Bad Copper
The bad copper in the Latheron kirk collection box continued to cause problems for the session elders.
They had tried to get advice and help from Inverness but that plan fell through.
It could be wondered why the elders who tried to take the bad copper to Inverness ended up in the sea. While Highlanders were very used to ‘Shanks’s pony’, to walk from Latheron to Inverness carrying money was fraught with risks of various sorts. The distance would have been over 100 miles including long treks round various sea inlets.
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Robert Fergusson on Shanks’s pony |
The first walking hurdle to be encountered would have been the notorious track round the Ord just south of Ausdale. The Ordnance Gazetter has this to say about the Ord:
Source: Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland Ed Francis Groome (1892-6)
There would have been Inns to stay at on the way which while giving shelter and food would have increased the chances of being robbed even if it was bad copper being transported.
So travel by sea was the best option and certainly the favoured way to travel for most purposes in those times
But the Moray Firth was unpredictable and storms would flare up without warning. The number of fishermen working in the Moray Firth who drowned both in those days and since would be countless.
So for the next few years the Latheron session elders (perhaps with two members drowned) continued to count and record the inclusion of bad copper in the box and try to budget accordingly. The tally of recent collections on 19th December 1773 was typical (page 311)
|
|
Good |
Copper |
|
Bad |
Copper |
|
£ pounds |
S shillings |
D pence |
£ pounds |
S shillings |
D pence |
|
4 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
|
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
5 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
14 |
0 |
|
Remaining |
after |
distributions |
|
|
|
|
1 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
17 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The distributions were:
To a poor woman in Ramscraigs: 0: 14: 0
To Alex Miller for last year’s dues: 1: 10: 0
To a poor person in Latheronwheel: 0: 12: 0
To a Bible for a poor boy in Lybster: 1: 4: 0
No sermon the Sabbath preceding the Minister being sick.
On 10th October 1776 (page 333) the session accounts tell the same story. After paying a variety of bills and distributions they have left in the box £13 7s 7½ pence including some bad copper.
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Top of a kirk money box |
Source: Scotland’s People Kirk Session Records for Latheron Pages 311-333
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