General Meeting of the Trades
1756 January 1st Monday 3 o’clock For the election of stent masters, and to receive the St Andrew’s Church Treasurer’s and General Fund Accounts.
April 1st Monday 3 o’clock
July 1st Monday 3 o’clock
September second Wednesday before Michael at 11 o’clock about the 17th For the election of the Convener.
the Wednesday before Michael 4 o’clock. To receive the Leets for Magistrates.
Michaelmas or Thursday Preceding 10 o’clock To note on the Leets The Election of Deacons and to attend the Town Council.
October 1st Monday 10 o’clock For the Deacons accepting their offices and to proceed to the head Court.
2nd Monday 12 o’clock For the election of Harbour Commissioners and St Andrew’s Church Committee and assessors to the Deacons for the management of the general fund
Att Dundee the 23 Sept 1762
Which Day Convener David Smart and the Deacons of severall Incorporations being mett, when the Convener represented to them, that there was presently a dispute between The Town Counsill and James Guthrie of Craigie relative to the property of the moor of Craigie. That the Town Counsill and him had severall conversations there anent but did not incline bringing the matter to any conclusion without the concurrence of the Nine Trades. That the Counsill put into the Conveeners hands two Acts of Counsill to lay before the Trades whereof the Tenor follows.
Att Dundee the Twenty fourth day of October Sixteen hundred and Seventy Six. Which Day the provost, Magistrates, & remanent Members of the Town Counsill of Dundee being conveend in Counsill consulting about the ordinary affairs of the Burgh. The Provost made report, that he with the Baillies and Hospittall Master, had settled and closed with the Laird of Craigie, and the Representatives of the Deceast William Kyd of Woodhill and sett in feu Oliphers Croft, The Rood Yeards and Curroll (later spelled Querrel) hole for payment yearly of Twenty five pound six shilling and eight pennies Scots with several conditions contained in the agreement made there anent. And also that the Town of Dundee and Inhabitants hereof have liberty to keep a fair the first Tuesday of July and days limited there to upon the common Muir of Craigie as much as will serve their own use, with liberty also to the Inhabitants of the said Burgh for building of hutts there in time of sickness if it shall happen (as God forbid). The Town of Dundee paying yearly to them Six Shilling and Eight pennies of feu, which the Counsill did approve, Extracted furth of the Records of Counsill by /signed George Duncan Clk.
Note: see file on fairs etc.
Follows the other Act
Att Dundee the Twenty Sixth day of February One Thousand Seven hundred and four years.
Which Day ye Provost, Magestrates and Remanent Members of the Town Counsill of Dundee being conveened in Counsill consulting about the ordinary affairs of the Burgh The Committie appointed to commune with Craigie, presented a Minute of agreement dated the Twenty Day of October Sixteen hundred and Seventy Six years.
Betwixt George Brown then present Provost of Dundee, Thomas Watson, Alexr Duncan, John Scrymsour and Thomas Bowar Baillies, and John Pilmer Hospitall Master for themselves and as takeing burthen on them for the Counsill Community and Hospitall of the said Burgh on the one part, and Patrick Kyd of Craigie for himself and as taking burthen on him for James Kyd of Woodhill and the Tutors of the said James Kyd therein named on the other part, Which minute of Agreement is subscribed by the said Partys and both bear and contain the articles following Vizt.
First That the property of the Lands called Rood yeards and Oliphers Croft & querrel holes shall be Declared to belong to the said Town and Hospitall, And that the same be sett in feu to the said Patrick & James Kyds Conform to their rexive Interests to be holden of the said Town and Hospitall by them and their Heirs for yearly payment of Twenty five pound half ane mark at the two accustomed Terms and as use is of Feu farm.
