorted to tell the truth. He claimed that there were high words between him and Robert Sutherland that night at the Inn but there had been no fight only that Robert Sutherland had taken hold of his feet and pushed him off his chair.

Ruins at the Wag

Robert Sutherland of Balnabruich

Robert Sutherland was then brought in and was also exhorted to tell the truth. He acknowledged having received great provocation from Alexr Gunn by abusive language and blows to the effusion of blood. He did rise from his chair and did strike Alexr Gunn in the face which brought him to the ground. Alexr Gunn immediately got up and stuck Robert Sutherland again upon which Robert Sutherland did strike Alexr Gunn again after which there were several blows given on each other. When they were separated and left the Inn two large stones were thrown by Alexr Gunn which fortunately missed Robert Sutherland or, he claimed, he would have been severely injured.

Ruins at Balnabruich

Alexr Gunn was again brought in

Alexr Gunn was again brought in and required to make a free confession. He denied all and stuck to his former declaration. The witnesses to the quarrel, namely Matthew Waters and David Bruce were now brought in. They were exhorted to tell the truth without the least partiality. They both confirmed in every particular the statement given by Robert Sutherland declaring that Alexr Gunn was the aggressor throughout the whole scene. They further stated that Alexr Gunn had  been endeavouring to induce them to absent themselves from this meeting or if they should attend to not make the matter as bad as it was.

The Session considered that this was a very aggravated case and that was necessary by every possible means to discountenance such disgraceful and unchristian practices.

The Session were unanimously of the opinion that before the sacrament of Baptism could be administered to Alexr Gunn’s child he be required to make a public confession of his sin and be rebuked before the congregation, unless he could bring forward a satisfactory explanation for his behaviour.

On 4^th March 1833 Alexr Gunn

At the Latheron church the Session met again. Alexr Gunn turned up again, this time accompanied by George Falconer as an exculpatory witness, who gave a declaration considerably more favourable to Alexr Gunn than had the previous witnesses given.

Suspended From All Church Privileges

The Session elders were unchanged. They unanimously agreed that Alexr Gunn should be suspended from all church privileges for the space of four months from the birth of his child (now about ten weeks old he said). If he confessed his sin and expressed penitence he would receive baptism for his child but if not be further suspended until he made such a confession.

Ann Waters, wife of Alexr Gunn, and the baby

The Session elders said that in the meantime if Alexr Gunn’s wife Ann Waters be willing to take the vows, the Session had no objection to the child be baptised to her.

The Old Latheron church

David Waters Gunn

The story seems to have a good ending. Alexr Gunn must have complied with the Session requirements as his baby (who was born on 17 December 1832), was brought to church on the 11^th April 1833 by his father Alexander Gunn and his mother Ann Waters, both of Ouag, and baptised David Waters Gunn.

FreeReg Record

Sources

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/volume-images/volume_data-CH2-530-3/GAZ00760?image_number=69

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/volume-images/volume_data-CH2-530-3/GAZ00760?image_number=71

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/volume-images/volume_data-CH2-530-3/GAZ00760?image_number=73

https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817bee4e93790ec8b10251a/david-waters-gunn-baptism-caithness-latheron-1833-04-11?locale=en

 

 

Take the baby from its mother!

 

Take the baby from its mother!

In the autumn of 1738 the weather was cold, the seasons were dismal and the harvests were poor. The people of Latheron harvested what they could and also harvested for the local land owner. See blog 22 March 2023 on the elders calling on the people to fast and pray. The elders were blaming sins and transgressions against the laws of God for the bad weather and extreme cold. 

Resting on the road to harvest by Walter Geiki

 

The end of harvest was traditionally a time for having some celebratory happenings. However it likely that Margaret Sutherland and Hondry McGregor may come to regret going too far in their ‘end of harvest’ partying.

Harvesting in Scotland by Joseph Farquharson

 

 On January21 1739 Margaret was called before the kirk session and asked if she was with child. She answered in the affirmative. When asked who was the father to her child she named Hondry McGregor in Breakachie and stated that the child was begat at the end of harvest last. This was a bad enough situation but two months after her affair with Hondry, Margaret married John Mcralish and he was now her husband. What was she thinking – that marriage would maybe hide her ‘sins’?

Hondry McGregor was then called in and interrogated. He admitted being the father to Margaret Sutherland’s child. So now there are three in this marriage plus the unfortunate baby waiting to be born. It is not going to end well.

Margaret and Hondry were both rebuked and told they had to stand in the place of public repentance for three Sundays. Hondry was then fined eight merks for both himself and Margaret, payable at next Whit Sunday. And to make sure Hondry paid the fine he had to bring a ‘cautioner’ for security. A John McGregor stood as security for Hondry – he was probably a family member.

So Margaret and Hondry were publicly shamed, rebuked and fined and that should have been the end of their troubles. The baby was born. Margaret was nursing her baby and living with her husband John Mcralish.

On June 3 1739 in the kirk session minutes we find the following appalling record:

Some of the elders viz Donald Bain and Thomas McKenzie informed the session that John Mcralish in Dunbeath will not allow Margaret Sutherland his wife formerly fornicatrix to Hondry McGregor in Breakachie to keep the said Hondries child with his wife or in his house and that he earnestly begs that the session  would appoint the said Hondry to provide a house for his own child otherwise he will not live in peace or comfort with his wife. And therefore the session having considered the same they appoint the said Hondry McGregor betwixt this and the 20^th of this instant to take his child and find a nurse for it himself and if he fail in this that Mcralish go, with the child and the two above names  as elders, and leave the child in the said Hondry his house.

The baby was clearly at risk by being removed from its mother and reared by a wet nurse but the elders took a hard line and agreed that the support of the baby should be Hondry’s responsibility. But if Hondry could not find a wet nurse, Donald Bain, Thomas McKenzie and John Mcralish were to take the baby from its mother and leave it in Hondry’s house. There is no record of what happened to the baby or its mother Margaret but its likely that John Mcralish’s claim that he was wanting to live in ‘peace and comfort with his wife’ would have been a long time coming after the baby was removed from its mother.

Margaret was labelled a “fornicatrix” and recorded as such in the kirk session records. This would have resulted in huge shame for Margaret and probably marginalisation for the rest of her life. 

The old batchelor alarmed by an unexpected present by Isaac Cruikshank

 

The baby’s health and welfare was not of concern to the elders. Their focus was on ensuring that someone was accountable for the support of the baby to keep it off the session Poor List.

 

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/volume-images/volume_data-CH2-530-1/GAZ00760?image_number=57