Act, 22 June 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuenty Second day off Junij Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years

A1692/6/821

Act

Act for a Contribution to some poor people in Fisherraw

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of there Majesties privie Councill be David Wallace George Lithgow Thomas Sellerman John Watson Peter Anderson Alexander Young George Robertsone Bessie Bining James Heislop Andrew Turner John Craig Margaret Stewart and Agnes Bookles Shewing That where the petitioners being poor mean Cottars Liveing in the2 toun of Fisherraw True it is that upon the […] day of december last by past ane accidentall fyre happened at the foot of the said toun and being a very tempestuous night and the wind at northeast did destroy not only the haill duelling houses where the petitioners residences were But by reasone of the sudden surpryze of the fyre being in the night tyme The haill furniture and goods within the saids houses that the petitioners hade wes outterly destroyed The petitioners hardly escapeing with there Lyves throw the violence of the flames whereby the petitioners are redacted to the outmost of extreamities being poor Indigent people not haveing where to shelter themselves and all there Litle stock haveing utterly perished as a forsaid which obleidges the supplicants to apply to the saids Lords in this exigencie That out of there goodnes and justice They will be graciously pleased as they have done in paralell Cases to recomend the petitioners to the Charity of all good Christians within the respective presbitryes of Edinburgh Dalkeith Haddingtoun and Dumbar as being the four next adjacent to the place of the petitioners residence And that the same may be the more effectually done that there Lordships will recomend the doeing thereof to the respective magistrats ministers and elders of the severall paroches of the saids presbitryes to Collect the same from the heids of familyes within the saids bounds according as they out of Christian Compassione to the petitioners case shall think fitt to extend there charity And And3 that at such dayes and tymes as there Lordships shall think fitt And therefore Craveing that the saids Lords In comiseration and Compassion of the petitioners deplorable condition (which is more miserable then they are able to express) will be graciously pleased to grant ane act in the petitioners favours to the end and effect forsaid which will be ane act equally pious and Just in the saids Lords in behalf of such poor Indigent supplicants As the said petitione bears The Saids Lords of there Majestyes privie Councill Haveing considered this petition given in to them be the above Inhabitants of the toun of Fisherraw They hereby authorize and allow a voluntar collectione or contributione to be made at the doores of all the kirks and meeting houses within the presbitries of Edinburgh Haddingtoun and Dalkeith for relief and supplie of the petitioners And that upon Sabbath the tuenty fourth day of Julij instant and appoints the ministers within the severall4 Churches and meeting houses to make Intimatione hereof to the people upon the sabbath day Imediatly preceeding the day above appoynted for the said Collectione And nominates and Appoints Thomas Todd present theasurer of Mussleburgh to be factor for uplifting receaveing and Ingathering of the said Contribution The said factor alwayes befor extracting hereof Finding sufficient Caution acted in the books of privie Councill That he shall Imploy the money so to be uplifted and Ingathered be him for the releiff and supplie of the above petitioners

At Edinburgh 22 June 1692

A1692/6/821

Act

Act for a contribution to some poor people in Fisherrow

Concerning the petition given in to the lords of their majesties’ privy council by David Wallace, George Lithgow, Thomas Sellerman, John Watson, Peter Anderson, Alexander Young, George Robertson, Bessie Binning, James Hislop, Andrew Turner, John Craig, Margaret Stewart and Agnes Bookless, showing that where the petitioners, being poor mean cottars, living in the town of Fisherrow, true it is that upon the […] day of December last, an accidental fire happened at the foot of the said town and being a very tempestuous night and the wind at northeast did destroy not only the whole dwelling houses where the petitioners’ residences were, but by reason of the sudden surprise of the fire being in the night time, the whole furniture and goods within the said houses that the petitioners had was utterly destroyed The petitioners hardly escaping with their lives through the violence of the flames, whereby the petitioners are reduced to the utmost of extremities, being poor, indigent people not having anywhere to shelter themselves and all their Little stock having utterly perished as aforesaid, which obliges the supplicants to apply to the said lords in this exigency, that out of their goodness and justice they will be graciously pleased as they have done in parallel cases to recommend the petitioners to the charity of all good Christians within the presbyteries of Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Haddington and Dunbar as being the four nearest to the place of the petitioners’ residence, and that the same may be the more effectually done, that their lordships will recommend the doing thereof to the respective magistrates, ministers and elders of the several parishes of the said presbyteries to collect the same from the heads of families within the said bounds as they out of Christian compassion to the petitioners’ case shall think fit to extend their charity, and that at such days and times as their lordships shall think fit, and therefore craving that the said lords, in commiseration and compassion of the petitioners’ deplorable condition (which is more miserable then they are able to express) will be graciously pleased to grant an act in the petitioners’ favour to the end and effect foresaid, which will be an act equally pious and just by the said lords on behalf of such poor, indigent supplicants, as the said petition bears. The said lords of their majesties’ privy council, having considered this petition given in to them by the above inhabitants of the town of Fisherrow, they hereby authorise and allow a voluntary collection or contribution to be made at the doors of all the kirks and meeting houses within the presbyteries of Edinburgh, Haddington and Dalkeith for relief and supply of the petitioners, and that upon Sunday 24 July instant and appoints the ministers within the several churches and meeting houses to make intimation hereof to the people upon the Sunday immediately preceding the day above appointed for the said collection, and they nominate and appoint Thomas Todd, present treasurer of Musselburgh, to be factor for uplifting, receiving and gathering of the said contribution, the said factor always before extracting hereof finding sufficient caution acted in the books of privy council that he shall employ the money so to be uplifted and gathered by him for the relief and supply of the above petitioners.

1. PC1/48, 284-5.

2. The word ‘said’ scored out here.

3. Sic.

4. The word ‘bounds’ scored out here.

1. PC1/48, 284-5.