Latheron 1773
In 1773 when the current school master of Latheron school resigned, a search for a permanent master was undertaken.
The Presbytery of Caithness got involved.
The Heritors got involved
Mr James Robertson, School Master in Thurso, was found and his qualifications examined and tested.
The Latheron Session declared the terms of Robertson’s call. He was to teach reading, arthimetic and church ‘musick’ and was to be paid from the 1st of the current November.
Following a formal process a Certificate of Mr Robertson’s worthiness was issued from the Presbytery of Caithness.
On 13th December 1773 a ‘publick’ announcement was made after divine service for the purpose of inducting Mr James Robertson.
The Heritors representatives turned up. Captain Sinclair for Alexander Sinclair of Lybster was there. Mr John Grant was there for Sir William Dunbar of Hempriggs who was in America. John Geddes Jun., was not.
Sir William Dunbar
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| Captain Sinclair |
The formal party proceded to the door of the school for the induction ceremony.
The door was SHUT and BARRICADED. Within was John Geddes Jun.,
‘Open the door’ called the Minister.
‘Open the door’ called the two gentlemen.
Sundry and diverse witnesses were all watching.
The said John Geddes absolutely refused to grant the same (entrance) to either of these formentioned none of them in his opinion having any right or title to demand the same.
The Minister called an emergency meeting in the nearby ‘fields’.
Then in order to prevent if possible the young man’s being misled or acting more foolishly the moderator caused read very audibly to him at the window both the above call and certificate.
Mr John Geddes most daringly returned for answer that he would pay no regard or obedience to either the call, gentlemen, Presbytery minister or Session.
Finding that no means would prevail with him to open the door the said Captain Patrick Sinclair and Mr John Grant judged it proper for their constituents to force it up which was accordingly done.
Then the moderator and Session peaceably entered the school house where having constituted anew the meeting and made choice of George Sutherland in Nottingham as clerk proloco at tempore again read the call and certificate in James Robertson’s favour.
Mr Robertson being highly satisfied was accordingly judicially engaged to perform to the Session in the manner required, where upon the Moderator administered unto him the Oath de Fedele and he took his seat at the Session accordingly.
The Moderator then required the forenamed and designed John Geddes to attend and wait the proceedings of the Session and to present to them any writings or reasons for his conduct if any such he had to offer but he produced or offered none or nothing in this purpose in his own vindication but hastily and abruptly went off with himself.
Dominie Sampson
Notwithstanding however of this gross instance of his conduct on this occasion the Session agreed that he should have paid him his proportion of Clerks salary to the time of his interim service.
27 March 1774 This day John Geddes younger made a request praying he might be paid for the time he served as Clerk which upon Enquiry amounted to fourteen shillings and eight pence. The minister was accordingly ordered to clear him and take his proper discharge this day.
The Session records do not say any more about either Mr James Robertson as school master or Mr John Geddes. I have not been able to locate his marriage record but the wife of James Robertson was Jane Sutherland and from1774 to 1801 they had 12 children all born to ‘James Robertson School Master Latheron’. I presume they didn’t all have to live in the chamber provided by the Session.
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