KEMBACK PARISH

Remains of tumuli may be traced in one or two places, and relics have at different times been discovered, both of Roman origin, and of feudal times, but not of any peculiar interest. There are in the grounds of Kemback, the remains of an old burying-ground, but there is no trace of its history or of any building connected with it.

Land-Owners, etc.--The number of heritors is five, of whom the principal is General Alexander Bethune of Blebo.

Parochial Registers -The earliest registers are those of baptisms and burials, which both commence in the year 1735. That of proclamations begins 1st October 1783. The records appear at one period to have been made irregularly ; and there is no account of the burials from 1738 to 1750. The only session book extant commences in the year 1732, and continues with some interruption to April 1775.

All of the heritors reside in the parish, and are possessed of incomes above L.50.

In addition to these, there are fifty-one persons holding feus of various values, as entered in the new valuation roll of the county.

Wages.-The average wages of farm-labourers is, for men, 1s. 8d. ; and for women, 8d. per day.

The usual number of horses kept for agricultural purposes is about fifty-four. There are nine thrashing-machines, seven of which are worked by horse-power, one by steam, and one by water.

Manufactures.- There are two mills for spinning yarns in the parish, both,occupied by Mr David Yool, and both situated on the Kame or Ceres Burn: 1. Yoolfield Mill, built in 1839, driven by a water-wheel of 39 feet diameter, and 10 feet wide, assisted, when the water is scarce, by a steam-engine. There are now employed at it 98 women and girls, earning on an average 5s. per week; 7 wrights, at 12s. 6d.; 10 men, at 12s.; 7 boys, at 4s.; 6 labourers, at 9s. ; and 30 hecklers. 2. Blebo mills, further up the stream, worked by a water-wheel and steam-engine of tenhorse power, at which are employed 4 men at an average at 13s. per week; 3 boys, at 4s. ; and 37 females, at 10s. 3d.

At Blebo mills, there is also a meal-mill, a barley-mill, and a flax scutching-mill.

At Kemback mill, on the same stream , but further down, and also tenanted by Mr Yool, a wheel of sixteen horse power impels a meal-mill, a saw-mill, and a bone-mill, by which from 500 to 600 tons of bones are ground annually, and about 150 tons of rape-cake.

In the year 1446, Robertus de Ferny and Mariota Olifert, his wife, lady of Kemback, granted to Gilbert de Galbrath, rector of the church of Kemback, and to his successors, four acres of the lands of Kemback with three cows' grass, and one horse's grass for ever, to be held on condition of the rector being always bound to say two masses weekly in the said church, for them, their parents, and benefactors, " purgatorii poenas demollire, et fidelium animas in paradisi gaudiis collocare." The deed and confirmation by the Bishop of St Andrews is witnessed by James, abbot of the monastery of Lundoris ; John, archdeacon of St Andrews ; Hugo Kennedy, chaplain of St Andrews; John Beatoun, rector of Dalry; and rector of the University of St Andrews ; John de Balfour, vicar of Lynlytholk; James Treyle de Malgaske; Thomas de Wemyss de Myrtyn ; James Butellere de Rumgally; Alexander do Forsith de Nydy, and others.

The following is a list of the ministers of the parish since the Reformation. The three first in the list were masters of St Salvador's, and ex officio ministers of Kemback -

It is worthy of remark, that only two inductions have taken place since 1703, a period of 139 years, and only one since 1736; Mr Walker having been minister of the parish fifty-five, and the present venerable incumbent the long period of sixty-one years.

The present church was opened for public worship.in May 1814, and cost about L. 700. The manse was built in 1801.

The average Yearly amount of collections in the church for the last five years is L. 17, 3s. 5d.

Education.-There is one unendowed school besides the parochial school ; the number of scholars at both together averaging from 70 to 80. There is also a girl's school at Kemback mill, partly supported by ladies in the parish.

The parochial teacher has the full legal salary ; but the present incumbent, being incapacitated from performing his duties, the heritors at present employ another teacher in his place at a salary of

L.14 per annum. He states his annual profit from fees at L. 16; and he has also about L. 3 as session-clerk. The common branches of elementary education only are taught, there being but one pupil taking lessons in Latin.

Poor.-The number of poor regularly supplied is from 15 to 20. The amount of voluntary assessment is about L.11, 10s., besides which the session possess a fund bequeathed by one of the family of Blebo. amounting to L. 250.

Collections, L. 17, 3s. 5d. ; assessment, L. 11, 10s. ; interest of fund, L.10-L.38, 13s. 5d.