Here we are
providing information on books about Dundee and its history. The
first book is "The History of Old Dundee" and we've ocr'd the first 6
chapters in to give you a flavour of the book. We've also provided the
Preface and Table of Contents and under that a link where you can
download the book in pdf format.
Next you fill find
"The Compt Buik of David Wedderburne" a Dundee merchant and by
clicking on this link you will be taken to a page about that book
where we've published part of the Introduction to give you a feel for
what you'll find in it. It is in fact the first truly good
account of a busy shipping port in Scotland.
And then
we provide you with details of the "Handbook of Dundee"
produced by the British Association on the occasion of their meeting
in the city in 1912. In some respects we feel this is probably the
best book to give you a decent idea of what Dundee is like.
Finally we make available
"Angus or Forfarshire, The Land and People,
Descriptive and Historical" which is 5 volume set
which as well as taking in Dundee also takes in the surrounding area.
The History of Old Dundee By Alexander Maxwell FA Scot (1884)
Preface
The materials for the History of Dundee,
contained in the earliest Town Council records, are known to be so
copious and interesting that it has always been a subject of
regret that none of our industrious local historians have
thoroughly examined them, and presented the result to the public.
I first had an opportunity of judging their value about ten years
ago, when I prepared from them some lectures upon the Municipal
and Social Life of Old Dundee. The subject having excited some
attention, I was led to consider it more closely, and became so
interested in the old records as to be easily influenced by the
persuasion of friends, in especial by the late Bishop Forbes, to
devote my leisure to the examination of them, and to the
production of this work. Mr. Hay, the town clerk, to whom we are
indebted for the publication of the interesting "Charters and
Writs of the Burgh," most courteously afforded me all facilities
for prosecuting the undertaking, and not only gave me access to
the valuable records in the town's archives, but also placed in my
hands a careful transcript of the earliest volumes of the Burgh
Register, which was made under the supervision of his predecessor,
Mr. Kerr. These volumes have evidently been at one time subjected
to rough usage, and some portions are wanting. The earliest date
is 2d October, 1553. There is a blank from July 1570, to September
1579; and another from October 1582, to March 1587. In rebinding
the first three, probably within the last forty years, many of
the loose leaves have been wrongly arranged, which makes it
somewhat difficult to follow the entries in their proper order.
The volumes are now in good condition. The writing is beautifully
executed, and, although in part much faded, it is on the whole so
legible that the transcription has been made with great accuracy.
Tuppence A Bale was filmed in Dundee
during the mid 1980's and is the only film showing a Stower
carrying Jute on his back. It's also in colour which is
fantastic! This unique video is another part of Dundee History!
I at first proposed to
print the records chronologically, as has been done with those of
some other burghs, but a careful consideration convinced me that
this would not be a very satisfactory arrangement, as many of them
are short, detached, and intermixed references, which could hardly
prove intelligible, and would not be of special historical
interest, unless those relating to each other were conjoined in
regular sequence. The method which I then adopted of condensing
the materials into separate articles, arranged, with marginal
dates, in a narrative form, implied a considerable amount of
labour, but I felt that this should not be grudged if it would
have the effect of developing their proper meaning and realising
their full value. I have found in contemporary annals—in the Acts
of the Scottish Parliament, especially in that portion of them
which was lately printed from the volumes found in the London
State Paper Office, in the recently published volumes of the
Register of the Privy Council, and in other historical
authorities, general and local—many references to the burgh which
throw light upon its history and records, and have embodied them
also in the narrative; and I have printed in the appendix some
interesting and important additions derived from original
documents. It has been my endeavour to retain as far as possible
the quaint and pithy language of the old writings, but I have
considerably modernised the spelling—this being so irregular as to
be frequently confusing— excepting in the case of words of
antiquarian or philological interest, which I have invariably
printed as they are written, giving explanation of their meanings
in notes, when such seemed necessary.
Besides the important
service which Mr. Hay has rendered me in the prosecution of the
work, I have received assistance from other friends, which I
desire to acknowledge, especially from the Rev. Walter Macleod,
the Rev. R. R. Lingard Guthrie, Mr. William Blades, Mr Henry
Foley, Mr. Patrick Anderson, and Mr. Alexander C. Lamb; also from
those two intelligent antiquaries whose deaths the public have
lately deplored—Mr. James Neish of Laws, and Mr. James Duff, our
venerable townsman.