Secondly That the Property of the Muir called the Muir of Craigie shall be Declared to belong to the said Patrick and James Kyd, and that the Town shall have a perpetuall liberty and servitude therein for holding of their Fairs, digging of clay, and building of hutts for their Sick in time of plague And that for yearly payment of six shilling, eight pennies Scots to the said Patrick & James Kyds and their Heirs and Successors, And that this Servitude shall be secured to the said Town and Hospittall in the best way that shall be Devised by Lawyers.
Thirdly That in the Feu Charters to be granted by the Town and Hospittall to the said Patrick and James Kyds of the Rood Yeards and others above mentioned, there shall be a reservation to the said Town of power to bury Malefactors therein & such as die violent Deaths.
Fourthly. That the said Feu Charter bear likewise the same to be without prejudice to the said Town of their Accomodation for their Fishings at the said Rood yeards according to use and want, And that therein thereby a reservation of power and liberty to keep a house of Three Trees upon the said Lands for the use of the Fishings.
Fifthly. That the saids Patrick and James Kyds give a tollerance to the said Town for a house for their accommodation of their other Fishings at Times Dureing the saids Patrick and James Kyds their pleasure.
Sixthly. That every one of the saids partys shall mutually Discharge others of all actions presently depending betwixt them, and particularly that the Town and Hospitall shall Discharge the saids Patrick and James Kyds of all bygone Feu Dutys and nonentrys aliaged due by them preceeding this present year, And of all contravention of Lawburrows, And that the said Patrick and James Kyds and the foresaids persons takeing burthen for them shall Discharge the said Town of the Action of Spuilzie and odious Intrumissions and Contraventions of Lawburrows, And likewise shall Discharge Patrick Duncan of the same, And likewise that the present Minute shall be extended in ample form and fullfilled betwixt the date here of and the first day of May then next to come & containith a mutuall penalty of Five hundred merks Extracted on this and the preceeding page furth of the records of Counsill by / signed George Duncan Clk.
Which Acts having been read over in presence of the Conveener and Deacons and they understanding by some of their old Sederunts that the proposals mentioned in the before receited Acts were never carried into execution, Wherefor the Conveener and Deacons were of opinion that Craigie should be obliged to produce what use he had to the places mentioned in the foresaid acts, And in case he had none That the Counsill should take the legal steps to get into possession, And that Craigie shall be pursued for the bygone rents, But in respect on the melioration Craigie has made on the Muir, for which they think he is reimbursed from the rents They were of the opinion, That in case Craigie would give up the possession of the Muir without any prosess they would pass from the by gone rents and appointed the Conveener to report accordingly.
Dav. Smart
Dundie the 25thNover. 1762
The Conveener Court being mett Conveener Smart reported that he agreeable to the last Sederunt Laid their opinion before the Council – That the Council agreed to do nothing in a way of agreeing with Craigie without Concurrance of the Trades.
Thursday 15th March 1764.
The Conveener of Nine Trades being mett in the Burial place when the Convr represented to them That the ordinary Council lately granted a Disposition to John Miln Mercht. To a small part of the Dock yeard without Concurrance of the Deacons contrary to an Interloqr. Of the court of Session of Date the 14th November 1761 in the process at the Trades insistence agt the Town Whereby the Court found “That the Deacons of the Trades are entitled to concur & vote with the Common Council in the alienating fewing out & disponing of the Towns property both within and without the Burgh & in Granting Charters & precipts of Clare Constat & other rights to the Towns vassals also in Granting Tacks of the Lands of Dudhope purchased from Thos. Boyes &c”. And wanted the Trades opinion thereon.
