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, 5th 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 8th 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 10th 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 3rd 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
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