Mortcloths Part A

Mortcloths

A mortcloth was a specially made cloth for use at funerals before burial. It was usually owned by the parish session and hired out to mourners to drape over the coffin of the dead, or even to lay over the body during the burial ceremonies if the family of the deceased could not afford a coffin. 

In the Latheron parish there were two mortcloths – one a velvet, lined and fringed covering and the other a cheaper cloth one.

In some parishes the Session minutes record who the mortcloth was hired out for, the date of use and even the cause of death. The Latheron Parish usually does not record these details but shows in the accounts income from mortcloth hire and the cost of maintenance or replacement.

Note: At marriage many young women made their own woollen winding sheet or burial shroud to be used in event of their death. With childbirth being such a common cause of death their kist would commonly have a winding sheet stored in it. 

A mortcloth

 

Minutes 1734 - 1776                                                  

In 1744, April 22, Page 139 there is an itemised account for the cost of making a new mortcloth for the Latheron Parish. The session records state:

John Kenedy informs that the new mortcloth is come but as the Session has no information from Andrew Findlay of its value defers appointing any to have the trust of the mortcloth or to fix the hire of it until they hear from him.

There was this day delivered to the Session a mortcloth with an account as follows:

Bought for the Session of Latheron per order and delivered to John Kenedy one of the members thereof a mortcloth VIZ

March 4th, 1744 (Day mortcloth ordered)                                                  

To 3 ¼ yards of cloth at 13.s per yard                                              2: O:3

To 2 ..?..Rain twill    11.6 pence                                                        1: 3: 0

To Cost for working the fringes                                                         0: 8: 0

To June12th for 4 yards of glazed linen for lining 15d                      0: 5:11

To 3 grams of Buckrim                                                                     0: 0: 9

To 4 drops of Sewing silk at 2d per drop                                           0: 0: 8

To 1 ounce ‘Do’ thread                                                                     0: 0: 3

To the Taylor                                                                                   0: 4: 0

The whole amounts to                                                                     4: 2:10

The Session agrees that the hire of this mortcloth be one pound one shilling Scots within the Parish and three pounds Scots without the Parish and also agrees that the officers go with it by turns and the Session unanimously name Alexander McKy in Latheron as the keeper and giver out of the mortcloth and did deliver it according in face of Session. He is to acquaint the Session from time to time if the mortcloth be called for.

 

 Note: Glazed linen appears in the 18^th C on into the 20^th Century. Used for hat liners, sleeve liners, pocket linings, stays and lining in general, the glazed finish of the linen gave it a smooth hard finish that held up to the rigors of use.