CUPAR SHOEMAKERS (1783-1846)
[Extracted from the Shoemaker Trade Book of Cupar (1783-1846), now held at the Archives of Fife Regional Council, Fife House, Glenrothes [Ref - 9/6/1]. The book was opened on April 7 1783, and it replaced an older book, now apparently lost, for it was minuted on April 8 1783: "The Shoemaker Trade, having for some-time past considered that it was necessary for them to get a new book, on account of the badness of the papers and the confused order it has been kept. Therefore, the Trade agree that all the necessary Acts be extracted out of the Old Book, and inserted into this, and then to put the Old Book into the Box."]
ANDERSON, ROBERT (1) (d 1785); Deacon (1784-85); d Nov 17 1785; see Minute, Nov 18 1785; a Robert Anderson, shoemaker, Cupar, was buried Nov 16 1794
ANDERSON, ROBERT (2): son of John Anderson, merchant, Cupar; adm Freeman, 24 May 1825 on payment of #10, being a free apprentice
BENNET, ANDREW: on June 15 1837 made offer of payment of #8 for the liberty of working within the Burgh, without receiving any other privileges of Trade, to be paid as follows: #3 immediately, #3 at 15 Dec, and #2 on 15 June 1838; his offer was accepted.
BIRRELL, PETER snr: active, 1784-93;
BIRRELL, PETER jnr (d 1847) : active, 1784-1846); Boxmaster (1791-92); d March 5 1847, "old age"
BLAIR, THOMAS: in 1834 the Trade brought a process in the Sheriff Court against him, complaining that he was encroaching on their Trade by carrying on business without first entering with their Incorporation; Blair countered by stating that he was merely the servant of George Millar, his father-in-law [Blair had married his dau, Grace Millar, at Abbotshall, 05 Dec 1831], who, being a King's Freeman, was entitled to carry on business in any town; to this, the Trade replied that Millar did not carry on business in Cupar bu resided in Kirkcaldy, where he merely wrought as a journeyman. and, by law, a King's Freeman residing and working in one town was not entitled to exercise his trade in another at the same time; at a Meeting of Trade, Sep 30 1834, Blair offered the Incorporation #8 for the privilege of being allowed to carry on business during his life-time only, without being entitled to any other rights of the Incorporation, which was accepted.
BLYTH, DAVID: employed in the tan works of David Gullan, tanner, and apparently a Freeman of the Shoemaker Incorporation; on Feb 1784 Gullan reported that Blyth had disposed of and sold a hyde of leathers without telling him, for which misdemeanour he was excluded from the Incorporation.
BLYTH, ROBERT (d 1795): active, 1784-94; buried July 21 1795
BLYTH, ROBERT (d 1846): son of the dec Robert Blyth; adm Freeman, Dec 3 1811; active, 1811-46; Boxmaster (1813-14; 1818-19; 1824-27); Deacon (1820-21; (1828-29; 1835-36; 1843-44); d May 17 1846, aged 65, "dropsy"
BROWN, SANDERS: on Nov 16 1841 he petitioned the Incorporation to be allowed to exercise his craft within the Burgh until Whitsunday 1842, on payment of #1, which was accepted; on Dec 20 1841 the Trade reported that Brown had not fulfilled his part of agreement, and the Trade Officer was to call on him and demand payment, and if still unsuccessful, "a man of business" (Thomas Shaw, writer), was to be employed to prosecute him in the Sheriff Court
DOTT, DAVID (d 1825): came from a long-est family of shoemakers in the town - Thomas Dott (d 12 March 1777 aged 59) was Deacon of the Cordiners; a David Dott, shoemaker, was buried Dec 23 1790; another David Dott, shoemaker, was buried Dec 24 1815 (60), of consumption; active, 1783-1824; Boxmaster (1794-96); given Trade support, July 24 1812; d Jan 22 1825
DOTT, JOHN (d 1864): son of David Dott; adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-64; shop was in the Bonnygate; Deacon (1826-27; 1833-34); Boxmaster (1835-37; 1839-43); d March 31 1864 aged 69; m July 11 1831 Helen Gray of St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh; only son, James Gray Dott, d May 28 1853
DOTT, ROBERT: son of dec Thomas Dott, barber (who died 9 Feb 1783 aged 36, son of Thomas Dott (d 1777), Deacon of the Cordiners); being of age, he was adm Freeman, March 21 1803; active, 1803-31
DOTT, THOMAS (d 1844): lawful son of David Dott, freeman shoemaker, Cupar; adm Freeman, April 4 1796; active, 1796-1841; Boxmaster (1800; 1811-12; 1817; 1822-23); Deacon (1801-02; 1813-14; 1818-19; 1824-25); d March 5 1844, "old age"
