| Administrative History | In 1925, in Quebec, Montreal, Canada, the children of the late Robertson Macaulay (1833 - 1915) established a Trust in memory of their father for the benefit of the people of the Town and neighbourhood of Fraserburgh. Robertson Macaulay was born in Fraserburgh, the son of a "Captain of a Coasting vessel. In his early life his mother was left a widow in poor circumstances. In his boyhood Mr Macaulay attended one of the Congregational Churches in Fraserburgh. In later life he frequently expressed a desire to help widows and orphans or seafaring folk who might be left in impoverished circumstances as were his mother and himself" (from trust deed). He later emigrated to Canada and became chairman of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.
The trustees received shares in stock, and sent the income of the revenue to the British and Foreign Sailors Society. The Society were to appoint a committee of 5 residents of Fraserburgh: one to be a Congregational or Methodist minister; one a United Free minister; and the remaining 3 laymen. Initially "the revenue of the Trust shall be devoted charitable or philanthropic relief in connection with poor or bereaved persons residing in the town of Fraserburgh, or within six miles from the chief post office thereof." It mainly opereated for the benefit of widows or orphans of fishermen or seafarers. At some point the Trust's focus shifted to bursaries for Fraserburgh Academy students (initially just to boys) to study to Scottish Universities, and Fraserburgh Academy becomes involved with the Trust's administration. Bursaries were awarded on the basis of the order of merit for the University of Aberdeen bursary competition.
Robertson's son Thomas set up a similar trust in Lewis (Robertson's father had hailed from Uig) and was connect to Fraserburgh Public Library. |