Elizabeth Sinclair is Raped by Donald Hendry. Part A

 

Elizabeth Sinclair is Raped by Donald Hendry. Part A

Thursday night, 29th May,1739 at 10 o’clock at night whilst walking home from a gathering near Meikle Clyth in Latheron, Elizabeth Sinclair was raped by Donald Hendry. The attack and the handling of it is recorded in great detail by the Latheron kirk session.

 

Meikle Clyth upper right, Occumster centre bottom, Mavisie mid left

Residents named:

1 - Elizabeth Sinclair – rape victim

2 - Alexander Cormack – husband of Elizabeth

3 - Robert McKay – whose house was being visited

4 - Donald Hendry – from Occumster – rapist

5 - Hugh Sutherland – session Clerk

6 - George McKay – witness next day

7 - Francis Sinclair – witness next day

8 - George Bain – witness next day

9 - Alexander Georgeson – witness

10 - Elspet Young - mother of Elizabeth Sinclair

11 - William Oag – witness from mother’s barn – owner of barking dog

12 - Janet Sutherland - wife of James Cormack in Clyth - also mother of Alexander                          Cormack and mother-in-law of Elizabeth Sinclair

13 - Kathron Cormack - Donald Gun’s wife

14 - Donald Gun - husband of Kathron Cormack - was in Clyth now in Latheron

15 - Donald Sutherland – had heard rumours about Hendry & Forbes’ wife

16 - John Mouat – had heard rumours about Hendry & Forbes’ wife

17 - David Sutherland – had heard rumours about Hendry & Forbes’ wife

18 - James Forbes - in Mavise - heard rumours of Donald Hendry

19 - Kathron Christie  - James Forbes wife

20 - Lady Ulster

21 - Mr Law - Officer of Excise (probably)

22 - John Sutherland – saw Elizabeth’s bruises

23 - John Sinclair – saw Elizabeth’s bruises

24 - John Kenedy – saw Elizabeth’s bruises

25 - Mr Corse – wrote letter to minister for Lady Ulster - probably tacksman

26 - George Aborneathie – school master – gets three pounds Scots mult

27 - Donald Hendry’s baby requires baptism.

28 - David  Sutherland in Mavisy and Allexr Sutherland baptism witnesses.

29 – James Sinclair in Clyth - father of Elizabeth Sinclair - baptism witness

30 - James Cormack – father of Alexander Cormack - baptism witness

Session minister and Elders - Minister Rev James Brodie. Elders at various meetings: John Kenedy, John Gun, Allexr McKy, John Sinclair, John Sutherland, George Sutherland, William Sutherland, William Sinclair, Robert McKy, Donald Bain, Thomas McKenzie, William Finlayson, William Sutherland.

 

The neighbourhood of Robert McKay probably looked something like this.

 

To be continued…

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Latheron kirk session, Minutes (1734-1776, with gaps) (1754-1783, with gaps), CH2/530/1 pgs 57 - 70