The century over which the
municipal records used in this volume extend, was a time of
peculiar interest in the history and social development of our
country, and it was followed by a period equally productive of
important results. It would be instructive to trace the
vicissitudes and progress of Dundee down through this later time.
What I have already done, however unworthy it may be of the
subject, or short of my endeavour, has, at least been undertaken
without prejudice, and prosecuted with earnest care; and if it
should be found to have fulfilled in some respects the proper
purposes of a local history, I shall feel myself encouraged to
proceed with the congenial task.
The Story of Dundee
Contents
INTRODUCTORY EARLY
HISTORY THE TOWN COUNCIL THE MAGISTRATES' COURT PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF BURGESSES WOOLSELLING AND CLOTHMAKING
THE FLESH MARKET WEIGHTS AND MEASURES THE SUPPLY OF COAL
REPAIRING HOUSES DESTROYED BY THE ENGLISH PUTTING AWAY BEGGARS
AND VAGABONDS THE FIRST PROTESTANT CONGREGATION IN SCOTLAND
ST. MARY'S CHURCH SUNDAY OBSERVANCE PUNISHMENT OF DRUNKENNESS
AND NIGHT REVELRY PUNISHMENT OF BLASPHEMY AND EVIL SPEECH
PUNISHMENT OF FORNICATION AND ADULTERY THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
BARTERS THE PRICE AND QUALITY OF ALE CLEANSING THE TOWN
THE HARBOUR THE FERRY FERRY-PORT-ON-CRAIG BOATS CONTEST
WITH PERTH REGARDING RIVER RIGHTS AND PRECEDENCE IN PARLIAMENT
CHAPLAINRIES AND MONASTERIES WILLIAM CHRISTESON, THE FIRST
ORDAINED MINISTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PERSONS
DYING THE VICTUAL MARKET HUCKSTERS, CHAPMEN, AND CADGERS
SELLING SKINS AND HIDES CANDLEMAKERS THE DISPUTES REGARDING
THE RIGHTS OF NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES ST. FRANCIS' WELL THE
BURN AND THE TOWN MILLS PITRERRO, BALDOVAN, AND FINTREY MILLS
WARDING THE TOWN - WEARING ARMS - BLUID WITW CLAIM OF THE
CRAFTS TO BE REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT QUEEN MARY AND DUNDEE.
PROVOST HALIBURTON'S REBELLION AND GOOD SERVICE BELLIGERENT AND
PIRATICAL SHIPS THE HOWFF TOWER OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH THE
TOWN WALLS AND PORTS THE HOSPITAL SOME TROUBLESOME WOMEN
A LAWLESS COMMENDATOR THE ROTTEN ROW COMMON RIGHTS AT
CRAIGIE AND AT THE MAGDALEN GREEN THE MARKET CROSS THE CROSS
CHURCH THE EAST CHURCH THE MINT IN DUNDEE A PEACEFUL
SEASON THE GREAT ARMADA A PROCLAMATION OF SUNDRY ACTS
MARRIAGE OF JAMES VI. THE QUEEN'S DOWRY DAVID GRAHAM OF
FINTREY AN INGENIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL ADVENTURER JAMES
ROBERTSON, FIRST MINISTER OF THE SECOND CHARGE THE BELLS IN THE
CHURCH TOWER WITCHCRAFT PROVISION FOR SUPPORT OF THE POOR
MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OF PARLIAMENT IN DUNDEE
THE REGULATION OF THE CRAFTS THE EQUITABLE PUNISHMENT OF
OFFENDERS INDIGNITIES OFFERED TO MAGISTRATES DURING A TIME OF
DISORDER THE PRISON RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TREASURER .
