| Description | Council meeting, 21 September 1801
[Sederunt given]
The Council enacted the recommendations of the committee appointed to consider the size of compositions paid to the Guildry by Craftsmen on admittance to their respective corporations. (Deacon Smith dissented from the otherwise unanimous approval.) [Report engrossed]. The size of compositions was restored to the level fixed by Act of Council in November 1643 [details of fees levied from 1641 to 1801 are included in the report]: all entrants to pay 10 shillings sterling arms money, in addition to the following compositions - 200 merks Scots for extraneans.
20 shillings sterling for second and other younger sons (eldest sons pay arms money only).
100 merks Scots for apprentices who had completed their apprenticeship, or whose indentures were recorded in the Town's Books within twelve months from 21 September 1801. Apprentices who were not discharged by their master were obliged to enter as extraneans. In addition, apprentices were to pay 5 shillings to the Dean of Guild for registration of their indentures.
100 merks Scots for men who marry a Burgess' daughter.
50 merks Scots for completed apprentices who marry a Burgess' daughter.
The Council required Deacons of each Incorporated Trade to supply to the Dean of Guild or Town Clerk annual lists of entrants, and to pay to the Dean of Guild two-thirds of the separate composition actually paid by entrants to their crafts, in accordance with the 1587 Common Indenture between Guild Brethren and Tradesmen, all over and above the dues payable to the Town Clerk and officials, which amounted to 14 shillings 6 pence [sterling]. (49r - 52r)
The Council agreed to admit sundry tradesmen to their crafts [no names given], for payment of the present composition and dues to the Dean of Guild, and to admit all other craftsmen already admitted by their crafts, if they applied the following day. (52r)
The Council enacted that apprentices who had registered their indentures by 1 October 1801 and had paid 1 merk Scots to the Dean of Guild, should be admitted entry to their crafts at the present level of composition and dues, but that from 21 September 1801 the Deacons of the Incorporated Trades were obliged to pay to the Dean of Guild, two-thirds of the composition paid by entrants to their crafts. The Council directed the Clerk to transmit a copy of the Act to the Convener of the Trades. (52r - 52v)
The Council approved the recommendations of the committee appointed on 1 October 1800 to dispose of the Lands and Barony of Muchals in the County of Kincardine by public roup. [Purchase for £7,720 in 1760 by Alexander Hadden, Master of Mortifications, dates of subsequent Acts of Council and financial history are detailed in the report]. The Council fixed the public roup of the lands to be held on 21 December 1801 within the Laigh Tolbooth of Aberdeen. (52v - 54r)
The Council admitted seventeen Burgesses of Guild. [No names given.] (54r)
The Council granted the application of George Hogarth junior, merchant in Aberdeen, proprietor of the Lands of Firrhill, formerly belonging to John Gordon of Craig and then to Provost More, for entry to the Lands of Firrhill on the conditions granted to Provost More by Act of Council on 10 December 1800. (54v)
The Council approved the bargain made by the magistrates with James Smith, former Tacksman of the Town's Mills, for a lease of the Town's Mills for three years at the yearly rent of £200, made following the public roup of the lease at which no bids were received. The Council directed the Treasurer to pay to James Smith the sum of £148 1 shilling 10 pence for the additional buildings and machinery he had erected at the Town's Mills, plus the £8 18 shillings 7 pence paid by James Smith to the previous tacksman on his entry to the Mills in 1789, on condition that he maintain the Mills to the valuation of £444 18 shillings. (54v - 55r)
The Council authorise the magistrates to pay £15 to Thomas Hutcheon, Keeper of the Tolbooth, following his application for an increase in salary. (55v)
The Council remitted to the new Council the petition from Andrew Jopp, advocate in Aberdeen, for a lease of a piece of ground at Shorelands to erect a lime shed. (55v)
The Council discharged John Ross, baker in Aberdeen, Tacksman of the Bell and Petty Customs, of the £40 rent arrears on the Customs owed to the Treasurer, owing to his management of the Council's grain, and his moderation in levying customs on grain, during the scarcity of grain in 1796. (55v)
The Council asked the Kirk Session of Aberdeen for further details on their application for repairs to the Session House. (55v - 56r)
The Council resolved to discontinue the allowance of £6 formerly paid to Mr Smith, present schoolmaster of Footdee, owing to the considerable expense of the new schoolhouse built for the schoolmaster's use. (56r)
The Council recommended to the new Council to consider what to do with the houses at Pocra, purchased by the Shoremaster from Francis Leys & Company and formerly used in the whale fishing trade. (56r)
The Council recommended to the new Council to set leases for the following lands, as the leases were close to expiry: the house and dockyard at Footdee, occupied by John Rae; the ground at Torrie belonging to the Treasurer; the wood yards at Pynernook possessed by Messrs Caie and Allan and George Tower, merchant; and the howff at the east end of the Meal Market, occupied by William Gordon, vintner. (56r - 56v)
The Council granted the application of William Johnston, merchant in Aberdeen, for a lease for five years of a piece of ground at Pynernook, part of the Town's Commonty, lying immediately south of the ground occupied by Messrs Caie and Allan, for a wood yard, for yearly payment of £5 rent, on condition that the Council resumed possession of the ground, with six months notice, if it was required for harbour improvements or any public purposes. (56v)
Deacon George Smith, one of the Trades councillors, for himself and as representative of the Incorporated Trades protested against the Act of Council on the compositions payable on admission of tradesmen as freemen. [Protest engrossed]. Deacon Smith requested that no entering Craftsmen should be obliged to pay the increased dues, and stated that the Council would be liable to expenses sustained by the incorporations in exaction of additional dues. (56v - 57r)
The Council enacted the Provost's proposals for rules governing administration and expenditure by office bearers: that no one should be employed for Council work without the prior authority of Act of Council, and that all work over £10 should be regulated by a contract; that office bearers should pay for work on completion; that property disposed by the Council should be exposed to public roup; that the Clerk should furnish to new office bearers an account of the sums to be received and met from their accounts; and that this Act should be read after each annual election and at the first meeting of each new Council. (57r - 57v) |