Captain the Hon Robert Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs and Latheronwheel gets another girl pregnant. Part B

 

Janet Simpson

On May 2^nd 1830 Janet Simpson of Newlands, Clyth, appeared before the Latheron kirk session and made a very serious claim of rape against the Hon Robert Dunbar. It is beyond belief that Janet Simpson would have made up such a false accusation against a powerful landed proprietor. She has not had any dealing with him in the past and he seems to have taken a chance opportunity to take advantage of a lone woman in the dark knowing he would probably get away with it – which it seems he did.  Robert Dunbar had already admitted being the father of his servant Elizabeth Gunn’s pregnancy so it is scarcely stretching the imagination to accept Janet Simpson’s story. Robert Dunbar had ‘taken’ Elizabeth Gunn at least in August 1829 and is now accused of raping Janet Simpson in late November 1829.

https://maps.nls.uk/atlas/taylor-skinner/rec/1065 See top right

Janet Simpson’s statement

The session met and the minister and elders compeared Janet Simpson of Newlands Clyth. Janet confessed herself with child and being interrogated as to the father and seriously exhorted to tell the truth said that the guilt took place on or about 28^th November last in the immediate neighbourhood of Hempriggs.  

Hembriggs house

That at said time she was on her way to Wick about 6 o’clock p.m. and met a man who was an entire stranger to her. Who after a few words of communication asked her to sit down by the road side which she refused when he took hold of her forcibly and guilt was the consequence. That she resisted to the utmost of her power but he being stronger prevailed. She had been since endeavouring to discern the person from the little she could discern from his features but being then dark and general appearance and that the only individual answering the impression made upon her mind at the time as Captain Dunbar of Latheronwheel.

Hembriggs to Wick

Being asked if she knew anything of him formerly said she did not but that upon seeing him thereafter in Wick she asked a person who that gentleman was adding that she thought this was the person who had been guilty with her.

On being asked if she could say with any certainty that this was the person Janet replied that she thinks she can. A copy of this minute was ordered to be sent to Captain Dunbar.

Robert Dunbar has nothing to say

A few weeks later on 31st May 1830 Janet Simpson appeared again before the kirk session, and being earnestly exhorted to tell the truth persisted in her former declaration. She was ordered to appear at next meeting of session.

On 5^th July 1830, the session met and was constituted minister and elders. Robert Dunbar had ignored Janet Simpson’s claims and it appears that the kirk elders did not follow up either. There is no record of Janet’s baby being christened.

To be continued..

 

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/  Latheron kirk session, Minutes (1734-1776, with gaps) Minutes (1819-1843) (CH2/530/3) pages 51 - 55

Captain the Hon Robert Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs and Latheronwheel gets his servant girls pregnant. Part A

 

Captain the Hon Robert Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs and Latheronwheel gets his servant girls pregnant. Part A

Captain the Hon Robert Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs and Latheronwheel

Captain the Hon Robert Sutherland Dunbar of Hempriggs and Latheronwheel, son of Benjamin Sutherland Dunbar, 5^th Lord Duffus and Janet Mackay, the Rt Hon Lady Duffus, was born on 12 April 1801 in Hempriggs, Wick, Caithness, and died at Hempriggs house, unmarried on 18 August 1857 at age 56. Records show him as sometimes residing at Hempriggs and sometimes being at Latheronwheel.

 

As was apparent with the records of James Sinclair, Younger of Latheron and Andrew Dunnet, Surgeon of Thurso, the Kirk session elders had different expectations and ways of handling issues with men of standing in the parish than they did with other people, in particular, women who confessed to be ‘with child’. 

 

Once more we have an unmarried, powerful landed proprietor preying on his servant girls and other young women in the parish and leaving his victims to rear his children.

Note: A landed proprietor was a landowner whose large holdings made them liable for the payment of public expenses including the church ministers stipend. The minister would not want to bite the hand that fed him.

March 1830 Betty, servant at Latheronwheel

On 8^th March 1830  Betty aka Elizabeth Gunn, aged about 19, appeared before the Latheron Kirk Session. Robert Dunbar, her master, did not appear.

Betty, servant at Latheronwheel had reported to being with child so was called to this meeting of session. Having acknowledged herself with child and being interrogated as to the father she gave up Captain Dunbar of Latheronwheel. She was seriously exhorted as to the evils of her sin aggravated as it is by having resided in Captain Dunbar’s house for so long a period after its consummation and was enjoined to remove from it without delay and also to do discipline in the usual manner but not till Captain Dunbar’s answer is received. The clerk was directed to transmit a copy of this minute to Captain Dunbar.

So Betty was blamed for not leaving her master’s house when she got pregnant, was told to leave immediately and be ready to stand before the congregation in sackcloth as was the usual discipline. Robert the landed proprietor gets different treatment.  Robert is not cautioned to expect public shaming and will not be required to leave either of his grand houses so long as he agrees that Betty leaves and does not come back.

Captain Dunbar of Latheronwheel

Thereafter there was laid before the session a letter from Captain Dunbar Latheronwheel acknowledging himself as father to the child brought forth in fornication by Elizabeth Gun his late servant referred to in a former minute. The session, considering all the circumstances of this case are unanimously of the opinion that as he has promised to conform to the ordinary rules, if he pledges himself that the woman is not to return again to his service (in which case the scandal which has too long existed wants again be received) authorise the child to be baptised. 

 

May 1830 Baby George is baptised

On 10^th May 1830 Captain Robert Dunbar of Hempriggs and Elizabeth Gunn now of Achnagoll, took their son to the kirk to be baptized. He was named George Sutherland Dunbar (after Robert’s  brother). Achnagoll was a hamlet owned by Robert Dunbar so perhaps he had found a place where Betty and their son could live.

 

June 1839 Daughter Elizabeth is baptised

On 3^rd June 1839 Betty Gunn (aka Elizabeth) appeared again before the Latheron elders and confessed that back in 1835 she had brought forth a daughter, named Elizabeth, and was now wanting to have her daughter baptised.

Betty Gunn late servant at Latheronwheel stated that she wished to mention to the session that Alexander McFarlane late clerk at Latheronwheel is the father of her female child brought forth by her in fornication in September 1835. The session having seriously exhorted her to tell the truth she persisted in her declaration and presented several letters from him in which it appears he acknowledges the child as his. Said Betty Gunn being seriously rebuked and exhorted as to the irregularity of her former conduct for which she seemed to manifest appearances of regret the session deem it right notwithstanding the letters produced to intimate this confession to said Alexander McFarlane now an Officer of Excise and therefore instruct the clerk to write him to that effect. No reply is recorded but the elders apparently agreed to the baptism as it is shown to have taken place on 14 June 1839 the week after she had been to the kirk session. The father, Alexander McFarlane had attended but had not been rebuked in the usual way of public shaming.

1841 Census

In the 1841 census Elizabeth Gunn is shown living in Latheronwheel with her daughter Elizabeth McFarlane aged 5 and an older Elizabeth Gunn, possibly her mother.

In the 1841 census there is also shown a boy of 11 years old, called George Dunbar, living with the local school master and his household. This is probably Betty’s son born in 1830.

To be continued…

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/virtual-volumes/  Latheron kirk session, Minutes (1734-1776, with gaps) Minutes (1819-1843) (CH2/530/3) pages 49 – 52 & pg 149