Aberdeen Council Register: volume 70 - extract dated 18 December 1813 Council meeting, 18 December 1813 [Sederunt given] The Council allocated the Poor's Funds for 1814. The following allocations and additions to pensions were made. Mrs Margaret Gordon, widow of the late Dr George Gordon, one of the Ministers of Aberdeen - £10 Helen Farquhar, widow of James Morrice, Burgess of Guild - £5 [No first name given] Mowat Keith, daughter of Mrs Mowat Keith and grandchild of the late Provost Chalmers - £6 Janet Keith or Reid, widow of the late John Reid, merchant in Aberdeen, Burgess - £5 Margaret Cruickshank, daughter of the deceased Robert Cruickshank, Burgess, and spouse to Patrick Webster, messenger - £5 Elizabeth Turner, widow of the deceased William Crane, sometime merchant, Burgess - an orphan bursary of £4 to her daughter Jean Robertson, widow of the deceased John Smith, sometime shipmaster in Aberdeen, Burgess - an orphan bursary of £4 to her daughter Mrs Isabella Gilbert, daughter of Charles Baird, Burgess of Guild - two orphan bursaries of £3 for two of her children Jean Johnston, widow of William McMillan, late currier in Aberdeen and Burgess of Guild - two orphan bursaries, one of £4 and one of £3, for two of her children William Selby, late merchant - £6 Elizabeth Bruce, widow of the deceased Alexander Duffus, late merchant and Burgess - £5 Alexander Mitchell, now residing in London, son of William Mitchell junior - £5 Mrs Thomas Aiken or Troup, widow of the deceased Thomas Aiken, late shipmaster - an additional £2 George Gray, hosier - an additional £2 James Glenny senior, merchant in Aberdeen - an additional £2 Mrs Agnes Gibb, widow of the late William Gibb, merchant - an additional £6 Thomas Gordon, mason and Guild Burgess - an additional £2 Catharine Smith, daughter of the late Francis Smith, slater - £1 Janet Mackie, widow of the deceased William Mackie, Burgess - an additional £2 Ann Leighton, widow of James Melvin, late merchant - an additional £4 Jean Milne, widow of the deceased William Philip, Burgess - an additional £1 William Cruickshank, late hosier in Aberdeen - an additional £1 Helen Troup, widow of the deceased James Troup, late hosier - an additional £1 Ann Robertson, or Cruden, widow of the deceased David Robertson, merchant in Aberdeen - an additional £1 Elizabeth Gault, residing in Aberdeen, grand daughter of George Collie, maltster - an additional 10 shillings to the £1 10 shillings granted by warrant Janet Forbes, widow of the late Andrew Robertson, merchant - an additional £1 [No name given], widow of Richard Smith, late paper manufacturer - an additional £2 Mrs Sarah Mearns or Ferguson, widow of the deceased John Ferguson, late druggist in Aberdeen - an orphan bursary of £3 for her daughter, Helen Moir Ferguson The Council remitted to the magistrates to determine from which Funds the different sums were to be paid, and to continue the pensions payable by them. The Council also remitted to the magistrates to consider any other petitions from those who appear to have no claim on the Town's Public Funds. (16r - 17v) The Council approved the sale of the following leases: a one-year lease of the dock and shipbuilding yard possessed by Robert Gibbon & Sons, was taken by John Watson, advocate in Aberdeen, for £31 10 shillings rent; and a three-year lease of a piece of ground at Footdee previously let to John Younghusband, boat builder, was taken by Alexander Duthie junior, merchant, for £14. (17v) The Council granted the petition from Arthur Robb, residing in Aberdeen, requesting admittance as a coal metter at the Shore, in place of the deceased Alexander Aberdein, to whom he acted as Assistant, on condition that he found caution to the satisfaction of the magistrates. (17v) The Council authorised the Treasurer to borrow such sums of money as necessary for the public purposes of the community, and to grant bonds to the lenders. (17v - 18r) The Provost laid before the Council a letter from Mr Freeling, Secretary of the General Post Office, London, to James Farquhar Esq, Member of Parliament for the City, in reply to a letter from the principal merchants, manufacturers, bankers and other inhabitants of Aberdeen relating to the establishment of a mail coach from Perth to Glasgow and an earlier dispatch of mail from Edinburgh and Aberdeen. [Letter from Mr Freeling engrossed.] (18r - 18v) The Council admitted three Burgesses of Guild. [No names given.] (18v) 18 December 1813