he concept of the Burgess oath belongs - Aberdeen City Council

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he first such award was made in2001 to Mrs Pauline Gerrard,enabling her to attend a course ofneuro-developmental delay studies.These involved training in techniquesdesigned to help young childrenovercome learning and behaviouraldifficulties, techniques which MrsGerrard hoped to introduce for thebenefit of children in the Aberdeen area.Another significant change in Guildactivities in keeping with modern timessaw the introduction of a series of socialevents, with visits to places of interest inthe area, a special evening to support thecity’s annual International YouthFestival, a film show that captured somelocal historic occasions, andopportunities afterwards for Burgesseswith their guests to make new friendsand renew acquaintances.One event that helped to highlightMillennium Year for the Guild and tostrengthen a historic connection was avisit to Trinity Hall, home of the SevenIncorporated Trades of Aberdeen whosemembers also share an important placein the annals of the city.For the Burgesses of Guild themselves,the second Tuesday of May each yearholds special significance. That is thetraditional date set for their AnnualGeneral Meeting, with an equallytraditional start time - 12 noon.Presentation of First Guildry AwardLeft to right: Bill McKimmie, Dean of Guild, CouncillorDavid E. Clyne, Master of Mortifications, Pauline Gerrard,Alan T. Towns, Assistant to the Chief Executive, AberdeenCity Council, Bill Wyllie, Dean of Guild 1981 to 1998.
Royal authority for the formation of anAberdeen Guild of Burgesses did morethan that - it also hastened a serioussplit within the ranks of the Burgessesthemselves.When King Alexander II decreed thatthis new Guild be formed, he laid itdown that it be open only to thoseBurgesses who were merchants. Others,the manufactures, traders and craftsmen- waulkers and weavers in the King’swords - were to be excluded.And so arose a serious conflict betweenmerchant and trade Burgesses that wasto continue for centuries not only inAberdeen but throughout Scottish burghs.Following their exclusion from the newGuild, the Aberdeen traders turned moretowards their own trade associations, theWeavers, the Hammermen, Wrights andCoopers, Bakers and the like. Later, inthe 16th Century they decided to joinforces in a corporate body, theIncorporated Trades of Aberdeen, to helpprotect their position, their rights andprivileges and to promote their standingwithin the burgh.This also led to the setting up of theirown hospital and meeting rooms under agroup of corporate officials, the principalbeing the Deacon Convener whopresided over his court of craft deacons.And so began a separate chapter ofAberdeen’s history.These Burgesses, who became known asBurgesses of Trade, remained on theburgh’s Burgess list with all attendantresponsibilities but without a number ofprivileges accorded the merchantmembers. At one time they were alsorefused entry into the new Guild unlessprepared to renounce their own craft.This kind of exclusion strengthened thepower base of Guild members whoseinfluence upon the composition andconduct of the Town Council wasconsiderable and even led to furtherreductions in trading privileges grantedto the traders.Despite these difficulties between Guildand Trade Burgesses, obligations andduties remained the same for allregarding the need for personalresidence within the burgh, Scot and lot,watch and ward, and the provision ofweapons for local defence.The oath taken by both categories alsoremained largely the same and this unitywas exemplified by the willingness of allBurgesses to join the force raised in1411 by Provost Robert Davidson tohelp halt the southwards advance ofDonald Ross, Lord of the Isles, as hisHighland attackers advanced on Aberdeen.Confrontation between the armies cameat Harlaw, near Inverurie, where theHighland invaders were beaten, but onlyafter considerable loss of life on bothsides, one such casualty being ProvostDavidson who was seen as something ofa hero and was buried in the burgh’s StNicholas kirkyard.St Nicholas Church oak steeple burned down in 1874 .
Page 2 and 3: he concept of the Burgess oath belo
Page 4 and 5: Dean and Assessors with the pre 182
Page 6 and 7: Detail from Plan of Aberdeen 1661
Page 8: We do not know who were the firstBu
Page 11 and 12: ut Guild members had to pay a furth
Page 13 and 14: Although it was agreed that theGuil
Page 15: BURGESS OF GUILDABERDEEN1214Left to
Page 19 and 20: The Dean in full regaliamaintains a
Page 21 and 22: Guildries of Scottish burghs. At a
Page 23 and 24: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother ad
Page 25 and 26: The Dean of Guild andCity Archivist
Page 27 and 28: chosen each year from those who had

he concept of the Burgess oath belongs - Aberdeen City Council

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