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