DOTT, THOMAS (d 1825): lawful son of dec Thomas Dott, barber and freeman shoemaker; adm Freeman, Nov 23 1796; active, 1796-1825; Boxmaster (1797-99); Deacon (1816-17); d Dec 6 1825
DOUGLAS, FREDERICK (d 1817?): active, 1808-1816; given Trade support, July 24 1812; 2 Frederick Dougas's, shoemakers in Cupar, died in 1817, one on April 3 1817 aged 64 from "failing of nature," the other on June 29 1817, aged 76, of "decline"
DOUGLAS, GEORGE snr (d 1793?): active, 1785-92; probably the George Douglas, shoemaker, who was buried July 1 1793
DOUGLAS, GEORGE jnr: active, 1784-92; Boxmaster (1787-88)
DOWIE, ARCHIBALD (d 1883): he had commenced business in St Catherine Street in March 1836, and was adm Freeman, Nov 15 1844, on payment of #10; Deacon (1845); later in the Bonnygate; d July 15 1883; m Oct 7 1836 Euphemia Finlay (she d June 24 1854)
DUNCAN, HENRY (d 1807): active, 1784-1807; d 26 Dec 1807 aged 72
DUNCAN, WILLIAM: lawful son of Henry Duncan, freeman shoemaker in Cupar; adm Freeman, Sep 13 1790; active, 1790-1806; Boxmaster (1793)
FARMER, ALEXANDER: applied to enter Incorporation on Oct 11 1838, offering #15 for his Freedom, to be paid as follows: #8 immediately, with the balance of #7 being paid at Martinmas 1839, which was agreed, and he commenced business in the Crossgate on Nov 13 1838; active, 1838-40; m June 27 1839 Elizabeth Aitken
HIGH, JOHN (d 1831): adm Freeman, March 1 1808, on payment of #20; active, 1808-30; Deacon (1809-10; 1815; 1822-23; 1830); Boxmaster (1820-21; 1828-29); d July 26 1831, aged 55, palsy
HODGE, JOHN (d 1830): lawful son of dec William Hodge at Ferniehall; adm Freeman, Jan 27 1798, having served his apprenticeship with a Freeman shoemaker in Cupar, and paid his dues at that time; active, 1798-1827; Deacon (1799-1800); shop was in the Bonnygate d Feb 28 1830, in 63rd yr; brother, David Hodge, was wright in Glasgow
HONEYMAN, JAMES (1805-1891): was b Cupar, April 16 1805, son of William Honeyman (d 1845), weaver/manufacturer, and Mgt Stark; on Oct 11 1822 he entered the Incorporation as a free apprentice, and paid his dues of #1 sterling; on 16 Dec 1823 the Trade reported that he was working within the Burgh without having first entered with the Incorporation, but paid #10 for his Freedom on Dec 24 1823; on Oct 11 1838 he was received into the Fund again when he recommenced his quarter payments, "running 4 years without receiving aliment;" Deacon (1841-42); shop was in the Bonnygate; giving up the boot and shoe business in Feb 1852, and succeeded to the Cupar Tannery in Burnside; d April 17 1891, aged 86; m June 6 1838 Ann Stark of Auchterderran
INGLES, GEORGE: active, 1785-98
LOUDON, ALEXANDER: active, 1784-1812; given Trade support, July 24 1812
McINTOSH, JAMES: active, 1785-91
McNAIR, JOHN: active, 1784-1792; Deacon (1790)
MAXWELL, ANDREW: son of dec Andrew Andrew Maxwell, tanner; adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-32
MAXWELL, ROBERT: adm Freeman, Sep 11 1810, on payment of #20; active, 1810-14
MELVILL, ALEXANDER: son of William Melvill (1); adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-31
MELVILL, WILLIAM (1): lawful son of William Melvill, flesher in Cupar; adm Freeman, July 1 1799, having served his apprenticeship with a Freeman shoemaker in Cupar and paid his apprenticeship dues; active, 1799-1822; Boxmaster (1809-10)
MELVILL, WILLIAM (2): son of William Melvill (1); adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816
METHVEN, MR: in Dairsie-muir; encroaching on the Shoemaker Trade of St Andrews (see Minute dated May 2 1824)
MILLAR, JAMES: adm Freeman, Dec 2 1844, on payment of #10, #5 of which was to be paid immediately, with the other #5 to be paid in 12 mths time; active, 1844-46
MILLIE, JOHN: shoemaker in the Newtown of Cupar; adm Freeman, March 13 1798, on payment of #13; active, 1798-1831; Boxmaster (1807-08)
MITCHEL, WILLIAM: the Trade complained against him in Dec 1797 for opening shop in Cupar for the "making and disposing of shoes" without first having entered with the Incorporation (see Minute dated Dec 18 1797); the following year he petitioned for his Freedom, which was accepted, Jan 29 1798, on payment of #13 absconded, 1799 (see Minute, April 22 1799)
NAIRN, DAVID (d 1831): son of James Nairn, shoemaker in Luthrie; adm Freeman, 30 May 1821; active, 1821-27; shop was in the Crossgatge d Feb 12 1831 (36), consumption
