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

154
. THE WEDDERliL'RN BOOK.
^'^ started as a mercliaiit in Dundee before he was of ay;e, being so designed,
oh"^ "I'v
^^'
' 1 Aug. 168.5, when he witnrsscs a charter (D.D. .'!5). During his minority his
properties in Dinulee were looivud after by liis mother, who ;.'(it decrees for rent
V. his tenants, 2 Marcli 16S.J, 17 March i6.s7 (D. Dec 15, 17),^ wliile he himself
got decrees, 18 June, U Aug. 1687 (//'. 18, 19).- His North Argylegait land, once
his father's, is named, 12 April 1688 (D P.ll. 5:58).
He was admitted a burges.s of Dundee, by the privilege of his father, 7 May
1689 (D.li 15. 5'J), and paid his "accidents" on adnii.ssion (D.G.ll. 12). The entry
of his admission calls him TatricU. Various dealings with hi'* property are noted
iu the records. Thus, 26 Oct. 1693, he dispones to George Crockatt an annual rent
he had inherited from his father (D.I'.H. 5irt) 27 Sept. 1699, he sells a North
Overgait hou.se (D. I>. 52, and see D.IM! 667 ; l>.Pec. t.8) ; 9 Keb. 1700, as "tacksman
of the vicarage of 1 'undee " he set-i the fish dues in tack to James Strachan
(ib. f)6) ; 30 May 1702, he sells a vessel, the " M.argarct of Dundee" to -lames
Graham (ili. 75); 17 Oct. 1709, he gets sasine of an annual rent out of Glamis
disponed to him and his mother in 1695 by the Earl of Strathmore (l'".S. 86), and
25 Aug. 1710, acquires some North Seagait lands from John Melvill, son of John
Melvill and Kathcrine Kyd (I'.l'.B. 563). In these, as in almost every entry
naming him, he is designed "merchant of hundee.'"^
There are many references to bills, bonds, actions, decrees, etc., incident to his
business. Thus, 8 Feb. 1688, tliere is a decree for him (I '.B.U 483); 12 June 1690,
a protested bill v. him and his cousin Alexander'' (R.D 230); 3 Feb. 1692, decree for
him (D.Ii.K. 488); 23 Nov. 1699, decree for house maills (H.l'ec. 37); 31 -Ian.
1699, sunmions by him (vS.W. o'.'Si ; 10 March 1699, 5 June, 10 Sept. 1701, action
in which he appears {ik 524, 526-27) ; 8 Jan., 27 March 1702; 31 May, Oct- 18,
1703; 20 Dec. 1705, bonds (U.D. 255, 262 a A, 267,269). One such bond in his
favour by Sir Alexander Wedderburn, second bai-onet of Blackness, for 500 merks
(£333 6s. 8d.), dated 28 Jan. 1709 (S.W. .^)56; R.A 1)., 154/), was one of the many
encumbrances on Sir Alexander's estate at his death in 1710, and is thus often
uientioueJ in the papers relating to his affairs (M. P. 47, 67, 78, Sd a). There is
also an action by Peter, 8 Feb. 1718 (D.B.R. 508); and decrees in his favour
24 March 1718, 2 Sept. 1722, and 15 Juno 1723 (D.Dec. 76, 78, 81).
He took his part in the affairs of his family, as tutor and curator to various
minors, and as adviser and witness^ on occasions of family interest. Thus he
was named in his brother's will, 22 Oct. 1091, as one of the principal tutora of his
brother's son Alexander, and also in certain events as executor and heir (S.W. 496),
and he is often named, e.ff.,
both as tutor and curator to his nephew, 7, 27 May
1692 (D.I). 42); 27 June 1692 (S.W. 500-1) ; 20. 23 Nov. 1694 (D.D. 45) ; 1-5 Feb.
1695 (S.W. 503-4, R.D. 236), 11 May I6J5 (D. I lec. 28), to one of whose other
curators, Thomas Miln of Milnfield, he grants, 27 Jan. 16'j7, a discharge of a bond
made to his mother, Margaret Miln, by his father (S W. 511). Other references to
him as his nephew's curator are dated 14, 1.5, 30 June 1697 (S.W. 515-18); 22,
31 Aug. 1698 (\). Dec. 35), and 20 May 1700 (D. Dec. 45). He was also curator
AlexanJer Wedderburne of Easter Powrie, late provost of Dundee, makins; mention that the said
complainer is a minor above 14 years of age and so past pupilarity, bui within the years of minority
and curatory, and cinuot manage his affairs without the aid of curators ; and nr.w nominates Alex :
Wedderbiir'ne now of Kaster Powrie, Mr. William Fletcher advocate, Thomas .\lylue of Ihiirtoune,
Robert Kinloch, late bailie, D.avid Lindsay, merchant burgess of Kdinburgh, James Wedderburn,
town clerk of Dundee, and Margaret, Mylne, relict of the sai.l deed Alex: \\edderburne, to be his
his curators, who all accept the the said office, except the said Mr. W. Fletcher. Alexander Wedderbnme
of Kaster Powrie and John Wedderburn of Blackness are named as nearest of kin on the father's
Bide, and Thomas Mylne of Muirtoune and David I.iuds.iy, merchant in lidioburgh, on the mother's
side." (Copy sent me by Rev. \V. Macleod, who found the original when searching the Edinburgh
archives with another object. It does not appear why it should have been preserved in Edinburgh.)
'
He is called " her youngest son " (D.Dec. 15) which is accurate, as she had sous by her first marriage
still alive.
' These decrees refer to properties in Murraygait and Seagait.
'
Among the subscribers to the colonization of Darieu is Peter Wedderburn, merchant in Dundee, who
gives £100 on 30 March 1696 {Karien Papers, 1697—1700).
* Son of Sir Alexander Wedderburn of Blackness, Knt., post, Part III, chap, iii,
» He is also named as witness on other occ.asi.ms, e.g., in 1690.28 March (D.D. 38), 21 July (D.P.B. 5421,
13 Oct. (S.W. 490) 17 Dec. 1702 (R.D. 2.i7) ; ; 20, 28 Sept. 170S (D.P.B. 55_9 ; F.S. 84) and twice
;
as sitting on inquests at Dundee, 7 July 1705 and 4 Aug. 1714 (D.Dec. 55, 71).