he concept of the Burgess oath belongs - Aberdeen City Council

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In 1364 a general charter granting newprivileges throughout Scotland had theeffect of reinforcing Aberdeen’s controlof exports from Aberdeenshire and inrestricting involvement in suchcommerce to the merchants.The Trade Burgesses were dealt a furtherblow in 1469 with the introduction of anew Act described as the most damningAct of the Scottish Parliament whichmade burgh councils self-electing,effectively denying the Trade Burgessesany worthwhile say in local affairs.This conflict between Burgesses was notconfined to Aberdeen. A joint appealfrom trade members in Edinburgh, Perth,Dundee and Aberdeen obtained fromKing James VI in 1581 a new charterconfirming old privileges and anextension of their trading rights.However, Aberdeen magistrates andcouncil extorted promises fromprominent traders not to exercise theseprivileges, and, in turn, the traders thenrefused to proceed with their part in theelection of council office-bearers untiltheir rights were restored.In 1587, with both sides possibly tiringof reprisals, their differences went toarbitration and a decree was issuedregulating the dealings of the TownCouncil with the traders.Besides defining the respective libertiesof trading for both sides, the decree - theCommon Indenture - also fixed entrycharges for new Burgesses. But theagreement did not produce the expectedharmony and differences mounted to thepoint where, in 1592, an open-airmeeting at Greyfriars became a violentconfrontation at which blood was spilt.This had the effect, however, of bringingboth sides to their senses and a few dayslater, at a more solemn meeting atWoolmanhill, the parties werereconciled.Gradually, over the years, as the practiceof granting rights and privileges toBurgesses lessened considerably, so toodid division between Burgesses of Guildand of Trade. A new equality began toemerge, first from decisions by theConvention of Royal Burghs and laterby the Reform Act of 1833 which alsoput council elections on a new footing.Now, with those years of division left farbehind, Guild and Trade are united onceagain as Burgesses supporting thewellbeing of the City of Aberdeen.Early 19th Century advert to sell goods in AberdeenPetition from Town’s tradesmen to the Dean ofGuild to stop sale
The Dean in full regaliamaintains a ceremonialtraditionThe title Dean of Guild, denoting thesenior official representing the Guild, orGuildry of Burgesses, came into beingonly in 1427, centuries after Burgesseshad been instituted as a collective groupcharged with upholding the laws andcustoms of the burgh.In the earlier days Burgesses wereheaded by the burgh Alderman, whoseposition was later that of Provost, and itwas he who took charge of the Guildwhen it came into being about 1222.From 1427 until 1833 the Dean’sposition was that of an official of theTown Council and he was appointed assuch but, with the introduction inScottish burghs of the Reform Act in1833, Deans of Guild were madeconstituent members of their TownCouncils, appointed by their Guilds andnot by electoral vote.In the early days the Dean would havebeen very much the town’s man,enforcing burgh regulations relating totrade and responsible for the upkeep ofcouncil property. His name, it wasclaimed, became a terror to evil-doers.If any attempt was made to encroach onthe liberties of the burgh, the Deanwould have been instructed to put a stopto the proceedings.Towards the end of the 16th Century,some Norwegian ships arrived atNewburgh, a few miles north ofAberdeen, and began to unload. ButNewburgh was not a free port as far asforeign trade was concerned and wasunder Aberdeen jurisdiction. The act ofunloading at the little port at the mouthof the Ythan was, therefore, aninfringement of Aberdeen’s rights, so theDean of the day was dispatched with anarmed officer and men to arrest theships and take their sails from themasts.Part of the Dean’s duties also includedsupervision of the loading of shipsbound for foreign ports to ensure thattheir bills of lading were in order. It waslaw then that a ship without a proper billof lading was a pirate and could beattacked without redress.
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 and 16: BURGESS OF GUILDABERDEEN1214Left to
Page 17: Royal authority for the formation o
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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