NAIRN, JAMES: shoemaker in Luthrie; adm Freeman, May 30 1821, on payment of #20, and had all rights to the Freedom apart from access to Trade Funds, "by reason of his age and indisposition, being not able to work a week's work"
NAIRN, ROBERT: son of James Nairn, shoemaker in Luthrie; adm Freeman, 22 Feb 1832; active, 1832-36
PRATT, JOHN: lawful son of dec John Pratt, shoemaker; adm Freeman, Nov 25 1789
RENTOULL, JOHN: active, 1784-1816; Boxmaster (1789-90)
RENTOULL, LAURENCE: active, 1784-97
ROBERTSON, JOHN: adm Freeman, May 28 1810, on payment of #20; active, 1810-13
SCOTT, THOMAS: son of Hugh Scott, flesher in Cupar; adm Freeman, June 10 1829, on payment of #10, being a free apprentice; was also entered Burgess same day; active, 1829-30
SHANKS, ARCHIBALD: tanner; in Dec 1797 was encroaching on the Freedom of the Trade, "having got servants," and was taking measures, making and disposing of shoes, without any right or title to do so," contrary to the laws of the Incorporation (see Minute dated Dec 18 1797); in April 1799 it was reported to the Trade that Shanks "was carrying on the shoemaking business in the house lately occupied by William Mitchel, shoemaker here, who has absonded," when he had no right or title to do so; as the Trade concluded that he "evidently shows contempt for their Authority. as he has not countenanced them for leave for any length of time," they decided to take the advice of a lawyer and to proceed against him, "according to the regular steps of law, as it directs, without loss of time, and to stop the servants of said Archibald Shanks from working within this Burgh, who are presently carrying on the shoemaker trade for his behoof, in opposition to the shoemaker trade and contrary to the laws of Royal Burghs" (see Minute, April 22 1799)
SIBBALD, ALEXANDER (d 1813): active, 1784-1812; Deacon (1795-96; 1807-08); died from asthma, aged 66, and was buried Oct 3 1813; son, James
SIBBALD, JAMES (d 1820): son of dec Alexander Sibbald; adm Freeman, June 21 1814; active, 1814-15; died Dec 12 1820, aged 33, of "decline"
STEWART, JOHN snr (d 1837) (1): active, 1784-1837; given Trade support, July 24 1812; d July 30 1837, aged 77, "old age"
STEWART, JOHN, jnr (2): son of James Stewart snr (1); adm Freeman, Oct 6 1836; active, 1838-46; Deacon (1837-38)
SUTTIE, GEORGE (d 1852): son of William Suttie (1); adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-46; Deacon (1839-40); d Feb 15 1852, aged 60, palsy
SUTTIE, JAMES (d 1850): son of William Suttie (1); adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-50; journeyman shoemaker in Dead Wynd committed suicide, April 28 1850, aged 54 (see reports, Fife Herald, May 2 1850/Fifeshire Advertiser, May 4 1850)
SUTTIE, WILLIAM (d 1832) (1): active, 1795-1831; Boxmaster (1803-04); d Nov 10 1832, "water in chest;" sons, William (2), George & James
SUTTIE, WILLIAM (2): son of William Suttie (1); adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-40
THOMSON, ROBERT (d 1813): active, 1783-1812; Deacon (1785-87; 1793-94; 1803-04); given Trade support, July 24 1812; Convener of the Trades in Cupar; died of appoplexy, aged 66, and was buried June 26 1813
WALKER, ANDREW (d 1832): adm Freeman, Aug 31 1802, on payment of #16; active, 1802-31; Deacon (1811-12); Boxmaster (1815-16); carried on business as boot and shoemaker, currier and leather merchant in the Crossgate; d, cholera, Nov 13 1832 aged 62; widow, Isobel Landale, d May 4 1853 aged 75
WALKER, DAVID: active, 1785-1819
WALKER, JAMES (d 1826)(1): active, 1784-1829; Deacon (1788-89); Boxmaster (1801-02; 1805-06); d March 27 1826
WALKER, JAMES (2): being "of age," was adm Freeman, March 21 1803; active, 1803-1846
WATSON, ALEXANDER: active, 1784-1843; Boxmaster (1785); Deacon (1791-92)
WATSON, JAMES (1): active, 1783-1816; Boxmaster (1784); Deacon (1797-98; 1805-06)
WATSON, JAMES: lawful son of Robert Watson, shoemaker; adm Freeman, Sep 24 1801;
WATSON, JOHN: son of Robert Watson, shoemaker; being "of age," was adm Freeman, March 21 1803
WATSON, ROBERT (d 1832): active, 1784-1826; d May 20 1832, aged 87, "old age"
WATSON, WILLIAM: son of James Watson; adm Freeman, Sep 16 1816; active, 1816-31
WILSON, DAVID: son of Thomas Wilson, baker; adm Freeman, 21 June 1825, on payment of #10, being a free apprentice; active, 1825-32; Deacon (1831-32)