Mortcloths Part C

 

Mortcloths Part C

In the Latheron Kirk Session Minutes 1734-1776 often the name of the person who hired the mortcloth (and therefore owes the rental money), rather than the name of the deceased, is given.

A Highland Funeral by James Guthrie 1882

 

It seems that the Session is sometimes hard pressed to pay all their bills and make ends meet.

In 1773 (Page 303) there is a list of people who are owed money for services they have done and the Session allots various bills, including mortcloth rentals that are due to be paid so they can then pay their own bills.

The session considered also that they were due Donald Keith who acted as their Clerk from Martinmas last to Whitsunday and some Sabbaths thereafter eighteen shillings, and two shillings and sixpence for singing at the Sacrament in the Tent ordered the Mortcloth money for Braemore and Adam Gun that way to pay him.

With respect to the velvet Mortcloth the Session have unanimously agreed to adopt it as their own finding now that the original price is paid to thirty four pounds eight shillings Scots money and further agreed from this day forward that it shall be hired out to Farmers at three pounds Scots in order to make it be the more frequently used hereafter and to Gentlemen at a Guinea.

There was this day paid in two mortcloths money for George Sinclair Risgil and Don Suthd Stemster one pound sixteen shillings. The collection after the bad Copper being deducted thirty five pound one shilling.

1774, July, Aug Pages 314 & 315. That the mortcloths both coarse and fine amount to £1 5 shillings. Paying the Session Clerk for trimming and mending the velvet mortcloth 3 shillings and sixpence and turning the cloth one, one shilling and sixpence.

1774, Dec, Page 319 The minister Mr Brodie died. He had gone to Aberdeen on account of his bad health and died there in November 1774. There doesn’t seem to be a rent for the Latheron mortcloth for Mr Brodie after all his care of it so I presume he was buried in Aberdeen (burial record not located).

1775, 29 Jan, Page 320. This day received for the use of the coarse mortcloth for Hugh Lawden – looks like 1 shilling

1775 July Page 322. This day received from Alex Miller for the use of the coarse mortcloth for Kenneth Gow.

1775 29 September Page 323 This day received from Donald Mowat merchant Nottingham for the use of the Cloth mort cloth for his mother-in-law Eliz Doull one shilling and sixpence. This day received from Robert Adamson in mid Clyth the hire of the Coarse mortcloth for Mary Hentiply (?)

1776 10^th Oct Page 333 To a list of Mort cloths paid in before this date One pound eighteen shillings and sixpence

 

 

Source: Scotlands People, Latheron Kirk Session Minutes 1734-1776

Mortcloths Part B

 Mortcloths Part B

During the years following 1744 the rent from the use of both a cheaper cotton mortcloth and a velvet mortcloth is shown in the Latheron Kirk Session accounts from time to time. 

Old Latheron Graveyard

 

1769, June, Page 258  an interesting item is recorded.

It was represented this day in Session that a private man in the Parish of Halkirk who has a mort-cloth which he hires back and forth in said parish and who is a House Wright and makes coffins when employed has lately hired his mort-cloth to a burying in this parish in prejudice of this parishes mort-cloth. The Session thinks this is an encroachment and recommend to the Minister to take the first opportunity for waiting on Mr Sinclair of Freswick and have his opinion how far this is legal or not.

There is no record of Mr Sinclair’s opinion.

1770, Page 276 Hire of the velvet Mortcloth £6. The hire of the cloth one 18 shillings.

Cotton Mortcloth

1770, Page 276 The Session buy a velvet mortcloth for the use of the parish costing £75 12 shillings. 

http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/life-work/social-history/home-life/death-mourning/mort-cloth.aspx

 

This is a huge increase in the value of a mortcloth since the cost of the 1774 cloth at £4 2 shillings and 10 pence. I wonder if the competition from the Halkirk mortcloth owner has resulted in the new cloth for Latheron.

Also purchased is a new chest, lock, and key for keeping the mortcloth  - three pound six shillings.

1771, Page 287 Somehow Mr Brodie the Minister intended buying the new mortcloth himself. The  Session decline to charge him so he takes the mortcloth with him and owes the Session.

Mr Brodie finding that the Session does not relish his buying the mort-cloth takes it back to himself again and stands indebted to them in the original price being seventy five pound twelve shillings Scots. As also in the price of the chest & lock he purchased to keep it being three pound six shillings Scots being in whole seventy eight pound and six pennies Scots.

1772 August 27 Page 293 Mr Brodie advances presently of the price of the velvet mortcloth £25 1 shilling

Mr Brodie formerly paid the Session for hire of said Mortcloth for James Sutherland’s mother-in-law £3 Scots.

 

George Sinclair Carpenter Risgill,1756 at Latheron 

 Graven-images.org.uk

Source: Scotlands People, Latheron Kirk Session Minutes 1734-1776