Also the Convr. Represented that the ordinary Council had lately agreed to Grant a Tack of two Shops below the Town House In favours of the Dundee Banking company for Thirty Eight years Contrary both to Law & the above Interloqr. That they also had agreid to repeal the said Company Sixty three pound Ten shillings sterling advance by them for repair on said shops. And also wanted the Trades opinion thereon All which being considered by the Trades & they were of the opinion that their privilidges were incroached on by the before mentioned Deeds of ordinary Council And therefore agreed that the foresd Disposition In favour of Mr Miln should be reduced & empowered the Conveener to raise reduction of said Disposition & to take all steps the Law directs relative hereto And also they empower to Conveener to enter a protest Agt the Council at their next meeting relative to the Banking Compys Tack & against allowing them the said £63.10 Sh. And to protest that the said Tack shall be void & null as the same is Contrary to Law & the forementioned decision & that in case the Council allow the said sum for repairs that the individual members shall be Lyable therefore, & not come off the revenue & that the Council shall be Lyable for Damages & Expenses of a prosecution in case the Trades shall think proper to proceed in a process.
Dundee 22d Jany 1765
That Managers of the General Fund Court of the Nine Trades being mett in the Meall mercate. The Conveener Represented that as the whole Trades had lately agreed to join with Ordinary Council in submitting the Difference betwixt the Town and Craigie relative to quarrieholls, Rood yeards & the Muir of Craigie &c. He at desire of the Town council wanted they should name a Gentleman for Arbitrator accordingly they named Mr John Swynton Senr advocate as their Arbitrator & Mr Robert Speid Clerk Depute of Dundee or Mr George Constable Writer in Edinr. As his assistant, & appointed the Convr to report this to the Council & the meeting impowered the Court to sign the Submission along with Council or such as they shall name for that end.
James Henderson.
Dundee 2 April 1766
The Convener & Deacons of the Trades being met in the Meall Mercate. The Conveener represented That the Committies of the Town Council and Trades mett Sundry times with Craigie in order to propose some measures for accomaditing the differinces betwixt them under submission That at two of these meetings the Committies and Craigie came to the following agreement. First that Craigie should Dispone & make over in absolute property to the Town of Dundee that part of Muir of Craigie immediately to the Eastward of his inclosures consisting of about eleven acres of ground as distinguished in the plan laid before the Arbiters & the committies & to continue to pay his feu dutys as formerly & in consideration of the Town Concessions to pay the Town at Lambass next One hundred & Twenty five pound Sterling And the Committies on their part agreed that the Town Council & Trades should renounce & disclaim all right whither of property or Servitude to or upon the said Muir except the part thereof above mentioned & that the Council as patrons of the Hospital should grant a feu Charter to Craigie to the pendicles in Dispute and wanted to know if the Trades would approve of their proceedings which being considered by the Deacons they unanimously approve of & corroborate ye said agreement of the committies & recommend to the Arbiter to pronounce Sentence accordingly.
James Henderson.
At Dundee the Twenty Eight day of August in the year One thousand Eight hundred and five.
At a Meeting of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee held this day within their Hall. The Convenor informed the Trades that he had called them together in consequence of a letter he had received of yesterdays date subscribed by five of the Deacons requesting him to call a meeting of the Trades in order to lay before them a Report of the Committee appointed by the Trades and the Report having been read to the meeting by the Clerk, and as part of it respected Convenors conduct in the Execution of his office, it was proposed that the Convenor should leave the Chair and that a preses should be elected to preside at this meeting in his room and this proposal having been agreed to, the convenor left the Chair and the meeting made choice of Mr James Murray to be their preses.
The Report of the Committee alluded to in the Letter above mentioned addressed to the Convenor, was again read to the meeting and after some observations thereon by the Convenor as to that part of it which respected his conduct, it was agreed that he should be furnished with a copy of it, that he might consider of it against the next General meeting of the Trades and until that time to delay the consideration of the Convenors conduct.
The report of the Committee appointed to be printed by the Sederunt of Thirty first July last was produced to the meeting and three copies of it delivered to each Trade in terms of that Sederunt and the Committee was authorised to print at their own expence as many Copies as they might think necessary to be distributed among the Trades by the Committee as they should think proper. – A Copy of the printed Report was delivered to Convenor Thomson by Deacon Jackson at his own request, in order that he might answer it and Fourteen days were allowed him by the meeting for that purpose. The following resolutions were submitted to the meeting and agreed to.