ROBERT HOWIE, AN ENERGETIC MINISTER GILBERT RAMSAY, READER
DAVID LINDESAY, SCHOOLMASTER, MINISTER, BISHOP ROBERT NAIRN AND
JAMES GLEG, SCHOOLMASTERS THE JANITOR THE MUSIC SCHOOL
PUNISHING OFFENCES COMMITTED OUT OF THE TOWN HELPING THE
NECESSITIES OF OTHER PLACES TESTIMONIALS TO PERSONS GOING
ABROAD THE WEDDERBURNS, TOWN CLERKS SIR JAMES SCEYMGEOUR,
CONSTABLE AND PROVOST DISCONTENT OF THE COMMONS WITH THE BURGH
GOVERNMENT PATRICK RAMSAY, KEEPER OF THE STEEPLE AND CLOCK
THE PLAGUE THE EXACTION OF A LADLEFUL OUT OF ALL CORN SACKS
WILLIAM WEDDERBURN, FIRST MINISTER OF THE THIRD CHARGE ROBERT
STIBBLES, READER AND VICAR AN EDINBURGH BURGESS AND THE DUNDEE
BAILIES A TRAVELLER WHO SPOKE TOO FREELY ABOUT SCOTLAND
DIVERSE VENIAL OFFENCES THE LIBRARY PREPARATIONS FOR THE
RECEPTION OF JAMES VI. IN THE TOWN ALEHOUSES NARROW
THOROUGHFARES COLIN CAMPBELL, MINISTER A WOODFIE A RASH
BAILIE JOHN DUNCANSON, MINISTER THE FRIARS' MEADOWS THE
PLAYFIELD—ITS REVELS AND MIRACLE PLAYS QUESTIONS OF
NEIGHBOURHOOD THE RENUNCIATION OF EMOLUMENTS ASSESSING
TAXATION WILLIAM HUNTER OF BALGAY AND THE COUNCIL THE TOWN
CLOCKS GRANT OF SHERIFFSHIP TO THE MAGISTRATES . A SEARCH
FOR A MINISTER ANDREW COLLACE, MINISTER . A LONG
IMPRISONMENT THE NATIONAL COVENANT CHARTERS GRANTED TO THE
BURGH BY CHARLES I. THE TEINDS OF LONGFORGAN THE
MAGISTRATES APPOINTED ADMIRALS-DEPUTE TROUBLES WITH LORD
DUDHOPE MEN AND MONEY WANTED FOR THE ARMY IN IRELAND ROBERT
JOHNSTON'S LEGACY TO THE TOWN IMPROPER CONDUCT TOWARD
MAGISTRATES THE PACKHOUSE MUSTER AND LEVY OF FENCIBLE MEN
AN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH THE MARQUIS OF MONTROSE AND THE TOWN
THE APPROACH OF ANOTHER ENEMY ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN ON AN
IMPORTANT MISSION FIRST IMPOSITION OF EXCISE DUTIES THE
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE KING MAINTENANCE OF THE ARMY THE
SOLDIERS OF THE PERIOD FEELING IN FAVOUR OF THE YOUNG KING
CHARLES II. IN SCOTLAND THE TOWN BESIEGED AND STORMED BY MONK
APPENDIX
THE BOOK OF THE CHURCH
GIFTS BY GEORGE OF SPALDING TO THE CHURCH THE ENGLISH
OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN IN 1547-8 MISSAL LEAVES AND OLD WRITINGS
IN BOOK COVERS
The Compt Buik of David
Wedderburne This is the first book issued which contains
authentic details of the imports, exports, and home trade at a busy
Scottish seaport during the eventful period between 1587 and 1630.
It thus covers sixteen years before the Union of the Crowns, and
twenty-seven years after that event, in all, forty-three years of
Scottish mercantile life, in a time of political and national
transition. David Wedderburne was a Dundee Merchant.
Handbook and Guide to Dundee and
District Prepared for the Members of the
"British Association for the Advancement of Science", on the
occasion of their visit to Dundee, under the direction of the
Local Publication Committee. In many respects I believe this
is a good publication to start with in your study of the
history of Dundee.
Charlotte
Juarez's Going Home I thought I'd also add a link to this
page on our site as it's an account of a family taking their
mother and grandmother home to be buried in Dundee. The author
was born in Dundee but emigrated to America and so she is
recalling her early days in Dundee and showing her children
and grandchildren the city.
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