BURNTISLAND HAMMERMEN, 1648-1835
[From the Records of the Burntisland Hammerman Craft Minute Book, 1648-1741 (Ref: B9/13/2, one of the Burgh Records of Burntisland at SRO), and the Incorporated Trades of Burntisland Minute Book, 1685-1835, now in St Andrews University Library, with copy in Kirkcaldy Central Library. The first entry of the Hammerman's Record is dated 25 Dec 1648, and is to be found near the middle of the book. From the entry it is evident that the Incorporation had been in existence long before, and Andrew Young, in his "History of Burntisland" (2nd Edit, 1924, P 167), has given an explanation why the first entry is near the middle - "The intention may have been to collect their earlier proceedings from scattered pages and place them in the front pages." The Incorporated Trades Minute Book (1685-1835) has the name of Mr Alexander Pringle of Springfield, Illinois, on its last leaf, and Mr R M Livingston, in an article in the Fife Free Press of Sep 7 1979, conjectures that the book remained with this family in the United States for more than 100 years, until it reappeared in an antiquarian book sale held in the Roxburgh Hotel in the early 1970's, when it was offered for sale by Mr Alexander Frizzell of West Linton. Subsequently, the book came up for auction in a London salesroom, and went for #280. In about 1977 it appeared in the catalogue of Stanley Crowe of London, and was bought by St Andrews University Library for #575. All entries below obtained from this Incorporated Trades Book have been marked "ITB"]
ARNOT, DAVID: blacksmith, Shore, c 1825-62; was b Burntisland, c 1802; listed Pigot (1825); adm Freeman, Sep 14 1827 (ITB); Slater (1852) & Westwood (1862)
AUCHINOUTIR, GEORGE: app to David Stirling, paid 26 shillings 8 pence, 28 Oct 1658
BRAISER, DAVID: cooper; entered journeyman to Mgt Thrift, relict of Robert Reid, smith, April 17 1730
COOK, ROBERT: smith; adm Freeman, July 29 1820 (ITB)
DEWAR, DAVID: smith, High Street, c 1787-1837; son of Robert Dewar; Burgess, June 13 1786; adm Freeman, Sep 19 1787 (ITB); listed Pigot (1825/37); app: Rbt Hope (1826)
DEWAR, JOHN: son of John Dewar, smith; Burgess, Aug 21 1786
DEWAR, ROBERT: app to John Paterson, Sep 1768 (ITB); Burgess, Nov 23 1768; adm Freeman, July 1769 (ITB); son, David
EDWART, ANDREW: lawful son of Archibald Edwart; bound app under Andrew Robertson, Feb 8 1721
FAIRNIE, JAMES: smith; adm Freeman, Oct 1819 (ITB)
GARNOCK, ANDREW: smith; adm Freeman, Oct 1771 (ITB); app, James Livingston (1776); a Michael Garnock, smith in Kirkton, m 08 March 1723 Janet Nicolson
GIBB, ROBERT: app to David Stirling, 40/- paid, 28 Oct 1658; adm Freeman, Feb 10 1663; active, 1663-67
(GONSLONG), GEORGE: cooper; entered journeyman to Mgt Thrift, relict of Robert Reid, smith, Sep 17 1736
GOODWILLIE, JAMES: smith; described as late servant to John Paterson, when adm Burgess, Sep 8 1752; adm Freeman, Sep 1760 (ITB); m 03 Dec 1752 Helen Muir
GOURLAY, JAMES: adm Freeman smith, Sep 1804 (ITB)
HOPE, ROBERT: app to David Dewar, smith, Sep 1826 (ITB)
HUTCHESON, JAMES: glover; adm Freeman, 26 June 1694 (ITB)
IMBRIE, WILLIAM: app to Andrew Robertson, Sep 1710 (ITB)
LESSELS (LEASELS), DAVID: cooper; entered journeyman to Mgt Thrift, relict of Robert Reid, smith, 19 July 1729
LIVINGSTON, JAMES: app to Andrew Garnock, Sep 1776 (ITB)
LYELL, DAVID: adm Freeman, 5 Sep 1730 on condition of his paying #16; seems to have been the "David Leyels" who was adm Freeman, Sep 21 1732 and who was Deacon (1734-35)
McLAREN, ANDREW: smith; adm Freeman, Nov 1811 (ITB); listed Pigot (1837) at Shore
McLAREN, DANIEL: servant to John Paterson, smith in Burntisland; Burgess, Feb 27 1772; adm Freeman, Sep 1775 (ITB); Deacon (1786); Deacon Convener (1788-89; 1796-97)
