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Deaths

But as the testaments remind us, nothing is more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the time and manner thereof...

Death by 'stupidity'

'James Robertson born January 1785 died 16th June 1848 aged 63 years. He was a peaceable quiet man; and to all appearances a sincere Christian. His death was very much regretted which was caused by the stupidity of Laurence Tulloch in Clotharter who sold him nitre instead of Epsom salts by which he was killed in the space of 3 hours after a dose of it.''
(Esherness, Shetland)

A sordid tale of adultery and murder
'About the beginning of this month there was a child born by an Barbara Hervie a malefactor who about Martinmas last had given poison in a drink of warm small ale to her husband John Tod who lived in Balchristie at that time and the said Barbara having been taken in the act of uncleaness with an Robert Reid who when he was servant to the said John Tod had contrived the busines betwixt him and the said Barbara Hervie that they might the more freely enjoy an another by a marriage after his death: it was not above 3 or four days after the death of her husband when they were taken in this abominable act and the man dying in a sudden not being sick above two days and dying by a great swelling in his body which he was not subject to before and the womans too familiar carriage with the d Robt Reid befor her husbands death, all this gave a great suspition to all the neighbours that she had somway murdered him and given him some kind of poisonous dozz or another, this report being spread abroad at length came to the minr. of Newburn Mr James Hay, be name, his airs, who assigned the sd Barbara befor his session and having posed her upon all the above written circumstances, she confessed ye whole and that she had lyon in adulterie half a year before her goodmans death with the sd Rot. Reid and declaired that she was with child but could not tell whether it was to her husband or to Rot. Reid, upon which they were both seized on and brought to Dunfermline where the both were keapt in prison while the child was brought forth, where it was baptized by an of our own mins. called: ISOBEL, after which the man and the woman both were by ane assyse found guiltie of death and the man ordained to be hanged att the towr hill the 22 instant and the poor infant to be sent to the parish of Newburn to be brought up, after that the sd Robert Reid had lyon a considerable of time in the prison att length he brock through the wall of it, being the lymhous and in the night time made his escape and was away upwards of eight or ten days in which time he might have easilie been out of the kingdom but accidentilie he was taken by an Gilbert Robertson who was assisted by William Eson, a Sclatter at Newtyle in Angus and brought in to ye town that same day that the woman was brought to bed which is a notable instance of god almighties justice that he will not suffer such notorious sinners to go unpunished even in this world whatever shift they may make to escap justice.'
(Baptisms. Dunfermline, March 1689; OPR 424/3, Fr 409-410)

Rathen, 1798

'Thomas Ogilvie born 2nd January 1798 died 21st September. 5th son, 10th child of George Ogilvie by Rebecca Irvine his wife. This infant is the only descendant of his maternal grandparents that is yet deceased, all their 6 children, 24 grandchildren being still living, whose joint ages amount to upwards of five hundred and twenty two years.'
(Rathen, Aberdeenshire)

Collessie, 1793
Janry' 10 Thomas Garrick a poor man in Colessie aged 108 - . He was in the practice of walking to Rossie and the other adjacent houses within a few months of his death - Was a soldier in the Duke of Argyle's Regiment in 1715. Married his second wife, a stout woman of about 50 years of age, in his 99th year, who died about 2 years ago.'
(Collessie, Fife, OPR 416/1 Fr 197)

Lethnot & Navar Parish Mort Roll, Forfarshire, 1755
March 25th Agnes Tod aged near a hundred a Cottars wife in Witten whose sight even on her death bed continued so strong that she could see to thread a needle, also retained memory & other senses unimpaired to the last.
(Lethnot and Navar, 1775, OPR 300/1 Fr 161)

Inveresk Parish, 20 July 1725

PATRICK SPENCE Workman & Margaret Dickson his spouse their son named: JAMES was Born the Twentieth day of July and Baptised the --- thereof. Witnesses: William Cass & Andrew Hay Bap. Privately in their house by Mr R.B.
(Inveresk, OPR 689/7, Fr 95)

"This Marg. Dickson was executed in the Grassmercat of Edr. the 2d of September last for murdering her own child."
(Inveresk, OPR 689/7, Fr 95) [written in the margin later]