Scottish Privy Council Records

Att Edinburgh The Fifth day of January J^aj vj^c Nyntie two years

D1692/1/4¹

Act

Act and Remitt Abraham Torrin

Anent a Petitione given in to the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill be Abraham Torrin master of Hatt manufactory in the Cannogate Shewing That quhere the petitioner haveing been necessitated in the year J^aj vj^c nyntie² six to retire out of France upon the Occasione of the persecutione ther againest the protestants and haveing be taken himself for refuge to this kingdome he upon application to the late kings Councill here hade the benefite of naturalisation allowed him and permission to errect and exercise a manufactorie of Hatts puruant of which haveing setled himself and familly in the Cannogate and induced severall of his fellow natione bred and trained up in that misterie to repair hither and work under him, He in the exercise of his Airt dureing the late kings rigne enjoyed all the priviledges and Immunities which by the lawes of this realme and acts of Councill he could pretend to as master of a manufactorie for himself and his servants under him, and did not in the least doubt But upon the late happy revolutione he should have enjoyed the same alse fully if not more then he hade done till that tyme Bot contrary to his hopes he has since mett with such Discouragment in his Employment by the magistrates of Edinburgh their infringing those priviledges which he was in possession of by the Law as he is constrained to have his recourse to the saids Lords for releiff in that behalf, and humbly to represent that for entertaineing so usefull a manufactory as he has sett up haveing constant occasione to make use off matterialls for his work which he must Import from foraigne Countries he found the magistrats would not allow him that Libertie till such tyme as he made himself Burges and Gild brother of the Place, and when he hade done that they pretended he was Lyable to stent annuitie, quartureing of Souldiers and other burthens to which they subjected those that lived within their Liberties from all which the petitioner as master of the aforsaid manufactory set up and hitherto intertained by him humbly conceaves he and his servants are free by the standing Lawes of this kingdome in favors of manufactories and Especially by the fourtieth act of the first parliament of King Charles the second entituled act for errecting of manufactories And Therfore Humbly Craveing that the saids Lords would take the premisses to their Consideration, and ordaine the magistrates of the Cannogate to cause restor to the petitioner what hatts or utincills of his hous has been by their order lately poynded from him upon the pretext of quarterings, And to prohibit for the futur the said magistrats and the magistrates of Edinburgh their ministers and servants and all Others whom it may concerne from Imposeing or exacting of stent or annuitie or quartering of Suldiers upon him or his servants in the said manufactorie or anywayes troubling or molesting them upon any pretence whatsoever in the free and peaceable enjoyment of the priviledges Immunities and exemptiones granted in their favor by Law, And seing that one of the great motives of makeing those Lawes for the encouradging of manufactories was the benefit that therby would accrue to the kingdom alse weell by hindering the export of money out of the Countrey as bringing money into it, And that the petitioner for entertaining the manufactorie sett up by him must necessarly for the matterialls he hath use for from abroad export aither money or merchandize He humbly Craved he might be allowed the priviledge of exporting from time to time what commodities he shall have occasion for upon that account And without his being Lyable to the payment of Stent or any other publict burdeins for the same to the burgh of Edinburgh, and in regaird that hare and Conning skins are necessary matterialls for makeing of Hatts and the export therof as such prohibited by the forsaid act of Parliament That the saids Lords would be pleased to make such prohibited by the forsaid act of Parliament That the saids Lords would be pleased to take such effectuall Course for the preventing the export therof as my hinder the same in tyme comeing as the forsaid petitioner bears. The Lords of their Majesties privy Councill Haveing heard this petitione given in to them be the above Abraham Torrin with the ansuers made thereto be the toune of Edinburgh and another petition up on the Same Subject given in to their Lordships be the said Abraham and his partners They Remitt both petitions and ansuers to be Considered and determined be the Lords of Session and Recomends to them to call and hear both parties and their procurators in ther presence and proceid in the said matter and discuss and determine the Same Sumarly without abyding the Course of the roll.

At Edinburgh 5 January 1692

D1692/1/4¹

Act

Act and Remit for Abraham Torrin

Concerning a petition given in to the lords of his majesty’s privy council by Abraham Torrin, master of the hat manufactory in the Canongate, showing That where the petitioner having been necessitated in the year 1692 to retire out of France upon the occasion of the persecution there against the protestants and having been taken himself for refuge to this kingdom he upon application to the late king’s council here had the benefit of naturalisation allowed him and permission to erect and exercise a manufactory of hats pursuant of which having settled himself and family in the Canongate and induced several of his fellow nation bred and trained up in that mystery to repair hither and work under him, he in the exercise of his art during the late king’s reign enjoyed all the privileges and immunities which by the laws of this realm and acts of council he could pretend to as master of a manufactory for himself and his servants under him, and did not in the least doubt but upon the late happy revolution he should have enjoyed the same as fully if not more than he had done until that time, but contrary to his hopes he has since met with such discouragement in his employment by the magistrates of Edinburgh with their infringing those privileges which he was in possession of by the law as he is constrained to have his recourse to the said lords for relief in that behalf, and humbly to represent that for entertaining so useful a manufactory as he has set up having constant occasion to make use of materials for his work which he must import from foreign countries, he found the magistrates would not allow him that liberty until such time as he made himself burgess and guild brother of the place, and when he had done that they pretended he was liable to stent, annuity, quartering of soldiers and other burdens to which they subjected those that lived within their liberties, from all which the petitioner as master of the aforesaid manufactory set up and hitherto entertained by him humbly conceives he and his servants are free by the standing laws of this kingdom in favour of manufactories, and especially by the fourteenth act of the first parliament of King Charles the second, entitled act for erection of manufactories, and therefore humbly craving that the said lords would take the premisses to their consideration, and ordain the magistrates of the Canongate to cause restore to the petitioner what hats or utensils of his house which has been by their order lately poinded from him upon the pretext of quarterings, and to prohibit for the future the said magistrates and the magistrates of Edinburgh, their ministers and servants and all others whom it may concern, from imposing or exacting of stent or annuity or quartering of soldiers upon him or his servants in the said manufactory or anyway troubling or molesting them upon any pretence whatsoever in the free and peaceable enjoyment of the privileges, immunities and exemptions granted in their favour by law, and seeing that one of the great motives of making those laws for the encouraging of manufactories was the benefit that thereby would accrue to the kingdom as well by hindering the export of money out of the country as bringing money into it, and that the petitioner for entertaining the manufactory set up by him must necessarily for the materials he has use for from abroad export either money or merchandize, he humbly craves he might be allowed the privilege of exporting from time to time what commodities he shall have occasion for upon that account, and without his being liable to the payment of stent or any other public burdens for the same to the burgh of Edinburgh, and in regard that hare and rabbit skins are necessary materials for making of hats and the export thereof as such prohibited by the forsaid act of parliament that the said lords would be pleased to make such prohibited by the forsaid act of parliament, that the said lords would be pleased to take such effectuall course for the preventing the export thereof as my hinder the same in time coming, as the forsaid petitioner bears. The lords of their majesties’ privy council having heard this petition given in to them by the above Abraham Torrin, with the answers made thereto by the town of Edinburgh and another petition up on the same subject given in to their lordships by the said Abraham and his partners, they remit both petitions and answers to be considered and determined by the lords of session, and recommends to them to call and hear both parties and their procurators in their presence and proceed in the said matter, and discuss and determine the same summarily without abiding the course of the roll.

1. NRS, PC2/24, 3v-4v.