| Description | AET/D/1 Minute book of the Trustees under John Davidson's Mortification for a school at Footdee, 1867 - 1889
AET/D/2 Register of Davidson's Widows No. 1, 1910 - 1982
AET/D/3 Applications for Davidson's Widows' Fund, 1913 - 1924
AET/D/4 Lists of Applications logged for admission on Davidson's Widow's Fund, 1903 - 1924
AET/D/5 Roll of Davidson's Free Scholars, 1910 - 1976
AET/D/6 Davidson's Free Scholarships Application Forms, 1918 - 1923
AET/D/7 Application to John Davidson's Fund for Agnes L. Milne, 1916 |
| Administrative History | In 1803 John Davidson, goldsmith, mortified £1000 to provide schooling for the children of fishing families in Footdee, Aberdeen, after he was saved by two Footdee fisherman. The deed of mortification also stipulated that any surplus should be used to support the infant children or widows of Footdee white fishers or pilots.
In 1820 trustees feued ground near York Street, Footdee, and built a school house there. In 1879 the school was sold to the Aberdeen School Board. The Board then built a new school on the site, named the Davidson Public School (see ED/GR6S/A82). The Trustees continued to send children to the school in line with the foundation deed.
In 1888 Davidson's Fund was amalgamated into the Aberdeen Educational Trust, which continued to operate two funds in line with the founder's wishes: Davidson's Free Scholars' Fund, for children over and under 10 years of seafaring persons residing in Footdee; and Davidson's Widows' Fund, for the widows of white fishers or pilots in Footdee who have perished at sea. |