MELDRUM, ROBERT: adm Freeman smith, Sep 1825 (ITB)
METHVEN, JAMES: adm Freeman smith, Sep 1819 (ITB); listed Pigot (1825) in High StreetMILLAR, PATRICK: Deacon (1703-04)
MILLAR, PATRICK (or PETER): adm Freeman, Sep 1702 (ITB); Deacon (1703-05)
PATERSON, DAVID: app to John Paterson, Oct 1745 (ITB); Burgess, Oct 31 1745
PATERSON, JOHN: adm Freeman, 28 Dec 1731; active, 1731-72; Deacon (1732-33; 1735-36; 1741); app: David Paterson (1745) Robert Dewar (1768); servants: James Goodwillie (1752) & Daniel McLaren (1772); dead by Feb 1775; m (1) 27 Sep 1736 Agnes Colzier, the sister of Janet Colliar, who was married to Thomas Lundie, wright in Burntisland; (2) Margaret Jackson; only brother, David Paterson, tenant in Balbirnie; sisters, Jean Paterson, spouse to Henry Cant, tenant in Glassliehead, & Euphan Paterson, spouse of David Ritchie, tenant in Buckleavie; see Deed, reg 6 June 1776 (B9/7/2), giving factor of his estate to Henry Watt, writer in Burntisland
PATON, ANDREW: entered journeyman to Andrew Robertson, Aug 21 1723; adm Freeman, 13 Aug 1728; active, 1728-29
PIRRIE, GEORGE: described as "formerly smith in Edinburgh, now in Burntisland," when adm Burgess, Sep 7 1745
REID, JOHN: smith; adm Freeman, 16 Aug 1728; #3 Scots booking money rcd, Sep 8 1735 (ITB); m to Ann Thomson
REID, ROBERT: smith; adm Freeman, 28 Aug 1719, but with restrictions: he was not to employ a journeyman for 4 yrs, and forbidden to take on any apprentices for 2 yrs, and he had to pay the Trade the sum of #24 Scots; fined #3 Scots in Nov 1726 for abusing Simon Williamson "in a most rude and insolent manner"; appears to have died by July 1729, when David Leasels was bound journyeman to his spouse, Mgt Thrift, whom he had m at Aberdour, 17 April 1718; other journeymen to Mgt Thrift included: David Braiser (1730); George Gonslong (1736); Alexander Stedman (1736); Alexander Swinton (1736)
ROBERTSON, ANDREW: adm Freeman, July 1707; active, 1707-50; Deacon (1707-16; 1718-21; 1724-28; 1737-38; 1749-50); Deacon Convener (1715-17); apprentices and journeymen - Andrew Edwart (1721); Andrew Paton (1723); eldest son, Andrew Robertson, adm Burgess, Sep 20 1751
SMITH/SMYTH/SMYTHE
SMITH, DAVID: adm Freeman, 29 Jan 1666, and to pay 20 merks for his Freedom, the 1st payment to be made at Whitsunday 1666, and the 2nd at Candlemas 1667; has made full payment for his Freedom, 30 Dec 1667; active, 1667-94; Deacon (1686; 1689)
SMITH, JAMES: eldest son of John Smith (ITB); adm Freeman, 12 Nov 1699; active, 1699-1723; Deacon (1717; 1722-23)
SMITH, JOHN: adm Freeman, Oct 20 1662; active, 1662-1701; Deacon (1685; 1692; 1699-1701); app, Robert Willson (1660); son, James
SMITH, THOMAS: bound app to his brother, James Smith, Sep 1765 (ITB)
STEDMAN, Alexander: cooper; entered journeyman to Mgt Thrift, relict of Robert Reid, smith, Sep 17 1736
STEVENSON, ADAM: active, 1648-65
STEVENSON, ANDREW: active, 1667-91; Deacon (1690-1691)
STEVENSON, ROBERT: active, 1685-98; Deacon (1693-98)
STIRLING, DAVID: active, 1648-68; app: George Auchinoutir (1658); Rbt Gibb (1658); John White (1665)
SWINTON, ALEXANDER: cooper; entered journeyman to Mgt Thrift, relict of Robert Reid, smith, Sep 17 1736
WARDLAW, JOHN: adm Burgess, June 24 1763
WHITE, JOHN: bound app to David Stirling, 40/- paid 18 Aug 1665; paid 30/- for his "bygone money," 26 Nov 1668; paid the sum of #8 2/- Scots as half part payment "for the present and all bygones," and is to pay the other half at Lammas 1669 (recorded 26 Nov 1668); paid 30/-, 5 Feb 1670; full payment received for his Freedom, 2 May 1671; active, 1671-86
WILLSON, ROBERT: app to John Smyth, 40/- paid, 1 Jan 1660
YOUNG, ROBERT: adm Freeman smith, Sep 1806 (ITB)