Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca

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•- PART II. ,
Chapter
II.
Alexander Wedderburn (eldest son of Robert), Town Clerk ok Dundee, and his
WIFE Janet Myln.
With an account of their children and the descendants of their youiijer sons. (See tabular ,
pedigree at p. 105).
Alexander Wedderbvirn [1530 2— LjSSJ,' eldest son of llobcrt Wtddorbuni iuid Part ii.
Janet Kyd, is first named on his admission as burgess of Dundee, 15 Nov. 1555 CCop. II.
(D.L.B. 18). He was admitted a noUiry about 1554-55, us appears by an cntrv in one of
his Dundee Protocol Books (D.P.B. 91), in whicli he speaks of the year 1558-59 as " the
fourth year of my notaryship."- On 5 Oct. 155G lie was elected tosucceed Ilobert .Seres
as clerk of Dundee for life, upon the refusal to accept tlic office by Henrv Uiciiardsone,
whom he consents to retain as his substitute (D.B.ll. C9). Tlie orii^'inal gift of cierkHliip,
still extant among the Dundee charters (D.C. 25), is dated G Feb. 15r>6-57, and is also
recorded 19 Oct. 1556-57 (D.T.G. 10 a). It describes him as " Alexander Wedderburn,
joungair,' sone to Robert Wedderburn, oure broder and combm-L'es." He is thereafter
repeatedly named as clerk and notary, witness, procurator, itc, Init these references
are of little interest, and I do not, therefore, deal with them in detiiil.'' He seeniH, however,
to have exercised his office with activity and to have taken much interest in the att'aii-s of
the town. Thus, in 15G3 May 17, the council elect him, together witii tije treasurer and
dean of gild, " to pass to Edinburgh at tiiis present parliament as commissioners for tho
whole town to treat of certiiin matters, and especially of the liberty of bur^ihs " (D.C.I!. 2)
while some years later, 4 June 1569, he is appointed with others to inspect the common malt
mill of the burgh and the wheat mill of Pitkerrow (D.C. H. 9). On one occasion, •J>s March
1576, one Thomas Dowie, defender in a suit by Barbai'a Wedderburn, sister of the ilerk,
objected to his acting as clerk in the suit on the ground of his interest as her bnither,
but the objection was disallowed (D.B.R. 22G). He remained in office till 20 Sejit. I5S2,
•when he '' resignit and demittit" the clerkship to his eldest sou, whom the bailies tliereupon
elect, retaining the father as clerk substitute (S.W. 43 ; D.B 11. 2G2).
Several of his protocol books are still on the shelves of tlie Dundee Clmrtcr-nxiin,
and some of the volumes of the Burgh and Head Court records are also liis.^ 'I'lius vol. vi.
is expressly described as his, and one at least of the two jn-eceding volumes is written
during his clerkship. Vol. viii. was originally intended as the second of liis protocol
books, as appears by a memorandum on tlie flj'-leaf, wliich also beam n Latin couplet
inculcating sincerity of worship; while on the title page of vols. xii. and xiv. (his last
psis of references -.—S.W. 13, 16, 17, 19-31, 33-39 a, 41-45. 49, 60, 61, &9. 101 fll. 103, 112, 157,297,
669; Bl. 3; D.W. I, 11 ab cd eglim. 12 a, ISae, 19 a: D C. 25-27. JP, 30, 3J-;i4; IJ.L.H. 1.''. irt,-j7, 30,
31, 34, 35 ; D.P.C. 58, 66, 68, 70, 80, 81, 82, 91, 94. 115, 125, 141 /. 153 o, 191 n, H'S, -02 6, -JlSt,
214,216,218, 223 rf/, 242, 249, 255, 267 6, 272, 276, 2f-6, 287, 2'.il n, 30;' 6. 306. 307, 340. 347;
P.B.R. 69, 90, 107, 187, 211 c. 226, 241 rf «/. 262. 270, 2736, 275 6, '.'SI, 2-4, 2-' ik.-arcrly
ever used of the father.
' His extant protocol books are, at least, six in nnmlier, viz. : D.P.B., N ol*. .Iu.', .10. .12. 2li5. 21?. an